May 26,2008:
The U.S. Air Force is retiring its
oldest KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. The recent retirement of this KC-135E,
after 48 years service, leaves only one KC-135E still in service. But it will
be retired soon, leaving only the KC-135R to serve for another 10-15 years
(until the KC-45 replaces them).
The 157
KC-135Es were originally KC-135As that had their engines replaced with more
powerful ones taken from retired commercial Boeing 707s (the commercial version
of the KC-135). These aircraft were used by reserve units. Later, 500 more
recent KC-135s had new engines installed, to produce the KC-135R. The
replacement engines enabled the tankers to carry more fuel and stay in the air
longer.
Retired
KC-135s are placed in storage at the air force "bone yard" in Arizona. There,
the aircraft stand ready for activation in a national emergency or, as is more
likely, being picked apart for spare parts, and eventually being chopped up for
scrap metal.