Shipbucket

Tri-star replaced with KC135!

That seems a far simpler, cheaper, and plausible choice to me now...

Only one thing... I think all KC-135s were built with J57 turbojets, and the USAF TF33 re-engining program did not begin till early 80s (These “TF33”s were JT3D engines taken from retired 707 airliners). But I think it might be possible to ask to modify yours with TF33s before delivery... So yours KC-135s will use J57s for over a decade while in the USAF, then other 12-15 years with TF33s, and finally the CFMs…

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WIP:
Argentine Socialist Republic AU

Perhaps there is another scenario behind this aircraft, probably cheaper.

After the retirement of B707-320 from New Cromer Airlines (or what ever this airliner is called), the ex-commercial B707 were converted to full KC-135 (Australia and Israel also did this in real life, converting ex-commercial 707s to takners). So, New Cromer B707-320K will have the JT3D from the beginning and later can re-engined them with CFM56.

KC-137 would be more correct for ex. B707 airframes.

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Morten812

Morten Jensen
Randers
Denmark

Traffic Manager

Yes, this is an option.

Strictly speaking, you can´t convert a 707 to a "full" KC-135 because, although aesthetically similar, their structures are different... As Morten812 said, USAF 707s were C-137, but I know what are you saying...
The only boom equipped 707s that I know are the Israelis (with a domestically designed boom), the Saudis KE-3 (based on the E-3), and the Iranian ones (perhaps the most similar to yours)... Of these, only the Israelis were "retrofitted with". Australia, like almost all 707 tanker users, only added hose and drogue pods... So yes, It´s possible to modify a 707 with a refuelling boom (or a Tristar like before), but I think is far simpler to re-engine an ex USAF KC-135A with TF33s (TF33/JT3D were turbofan version the J57/JT3C turbojet) than to mess with structural modifications necessary to fit the boom and related systems into a 707 ex-airliner... And the KC-135s come with a main deck cargo door...

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WIP:
Argentine Socialist Republic AU

The cargo capability was my reason forgoing for the KC-135, as we had spoken about this back in Feb it just took me this long to draw one along with all the U.S. And other operators I'm working on and the E3 and the 707 and C137 variants im currently drawing, these will be posted in the FD forum when ready but time at the moment is at a premium I have done the E.3's but still lots more work on the others.

When New Cromer was after a tanker it also needed a massive update of its airlift capability so the KC135 fulfilled some of this I may yet add 2 or three conventional 707's to the fleet as transports these could well come from Cromer Airways..... These would then be replaced or supplanted by the Tri-stars later.....

Orion, Vixen, Buccaneer and Gannet pictures updated Page 5 Past Navy Aviation.

A Saudi like order? KE-3/E-3 (which can also have probe and drogue system like the Iranians)?

Past Naval Aviation Page 5 Shackleton added