A force of KC-135Qs was dedicated to air-to-air refuel the SR-71A Blackbird. In the August 2012 issue of Aviation News pilot Lt Col Erik C Swanson (ret.) described his experiences flying the ‘Q’ variant of the Stratotanker supporting the SR-71A on its secret missions
The Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird flew classified reconnaissance missions at Mach 3+ near sensitive and potentially hostile areas all over the world. The aircraft only had enough fuel for just over one hour at operating altitude, so it was only thanks to air-to-air refuelling tanker aircraft that the SR-71 could traverse the globe on long missions. Consequently, the Blackbird had its own dedicated fleet of Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. These ‘Q’ models carried the SR-71’s special JP-7 fuel. Latterly, some McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extenders were also used, but the majority of the task fell to the KC-135Qs.
I arrived at Beale AFB, California, in August 1986 as an Air Force Major having flown several types of aircraft including two previous tours in the KC-135A. I had just finished a tour screening prospective Air Force pilots at Officer Training School at Lackland AFB and Hondo Municipal Airport, Texas. I had been instructing in the T-41 Mescalero (Cessna 172-F) …
