Refueling with JP-7 None of the U.S. Air Force’s existing tanker aircraft were capable of holding JP-7. Instead, the KC-135 would need to be modified to accommodate the novel fuel source. The ...

Three variants of the KC-135 are currently in operational service with the U.S. Air Force: the KC-135R makes up the bulk of the fleet, while the former SR-71 Blackbird-specialized KC-135Q tankers ...

The SR-71 was the last major aircraft designed with ... they had indicated on our flight plan. They replied, “A KC-135 tanker.” No wonder the traffic controller wanted to know the type of ...