KC-135 Boom Operator Panel

Boom operator’s panel

Here is a picture of the boom operator’s panel of the KC-135 stratotanker.

• The gauges at the top indicate the position of the air refueling boom. The green arcs represent the air refueling envelope that the receiver aircraft must remain inside of. The red markings on the gauges are the limits of the air refueling envelope. If the receiver exceeds these limits and the tanker’s signal system is in NORMAL, then an automatic disconnect will occur.
• The boom signal coil voltmeter on the right of the panel shows the status of the boom nozzle signal coil when the PUSH TO TEST button is pressed. The voltmeter displays OPEN, GOOD, and SHORTED.
• The TEST CONTACT button advances the signal system to CONTACT when pressed if the signal amplifier is operational.
• The RESET READY button resets the signal system to READY.
• The blue, green, and orange lights display the current status of the air refueling signal system. The blue READY light indicates the system is ready for contact with a receiver. The green CONTACT light indicates that the boom is in contact with a receiver and that fuel transfer can occur. The orange DISCONNECT light indicates that a disconnect signal has been received.
• The TLSCP AT DISCONNECT (telescope at disconnect) switch selects if the boom will automatically retract when a disconnect signal is received. It has two positions AUTO, and MANUAL.
• The PILOT DIRECTOR LIGHTS are controlled by four rheostats for the background elevation & letters and telescope and for the position elevation and telescope pilot director lights.
• The NACELLE ILLUMINATION rheostats control the brightness of the engine illumination lights.
• The A/R FlOODLIGHT rheostat controls the brightness of the tail mounted air refueling floodlight.
• The BOOM NOZZLE rheostat controls the brightness of the boom mounted nozzle light that shines light on the boom nozzle.
• The UNDER BODY rheostat controls the brightness of lights mounted on the inboard side of the inboard engine struts that illuminate the under body of the aircraft to help with night air refueling.
• The UNDER WING rheostat controls the brightness of lights mounted on the underside of the aft fuselage that illuminage the underside of the wings.
• The BOOM MARKER controls turn on ultraviolet fluorescent tube lights mounted in the boom that cause fluorescent markings on the boom to glow for night air refueling. The ON/OFF switch controls power to the lights and the START positions of the start switch each turn on one of the two fluorescent lights. The neon lights indicate the status of the marker lights.
• The DIRECTOR LIGHTS GROUND TEST switch is used to turn on all pilot director lights at once for maintenance testing.

 

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Remembering the crew of KC-135 63-8877

Air Refueling Close Call – E-3 Sentry

This is a very scary situation between a NATO E-3 Sentry and a KC-135. The boom operator couldn’t even get out a breakaway call. Makes you wonder what happens when there isn’t a camera filming.

Video Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcLiAAVeYhk

F/A-18E Buddy Refueling

This isn’t something you see every day from the boom pod; a pair of F/A-18Es buddy refueling.

F/A-18E Buddy Refueling

S-3 Viking Refueling From Boom To Drogue Adapter (BDA)

Here is a rare look at a Lockheed S-3 Viking refueling from a KC-135 Boom to Drogue Adapter.

Image Source:

Don Killian

Boom Operator Memorial – Altus AFB, OK

Click for a 50 Megapixel image

This memorial is a lasting tribute to those who gave the last full measure of devotion that freedom might survive lost in the steadfast performance of duty they, their crews, and families have the gratitude of an eternally thankful nation. It is with solemn pride and a heavy heart that we acknowledge these who have laid so costly an offering upon the altar of freedom and ensured we shall never forget their sacrifice.

