Close
Boeing Images
Cart (0)
Login / Register
0
Selected
Invert selection
Deselect all
Deselect all
Click here to refresh results
Click here to refresh results
Go to Login page
Hide details
Conceptually similar
KC-135R Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135R Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135R Stratotanker Landing
KC-135R Stratotanker Takeoff
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135A (foreground) with KC-135R Stratotanker
KC-135R Stratotanker Crew Entryway
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135R Stratotanker Refuels F-16s
KC-135 Stratotanker
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135 Stratotanker in the Clouds
KC-135 Stratotankers in Flight
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight, Landing Gear Extended
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight
KC-135 Stratotanker in Flight
Similar tones
View images with similar tones
KC-135R Stratotanker in Flight
The KC-135 was born out of necessity and innovation. In the early 1950s, Strategic Air Command was beginning to operate the new jet-powered Boeing B-52 Stratofortress that with in-flight refueling was capable of striking targets anywhere in the world. At the time, however, the only tankers in the SAC inventory were piston-engined KC-97s. The difference in performance between the two planes forced the B-52 to fly near its aerodynamic stall speed during aerial refueling. This situation created an opportunity for Boeing to introduce a jet-powered aerial refueling tanker—and further refine the “flying boom” refueling technology it invented in the late 1940s.
Add to lightbox
Add to cart
Unique identifier
BI230115
Boeing ID
597-62
Type
Image
Size
2925px × 2368px 19MB
License type
RM
Keywords
1950s
air to air
airplanes
clouds
copy space
cutouts
day
exteriors
flying
full body views
gray
left side views
military
military livery
nobody
photos
scanned from film negative
sunshine
text
white
Restrictions