Wife & I had the opportunity to catch a hop on a KC-135 Stratotanker out to the NW recently. While enroute the a/c had scheduled a mission to do some tanking exercises with a C-17 Globemaster III. In addition to sitting in the cockpit for a while, the boom operator asked if we would like to join him in the boom area/station for the refueling exercise.

We met up with the C-17 at about 25,000' over Montana and proceeded to do some practice tanking. As you can see, the receiving a/c fly's within boom reach, maintains position, and the boom operator refuels the a/c by positioning (flying) the boom into the receiver a/c's refueling station, a triangular area behind the cockpit. The boom operator, lying on his stomach on a contoured mat, and controls and positions the boom into the refueling station on the C-17. We got to lie on our sides on either side of the boom operator in a tight, uncomfortable position but it was fun.

The C-17 did about 5 approaches to give each of the C-17 pilots practice. Last picture of the C-17, really 'up close and personal', was more than the wife could handle and had to leave, too close for comfort for her.....but these aircrews are truly professional and it was a very successful and enjoyable mission.

Just thought you might like to see how some of America's finest operate.