B-1A Refueling
Rockwell International B-1A (S/N 74-0159) is refueled by Boeing KC-135A (S/N 62-3527) during the B-1B flight test program. (U.S. Air Force photo) Click image to enlarge.
In this picture a KC-135A is in contact with a Rockwell B-1A. The vertical fin says “B-1B”, but this is because the aircraft is participating in the test program that would eventually spawn the B-1B. The B-1A was a faster version of the B-1 and reached a maximum speed of mach 2.22 compared to the B-1B’s top speed of mach 1.2. During refueling the B-1 is able to accept up to 1,000 gallons per minute of fuel, even then it can take over 20 minutes to fill the tanks.
Source:
- B-1 Lancer. (2009, May 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:29, May 11, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=B-1_Lancer&oldid=288582654
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Access my entire collection from the OneDrive link below:
I have amassed a very large collection (over 1,000) of air to air refueling pictures and want to share them on this website. My collection includes many rare pictures (ever see an A-10 refuel from a KC-97?) of over 120 different receiver types. Whenever possible I will try to provide a link to the source(s), but I have been collecting the pictures for years on my hard drive and it may be very difficult to track down the original source.
If you find any errors on this site or have additional information about the topic please let me know and I will update the page.
Every great picture has a great story to go along. I have many great pictures, unfortunately I don’t have all of the stories. If anyone has additional information on any of the pictures featured on this site I would love for you to share your story. I am especially interested in documenting the old piston powered tankers, their stories are slowly fading away. This site is all about documenting the nitty-gritty details, so if the more specifics you have the better (quirks, ect…). Likewise, if anybody has unique air refueling pictures I would love to see them. You can send info to the address below:
Please use the comments section below the images as a place to discuss the picture and leave further information for others to read. Your discussion adds greatly to the historic value of this site and to the legacy of air refueling crew members.
Below is a brief list of things I am looking for, but any info is welcomed.
- Photographs and information about
Boeing 747 tankers.I would especially like pictures of the boom operator’s compartment, instruments, and panel. Please get in contact with me via the email address above if you have any information about the 747 tanker. - High resolution pictures of the KB-29P/KB-50/KC-97 Boom Operator’s Station and Panel
- KB-29/KB-50/KC-97 Flight Manuals
- F-86
F-104F-16XL in contact (boom pod or external view)- S-3 Viking on
BDA/MPRS/WARP/KC-10 CLD V-22 on KC-135 BDA (I know this picture exists)YC-15- X-32
- Any unique or rare air refueling picture
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Air Refueling Archive 
Concerning the two KC-135’s out of Homestead (8/28/63), as wife of one of the co-pilots, William (Bill) Smith, I was told that the planes disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle, not that they collided. I was also told, after two weeks of searching up and down the East Coast that a piece of a plane w/a serial number and a navigator’s helmet were the only items found. I wonder what else I was not told. Some of their comrades did mention the possibility of the planes flying in formation and creating a mid-air collision.