Boom Memorial Names

KB-29 SUPERFORTRESS
7-Jul-51	TSGT HENRY H. HILL
7-Jul-51	1LT JACK W. KERN
7-Jul-51	CPL REGINALD F. RUSSELL
7-Jul-51	SSGT SCOTT L. WALLACE
10-Jul-53	SGT WALTER F. OLSEN
26-Dec-56	TSGT THURMAN RANIER
10-Jan-57	TSGT EDWARD C. CLEMONS
10-Jan-57	SSGT MICHAEL B. MCINTOSH
2-Feb-57	MSGT LAWRENCE M. GRIGORY
2-Feb-57	A2C ARTHUR B. KOSIER
2-Feb-57	A3C FRANKLIN D. SCHWEIGERT
KB-50 SUPERFORTRESS
13-Mar-57	A2C ROBERT E. CRAIG
13-Mar-57	A2C BILLY B. ROSE
8-May-57	SSGT THOMAS E. O’CONNOR
8-May-57	A3C DONALD E. COSPER
13-Aug-58	A2C FRANCIS C. HERMANCE, JR.
13-Aug-58	SSGT NORBERT T. KNULTY
22-Jan-59	A2C IGNACIO W. SANCHEZ
22-Jan-59	TSGT WAYNE M. SOUDER
4-Aug-59	A2C THOMAS M. PAYTON
18-Oct-60	SSGT HARDIN A. BAILEY
18-Oct-60	A2C THOMAS J. LANE
18-Oct-60	A3C MICHAEL W. MILLER
5-Mar-61	SSGT HAROLD D. MEEUSEN
5-Mar-61	A2C CLIFTON C. TABOR
8-Jan-62	A2C PAUL M. CLAWSON
8-Jan-62	A2C CARLTON A. LINK
8-Jan-62	SSGT BILLIE D. MOORE
9-Feb-62	A1C GUY L. POWELL
9-Feb-62	A2C RALPH E. REUTZEL
20-Dec-62	SSGT ROBERT T. CRAIG
20-Dec-62	SSGT JAMES R. HAYES
13-Aug-64	SSGT WALTER B. HICKMAN, JR.
13-Aug-64	SSGT CAREY A. LIVINGSTON
KC-97 STRATOFREIGHTER
9-Nov-51	SGT JAMES A. MAINS
27-Jun-54	A1C DAVID ARAMBULA
27-Jun-54	SSGT ROBERT O. GONZALES
27-Jun-54	SSGT VINCENT PROVENZANO
23-Feb-55	SSGT ROBERT E. ROSENCRANCE
23-Feb-55	A2C CHARLES J. SITFA
4-May-55	A1C MARVIN R. DEVRIES
4-May-55	A1C JOSEPH L. PRIDGEN
13-Jul-55	SSGT GEORGE R. MIGNOSA
13-Jul-55	SSGT MARVIN F. RUSK
25-Apr-56	SSGT DONALD S. DELPRIORE
25-Apr-56	A2C JURI E. JOONAS
25-Apr-56	SSGT KENNETH E. VANPATTON
26-Jun-56	TSGT BARDEL A. CRUM
26-Jun-56	SSGT ROBERT L. WALLACE
6-Jul-56	A2C WILLIAM L. FALCONER
22-Jan-57	SSGT JOEL V. BLACKWELL
22-Jan-57	SSGT RAYMOND E. NOAH
18-Jul-57	SSGT JACKIE J. JAMERSON
29-Oct-57	TSGT RONALD E. RUBLE
12-Nov-58	MSGT CURTIS W. KING
12-Nov-58	A2C JOHN M. SCSERBAK
22-Jul-59	TSGT JAKE SCHMIDT
30-Mar-60	SSGT SHIRLEY D. RENNER
27-Jun-60	TSGT ROBERT P. COSTELLO
28-Feb-61	SSGT ERNEST J. LEMOINE
5-Nov-64	SSGT GERALD W. SHULTZ
19-Dec-64	TSGT JAMES R. BILL
KC-135 SRATOTANKER
27-Jun-58	MSGT DONALD H. GABBARD
25-Nov-58	TSGT RONALD L. CHAMPION
31-Mar-59	TSGT HERMAN A. CLARK
15-Oct-59	SSGT PAUL R. THOMASSON
3-Feb-60	SSGT GEORGE W. SHORT
9-May-62	SSGT WALLACE R. ADAMS
10-Sep-62	TSGT JOHN L. DUNCAN
10-Sep-62	TSGT KENNETH A. QUINN
27-Feb-63	TSGT DANIEL C. CAMERON
21-Jun-63	MSGT DANIEL F. DONAHUE
28-Aug-63	MSGT CARL H. BURRIS
28-Aug-63	TSGT RAY L. FISH
8-Jul-64	SSGT ROBERT L. GRAVES
4-Jan-65	SSGT JIMMY TARDIE
16-Jan-65	SSGT REGINALD R. WENT
26-Feb-65	MSGT CAREY W. ADDISON JR.
3-Jun-65	TSGT LESTER M. ALLSOP
17-Jan-66	MSGT LLOYD POTOLICCHIO
17-May-66	TSGT HARRY L. ALEXANDER
19-May-66	SSGT CHARLES E. STUART
19-Jan-67	MSGT ORVILLE MONTGOMERY
17-Jan-68	TSGT CHARLES C. CHAPLIN
30-Jul-68	SGT CHARLES A. OLVIS JR.
30-Jul-68	SSGT HURSCHEL D. PRIDDY
2-Oct-68	TSGT EARL B. ESTEP JR.
22-Oct-68	SMSGT HOWARD B. BENGE
19-Dec-69	SMSGT HOWARD G. BENFORD
3-Jun-71	SSGT RICHARD D. ROUSHER
13-Jun-71	TSGT HUBERT MILES JR.
13-Mar-72	SGT BRUCE J. KLAVERKAMP
25-Mar-75	SMSGT JACKIE V. EGBERT
7-Dec-75	SGT DAVID M. WANDEL
6-Feb-76	SSGT LLOYD D. BAKER
26-Sep-76	TSGT GARY L. CARLSON
19-Sep-79	SMSGT ALBERT L. EVANS
13-Mar-82	TSGT DONALD J. PLOUGH
19-Mar-82	MSGT RICHARD A. CROME
27-Aug-85	TSGT CLAUDE F. ARDEN
27-Aug-85	SSGT DESIREE LOY
17-Jun-86	SSGT QUINN L. DEWITT
13-Mar-87	SSGT RODNEY S. ERKS
13-Mar-87	SMSGT PAUL W. HAMILTON
11-Oct-88	A1C ROBERT L. PARHAM
20-Nov-88	MSGT JAMES L. BORLAND
31-Jan-89	CAPT ROBERT LEWELLYN
31-Jan-89	SSGT DAVID VICKERS
20-Sep-89	MSGT CHERYL HELGERMAN
20-Sep-89	MSGT WILLIAM J. MALICO
4-Oct-89	A1C JACK D. CUPP
19-Nov-97	MSGT ROBERT “TUG” MCGRAW
13-Jan-99	TSGT RICHARD D. VISINTAINER
ADDED SINCE BOOM MEMORIAL DEDICATION
KC-97 STRATOFREIGHTER
27-Aug-56	A1C WILLIAM R. DENNIE Jr.
27-Aug-56	A3C RICHARD A. RIDLON
ADDED SINCE BOOM MEMORIAL DEDICATION
KB-29 SUPERFORTRESS
8-Apr-54	A2C FREDERICK L. MARSHALL
8-Apr-54	A2C WAYNE D. WHITSELL

