Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

A forum for discussing all things related to MILITARY AVIATION including Military Aviation news. No off-topic discussions here please.
Post Reply
slogen51
Moderator
Posts: 48920
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM

How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by slogen51 » Sun Feb 04, 2018 7:30 pm

Just a bit of fun for number crunchers

58-0059 at Mildenhall today was my 676th different operational USAF C-135 ( not including DM - I have nothing against DM but I have not entered those sightings into my records yet!!) and obviously many earlier sightings are now in DM.

I know there must be many spotters who have seen many more if not all of them.

Also has every USAF C-135 been noted in Mildenhall?

I now require 11 operational C-135s including TC-135 62-4133

Edit : Boom! 58-0063 at Mildenhall today 17 March was my 677th , 10 operational tankers to go
Edit 57-1436 Mildenhall 10-June-2018 number 678. 9 flyers to go.
Edit 63-7996 Mildenhall 25- August 2018 : 679 8 flyers to go.
Edit 62-3553 Mildenhall 14-May 2018 : 680 , 7 flyers to go.
Edit 57-1508 Mildenhall 19-Sept 2019 : 681, 6 active to go.
Edit 58-0036 Mildenhall Oct 2019 100ARW 682, 5 active to go.
Edit 63-8018 from home 30 Apr 2020 683, 4 active remaining.
Edit 60-0335 Mildenhall 4-June-2020 684, 3 remaining.
Edit 62-3580 Mildenhall 7-August 2020 : 685 seen , 2 active remaining ( 58-0055 and 62-4133 TC-135)
Edit 62-4133 Mildenhall 14 June 2022 : 686 seen, 1 active remaining ( 58-0055)
Last edited by slogen51 on Tue May 14, 2019 12:34 pm, edited 5 times in total.

SCARECROW
Posts: 2091
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:36 pm
Location: England

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by SCARECROW » Sun Feb 04, 2018 7:51 pm

Approx 635 seen without visiting the USA, Working in ATC at RAF Honington helped as did living in Lakenheath village for 4 years !!

slogen51
Moderator
Posts: 48920
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by slogen51 » Sun Feb 04, 2018 7:56 pm

Awesome

It reinforces just how massive the USAF is - 600+ tankers alone

Evergreen 44
Posts: 2524
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:20 pm

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by Evergreen 44 » Sun Feb 04, 2018 8:08 pm

Agreed, massive fleet to see.
Checked this link earlier to see how many 'C135 frames are in storage :
http://www.amarcexperience.com/ui/index.php

Al dunn
Posts: 3803
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:12 pm
Location: MOD St Athan

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by Al dunn » Sun Feb 04, 2018 8:15 pm

I need to see only about 30 which are listed in MAM 2017, Without checking through all my databases

User avatar
Coasties
Posts: 196
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 6:17 pm

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by Coasties » Sun Feb 04, 2018 8:57 pm

Still need six active USAF jets all except 24133 being ANG/AFRC machines, oh and one French AF 135.

User avatar
Nighthawke
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:04 pm

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by Nighthawke » Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:04 pm

Slight lightweight here! Only seen 607 and need 26 active USAF. Never been Stateside so no issue there.

User avatar
plmc135
Posts: 3222
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:32 pm
Location: Bomber County

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by plmc135 » Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:22 pm

Do not need any active duty one's. The only extant airframe I still need is 61-0262 which is unfortunately in the museum at Ellsworth. If my maths are correct from my logs I have seen 760.

ArabJazzie
Posts: 1421
Joined: Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:11 am

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by ArabJazzie » Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:40 pm

From someone who doesnt live near Mildenhall and has not had the chance to visit America for an aviation fix, i would like to chip in with 298 of all sorts including other users. Makes it a bit more gutting that i didnt take a trip to Prestwick recently where i must have needed all but a couple that visited over a couple of days! Should have had the 300 with that!
Arabest,
Geoff.

