Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker
This variant of the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker reflects a re-engined version of the classic Cold War-era tanker, fitted with newer, more efficient and quieter engines than the original 1950s design. That upgrade significantly extended the aircraft's service life and improved its fuel efficiency without needing an entirely new airframe. Its refuelling boom, operated by a crew member lying prone at the rear of the fuselage, remains fundamentally unchanged from the original design decades earlier. Aircraft of this lineage remain central to extending the range and endurance of allied air forces around the world.
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Did you know?
France's C-135FR fleet added wing-mounted refuelling pods so it could serve probe-equipped Mirages and Rafales, not just boom-only US-style receivers, before retiring in 2023.
Specifications
| Length | 41.5 m (136 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 39.9 m (131 ft) |
| Height | 12.7 m (42 ft) |
| Persons on board | 20 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 147 t |
| Range | 4,570 NM (8,464 km) |
| Maximum speed | 469 kt (869 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 50,000 ft (15,240 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 37,000 ft (11,278 m) |
| Rate of climb | 5,000 ft/min (25.4 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 4,500 m (14,764 ft) |
| Landing distance | 800 m (2,625 ft) |
| Engines | 4x CFM International F108 |
| Units built | 11 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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