How many USAF C-135s have you seen?

[slogen51]

Just a bit of fun for number crunchers

58-0059 at Mildenhall today was my 676th different operational USAF C-135 ( not including DM - I have nothing against DM but I have not entered those sightings into my records yet!!) and obviously many earlier sightings are now in DM.

I know there must be many spotters who have seen many more if not all of them.

Also has every USAF C-135 been noted in Mildenhall?

I now require 11 operational C-135s including TC-135 62-4133

Edit : Boom! 58-0063 at Mildenhall today 17 March was my 677th , 10 operational tankers to go
Edit 57-1436 Mildenhall 10-June-2018 number 678. 9 flyers to go.
Edit 63-7996 Mildenhall 25- August 2018 : 679 8 flyers to go.
Edit 62-3553 Mildenhall 14-May 2018 : 680 , 7 flyers to go.
Edit 57-1508 Mildenhall 19-Sept 2019 : 681, 6 active to go.
Edit 58-0036 Mildenhall Oct 2019 100ARW 682, 5 active to go.
Edit 63-8018 from home 30 Apr 2020 683, 4 active remaining.
Edit 60-0335 Mildenhall 4-June-2020 684, 3 remaining.
Edit 62-3580 Mildenhall 7-August 2020 : 685 seen , 2 active remaining ( 58-0055 and 62-4133 TC-135)
Edit 62-4133 Mildenhall 14 June 2022 : 686 seen, 1 active remaining ( 58-0055)

[slogen51]

Awesome

It reinforces just how massive the USAF is - 600+ tankers alone

[Evergreen 44]

Agreed, massive fleet to see.
Checked this link earlier to see how many 'C135 frames are in storage :
http://www.amarcexperience.com/ui/index.php

[Al dunn]

I need to see only about 30 which are listed in MAM 2017, Without checking through all my databases

[Coasties]

Still need six active USAF jets all except 24133 being ANG/AFRC machines, oh and one French AF 135.

[Nighthawke]

Slight lightweight here! Only seen 607 and need 26 active USAF. Never been Stateside so no issue there.

[plmc135]

Do not need any active duty one's. The only extant airframe I still need is 61-0262 which is unfortunately in the museum at Ellsworth. If my maths are correct from my logs I have seen 760.

[ArabJazzie]

From someone who doesnt live near Mildenhall and has not had the chance to visit America for an aviation fix, i would like to chip in with 298 of all sorts including other users. Makes it a bit more gutting that i didnt take a trip to Prestwick recently where i must have needed all but a couple that visited over a couple of days! Should have had the 300 with that!
Arabest,
Geoff.

[Graham]

Old geordie spotter here got his last active one in December but still need 1 RC135S

[slogen51]

Do not need any active duty one's. The only extant airframe I still need is 61-0262 which is unfortunately in the museum at Ellsworth. If my maths are correct from my logs I have seen 760.

Wow that's impressive. I don't mind needing a few as it keeps me interested in Mildenhall

In my limited experience you don't tend to see that many tankers in the states as you can get them in Mildenhall one doesn't devote valuable time to tanker bases ? There is so much more over there to worry about!

[C-Harvey]

There is a wide range of interest and experience held by FCers demonstrated by this thread

At the other end of the scale, I've seen quite a few, no idea of their serial numbers and have sat (on the ground) at the controls of two and have snapped several.

A great thread.

[big john]

Don't need any active USAF ones. All seen in the UK or Germany. Used to go to Mildenhall virtually every Sunday in the 70's and early 80's. Stopped going regularly once it cost more than a £1 for every number I used to make!
Interestingly. My sbs has logged only 485 Hexcodes associated with 135's, that's since 2007. Nothing new has come up for a couple of years now. Which brings up the point, how many are actually still flying?

[ArabJazzie]

Stopped going regularly once it cost more than a £1 for every number I used to make!

Interestingly. My sbs has logged only 485 Hexcodes associated with 135's, that's since 2007. Nothing new has come up for a couple of years now. Which brings up the point, how many are actually still flying?

Glad im not the only one to use a pound an airframe. I even use it to get the excuse of visiting any field while on holiday!

Would be interested as well to see what is still active these days, including KC-10s and especially as they will be winding down soon.

[Ghastly Whisper]

hmmm so how about the 4 that are rumoured to exist but dont officially exist? not that I belive they exist just something I heard 20+ years ago

[arch]

seen all extanct airframes except 10262 preserved at ellsworth.

[dragonchaser]

I’ve also seen all extant frames except one, 56-3596 NKC135A USN which is in AMARG, I hope to see this in March.
Andy

[slogen51]

Great stuff

I need the Ellsworth machine and TWO at the SAC museum Offutt - 10287 and 38049

Plus another EC-135 preserved at Grissom - might as well be on the moon!

[plmc135]

Sounds like we could organise a coach trip to Ellsworth! Beware the SAC museum is no longer on base at Offutt but up the road in Ashland (about 28 miles away), one of the EC-135's is, according to the museum website, currently undergoing a restoration programme.

And Grissom, been there twice it was easy to see stuff there.

[graham luxton]

You boys could have saved yourselves a journey to Ellsworth for 10262 if you were able to go to Mildenhall during late '65 to early '67 - it was based there as an EC-135A with the 7120ACCS but without the white top paintwork.

[plmc135]

Unfortunately I don't think my school would have been too impressed with that idea!