The KC-135 was designed by Boeing starting with the Model 367-80; this prototype was also the basis for the 707 civil airliner, as well as the 717 (a bit smaller), which was adopted by the USAF as their C-135. The aircraft proved to be very versatile and was adapted to many specialised uses. Its most important role, however, was as the KC-135 refuelling tanker. Eight different versions were manufactured, some with added capacities, for a total of 700 aircraft. They were continuously up-dated, not so much with equipment, but with different engines, going from the original J57 jet engines to the TF-33 and finally the CFM-56. The first KC-135s were pressed into service in 1957, and their baptism of fire took place just a few years later in Vietnam. Even though several were sold to the French, to Singapore and Turkey, it was the USAF which used them the most. Several hundred are still in service today.

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U.S.A.F. - KC-135R, 916th Air Refuelling Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, 2007.
U.S.A.F. - KC-135R, 193rd Air Refuelling Squadron, 93rd Bomb Wing, Castle Air Force Base, California, 1995.
U.S.A.F. - KC-135R, 100th Air Refuelling Wing, Mildenhall RAF base, 2007.
Armée de I'Air - C135FR, 93eme Escadre de Ravitaillement en Vol.2007.

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