boeingkc135a

F-106A, s/n 56-0454. 11th F-106 produced by Convair November 1957. To Air Research & Development Command (ARDC), bailed to Convair to support engineering & testing 11 Jan 58. Modified to JF-106A 10 Dec 58. To 4750th Test Squadron, Holloman AFB NM for weapons testing (ARDC) 31 Mar 61. Upgraded to F-106A standards 31 May 67. To San Antonio Air Material Area, Kelly AFB TX for modifications and testing (AFLC) 07 Aug 67. To 6511th Test Group, El Centro CA (AFLC) 23 Sep 68. To 94th FIS Wurtsmith AFB MI (ADC) 28 Aug 70. To 2nd FIS Wurtsmith AFB MI (ADC) 01 Jul 71. To 171st FIS, 191st FIG Selfridge AFB MI (ANG) 12 Nov 73. To 318th FIS McChord AFB WA (ADCOM) 07 Jul 78. To 87th FIS KI Sawyer AFB MI (TAC) 29 Sep 83. Inactive Status, KI Sawyer AFB MI (4,286.4 airframe hours) 15 Apr 85. To AMARC for storage 17 Apr 85. To TRACOR Flight Systems, Mojave CA for YF-106A drone proofing 03 Sep 86. To Holloman AFB NM as QF-106 drone 02 Sep 89. Inactive Status (Cannibalization Bird) Jun 91. Terminated, cannibalized beyond repair 04 Jun 96. To 49th FW Holloman AFB NM for display 12 Aug 98. One of the first QF-106 drone prototypes. She was left to sit on the ramp at the end of testing at Holloman AFB with no flights (zero NULLOs), no engine runs, no maintenance. Several years later the USAF wanted it to fly again, but rehabbing it proved cost prohibitive. So, she finally became a static display at Holloman. flic.kr/p/2kbjnrH

F-106A, s/n 56-0454. 11th F-106 produced by Convair November 1957. To Air Research & Development Command (ARDC), bailed to Convair to support engineering & testing 11 Jan 58. Modified to JF-106A 10 Dec 58. To 4750th Test Squadron, Holloman AFB NM for weapons testing (ARDC) 31 Mar 61. Upgraded to F-106A standards 31 May 67. To San Antonio Air Material Area, Kelly AFB TX for modifications and testing (AFLC) 07 Aug 67. To 6511th Test Group, El Centro CA (AFLC) 23 Sep 68. To 94th FIS Wurtsmith AFB MI (ADC) 28 Aug 70. To 2nd FIS Wurtsmith AFB MI (ADC) 01 Jul 71. To 171st FIS, 191st FIG Selfridge AFB MI (ANG) 12 Nov 73. To 318th FIS McChord AFB WA (ADCOM) 07 Jul 78. To 87th FIS KI Sawyer AFB MI (TAC) 29 Sep 83. Inactive Status, KI Sawyer AFB MI (4,286.4 airframe hours) 15 Apr 85. To AMARC for storage 17 Apr 85. To TRACOR Flight Systems, Mojave CA for YF-106A drone proofing 03 Sep 86. To Holloman AFB NM as QF-106 drone 02 Sep 89. Inactive Status (Cannibalization Bird) Jun 91. Terminated, cannibalized beyond repair 04 Jun 96. To 49th FW Holloman AFB NM for display 12 Aug 98. One of the first QF-106 drone prototypes. She was left to sit on the ramp at the end of testing at Holloman AFB with no flights (zero NULLOs), no engine runs, no maintenance. Several years later the USAF wanted it to fly again, but rehabbing it proved cost prohibitive. So, she finally became a static display at Holloman. flic.kr/p/2kbjnrH

The first production Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker, USAF 55-3118 (c/n 17234), at (as the caption says) Hickam Air Force Base, Oahu, Hawaii. By the time this photo was taken, she has been converted into an EC-135K Airborne Command Post (Project Head Dancer). She is still extant, converted back into her KC-135A configuration, at McConnell AFB, Wichita, Kansas.

Republic F-105D Thunderchief, USAF Ser. No. 62-4343, refueling from Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker, USAF Ser. No. 62-3532. This F-105D would be lost to 37mm ground fire near Yen Bai, North Vietnam on August 8, 1966. The pilot, Korean War ace (6 aerial victories), Maj. James H. Kasler (1926-2014) safely ejected and was captured by the North Vietnamese. He was subsequently held and tortured until his release on March 4, 1973. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Kasler aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=151772 The KC-135A would be retired to the Davis-Monthan AMARG (AMARC) boneyard on August 5, 1993, where it still sits today (February 2016), used as a source for spare parts for other KC-135s still in operation. Here are two more recent photos of 62-3532 at AMARG by Flickr users Alan Wilson (photo taken on February 9, 2014), and Jason Grant (photo taken January 27, 2013):