2007 Atlantic City Airshow - Morning Military Flyovers

[zildjiandrummr12]

I thought the KC-135 was reengined? That one didn't sound reengined.

Nice video!

[airshowfansh]

Well, the one in the video is also re-engined! The KC-135A was originally powered by Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojets, each delivering, oh, around 11,000 pounds of thrust each. You can tell an A-model by its dark black exhaust, which is the result of water being mixed in with the engine exhaust, making for a VERY LOUD takeoff. In the 1980s, two re-engining projects were underway for the Stratotanker fleet...

(part 1 of 3)

[airshowfansh]

The large majority of the 135s were re-engined with CFM56 high-bypass turbofan engines and renamed KC-135R, and those aircraft were mainly for active duty units, and as time grew by, more and more Reserve and Air National guard units traded in their KC-135A or KC-135E aircraft for the KC-135R.

A smaller number of aircraft were re-engined with surplus Pratt & Whitney JT3D turbofans, which is the same engine found on the B-52H, C-141, E-3, and E-8...

(part 2 of 3)

[airshowfansh]

The smaller fleet that was re-engined with JT3D/TF-33 engines were predesignated KC-135E, which is the version of the Stratotanker you see in this video. The 108th Air Refueling Wing, NJ ANG, began the transition from KC-135E to KC-135R in 2008, and if you look at the McGuire AFB and Atlantic City Airshow videos from 2008, the KC-135s you see in those videos are of the new R-models. I'm a fan of the sound of the Es and I will definitely miss them.

[airshowfansh]

Also, keep in mind that the re-engined KC-135s don't have a massive upgrade in the amount of thrust as you may think... even I was surprised at the CFM56's numbers...

KC-135E: four TF-33s, each delivering ~ 18,000 pounds of thrust

KC-135R: four CFM56s, each delivering ~ 23,000 pounds of thrust

Meanwhile, the 737 Classics and Next Generations use variants of the CFM56, delivering anywhere between 18,000-27,000 pounds of thrust.

Hope you guys enjoyed that lesson! LOL

[airshowfansh]

Oh, and before anyone asks... it is not cost-effective to re-engine the KC-135E fleet with CFM56s and turn them into KC-135Rs. The costs of doing so are too high and the E airframes (and most KC-135s) are basically towards the end of their life cycle. I think the "youngest" of the 135s will retire no later than 2020.

[zildjiandrummr12]

Ok! Thanks for the lesson. I was definitely thinking of the R model! Oregon ANG used to operate them, and I remember how quiet they were. I was going to say... :)