Latest Breaking News

2naSalit

(102,333 posts)

27. Hmm...

Thu Mar 12, 2026, 09:13 PM

Mar 12

I've never been on one of these so I couldn't say, they're pretty big so I can't really think of a quick exit location. But you're right, there should have been some way for them to exit.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

61 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

KC-135 tanker involved in Epic Fury goes down in Iraq: CENTCOM [View all] vanessa_ca Mar 12 OP

based on the 707. these ancient craft must be heck to maintain nt msongs Mar 12 #1

I know, my Dad was flying them in Viet Nam. Irish_Dem Mar 12 #3

They fly out of Seymour Johnston AFB DenaliDemocrat Friday #51

I think it is a Boeing 707 frame. Irish_Dem Friday #54

I was an AWACS crewmember Puppyjive Mar 12 #18

Actually it's based on a dash 80. The KC-135 was about a year ahead of the 707. Angleae Friday #44

But no consideration for crew viability? OAITW r.2.0 Friday #45

None RoseTrellis Friday #49

Thank you! KT2000 Friday #52

Oh no.... Irish_Dem Mar 12 #2

Not good. A second KC 135 "landed safely in Israel" vanessa_ca Mar 12 #6

Crew of six. Irish_Dem Mar 12 #14

There are lots of Iranian drones moving thru that Captain Zero Friday #56

When will they realize that it's more humiliating to claim combat losses are accidents vanessa_ca Friday #58

In flight refueling has inherent risks. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #4

It's weird that both affected planes were refuelers Prairie Gates Mar 12 #9

That is odd... 2naSalit Mar 12 #12

I saw two of the Pegasus tankers very close tonekat Mar 12 #24

That's what I saw... 2naSalit Mar 12 #25

I didn't know that it involved 2 KC-135 tankers. That's really crazy. I have to believe each tanker has at least OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #13

CENTCOM's only saying two aircraft Prairie Gates Mar 12 #20

I would think mid-air refueling tankers are closely watched to avoid this very situation. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #21

Pic downthread would seem to confirm that both the crashed aircraft and the safely landed one Prairie Gates Mar 12 #32

Why would that happen? OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #35

Unlikely... 2naSalit Mar 12 #11

I didn't know all the facts when I posted. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #16

It's a reasonable one but... 2naSalit Mar 12 #22

True story....worked at a gas bottling plant in Portland, Maine for 8 months, We bottled from bulk,. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #37

Not avgas RoseTrellis Friday #47

That was after my time... 2naSalit Friday #55

I remember when one blew up over Illinois in 1982 Hassin Bin Sober Mar 12 #33

Just got a Guardian breaking news banner BumRushDaShow Mar 12 #5

I'm going to call this one: add three to the KIA tally Prairie Gates Mar 12 #7

I hope not, but I fear you're right -eom vanessa_ca Mar 12 #10

Anything approved for news by this administration is suspect CentralMass Mar 12 #8

No ejection seats on this aircraft. mn9driver Mar 12 #15

Given the danger of this flight requirement....seems like ejection seats for the pilots and the OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #17

Might be a side door... 2naSalit Mar 12 #23

Pretty doubtful. Once they are locked into their seat, given their situation...not a lot of time to figure a quick exit OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #26

Hmm... 2naSalit Mar 12 #27

Let's say you lose a wing or tail at 35,000 ft, flying at 450mph.. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 12 #29

They don't even have parachutes anymore vanessa_ca Mar 12 #36

So, help me understand. Fighter pilots need ejection support,,,,but tanker pilots don't? OAITW r.2.0 Friday #38

That's my logical understanding, but I can't add anything vanessa_ca Friday #39

While I am a pilot.... OAITW r.2.0 Friday #41

Compared to 0 hours in no seat of any Cessna (me) lol vanessa_ca Friday #43

Not just tankers. RoseTrellis Friday #48

mission scope is different, and structure wise its very different DetroitLegalBeagle Friday #53

Don'tcha think Pilots in tanker have exposure? OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #59

Their mission scope generally doesnt have them exposed to enemy aircraft DetroitLegalBeagle Sunday #60

Seems like missile technology has evolved over the years. OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #61

The Epstein Administration will be claiming the media is trying to make it look bad. Marcuse Mar 12 #19

Fatigue Maninacan Mar 12 #28

Pic of KC-135 after landing in Tel Aviv with nearly half of its vertical stabilizer torn away vanessa_ca Mar 12 #30

Mid-air collision between two KC-135s is the claim from CENTCOM, then Prairie Gates Mar 12 #31

I know vanessa_ca Mar 12 #34

Tankers do not collide on mission. They are totally controlled by AWACs on theater, OAITW r.2.0 Friday #42

The Stratotanker, however, does not have ejection seats. CENTCOM said "rescue efforts are ongoing." riversedge Friday #40

The pilots, the crew, and the planes would all be fine if not for Trump's unneeded war Botany Friday #46

Operation Epic Fuckup. milestogo Friday #50

The plane was based at Joint Base Andrews. mahatmakanejeeves Friday #57