KC135..NOT a 707. A video for modellers
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- I believe many people think the KC-135 is a variant of the Boeing 707. It is not. In this video I will tell you why, show you why and show you all the kits available of the old girl and her variants.
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Greetings from Mexico. I watched all Your beginners videos. I started applying Your advice from those videos. Edgar
Buenas. Donde aca en Mexico??
Thanks for this vid. I have 1600 hours in the KC135 as a navigator.
This plane is a marvelous plane because it is NOT automated and the pilot stays in control in emergency situations.
I had a TDY to Fairford and over that my 135 refueled a fighter that had lost one of its gear on touch and goes. We refueled this plane from 7000 feet altitude down to 5000 which is the lowest refueling ever. At 5000 feet the boom broke due to being at the angle limit (The angle of attack changes at different altitudes). The refueling allowed the time to foam the runway. The plane engaged the cable at the end despite trying to go around and ended up with one wing tip embedded in dirt, the aircraft was repaired and put back in service.
Great story
Cheers, Nige. Myths dispelled and knowledge gaps filled admirably.
Interesting overview of the history and kits of this beast! This form of vid could be applied to a lot of areas, so bring 'em on! Nice one!
Please show us everything you've got for those models. they may be too expensive for me but I'll take a look at it later. Thanks for everything Nigel. Love from Iceland
Yes Nige, the Turkish did get the CFM engines on their 135s. I saw one at RIAT 2019. The last AWACS kit I built was the heller E-3 with decals for the RAF and French. The USAF did NOT put the CFM engines on their E-3s. There was talk about it but, they decided that there was no point, the JT3D engines were good enough for them. I think they also expected to have an E-3 replacement by now, even though that announcement only just took place.
Nigel, Just a note, Boeing at this time I was doing (very) well from a company/financial point of view at the time of the dash 80 prototype. Boring production was booming with both B-47’s and, B-52’s coming off the factory.
Yes Boeing “did risk the farm” concerning the development of the 747. (Which was a resounding success).
TF-33 re-engines, gave a 5 engine equivalent to the J-57 versions.
Last delivered B-52 was in 1963. Expected to serve to 2040’s………equivalent to Sopworth Camels in Desert Storm.
...and the Rivet Joint and Cobra Ball airframes are from KC-135 airframes rebuilt at L3 Communications in Greenville, TX.
Nigel, Thank you for the excellent information. Very Useful.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Nigel, I love this Aircraft as it's so cool ...
All these years I thought the KC-135 was a military 707. Thanks for your video Nigel, very informative.
Hi Nigel, What a different but very informative video, I would love to see more of these type of videos.
More to come!
Thanks buddy, cheers from Uruguay.
The dash-80 was the sales pitch to the USAF, in what became the KC-135. Boeing hoped to use the dash-80 as a dual sales pitch to the airlines. The Boeing 720 is, more or less, a civilian version of the KC-135. the 707-300 became the pinnacle of the 707 program.
Edit: that’s pretty funny. The first 135 kit I bought was the NKC-135 Laser lab.
@mikemontgomery2654 KC has narrower cross section and also lacks the upper/lower lobe cusp which the other Boeing fuselage were given after this aircraft was built.
David R Lentz, Columbus, Ohio, USA (Sunday, 25 August, 2024)
Thanks, Nigel, for this. I had at least one of the KC-135A, another to convert to a KC-135Q, the KC-135R, an EC-135C “Looking Glass” (that kit had parts redundancies, including jet engine pods, to create nearly any C-135 USAF aircraft); I wanted at least a couple more, one to backdate to a KC-135B version (the original designation of the EC-135C), and another to make a KC-135E variant.
I also had Heller’s Boeing E-3B Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) USAF Aircraft (itself based upon the Boeing 707-300B passenger airliner from the 1960s). Heller also had made a kit of this Boeing TWA Airliner (80449), one of which I had meant to convert to a Boeing C-137 Stratoliner USAF VIP transport aircraft (derived from the Boeing 707-320B/C series jet airliner); in the 1960s, these had become the first USAF executive transport expressly for the official use of the President of the United States of America, who at that time had been President John F. Kennedy. (Incidentally, “Air Force One” is just the call-sign of ANY aircraft under official USAF ægis aboard which the U.S. President is making passage.)
