Boeing C-135, KC-135, and VC-137

The Boeing Company emerged from World War II as the leading builder of large aircraft. It was experienced at selling planes to the military, although it had not experienced large sales of its civilian airliners.

The company's development of a commercial jet airliner was a gamble on which the entire company was bet. But with the advent of the 707, Boeing developed a successful commercial jetliner and the basis for new cargo and aerial refueling aircraft for the Air Force.

Boeing Model 367-80, the Dash-80, the 707 prototype, at Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport

Boeing Model 367-80, the Dash-80, the 707/C-135 prototype, at Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport (Staff Photo)

U.S. Air Force C-135 Stratolifter and KC-135 Stratotanker

The C-135 evolved from Boeing 707 prototype, the "Dash-80", and became the U.S. Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker, introduced in 1957. It replaced the KC-97.

The KC-135 Stratotanker is similar in appearance to the commercial 707, but has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707.

The KC-135 was initially used for refueling strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the Vietnam War and later conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm to extend the range and endurance of US tactical fighters and bombers.

The Stratotanker entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1957, and remains in active service in 2020. It is one of six military fixed-wing aircraft with over 50 years of continuous service with its original operator.

U.S.A.F Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

The next generation Air Force tanker was the KC-10 Extender, to be followed in 2017 by the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus which is based on the Boeing 767.

Variants of the C-135 airplane were utilized for other purposes, including presidential aircraft, such as the VC-137, also known as the C-137 Stratoliner.

To supplement its VC-137s, the Air Force converted several C-135 airframes to VC-135 VIP standard models, used for staff transport within the United States.

Boeing would eventually build over 800 of the C-135 series aircraft.

C-135 Series Aircraft of the U.S. Air Force

Model	Purpose
C-135 Stratolifter	Cargo & Trainer
KC-135 Stratotanker	Aerial Refueling
E-3 Sentry	AWACS
E-8 Joint STARS	Reconnaissance
OC-135B	Reconnaissance
RC-135	Reconnaissance
EC-135	Airborne Command
WC-135B	Weather
VC-137 Stratoliner	VIP Transport

VC-137 Presidential Aircraft

VC-137 Air Force One in flight - Tail Number 27000

Towards the end of Eisenhower's term in 1958, the Air Force added three Boeing 707 aircraft into presidential fleet. In October of 1962, the Air Force purchased an additional aircraft, a VC-137 designated as Special Air Mission (SAM) 26000.

SAM 26000 served presidents from 1962 to 1998, carrying Presidents Kennedy to Clinton. It is on display at the Museum of the U. S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

In December of 1962, another VC-137C was added to the inventory, known as SAM 27000. Today, 27000 is on display at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.


Boeing VC-137C Presidential Jet - Special Air Mission (SAM) 27000 Entered service in December, 1972, ended service August, 2001. Now on dispoay at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California

Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000, former "Air Force One" at Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, OH

Photos from the Airplanes Online Archives

Boeing VC-137B, "Freedom One", at the PIMA Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona
One of three Boeing 707-153s converted to military use, this aircraft was completed as a VC-137A by Boeing in Seattle, Washington in April 1959.

EC-135J S/N 63-8057 at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona

Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker S/N 55-3139 near Atwater, California

KC-135A Stratotanker S/N 55-3139 at the Castle Air Museum, Atwater, CA

U.S. Air Force EC-135, S/N 10262 at the entrance to Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota

U.S. Air Force EC-135, S/N 10262, at the entrance to Ellsworth Air Force Bas, SD

KC-135E Stratotanker, S/N 57-1510 at Hill AFB, Utah

KC-135E Stratotanker, S/N 57-1510, Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah

Boeing C-135 S/N 91518 at AMARG, Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona

Shown Below: C-135 Stratolifter S/N 61-2671 at the entrance to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City
Construction Number C/N 18347, a Boeing C-135B-BN, was delivered to the Air Force on April 27, 1962.
It was converted to a WC-135B in June of 1965 for use by the 56th Weather Squadron.
In 1974 it was again converted, to a C-135C supporting transportation of high-level
military commanders in the Pacific realm until the early 1990s. At that time, the plane was
flown to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB for mid-term
corrosion control. However, 61-2671 was deemed too corroded to repair, and was
ultimately placed on display at the Charles B. Hall Airpark

C-135 Stratolifter S/N 61-2671 on display at the Charles B. Hall Airpark at the entrance to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

C-135 Stratolifter S/N 61-2671, Construction Number C/N 18347, a Boeing C-135B-BN, on display at the Charles B. Hall Airpark at the entrance to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

C-135C Stratolifter S/N 61-2671, former WC-135B, at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City

KC-135 Stratotanker S/N 63595 at Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, Louisiana

USAF EC-135, S/N 10262, of the 28th Bombardment Wing (H), South Dakota
USAF EC-135, S/N 10262, of the 28th Bombardment Wing (H)

Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker, S/N 63-7998, N391NA, NASA aircraft, Tucson, Arizona

KC-135A, S/N 55-3130, "Ole Grandad" of the U.S. Air Force, at the March Field Air Museum in California

Photos of C-135 and 707 Variants by Our Friends and Supporters

KC-135 Stratotanker on display at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska

KC-135 Stratotanker at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska
(photo by Michael Hoschouer)

KC-135R Stratotanker at the 2014 Cannon AFB Air Show, Clovis, New Mexico

KC-135 Stratotanker of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Cannon AFB Air Show
(photo by Andrew Hersey)

Boeing E-3A Sentry, AWACS LX-N90445 de Greilenkirchen - NATO (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)

French Air Force Boeing E-3F 36-CD (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)

French Air Force KC-135 N° 740 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)

French Air Force KC-135 N° 525 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)

French Air Force KC-135 N° 475 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)

U.S. Air Force KC-135, 00328, in flight over Reims France in 2009 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)

KC-137 of Força Aerea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force), No. 2401 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)

Israeli Air Force Boeing B-707-3L6C Re'em, 272, at Châteauroux-Centre "Marcel Dassault" Airport in France (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)

Israeli Air Force Boeing B-707-3L6C Re'em, 272, at Châteauroux-Centre "Marcel Dassault" Airport. Used for various transport duties, and as an aerial tanker (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)

Recent News Related to AWACS Aircraft

13th AWACS Jet Flies West to Boneyard, Last of 2023 Divestments
Air & Space Forces Magazine - 10/11/2023

E-3 Sentry (AWACS) #83-0009 took off from Tinker Air Force Base for the final time on September 21, 2023. Aircraft #83-0009 is now among over a dozen AWACS sent to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) in Tucson, Arizona for reduction. The AWACS fleet is down to just 18 aircraft with the retirement of the last of 13 aircraft to be divested from Tinker AFB this year.

NATO E-3C AWACS aircraft LX-N 90449 being led to its designated parking area at AMARG at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona. The aircraft was defueled and then towed into the parts reclamation storage area. June 23, 2015 (Photo by the 309th AMARG)

NATO E-3C AWACS aircraft LX-N 90449 arriving at AMARG at Davis-Monthan AFB

U.S. STRIKE Command VC-135A

U.S. Strike Command's VC-135A, S/N 61-0316, Airborne Command Post, built in 1962
Photo taken at Heathrow Airport near the PanAm hangar, 1971
(Photo by Mick West, as published by Airliners.Net ... used with permission of the photographer)