Graham
Posts: 408
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:21 am
Location: Newcastle

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by Graham » Sun Feb 04, 2018 11:24 pm

Old geordie spotter here got his last active one in December but still need 1 RC135S

slogen51
Moderator
Posts: 48920
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by slogen51 » Mon Feb 05, 2018 7:50 am

plmc135 wrote:Do not need any active duty one's. The only extant airframe I still need is 61-0262 which is unfortunately in the museum at Ellsworth. If my maths are correct from my logs I have seen 760.

Wow that's impressive. I don't mind needing a few as it keeps me interested in Mildenhall

In my limited experience you don't tend to see that many tankers in the states as you can get them in Mildenhall one doesn't devote valuable time to tanker bases ? There is so much more over there to worry about!

C-Harvey
Posts: 115
Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:18 pm

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by C-Harvey » Mon Feb 05, 2018 8:19 am

There is a wide range of interest and experience held by FCers demonstrated by this thread :clap:

At the other end of the scale, I've seen quite a few, no idea of their serial numbers and have sat (on the ground) at the controls of two and have snapped several.

A great thread. :D
Remember; learn by rote. ;-)

User avatar
big john
Posts: 7412
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:53 am
Location: EGLL

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by big john » Mon Feb 05, 2018 9:30 am

Don't need any active USAF ones. All seen in the UK or Germany. Used to go to Mildenhall virtually every Sunday in the 70's and early 80's. Stopped going regularly once it cost more than a £1 for every number I used to make! :roll:
Interestingly. My sbs has logged only 485 Hexcodes associated with 135's, that's since 2007. Nothing new has come up for a couple of years now. Which brings up the point, how many are actually still flying?
rgds
BJ
Always Watching: Always Listening
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

ArabJazzie
Posts: 1421
Joined: Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:11 am

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by ArabJazzie » Mon Feb 05, 2018 10:35 am

big john wrote: Stopped going regularly once it cost more than a £1 for every number I used to make! :roll:

Interestingly. My sbs has logged only 485 Hexcodes associated with 135's, that's since 2007. Nothing new has come up for a couple of years now. Which brings up the point, how many are actually still flying?
Glad im not the only one to use a pound an airframe. I even use it to get the excuse of visiting any field while on holiday! :halo:

Would be interested as well to see what is still active these days, including KC-10s and especially as they will be winding down soon.

User avatar
Ghastly Whisper
Posts: 1113
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:43 pm

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by Ghastly Whisper » Tue Feb 06, 2018 1:45 am

hmmm so how about the 4 that are rumoured to exist but dont officially exist? :ninja: not that I belive they exist just something I heard 20+ years ago
Growing old disgracefully

arch
Posts: 559
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2011 11:23 am

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by arch » Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:01 am

seen all extanct airframes except 10262 preserved at ellsworth.

dragonchaser
Posts: 6708
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:30 pm
Location: Reading, Berks.

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by dragonchaser » Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:23 am

I’ve also seen all extant frames except one, 56-3596 NKC135A USN which is in AMARG, I hope to see this in March.
Andy

slogen51
Moderator
Posts: 48920
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by slogen51 » Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:40 am

Great stuff

I need the Ellsworth machine and TWO at the SAC museum Offutt - 10287 and 38049

Plus another EC-135 preserved at Grissom - might as well be on the moon!

User avatar
plmc135
Posts: 3222
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:32 pm
Location: Bomber County

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by plmc135 » Tue Feb 06, 2018 9:17 am

Sounds like we could organise a coach trip to Ellsworth! Beware the SAC museum is no longer on base at Offutt but up the road in Ashland (about 28 miles away), one of the EC-135's is, according to the museum website, currently undergoing a restoration programme.

And Grissom, been there twice it was easy to see stuff there.
Last edited by plmc135 on Tue Feb 06, 2018 3:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

graham luxton
Posts: 1817
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:27 pm

Re: How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

Post by graham luxton » Tue Feb 06, 2018 10:41 am

You boys could have saved yourselves a journey to Ellsworth for 10262 if you were able to go to Mildenhall during late '65 to early '67 - it was based there as an EC-135A with the 7120ACCS but without the white top paintwork.

Post Reply

Return to “The Fighter Control Mess”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Dave Smith, sherriff and 86 guests