For that matter, I want to include in this montage Academy’s 1:72nd-scale kit of the Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter USAF In-Flight Refueller. Moreover, I would build it (as well as the other tanker jets) airborne, in the process of refuelling a contemporary. Following closely behind a KC-135A replica, I would place a model of a Boeing B-52A/B Stratofortress USAF Strategic Bomber in natural metal, its ventral surface in anti-radiation white. Another pairing of the two might be a Boeing B-52E model with one of a KC-135E. Next in the sequence might be a KC-135Q model topping off a pair of Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird USAF Surveillance Reconnaissance Aircraft. With a KC-135R reproduction, I would set a Boeing E-3B USAF AWACS Aircraft; this would have the additional bonus of showing the size differential. A KC-135A servicing a Boeing C-137 USAF VIP transport would serve that purpose, as well.
I wish some model manufacturer would present us with a 1:72nd-scale kit of the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus USAF In-Flight Refueller; I would place behind it Boeing/North American Rockwell’s B-1B Lancer (Bone) USAF supersonic bomber; or a Northrop-Grumman B-2A Spirit USAF stealth bomber (and maybe, when one becomes available, Northrop-Grumman’s new B-21A Raider USAF stealth bomber.
The KC-46A compares favourably with the KC-135A, especially in dimensions, duration on station, load capacity, etc., of each:
KC-135 wingspan: 39.88 m (130 ft 10”); length: 41.53 m (136 ft 3”)
Transferable fuel capacity: 68,039 kg (150,000 lbs.); liquid: 117,347.765 L (31,000 US gal)
KC-46A wingspan (-300F wing): 48.1 m (157 ft 8”); length (-200ER): 50.5 m (165 ft 6”)
Transferable fuel capacity: 69,000* kg (155,000* lbs.); liquid: 118,200 L (31,220 US gal)
__________
*estimated (I am no maths whiz!)
I would add to my display a pair of 1:72nd-scale Airfix kits of Airco’s DH-4 Scout Bomber (and postwar U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier), the crews of which during the 1920s had conducted the world’s first in-flight refuelling; as they flew in close formation, one of the rear-seat chaps passed to his counterpart a long hose on an even longer rope, which drew from a sheet metal canister or tank a spot of petrol.
A decade or so later, another group of innovators flying the Lockheed Model 5C Vega æroplane (I infer two; I am relying upon recollection here, so I may be uncertain as to the specifics) also endeavoured to develop this idea (to what extent I cannot recall). I also do not know whether anyone makes (or has on hand a few) 1:72nd-scale kits of the Lockheed Vega.
Awesome video! Great seeing the -135 covered in such detail, and quite on point as well. I'm not an E model guy (though I did log 3.3hrs in one), but pretty sure they went out of service in 2009, and most of the ANG units that flew them had already transitioned to the R (or T) or were going through conversion training. Also believe the E model received the larger horizontal stabs during the A to E modifications, along with other upgrades... Sadly don't recall the timeline on that. Again I'm an old R model guy. Regarding visual differences between the 717-100 & 707 (720, etc). One not mentioned are the leading edge flaps... C-135 variants have a small section of leading edge flaps between engines #1 & #2, as well as engines #3 & #4. 707/720 variants (E-3, E-6, E-8, etc.) all have full length leading edge flaps. The wing has a bit more area and a different shape also, most notably it's trailing edge. Again love the video, great content as always!
So, I have also heard that the E got larger stabs, but were they as large as the R had?
@NigelsModellingBench yessir, E & R shared the same size horizontal stabs (tall vertical stab & larger powered rudder as well). Probably the most noticeable difference between the E & R externally, aside from the engines & pylons, was the APU inlet & exhaust openings. There are probably a few more differences but sadly it's been some time since last being around an E model.
Hi Nigil, I have the first AMT KC-135A. With the old engines. It looks like the same box as the R with a green camo and gray scheme with the A engines. Then, later on, AMT released the R with the new engines.
The early AMT kit has the smaller tail planes.