F-16XL Air Refueling Pictures

Here are some pictures of an F-16XL refueling from a KC-135. These pictures are quite rare and it took me a very long time to track them down.

F-16XL Behind a KC-135.

F-16XL refueling from a KC-135.

F-16XL refueling from a KC-135.

F-16XL refueling from a KC-135.

Image Sources:

http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/shinecommerce/6901.html?p=1&t=3

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/Photo/F-16XL2/HTML/EC96-43811-2.html

V-22 Osprey Refueling from KC-135 Boom to Drogue Adapter (BDA)

These are pictures that I have been in search of for a very long time and I think they might be the new crown jewels of my collection. I was very excited when I finally was able to get copies of them.

Here are pictures of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey refueling from a KC-135 boom to drogue adapter (BDA). These pictures were taken during flight testing and as of the date of this post the V-22 is not included in the ATP-56(B) refueling manual and therefore is not allowed to be refueled.

The boom to drogue adapter replaces the fuel nozzle on the tip of the boom and is attached to a 10′ internally stiffened hose that terminates in a conical drogue. The drogue and hose are not retracted inside the boom and therefore always hang out from the end of the boom. This unusual configuration often draws the attention of other aircraft and ground controllers when KC-135s operate from civilian airfields. During use, the boom is fully extended to 20 feet so that the fuel pressure in the boom does not cause it to extend.

V-22 Ground Refueling Test With a KC-135 Boom to Drogue Adapter.

V-22 Ground Refueling Test With a KC-135 Boom to Drogue Adapter.

V-22 Approaching Pre-Contact Behind A KC-135.

V-22 In Contact With KC-135 Boom to Drogue Adapter.

V-22 Flight Test Refueling With KC-135 Boom to Drogue Adapter.

V-22 in contact with a KC-135.

Huge sparks during Air Refueling

A common question that I receive is what happens if there is a spark during Air Refueling; will we blow up? I think this video dramatically puts to rest any notion that there is a risk of explosion if there is a spark. The two aircraft in this video are a KC-135 and an E-4B. As the two aircraft fly through the air they pick up electrical charge at different rates. This difference is equalized by the spark that jumps between the two aircraft. It is difficult to tell from the video, but it looks like these sparks are 3-5 feet long and jumping between the tanker’s  nozzle and the receiver. The dielectric breakdown of air is approximately 3 million volts per meter which suggests that there is something like 3-6 million volts difference between the aircraft.

Video Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVzpV3V_V3U

Royal Singapore Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker

Video detailing the Royal Singapore Air Force’s KC-135R Stratotanker and its mission. View in HD.

Video Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awjSG5P4_wY