WDIF

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft, first manufactured in 1956 and expected to remain in service into the 2040s.

Type Aerial refuelling and transport
Manufacturer: Boeing
Maiden flight: August 17, 1956
Introduced: June 1957
Status Active service
Primary user: United States Air Force
Produced: 1954-1965
Unit cost: US$39.6 million (FY98 constant dollars)
Developed from: Boeing 367-80
Variants: C-135 Stratolifter
C-137 Stratoliner

Development
It is derived from the original Boeing jet transport “proof of concept” demonstrator, the Boeing 367-80 (commonly called the “Dash-80″). As such, it has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the Boeing 707 jetliner. Read the rest of this entry »

No sooner was the Tiger in productionthan the decision was taken to developan even better armed and armouredversion, especially to counter anyvehicle that the Soviets could introducein the future, Once again Henscheland Porsche were asked to preparedesigns. Porsche first designed atank based on the earlier VK 4501 designand armed with a 15-cm (5.9-in)gun, This was rejected in favour of anew design with a turret-mounted 88-mm (3.46-in) gun, which was soon cancelledas its electric transmission usedtoo much copper, which at that timewas in short supply, By this time theturrets were already in production andthese were subsequently fitted to earlyproduction Henschel tanks. The VK4503(H) Henschel design was completedin October 1943, somewhat laterthan anticipated as a decision wastaken to incorporate components ofthe projected Panther II tank. Read the rest of this entry »