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From AF Daily Report 9 Feb 09

Not Their Usual Haul: An Air Force Reserve Command KC-135 aircrew out of McConnell AFB, Kan., flew four back-to-back trips from Bagram AB, Afghanistan, to Ramstein AB, Germany, not delivering fuel to aircraft in flight but transporting wounded to help out during heightened operations. According to a Feb. 5 931st Air Refueling Group report, the eight Reservists, volunteers from the 931st ARG, flew a specially configured KC-135 from Ramstein to Bagram and back, ending a 21-hour day; then, after 24 hours crew rest, they repeated the medical evacuation flights three more times during their 12-day mission. The KC-135 was "wall-to-wall with [medical] equipment and aerospace medical technicians," said TSgt. Warren Bearup, a boom operator with the 931st ARG, who added, "Our purpose is to get there and back." The 931st ARG has conducted the medevac missions twice before. (931st ARG report by TSgt. Jason Schaap)

Good grief, are we running out of aircraft to bring our wounded home??

MIKE JG wrote:Good grief, are we running out of aircraft to bring our wounded home??

There was a good video of C-17s out of California being used for Med Evac. Hard to know why the KC was brought into the mix.

A buddy down at Wright-Pat used to do this mission with their C-141's. It was their primary mission and their bread and butter. Now that unit is "blessed" with FRED. They're apparently still doing some evacs with it but its mission ready rate is horrible and they can't rely on it for anything (according to him). On the bright side he enjoys the extra RONs in Hawaii while the thing gets cranked on.

GZR_Sactargets wrote:

MIKE JG wrote:Good grief, are we running out of aircraft to bring our wounded home??

There was a good video of C-17s out of California being used for Med Evac. Hard to know why the KC was brought into the mix.

I think it was more of a test of the KC-135 ability to perform the mission. Once the C-9 went off line the 135s were added to the list of MEDEVAC capable A/C. Plus with the attacks on the land cargo route through Pakistan I would have to assume that the C-17 are a little busy moving cargo.

Ah yes, probably spot on.

The KC-135 is not strictly an aerial refueller, it's secondary mission IS strategic transportation. Having flown on one, it has a pretty spacious cargo bay. This isn't as far out as some of you are making it seem lol.

Now if they started using KC-135s to insert PJs and/or airdrop supplies, then I'd start to feel a little worried lol

Jumpshot724 wrote: Now if they started using KC-135s to insert PJs and/or airdrop supplies, then I'd start to feel a little worried lol

I'd jump out of one. WTH!

True, it still has the "C" designation. Now that it appears the the airlifters are going to be a bit busy getting stuff into Afghanistan, they can probably use the extra lift capability.

And thats why Usaf should have kept some of the C-141's ,for situations that arise like this or even the situation thats going on in Victoria Australia,or even for home (USA) like hurricanes ,earthquakes..etc..etc..

Jumpshot724 wrote:The KC-135 is not strictly an aerial refueller, it's secondary mission IS strategic transportation. Having flown on one, it has a pretty spacious cargo bay. This isn't as far out as some of you are making it seem lol.

Now if they started using KC-135s to insert PJs and/or airdrop supplies, then I'd start to feel a little worried lol

I rode a few on Arclight deployments to and from Glasgow. Troop seats down the sides and cargo in the middle. Also a couple of trips out of Offutt and to exercises and on staff visits. Once you get past that LOOOONG take-off roll they are OK. A blanket was a good thing to have.

starlifterfan wrote:And thats why Usaf should have kept some of the C-141's ,for situations that arise like this or even the situation thats going on in Victoria Australia,or even for home (USA) like hurricanes ,earthquakes..etc..etc..

My buddy down at Wright-Pat practically had a man crush on that airplane. He talks about it ALL the time.........still!