Wonderful informative video on a Sat tea time !! Marvellous thanks for doing this one 🙏👍
Nigel, if folks here had had access to manuals as I had as a kid, they would have all known the 135 was it's own unique size and smaller than the 707 aircraft. It is also larger than the 367-80 but shares the same wing.😊
There is the Squadron book that tells of the KC 135 available also that gives these differences that are shown as well.
Finally, confirmation that the 135 is the 717. Thanks Nigel.
Cheers Nigel and if you can do a video on the 707 and 747 it would be good.
Wow ! The modellers Master Mind!
Yes please do a kit review comparison of all versions produced. I have one in my stash I will be building soon. Minicraft makes 2 1/144 scale versions tha5 are nice models.
The main reason for the CFM-56 on the KC-135 here is because of the extra power it provides for those heavy tanker takeoffs. With the more lightly loaded recon versions of the airplane the JT3D/TF33 was adequate and the military here never cared about fuel consumption or noise!
TheE-6B (replacement for the EC-135 "Looking glass") is 707 derived and has the CFM-56 engines, I think simply because its a more recent development.
Not too many civil 707's ever got the CFM upgrade either, unlike the DC-8's.
Now that you say that, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a 707 refitted with CFM-56 engines.
Thanks Riley.
Good one Nigel. Going by my rattled memory, the KC135As did have revised taller tails fitted. Some early 707s were fitted with the shorter fin. There are photos out there. Also C135s were all built at Wichita. 707s were all built at Seattle. Just a note E3 AWACS are B707 airframes. All the best.
Thanks for the info. I did say that all E3 AWACS are indeed 707's.
I have kodachrome slides of an original KC 135 with the shorter vertical fin. I got to see it in 1964 when attending the Open House at Pease AFB with my family group, who included sisters' hubby. He held me up to a J 57 intake and we also were photographed looking from a distance at this jet. The shorter fin was in this color photo as well.😊
what we need is a 1/72 convair coronado........ can you sort it for me Nigel?
Good info Nigel.
Thanks 👍
Hello Nigel. I would watch similar history videos if you make any
Greetings Nigel. I have been educated lol. Just one question. How many rivets on the fuselage lol? Fun fact for you. In 1998 I was taken round on a tour of the US Aircraft Boneyard at Davis Monthan Airbase in Tuscon Arizona. I have a load of photos that I took. One of these days I will scan them into my PC and send them to you.
Are you going to build those kits
NIgel, very informative video - great historical info - and would be interested in similar coverage of the B-707. I'm interested in your thoughts about the possible re-engine program for the B-52, using the new Rolls-Royce engines (thereby creating the B-52J), and extending the B-52 service life well into the 2050s.
Whatever they do to the Buff to keep her flying.. I'm in!!
Good vid. All models got the tall tail early in the program and all As were changed before any were made into Es. All other versions upgraded as built
What was changed before they became E's? The E transformation didn't start until the early 80's, nearly 20 years after the last A was completed?
@@NigelsModellingBench The new E tail was put on all As as they were built after the tail was changed. Its a boosted rudder system and taller tail as they realized the original short tail was not enough. So its really an A tail?
For sure i am interested in a video about the 707.
Fun fact, the kc 10 was intended as a replacement for the kc 135, but end the career prior.
Fun fact n °2 refuelling the blackbirds was dangerous, bevande the kc had to fly at full throttle, while the sr 71 close to stall speed.
the KC 10A makes a fantastic model in matt grey......... if you're after a 707 i would get the Heller 1/72 Air France.....it's huge.
If you make the video, we will watch.
i think the AWACS is a 707??????? because it looks bigger than the KC-135 but it's confusing. plus the other Heller 1/72 is an Air France 707........ yes according to Google the KC-135 is a 365-80 prototype ......... i was wrong too because i thought the KC-135 was the boeing 720...........lol .............. the Heller AWACS is huge and looks excellent............ my AWACS has the large engines but it's the French version, the Yank Heller version has the original 707 engines............... i highly recommend the 1:144 KC-10A, it's a great model in all grey.
Yes, the AWACS is a 707, militarised.
@@NigelsModellingBench Unfortunately the french version doesn't have flashy decals, it's plain.... but has the bigger engines