KC-135 Tanker Q&A

[baileynme]

A little off topic, but this right here.

I’ll add that almost every ANG/AFRC -135 crewdog our there knows at least one -135 guy at every other ANG/AFRC squadron out there from our 10 years of rainbow deployments to the Died (and Guam to a lesser extent). We all flew missions, ate omelets, drank 3 beers and bitched about the same stuff over and over again. We all kept in touch and we all reach out to each other bro to bro when someone applies to our respective unit(s).

It’s amazing to me how some people don’t quite realize this.

Numerous deployments and a schoolhouse assignment results in less than 2 degrees of separation from just about every tanker crewdog. It really is a small world.


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[FourFans]

On ‎8‎/‎18‎/‎2018 at 2:46 AM, Kenny Powers said:

Real question: why do the -135 guys always have the lights cranked down so low in the AOR...

So it's harder for bad guys to read their subdued SOAR nametags and patches.

[Homestar]

8 hours ago, FourFans130 said:

So it's harder for bad guys to read their subdued SOAR nametags and patches.

Wrong. It’s so you can get more battery life out of the computer playing the movies by putting the screen to dim. 

[Sua Sponte]

On 8/19/2018 at 11:14 PM, FourFans130 said:

So it's harder for bad guys to read their subdued SOAR nametags and patches.

All ISIS has to follow them on social media to see all their selfies in the cargo compartment with NVG’s on.

[Danger41]

Anyone here work for/have a good POC for the 141 ARS with Washington ANG?

[Sua Sponte]

6 hours ago, Danger41 said:

Anyone here work for/have a good POC for the 141 ARS with Washington ANG?

Yeah

[Gazmo]

Anyone here work for/have a good POC for the 141 ARS with Washington ANG?

FYI, it is the 141 ARW.... not ARS. 141 ARS is in Jersey.

[Prosuper]

On 3/19/2008 at 11:33 PM, Tone deaf said:

 

Bergman,

 

Believe me, your reaction was echoed at tanker squadrons everywhere. The AF is trying to save training $ and the generals look at the -135 training EPs in the jet when the other heavies do it in the sim and wanted to standardize. The PIQs will get an instrument qual checkride in the sim, which includes landings and EPs, and get a mission check in the jet, which includes refueling and tactics. Most folks are not pleased that we're moving in this direction, but the decisions have been made. I think it will take at least one or more serious mishaps where inadequate training is found as a causal factor to raise questions about this change, but you know as well as I that any f*ckups by a PIQ will likely be blamed on the AC for inadequate supervision and judgment, not the minimal experience they received during formal training.

Same in the MX world, new guys getting engine run qual go out to a jet on the line and just start one engine. Back in the day we had to go the sim once a year and have emer and jump chock procedures thrown at us for requal, that is all gone now. I'm one of the few still qualified to run the OC-135B , the last time I've been to a sim on that was 1988 at McClellan AFB in California. Yes it doesn't exist anymore. 

[uhhello]

 

Can anyone shed some light on what would lead to this configuration?  

[Kenny Powers]

Maybe I'm missing the point of your question but that is a KC-10 boom.

[uhhello]

9 minutes ago, Kenny Powers said:

Maybe I'm missing the point of your question but that is a KC-10 boom.

Didn't even notice.  Do E-models routinely engage afterburner on one engine on the tanker?

[Kenny Powers]

Not a Strike Eagle guy but my assumption is they are at a relatively high gross weight and tanking at a higher altitude than they'd prefer.

Probably in and out of AB with one engine to stay on the boom.

Edited September 30, 2019 by Kenny Powers

[pawnman]

3 minutes ago, Kenny Powers said:

Not a Strike Eagle guy but my assumption is they are at a relatively high gross weight and tanking at a higher altitude than they'd prefer.

Probably in and out of AB with one engine to stay on the boom, especially in a turn.

Sounds about right.  The B-1 puts two in min AB a lot when we're high gross weight, like deployed ops with a full weapons load and trying to top off the fuel 

[Sua Sponte]

48 minutes ago, uhhello said:

Didn't even notice.  Do E-models routinely engage afterburner on one engine on the tanker?

They do when they take on 20K+ of fuel and are high gross weight.

[Danger41]

Probably some Gen Z beta cuck SNAP trained on VR and safe spaces in the People’s Republic of Austin that didn’t EARN that Strike Eagle like back in my day!

[BashiChuni]

54 minutes ago, Danger41 said:

Probably some Gen Z beta cuck SNAP trained on VR and safe spaces in the People’s Republic of Austin that didn’t EARN that Strike Eagle like back in my day!

Omg I almost spit out my coffee! You sir are a black boarder wordsmith patch!

[MechGov]

Sounds about right.  The B-1 puts two in min AB a lot when we're high gross weight, like deployed ops with a full weapons load and trying to top off the fuel 

Man I wish I could engage the afterprop when we’re at max gross weight in the summer trying to max bag it

[GlassEmpty]

Man I wish I could engage the afterprop when we’re at max gross weight in the summer trying to max bag it

...us too.


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[CharlieHotel47]

Well... this block 45 no autopilot stuff below 10 grand sounds like it’s here to stay??? ... pilot error that started this thing or is the block 45 really just a polished turd???


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[StrikeOut312]

I bet it’s here to stay. Recently heard a story from a close friend about his autopilot doing an uncommanded climb.

I wouldn’t be surprised if B45 gets limited to non-critical phases of flight—including AR. Who wants George to pitch up/down when some other jet is on the boom?

Edited June 26, 2021 by StrikeOut312
fixed a typo

[Gazmo]

I have never had an issue with B45, however, I can say that in typical AMC fasion, its implementation, training and SOP's have been pretty terrible. There is a very good chance these issues are crew error due to aforementioned reasons.

[Sua Sponte]

I flew on B45 in 2015 in its infancy. Was there a software update that made it start being crazy?

[Gazmo]

I flew on B45 in 2015 in its infancy. Was there a software update that made it start being crazy?

No. Nothing that had anything to do with the autopilot so why all of a sudden now? There could very well be an issue with our hardware, but VVM and the understanding of the way the systems work should definitely be an SII.

[Springer]

On 9/29/2019 at 10:35 PM, uhhello said:

 

Can anyone shed some light on what would lead to this configuration?  

Had to tap burner occasionally with the RF-4C behind a ANG KC-97.  We were at high AOA because the AAR speed was so slow.

 

Edited June 27, 2021 by Springer

[StoleIt]

On 6/26/2021 at 6:55 PM, Sua Sponte said:

I flew on B45 in 2015 in its infancy. Was there a software update that made it start being crazy?

 

Same. I was helping at Edwards doing B45 test and don't recall anything like that happening. We were just spending an inordinate amount of time trying to make the Navy stay on the MPRS hose with the B45's roll knob.