NKC-135E 55-3135

[Old Viper Tester]

During the 1980s, NKC-135E s/n 55-3135 belonged to the 4950th Test Wing, Aeronautical Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command, stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB.

 

The 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, at Edwards AFB had no tankers assigned at the time. The solution was to provide a 4950th tanker to Edwards for use by the USAF Test Pilot School as a stability and control curriculum platform and use by the 6512th Test Squadron ("Test Ops") as tanker support for local test programs. Much of the time the tanker on loan was '135, with '128 occasionally filling in when '135 was not available. The tankers were flown crews from the Tanker/Transport Branch of Test Ops and maintained by local crews.

 

55-3135 started out as a JKC-135A, the "J" denoting a temporary test modification, and was used to support/observe nuclear weapons tests. Hence the many windows on the right side of the fuselage. At some point, someone realized that all those holes in the jet and whatever other modifications existed weren't easily removed, the criteria for a "J" prefix, and the designation of '135 was changed to NKC-135A, the "N" prefix denoting permanent test modifications. Later still, '135 was upgraded to NKC-135E by replacing the original J57 turbojet engines with TF33 turbofan engines.

 

Enough blather? then on with the pics...

 

January 1983 refueling F-16A 80-0550

 

June 1983 refueling F-15B 77-0166

 

 

April 1984 refueling B-1B test bed 74-0158

 

 

October 1984, static display for the Edwards AFB Open House

 

January 1985 refueling FSD F-16A 75-0746

 

May 1985 refueling FSD F-16A 75-0746

 

 

 

May 1985 refueling F-4C 63-7409

 

June 1991. Where did all those "permanent" windows go? And notice the "ASD" tail band now reads "AFSC". The new Systems Command commander noted that other aircraft with this type of tail band carried the initials of the owning major command (mostly Military Airlift Command birds), rather than the initials of a unit lower on the organizational chart. So, he directed that all the ASD tail bands be changed to AFSC.

 

 

I'd like to make an aerial diorama of '135 refueling a white-winged F-4E during a cruise missile chase mission, but I'm still trying to work out how to inconspicuously suspend the models. The image in my brain is a single acrylic rod supporting the tanker with the F-4 suspended from the tanker using a brass rod inside the refueling boom. Though I have my doubts that a brass rod that thin would sufficiently support an F-4 model.   Hmmmm....

 

Thanks for looking,

Sven

[CT7567]

Always enjoy your posts, especially the rare goodies like this one!

 

In the January '83 pic, is that F-16A carrying an early LANTIRN pod?

 

Re: the "permanent" windows being deleted, it appears to me they are (at most) plated over similar to the way the former passenger windows on the E-8 JSTARS are treated as part of their conversion from civilian 707s. If you look closely in the June '91 shot you can still see the outlines of the windows, so the openings are filled or possibly just painted over, but for modeling purposes you'd still want to show the panel lines (as appropriate to the scale).

 

As for your diorama idea, I think the main trick to make such a setup work is building a strong enough core structure into the models to carry the actual loads of the supporting rods. Some 30 years ago there was a spectacular 1/72 build of a KC-135R refueling a B-52G - I saw it in person at the '93 IPMS Nationals, it was also published in an FSM reader gallery. It was built using the DB conversions for the Monogram BUFF and AMT to make the R-variant, so substantial added weight over and above the not insignificant weight of the kits themselves. My recollection is there was basically a solid acrylic keel inside each fuselage with the IFR boom as a solid connecting rod between the two. I'm fairly sure in that case the B-52 was supported on its own rod, but the load for a Phantom would be dramatically less so I'm sure it could be done with some proper engineering.  And it could be a much worse challenge - imagine if you wanted to create an IFR diorama for Navy aircraft! 😆

[Old Viper Tester]

5 hours ago, CT7567 said:

In the January '83 pic, is that F-16A carrying an early LANTIRN pod?

Actually, the LANTIRN pods are dummies. They were using them to determine the effects on aircraft stability and maneuvering. They also did test events to verify that engine inlet distortion from the pods was negligible or non-existent. If memory serves, flight worthy LANTIRN pods were not available until late 1983 or even 1984.

