Old retired boom operator here. Retired in 1978 from Beale. No way to prove it but I probably have several hundred flying hours on 507. Spent several years flying in and out of SEA. Finished up with the SR-71 flying everywhere. For you civalians, you sure got your moneys worth from the BUFF and tanker aircraft. I will be 80 in a few days. Love that tanker! Heyboom2
I must visit this bird - a good excuse for coming back to your excellent museum! Love the sound of those JT-3Ds, by the way - grew up with them as a child.
I miss the KC 135Es. The sound of those things were thunderous when they took off. That was my favorite sound to hear. It was cool seeing the KC 135Es take off and hearing the noise when they took off.
Watching these retirement flight ceremonies is akin to wheeling ones mother into an old folks home, or worse yet, a hospice), knowing that you may never hear the whine of her jets again...... I think I'm gonna cry!!!!!!
I was a KC-135A & R model crew chief EC-135A & G & C model crew chief as well. Months of satellite alert duty at Minot AFB. Grand old airplanes these are. My Love of aircraft Maintenance was born with the KC135 airframe. nearly 40 years later Im STILL wrenching airplanes.
I was a Chief at Minot, 62/65 my first flight was in 091, 90,000 lbs fuel and water. lite load but a/c was Wing Comm. I was hooked after it jumped off the runway. great memories. remember the Bar at Ruthville??
@@TheRichram - As I said I pulled satellite alert duty at Minot but was stationed at Ellsworth so in that capacity I was never permitted off the base and more often than that we were restricted to the "Hooch" while on alert duty. So no.
@@TheRichram - I remember watching the northern lights on many occasions while sitting on the alert pad heating water. That was about as exciting as it ever got.
I guarded the B-52s and KC135s in the 60's, got out and worked at McDonnell Douglas helped design the F-15, then came back in and crewed a tanker, tail #63-7980, in the 70's. Unfortunately, due to medical issues, they dragged me off the flight line at Rickenbacker and cross-trained me. I've watched the Northern Lights walking guard duty at Pease AFB and I've watched it at AiLSEN AFB as a CREW CHIEF, an amazing sight.
George , I was at Minot 62/65 Crewed 091/ 093 ground crew Had my first TDY on 091 Then on to Ramey, Castle, U Tapao , some great memories with a great airframe.
I was in avionics maintenance in the 108th back when we had KC-135A "Water Wagon" straight turbojets. I've been retired so long I didn't recognize a single name written on the sides. Good airplanes. Shame to see them put out to pasture.
Cool! I flew on this plane (57-1507) back in the early 70's when it was part of the fleet (301 ARW) at Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio. At that time, SSgt. Steve Herriger was the Crew Chief. I crewed 63-7985. Have not been able to track down the whereabouts of 7985.
I’m pretty sure tail number 63-7985 is at Tinker AFB OK serving with the 507th ARW, 465th ARS. This is a reserve unit and I flew that aircraft for 18 years. It was there when I retired in 2014.
Yup, both 1507 & 985 were at the tip of the spear, LORING, in the early '80s. I think Blake Forrest had 985 and Jim Little had1507. SAC ruled. Loring led. I crewed 3501. Check out "HELL OVER HIGH WATER - Ron Craft" on Google or FB. A real deal in the works.
I wish that the people that insist on taking these videos in an outdoor environment would learn to use microphone wind socks ! If there is anything more annoying than having to listen to unnecessary wind noise, I do not know what it is !!!
Old retired boom operator here. Retired in 1978 from Beale. No way to prove it but I probably have several hundred flying hours on 507. Spent several years flying in and out of SEA. Finished up with the SR-71 flying everywhere. For you civalians, you sure got your moneys worth from the BUFF and tanker aircraft. I will be 80 in a few days. Love that tanker! Heyboom2
BEALE 72-75 jet mech.
@@davidgilbertson4354 Beale 73-75 MMS
You sure are old Jim, but I'm a tad older. Turn 83 on February 21, 2021. Nice to still be above ground and breathing, true? Boomer in Guam
BEALE 75-78 Avionics tech KC-135Q, B-52G, T-38A, U-2 R&S, SR-71'S.
I must visit this bird - a good excuse for coming back to your excellent museum! Love the sound of those JT-3Ds, by the way - grew up with them as a child.
I worked on the A and Q models at Plattsburgh, 1986-88.
Perfect proportioned engine size for that airframe. Beautiful airplane.
Yeah, looks like the 707 that came later. Best airliner ever.
I miss the KC 135Es. The sound of those things were thunderous when they took off. That was my favorite sound to hear. It was cool seeing the KC 135Es take off and hearing the noise when they took off.
Thunderous? TF33's were (somewhat) quiet compared to the J57 which used water injection on takeoff (120 +/-10 seconds)!
