DOC Carrier Aircraft: 1917-Present (The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide) by Thomas Newdick in History

Description

Few would have imagined when "Dix" Loesch and "Tex" Johnston took the KC-135A up for its maiden flight on August 31; 1956 that some 60 years later; it would still be in front-line active service around the world. What began as a jet-powered replacement for the KC-97 to refuel Strategic Air Command's growing B-47 and B-52 bomber fleet soon evolved into America's first military heavy jet transport; an airborne command post platform capable of surviving and then commanding America's nuclear war plan; a testbed that enabled scientists to study the Earth; send men to the Moon and understand the power of the atom. Other variants of the KC-135 included a reconnaissance airframe that monitors arms agreements; gathers intelligence to understand the intentions and capabilities of potential enemies and provides real-time intelligence in combat - beginning with the war in Southeast Asia; and continuing to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. Today; tanker versions of the KC-135 remain in service with Chile; France; Singapore; Turkey; and the United States; while reconnaissance variants operate with Great Britain and the United States. This is a fully revised and expanded edition of the original bestselling 'Aerofax' book and includes operational histories of the 80+ unique types; as well as individual details for all 820 airplanes by serial number including first flight; delivery; changes in configuration; attrition; and retirement. Appendices cover all units; a summary of each accident; display and stored aircraft; and record-setting achievements. The author is a former USAF pilot qualified on 17 types of KC-135s; EC-135s; and RC-135s; who bring both personal experience and a broad historical understanding to this definitive work on one the most significant military aircraft of the Cold War and beyond.