Air-to-air refueling provided strength in war and generated the flight efficiencies of today.
Boeing air refueling tankers started with a need to create endurance flights — to keep a plane in the air for 120 hours. This was envisioned by the Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Their idea was to stretch a hose between two Army Air Corps airplanes to pass fuel from one to another. Seeking funding from Congress, they partnered with Boeing to conduct an air refueling experiment to demonstrate the need for long-haul flights.
Bill Boeing was operating Boeing Air Transport, the original mail service, at the time. He realized that they could be more efficient if they could fly cross-country faster and with fewer stops. He worked with the Army Air Corps to test passing fuel between aircraft. The solution was using what they called the Boeing Hornet Shuttle to receive fuel and fly non-stop across the country, which Boeing Senior Corporate Historian Michael Lombardi said: “Was the first practical mission of refueling aircraft.”
That 1929 flight flew from Oakland, California, to New York, circled New York, and flew back again. Aviators used the technique of passing hoses between aircraft for a while until Lombardi said, “It got too hard, too cold, and too dangerous” at higher elevations.
Following WWII, Boeing developed flying booms for the B-29 aircraft. Later, Boeing built the KC-97 as a tanker, which became the world’s first flying boom tanker..
According to Lombardi, they built 888 of those tankers. After that, Lombardi said that Boeing CEO at the time, Bill Allen, “One of the greatest CEOs of the 20th century,” recognized the future potential of jet technology and had Boeing approve the development of the Dash-80, demonstrating his visionary leadership in the aviation industry.
That project was interesting because Boeing built a prototype on their dime, which wasn’t a customer order. Allen knew it would be the first jet tanker and took the risk. This aircraft became the KC-135, built in 1956, and is still in service.
With 820 KC-135s built in Renton, Washington, the legacy of this aircraft is a source of pride for the local community and Boeing employees. It was the world’s first successful jet transport airplane, a testament to the region’s aviation prowess.
The primary mission of the air tanker refueling aircraft is to allow planes to stay in flight longer during wartime, which makes the U.S. military stronger and more powerful. However, this technology has also transformed commercial aerospace.
History buffs and those associated with Boeing — workers, family members, and community — can participate in the important history Boeing brought to the region. The ingenuity, founded in wartime, has translated into today’s world and the international flight mobility we now have.
The Museum of Flight in Seattle’s Senior Manager of Public Relations and Promotions, Ted Huetter, said they have had countless Boeing exhibits. “The count is mind-boggling, especially when you consider the collection of images and documents. We have the first Boeing 727, 737, 747, 787 Number 3, a 1930s Boeing 247 airliner, B-17, -29, -47, and the first jet, Air Force One, a Boeing VC-137. Probably thousands of small artifacts.”
He shared that they have a 747 refueling tanker on display: “The 747 has the aft refueling station (boom operator’s station) restored, and the window below is part of it. We have exhibits pertaining to the 747-tanker story inside the plane.”
Huetter added that the Museum of Flight is the best place to understand Seattle’s history. He added, “It’s the best place in the world to learn about Boeing’s history, legacy, the people who made it great, and to see the fruits of their labor.”
Today, the KC-46, a direct descendant of the KC-135, is replacing the aging tanker, which was built almost 70 years ago. This transition not only marks a significant advancement in air refueling technology but also demonstrates the enduring legacy of Boeing’s contributions to the field.
The new KC-46A Pegasus has been in the works for a decade. It is a multi-mission tanker built exclusively for the U.S. Air Force and its allies. It carries 220,000 pounds of fuel and has offloaded 100 million pounds of fuel globally.
The Boeing defense website states, “Armed with data links and Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) integration, the Pegasus tanker connects multi-domain warfighters, providing tactical situational awareness and real-time information superiority.” It is also more cost-effective than larger air tankers, allowing for more refueling to be conducted worldwide.
The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is another location to learn more about Boeing’s history and the history of the air tankers. Executive Director, Leonard Garfield said, “For Seattleites, the Boeing story is OUR story, and almost every visitor has some personal connection that comes alive as they view the museum displays. For out-of-town guests, the Boeing exhibits shed light on one if the quintessential Seattle stories, helping visitors better appreciate the place they are visiting.”
- KC-46 Specifications
- Width 156 ft 1 in (47.5 m)
- Length 165 ft 10 in (50.5 m)
- Height 52 ft 10 in (16.1 m)
- Engines – Two Pratt & Whitney PW 4062 with 62,000 lbf (289.13 kN) thrust
- Maximum Takeoff Weight 415,000 lbs (188,241 kg)
- Maximum Landing Weight 310,000 lbs (140,614 kg)
- Fuel Capacity 212,299 lbs (96,265 kg)
- Maximum Air Speed 0.86 Mach (650 mph)
To visit museums containing Boeing’s history:
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), www.mohai.org
Museum of Flight, www.museumofflight.org
Boeing also maintains archives.
