Refueling a RC135 aboard a KC135 Stratotanker

On July 23 I had the unique opportunity to participate in a practice refueling mission aboard a Nebr Air National Guard KC135 Stratotanker. Our flight took us over NW Iowa and then we banked west towards Oneil, NE to refuel an RC135 that had departed Offut AFB. The members of the 155th Refueling Wing of the Nebr Air National Guard are some of the classiest people you'll ever meet.


Here we are at 25,000 ft going 285 knots and refueling an RC135 from Offut AFB. Absolutely amazing!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Nebraska
• Air
• National
• Guard
• KC135
• RC135

[rivetjointful]

@bdadancer3100only the rew cobra balls(rc-135s) have their port wing painted black, the rest of the rc-135 fleet. v/w/u models have the regular grayish paint on their wings.

[ezkeyl]

This is a RC-135S Cobra Ball...



[RoswellRoswellDave]

Saw a refueling from the RC-135 side back in the 70s flying out of Kadena. Was a crew member sitting in the jump seat. One of the engines on the KC started misfiring and shooting flames half way through the refueling. Have a slide sequence of the hookup. Great video!

[bdadancer3100]

@MARK8088 these planes r here at offut where i live and they dont have black wings

they just have a black nose

[bdadancer3100]

you could fall out that hole and die

[bdadancer3100]

@lst119 these planes r stationed here at offut afb in NE where i live and my dad said the big nose is cause it has a weather rader in it

[RainbowManification]

@lst1195 signal reconnaissance

[MARK8088]

Black wings means it is a COBRA BALL.

[MARK8088]

For the RC-135 pilot, refueling from a KC-135/DC-10 is very stressful because of the risk involved. I once sat behind an RC-135 pilot during an air refueling operation and could see the sweat pouring down from his forehead. Sittong in the back of an RC-135 during aerial refueling can be nerve-wracking.



[inflames07]

@lst1195

Lmao all planes have a Radome. Only one plane is an AWACS and that's obviously the AWACS plane. RC-135 is a reconnaissance plane and there are several different models of it for several different purposes. If shit is going down in the world, RC-135s were there before it happened and while it's happening.