[Scan-DC] What in the world was that, that just flew over?

[b_thom at juno.com]

On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 05:10:36 -0600 (CST) <airfire at verizon.net> writes:
> Yesterday what you saw was a KC135 tanker with 6 F/16s in tow headed 
> to Arizona. The callsign of the tanker was Copper02.
> 
> Jim

That makes sense. The a/c appeared to be the same size as a 707, but I
knew the odds that one of those could be in use were nil. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Usaf.kc135.taxying.fairford.arp.jpg
I see that when the boom is not in use, it is kept in its retracted
position underneath the empennage. I did not notice it. That would have
been a giveaway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KC-135
"The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965," but they are
expected to be in service 'til 2040. I thought the lower fuselage of the
one I saw was painted white. Is that possible?

It was quite a sight to behold, and it gave me one of those "now what?"
moments.

Thanks for the info.