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My KC-135 Flight

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aeronca65t

aeronca65t

Great Pumpkin
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This is kind of off-the-wall, but I got a chance to fly in a KC-135 yesterday at McGuire AFB.
It was part of a program for college staff and it was sort of last-minute. I'm not sure why we got the short notice; maybe some politician or dignitary changed their plans. Anyway, who cares? It was great!
The folks at McGuire, the NJ Air National Guard and 108th Refueling Wing were all first rate.
We flew to North Carolina and refueled eight F-15s from Seymour Johnson AFB.
Also, we saw some "secret stuff" that we weren't allowed to photograph.
Sorry! Can't tell you what it was.....it's a secret! :devilgrin:
Bonus: also had an excellent B-B-Q afterwards.

~Link To Video~

Check video at about the 1:30 mark for a jaw-dropping sight (to me at least).

~Link To More Pictures~ (about 50)

The pilot of the F-15 was about 25 feet below me. We're going about 425 MPH.
mccabe-kc135-flight-july09-11.jpg


I'm glad these guys are on our side.
mccabe-kc135-flight-july09-26.jpg


You have to lay down in the "bulge" (on your stomach) and look out the rear window. After the fighters left, the boom operator let me "fly" the boom (yes, I was super-careful....you can actually steer this 300,000 lbs. plane with it).
mccabe-kc135-flight-july09-51.jpg
 
<span style="font-size: 10pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Awesome! :smile:</span></span>

<span style="font-size: 8pt">Uh... I kept the windows open in the P68 the other day and amused myself by hanging my arms out the windows and catching clouds.

Not quite the same thing though :laugh:</span>
 
Awesome! I'd say that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, now I must say I'm quite jealous, but I suspect I'm not the only one...
 
Did you get to 'fly' the boom? That's a blast!
 
WhoooHa, Trippin'.
 
Wow, just think what it is like when these guys do this at night!
 
More Refueling Pics

One of my friends that was on the flight just sent me some more pictures. I think her still photos are better than mine. I put a few more of her photos on the original web link (at the beginning of this thread). Here's two of her's.

a-johnson-kcflight-3.jpg

That's North Carolina about 22,000 feet below.

a-johnson-kcflight-6.jpg
 
Re: More Refueling Pics

Need the equivalent of a 24 or 28mm wide angle lens to get the whole lawn dart in th' frame. And a boom operator with no homophobic tendencies...

mebbe that's why ~her~ pix are different than yours, Nial! :jester:
 
Re: More Refueling Pics

:lol: Yep, bet he was enjoying the closed quarters with her in there :nonono:
 
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