Leading a team of contracted security agents augmenting the NATO MPs at NATO HQ Allied Air Command on Ramstein Air Base. Main tasks include pass and registration activities, entry control, surveillance and general security.
I had to go back home on emergency leave again and the next flight out of Ramstein was a Maine Air Guard KC135 taking a group of MANG medical troops back home after their 2 week training at Ramstein. It was the most enjoyable flight I've ever had. The "Maineiacs" were hospitable beyond belief and went out of their way to make sure I felt at home with them. This continued when we got to Bangor and the airport was closed due to snow immediately after we landed. I was shown a "night out" on the ANG side of the airport including the NCO club. When the airport was still closed the next day, preventing them from flying to Forbes as planned, a pilot gave me a ride to the bus station and made a short detour on the way to show me Stephen King's house. What a cool bunch of folks.
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KC-135 Stratotanker Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
The Boeing Company's model 367-80 was the basic design for the commercial 707 passenger plane as well as the KC-135A Stratotanker. In 1954 the Air Force purchased the first 29 of its future 732-plane fleet. The first aircraft flew in August 1956 and the initial production Stratotanker was delivered to Castle Air Force Base, Calif., in June 1957. The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965.
Of the original KC-135A's, more than 415 have been modified with new CFM-56 engines produced by CFM-International. The re-engined tanker, designated either the KC-135R or KC-135T, can offload 50 percent more fuel, is 25 percent more fuel efficient, costs 25 percent less to operate and is 96 percent quieter than the KC-135A.
Specifications StatsCentral Model Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker Length 136.25 ft | 41.53 m Width 130.84 ft | 39.88 m Height 41.67 ft | 12.70 m Engine(s) 4 x CFM F108 turbofan engines generating 22,000lbs of thrust each. Empty Weight 106,307 lbs | 48,220 kg MTOW 322,503 lbs | 146,285 kg Max Speed 610 mph | 982 km/h | 530 kts Max Range 2,880 miles | 4,635 km Ceiling 41,719 ft | 12,716 m | 7.9 miles Climb Rate 1,290 ft/min (393.2 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament None. Accommodations 3