Boeing 747 refueling SR-71 Blackbird
Here is what must have been a rare event; a 747 tanker refueling a SR-71 Blackbird. I don’t know much information about 747 tankers. If anybody has information about 747 tankers I would love to hear from you. I would especially be interested in photographs of the boom operator’s compartment, controls, and panel.
Boeing 747 tanker refueling a SR-71 Blackbird
Air Refueling the A-12 and SR-71 Blackbird
Here are a bunch of pictures of aerial refueling with the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and A-12 Oxcart. Feel free to leave comments below about your experiences and as always, please email me your pictures at the email address listed to the right. 
SR-71A #61-7952 during the first ever in-flight refuelling of an SR-71, on 29April1965. Lockheed photo via Tony Landis
KC-135 Refueling SR-71 Blackbird at sunset.
ca. 1991, NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA — NASA’s triple-sonic SR-71B experimental reconnaisance jet flies up to the refueling probe from an aerial tanker near Edwards Air Force Base, California. 1991. — Image by © CORBIS
KC-135 refueling M-21 with GTD-21 Drone.
Close up view from the Boom Pod while refueling a SR-71 Blackbird.
Post AR with an SR-71.
A left side view of an SR-71 aircraft moving toward a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft for inflight refueling. The SR-71 is from the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.
Lockheed SR-71 in flight refueling. SR-71A (S/N 61-7952) refuels from KC-135A (S/N 58-0094). (U.S. Air Force photo)
Image Source:
Various
SR-71 Refueling
- SR-71 Refueling from KC-135 Stratotanker
- SR-71 Refueling from KC-135 Stratotanker
This image was taken in 1984 with pilot Les Dyer at the controls of the sleek Mach 3 SR-71 Blackbird. The KC-135Q was a specially modified version of the KC-135 that could separate its body tank fuel from the wing tank fuel so that it could carry the JP-7 fuel that the SR-71 required. Reengined KC-135Qs were redesignated KC-135T.
Image Source:
Les DryerAbout
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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