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Boeing C-135 Stratolifter

Military Transport Aircraft

The Boeing C-135 "Stratolifter" - known internally as the "Model 717" - was developed in the 1950s and was based in the Model 367-80 jet-powered passenger airliner prototype. This prototype achieved first-flight on July 15th, 1954 though only a single airframe was completed. Regardless, the design went on to influence the development of the United States Air Force's (USAF) C-135 and all of its offshoot aircraft - to include the KC-135 "Stratotanker" and WC-135 "Constant Phoenix". The C-135 prototype itself was first-flown on August 17th, 1956 and entered service in June of 1957. Sixty total airframes were produced by Boeing from the period spanning 1954 to 1965 and the series maintains an active service status in the USAF fleet today (2020).

The aircraft typically carries an operating crew of three (pilot, co-pilot, and loadmaster) while the airframe has a length of 136.2 feet with a wingspan of 130.9 feet, and a height of 41.7 feet. Empty weight is 98,465lb against an MTOW of 322,500lb. For its service life, the C-135 has been powered by various turbojets and turbofans depending on decade of operation. Performance includes a maximum speed of 580 miles-per-hour with a range out to 3,450 miles, and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet. Rate-of-climb reaches 4,900 feet-per-minute.

The initial in-service model of the series became the "C-135A" (Model 717-157) which were "hybrid-role" airframes capable of passenger- (126 personnel) or cargo-hauling sorties. Early forms of this variant were powered by 4 x Pratt & Whitney J57-P-59W series turbojet engines and later models were introduced with 4 x Pratt & Whitney TF33 turbofan engines resulting in the change to the "C-135E" designation. Lengthened tailplanes were also introduced for improved controlling and total production ended with eighteen C-135A/E model aircraft which served into the 1990s.

The C-135B (Model 717-158) followed and were based in the A-model but given TF33-P-5 turbofan engines instead. Thirty aircraft were built to the standard and five were set aside for VC-135B VIP transport conversion. B-models also formed the basis for the RC-135, WC-135B, and other specialized versions by way of conversion programs.

The C-135C was the designation used to mark three Stratolifter airframes (based in the C-135B variant) modified for the weather reconnaissance role as "WC-135B". These aircraft held an air-to-air refueling capability and were eventually reset to their original passenger/cargo forms before the end.

The C-135E were C-135A models given TF33-PW-102 series turbofan engines and operated under the designation of "EC-135N" as mission-support platforms before reverting back to the C-135E designation.

The C-135F (Model 717-164), based in the C-135A, was produced to a French requirement for a hybrid transport/aerial tanker platform. Twelve airframes were built by Boeing. The C-135FR designation then covered eleven C-135F tankers re-engined with 4 x CFM56 turbofan engines.

The C-135K was a one-off variant used in the VIP transport role under the CINCPAC banner.

Specifications

BASICS [+] MANUFACTURING [+] OPERATORS [+] ROLES [+] DIMENSIONS [+] WEIGHTS [+] POWER [+] PERFORMANCE [+] ARMAMENT [+] VARIANTS [+]