 

 

Edited November 1, 2021 by Old Viper Tester
Image added.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

On 10/31/2021 at 3:42 PM, Old Viper Tester said:

May 1985 refueling F-4C 63-7409

 

Hello Sven,

        Some thoughts for your question. Since its going to be in flight could you use twin acrylic rods into the phantoms tailpipes ? Then connect to the KC via aluminum/brass. The KC could be suspended via the opposite wing into the rear wall with a heavy duty structure as well as possible an acrylic rod from underneath ? Something like in this photo ⬆️ Then you could use a back ground photo to hide the support structure. The whole display would have a base and two walls, left and rear. 

[iainpeden]

Years ago at the IPMS(UK) annual show there was a diorama in 1/72 of a KC-135Q refuelling an SR-71. The KC was supported on a single acrylic rod with the Blackbird being supported by the refuelling boom of the KC - all on a wooden mount.

 

@Old Viper Tester, I bet you're beginning to wish you hadn't had that "bright" idea because we are all in suspense awaiting the WIP!

[Red Dot]

Super photos Sven, and your usual interesting story

 

Andy 

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

On 11/1/2021 at 7:12 AM, Old Viper Tester said:

During the 1980s, NKC-135E s/n 55-3135 belonged to the 4950th Test Wing, Aeronautical Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command, stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB.

 

The 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, at Edwards AFB had no tankers assigned at the time. The solution was to provide a 4950th tanker to Edwards for use by the USAF Test Pilot School as a stability and control curriculum platform and use by the 6512th Test Squadron ("Test Ops") as tanker support for local test programs. Much of the time the tanker on loan was '135, with '128 occasionally filling in when '135 was not available. The tankers were flown crews from the Tanker/Transport Branch of Test Ops and maintained by local crews.

 

55-3135 started out as a JKC-135A, the "J" denoting a temporary test modification, and was used to support/observe nuclear weapons tests. Hence the many windows on the right side of the fuselage. At some point, someone realized that all those holes in the jet and whatever other modifications existed weren't easily removed, the criteria for a "J" prefix, and the designation of '135 was changed to NKC-135A, the "N" prefix denoting permanent test modifications. Later still, '135 was upgraded to NKC-135E by replacing the original J57 turbojet engines with TF33 turbofan engines.

 

Enough blather? then on with the pics...

 

January 1983 refueling F-16A 80-0550

 

June 1983 refueling F-15B 77-0166

 

 

April 1984 refueling B-1B test bed 74-0158

 

 

October 1984, static display for the Edwards AFB Open House

 

January 1985 refueling FSD F-16A 75-0746

 

May 1985 refueling FSD F-16A 75-0746

 

 

 

May 1985 refueling F-4C 63-7409

 

June 1991. Where did all those "permanent" windows go? And notice the "ASD" tail band now reads "AFSC". The new Systems Command commander noted that other aircraft with this type of tail band carried the initials of the owning major command (mostly Military Airlift Command birds), rather than the initials of a unit lower on the organizational chart. So, he directed that all the ASD tail bands be changed to AFSC.

 

 

I'd like to make an aerial diorama of '135 refueling a white-winged F-4E during a cruise missile chase mission, but I'm still trying to work out how to inconspicuously suspend the models. The image in my brain is a single acrylic rod supporting the tanker with the F-4 suspended from the tanker using a brass rod inside the refueling boom. Though I have my doubts that a brass rod that thin would sufficiently support an F-4 model.   Hmmmm....

 

Thanks for looking,

Sven

Sven,

 

I assume you are talking 1/72?

 

I have seen this approach work well, though rather than brass rod inside the boom the builder used heavy gauge piano wire from memory and replaced centre section of the boom plastic part. There was also some structural work inside the KC-135 to support the F-4.

 

There was also recently an article in Finescale Modeller of this being done n 1/144 with diagrams of the support set up, can't find the article at the moment. I think it was in the last few years.