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KC-135 continues fueling after 44 years

Released: Jan. 21, 2003

By Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (USAFENS) -- With a total of eight units under its wing and a flying career of more years than the majority of base members have been alive, aircraft tail number 57-2605 celebrated its 44th year of flight Monday.

Originally flown Jan. 13, 1959, as an "A" model version of the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, the aircraft celebrated its 44th anniversary as Col. Donald Lustig, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, flew it to RAF Fairford, in England.

"I have absolutely no problems flying this aircraft, it's an incredible engineering design that Boeing first developed, and I think it's continued to be a great design," said Lustig.

In it's near half-century of flight, aircraft 57-2605 has flown more than 17,700 hours.

It is currently on a "black letter initial"-a big deal which means the aircraft has no discrepancies-nothing awaiting parts or maintenance.

"Our maintainers do a magnificant job keeping the planes operational and ready to fly," Lustig said. "We've kept the KC-135 very airworthy and very modern-as can be seen in the evidence of the most recent Pacer CRAG (navigation system) upgrade to the avionics system.

"And we're continuing to work hard with all levels of command to increase maintainability and decrease the number of man-hours per flying hour," he added. vStaff Sgt. Denzil Capps, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, is the aircraft's dedicated crew chief, and he takes his title seriously.

"Working on this plane is an extreme honor-especially as it is Col. Lustig's airplane," said Capps. "It carries both my name and his (Lustig's) name on the side-wherever it goes it represents both of us."

For Capps, who flew with the plane over Afghanistan last year during Operation Enduring Freedom, maintaining the aircraft is historically significant.

"It's neat to know my dad was in the service when this plane was in flight in its early years-he was a crew chief on B-52s and served in Vietnam.

"My grandfather was also a crew chief, working on B-25s, so it's in the blood," said Capps.

Just as important as aircraft 57-2605's sturdiness, is the mission that it's provided through the years.

"Everybody understands and realizes that the tankers are a true force multiplier and force enhancement and without tankers, we certainly wouldn't be able to do the worldwide mission that we do, as well as we do it," Lustig said, adding that he was looking forward to retiring the KC-135 in the future as advanced generation tankers are developed.

"But it is certainly capable of doing the job that we ask of it day-to-day," he added.

But it's only through the help of the maintainers that the aircraft continues to fly, said Lt. Col. Eric Lorraine, 100th AMXS commander.

"This anniversary is important to the members of the 100th AMXS because it is a true reflection of the dedication and professionalism of each and every person in the squadron," said Lorraine.

"Their efforts maintaining 57-2605, built before 99 percent of the squadron members were even born, ensure this aircraft continues to play a major role in operations that the 100th supports almost daily," he said.