Watching these retirement flight ceremonies is akin to wheeling ones mother into an old folks home, or worse yet, a hospice), knowing that you may never hear the whine of her jets again...... I think I'm gonna cry!!!!!!
I was a KC-135A & R model crew chief EC-135A & G & C model crew chief as well. Months of satellite alert duty at Minot AFB. Grand old airplanes these are. My Love of aircraft Maintenance was born with the KC135 airframe. nearly 40 years later Im STILL wrenching airplanes.
I was a Chief at Minot, 62/65 my first flight was in 091, 90,000 lbs fuel and water. lite load
but a/c was Wing Comm. I was hooked after it jumped off the runway. great memories.
remember the Bar at Ruthville??
@@TheRichram - As I said I pulled satellite alert duty at Minot but was stationed at Ellsworth so in that capacity I was never permitted off the base and more often than that we were restricted to the "Hooch" while on alert duty. So no.
@@TheRichram - I remember watching the northern lights on many occasions while sitting on the alert pad heating water. That was about as exciting as it ever got.
I guarded the B-52s and KC135s in the 60's, got out and worked at McDonnell Douglas helped design the F-15, then came back in and crewed a tanker, tail #63-7980, in the 70's. Unfortunately, due to medical issues, they dragged me off the flight line at Rickenbacker and cross-trained me. I've watched the Northern Lights walking guard duty at Pease AFB and I've watched it at AiLSEN AFB as a CREW CHIEF, an amazing sight.
George , I was at Minot 62/65 Crewed 091/ 093 ground crew Had my first TDY on 091 Then on to Ramey, Castle, U Tapao , some great memories with a great airframe.
I was in avionics maintenance in the 108th back when we had KC-135A "Water Wagon" straight turbojets. I've been retired so long I didn't recognize a single name written on the sides. Good airplanes. Shame to see them put out to pasture.
I too was in the 108th CAMS (in the GAC (instrument/autopilot) Shop) NJ ANG.
just love those old P&W's!
JT3's were solid steam jets as engines go.
TF-33s!
Cool! I flew on this plane (57-1507) back in the early 70's when it was part of the fleet (301 ARW) at Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio. At that time, SSgt. Steve Herriger was the Crew Chief. I crewed 63-7985. Have not been able to track down the whereabouts of 7985.
I could have sworn 57-1507 was in Loring in the late 70s
@soaringtractor It's not on the retired list.
I’m pretty sure tail number 63-7985 is at Tinker AFB OK serving with the 507th ARW, 465th ARS. This is a reserve unit and I flew that aircraft for 18 years. It was there when I retired in 2014.
Yup, both 1507 & 985 were at the tip of the spear, LORING, in the early '80s. I think Blake Forrest had 985 and Jim Little had1507. SAC ruled. Loring led. I crewed 3501. Check out "HELL OVER HIGH WATER - Ron Craft" on Google or FB. A real deal in the works.
@@mikebouchard5730
Mike I was asst. chief on 501 at Ramey in 65 when it had j57's
.... I hadn't seen a 135 like this in a while! All I've seen was r models! Beautiful jet!
flew that plane out of Grissom,AFB, Indiana
I was a tubing installer at Renton. Boeing started on #3. not sure 1956 or7..
also help with the fuel bladder install..
Remember those at Travis, 307 CAMS!
I went to that museum once I think
Didnt know any E's were left. Thought they were all re-engined into the R model?
Some E models did but the rest were retired by 2008 or so
This was the last 135E that flew a refueling mission less than 30 days before being retired here at Dover AFB & The AMC Museum.
TF-33's guard or reserve
Sounded like a windy day at Dover.
At least in theory, does this KC-135E have better fuel consumption than a 320C?
What that?
Wonder where my old plane is now , KC135 Q 60346 HEAVY METAL, PLATTSBURGH AFB IN THE 80'S THEN KADINA AFB, CREW CHIEF ME..
Worked on KC 135Qs at BEALE 1464 1468 many others Eng Cond. 72-75.
I was in the 909th at Kadena and my logs show I flew 'Q' model tail number 60-0346.
That would have been a long time ago at Kadena - between 1972 and 1980. Moved on to the PTTF in Guam in May 1980.
was it spraying gas on that last fly by?
If I had the money, I would bye it. Convert it to a B720, paint one side Pan Am Cargo, and the other TWA Freighter. Place it on the air show circuit.
Whatch 1510 go to hill afb seen my first tanker at Little Rock afb 1964 they just don’t make them like this anymore
Chocks?
Ground Cable?
WTF?
I see a lot of them
Why retire I good aircraft
Age. They retired the 57 models. The 59s and 60s are still flying.
Nails it's final landing ...a good way to end a career
dumping fuel for landing, where have you been!
I wish that the people that insist on taking these videos in an outdoor environment would learn to use microphone wind socks !
If there is anything more annoying than having to listen to unnecessary wind noise, I do not know what it is !!!
Listening to a President Joe Biden speech!