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Aug 21, 2019 09:03:37   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
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.


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Aug 21, 2019 09:13:02   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
Some spectacular photos, Blaster. Good work on the part of everyone involved.
--Bob
Blaster34 wrote:
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.
Wife & I had the opportunity to catch a hop on... (show quote)

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Aug 21, 2019 09:18:29   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
rmalarz wrote:
Some spectacular photos, Blaster. Good work on the part of everyone involved.
--Bob


Thanks Bob...I'm 6'3", 225lbs, no longer that agile and it was a tight squeeze for me...they sure have to be agile to do that work. Also shows the difference between Navy & AF tanking procedures.

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Aug 21, 2019 09:27:21   #
al13
 
Wow

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Aug 21, 2019 09:28:25   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
al13 wrote:
Wow


Exactly, professionalism

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Aug 21, 2019 09:43:39   #
Transbuff1985 Loc: east central Iowa
 
Nice series, nice detail, lucky you, thanks for sharing Blaster!

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Aug 21, 2019 09:43:49   #
Susan yamakawa
 
Blaster34 wrote:
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.
Wife & I had the opportunity to catch a hop on... (show quote)


Truly amazing👍🤗

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Aug 21, 2019 09:46:49   #
PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon
 
You casually say: “Wife & I had the opportunity to catch a hop on a KC-135 Stratotanker out to the NW recently.”

I’m very curious. How come?

Great pictures by the way!

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Aug 21, 2019 09:51:36   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
PaulBrit wrote:
You casually say: “Wife & I had the opportunity to catch a hop on a KC-135 Stratotanker out to the NW recently.”

I’m very curious. How come?

Great pictures by the way!



Thanks....One of the benefits of being retired military is 'Space Available' on military a/c....only when available though, low priority for retirees.....active members and cargo always have priority. This flight originated out of McDill in Tampa and was headed to Seattle area.

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Aug 21, 2019 09:53:13   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
Transbuff1985 wrote:
Nice series, nice detail, lucky you, thanks for sharing Blaster!


Thanks Transbluff, really appreciate the comment and you're more than welcome.

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Aug 21, 2019 09:58:50   #
Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas
 
Very good shots, Blaster.

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Aug 21, 2019 10:02:21   #
Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL
 
Great shots...super experience.

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Aug 21, 2019 10:12:45   #
gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN
 
Very nice set and very interesting. Thanks for posting.

/George

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Aug 21, 2019 10:16:38   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Wow!

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Aug 21, 2019 10:16:40   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
Earnest Botello wrote:
Very good shots, Blaster.


Thanks Earnest

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