KC-135 Stratotanker's Principal Mission and its general Specification Principal Mission

The KC-135 Stratotanker's principal mission is air refueling, which has a unique quality to improve the USAF's capability to accomplish its primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power. It also provides the aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft as well as aircraft of allied nations.

General Specifications :

Main Function: Aerial refueling and airlift.

Power Plant: The KC-135R/T, CFM International CFM-56 turbofan engines, KC-135E, Pratt and Whitney TF-33-PW-102 turbofan engines.

Wingspan: 130 feet, 10 inches i.e. 39.88 meters approximately.

Length : 136 feet, 3 inches i.e. 41.53 meters approximately.

Height : 41 feet, 8 inches i.e.12.7 meters approximately.

Speed : 530 miles/hour at 30,000 feet say 9,144 meters.

Ceiling : 50,000 feet say 15,240 meters.

Unit Cost : $39.6 million say FY98 constant dollars

Date Deployed: On August 1956

Range : 1,500 miles i.e. 2,419 kilometers with 150,000 pounds say 68,039 kilograms of transfer fuel; ferry mission, up to 11,015 miles i.e. about 17,766 kilometers.

Maximum Takeoff Weight : 322,500 pounds which is 146,285 kilograms.

Maximum Transfer Fuel Load: 200,000 pounds which is 90,719 kilograms.

Maximum Cargo Capability : 83,000 pounds which is 37,648 kilograms and 37 passengers

Pallet Positions : 6

Crew Members : Four: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, boom operator. Aircraft equipped with PACER CRAG don’t have a navigator in all the missions. The Air Force procured a partial number of navigator suites that can be installed for unique missions.