Duration 1:34:22

085 - Big Wing Tankers

by Fighter Pilot Podcast

44 377 watched

0

464

Published 23 Jun 2020

When aircraft designers and military planners sought a simple way to extend the range, increase the payload, and lengthen the endurance of combat aircraft, they may have been inclined to consider a host of various technological solutions. In fact, the best way to accomplish these endeavors is through aerial refueling with big wing tankers like the KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-10 Extender, and forthcoming KC-46 Pegasus. On this episode, retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark “Sluggo” Hasara joins us to discuss the history, practical applications, and strategic implications of big wing tankers. As a 25-year veteran with over 5,000 flight hours in the KC-135, Sluggo literally “wrote the book” on big wing tanking and was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Air Force tanker Weapons School. Be sure to check out his Wall Pilot Facebook page and the bonus content where Sluggo spends another 52 minutes answering listener questions. Episode music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell / artwork by Janek Krause. This episode was produced by our friends at The Muscle Car Place Podcast Network.

Category

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Tags

Military Aviation

Air Combat

Tanker

Aerial Refueling

Inflight Refueling

Stratotanker

Extender

Pegasus

Comments - 84

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@christophermailloux47064 years ago Can we just talk about how awesome these thumbnails always are? 57
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@deltasevenma74 years ago I love that other communities are getting some love! 23
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@keithstewart19144 years ago Cant wait to share this podcast with my dad. He was a boom operator on kb-29s & kc-97s. Long, long ago! 5
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@tracy97384 years ago I have not listened to this, yet i am excited, and can' t wait. I am learning that some of my favorite episodes have nothing to do with fighters, i . ...Expand 14
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@SDsc0rch4 years ago I' m glad fpp covered tankers
and i' m glad you got ahold of hasara:
looking forward to this episode! 8
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@Mediiiicc4 years ago Loved this episode! Sluggo is great, hope to hear from him again! 8
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@Gogo.....4 years ago Jesus this thumbnail is just awesome
love the stuff guys, i am a 16 year old fan from the netherlands and have listened to and loved every single . ...Expand 4
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@dutchbrotherfan12844 years ago Love the tankers live near travis afb seeing kc-10s coming and goings. This podcast is my favorite thanks jello. 5
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@chopper73523 years ago Cheers jello, another great podcast. Sluggo was fantastic. A great character.
asfrom australia. . " now let' s get out of here" 2
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@jeffk69414 years ago I experienced the capability of the kc-10 in the 90' s. Full cabin. Full cargo, and fuel to hawaii with 4 planes in tow. The view from the boom operator position was unbelievable. 1
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@Diesel00120024 years ago The navy using the drogue makes sense from a logistical standpoint. You couldn' t easily add a boom to existing navy aircraft. Remember that hook in . ...Expand 3
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@matk47314 years ago Thank you jello what a fantastic episode. The raaf kc-30 is called dragon. Im glad the kc-135 still has some life left in it love see those when they come to town. Enjoy your break. Thanks for sharing. 1
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@RaidsEpicly4 years ago I' m glad that some of the 4 or 5 channels that now do thex reviews y movies" are reaching out to you! 1
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@Topgunphoto2 years ago Read sluggo' s book, tanker pilot: lessons from the cockpit. I grew up just off the base he was stationed at (pease) and have been watching kc-135a' s . ...Expand 1
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@GottHoldNicetomeet3 years ago That was an unsuspected super fun episode. Usually you don' t hear as many fun facts but this one had a lot of interesting stuff in it!
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@eazymoneyracinglast year Sluggo is a good dude, proud to have worked for him!
-mongrel
509wps boomer.
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@johnb74904 years ago Hope you have him back again. Great topic and speaker. 1
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@slyfer53214 years ago I enjoyed listening to this podcast with my cup of tea. 2
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@larryhenson39904 years ago He mentions tanking the prowler in operation northern watch, its pretty cool because around that time we checked into vaq-209 at andrew' s afb and within . ...Expand 2
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@Zone5Aviation2 years ago Love theof the airbus a330 mrtt cornering the market and winning the us contract before boeing thew a hissy fit. I was working for airbus when the mrtt was under initial production.
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@jimporter76023 years ago Worked in the kc 135 engine shop at westover afb in 71-72 and tdy to kadena afb worked flightline on as and qs in 72. Got to fly on a kc 135 from westover . ...Expand
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@Bobcatflyfish4 years ago Im curious, how, if at all, does the 3rd engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer on the kc-10 affect mid-air refueling, does it make it harder to stay on the boom? 2
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@NotMe-nh8kg4 years ago An episode about the air force' s electronic / surveillance planes would be interesting. I would love to hear about what the rc-135, e-8 jstars, etc actually do. Always see them in the news.
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@farisshaikh10264 years ago Someone plz correct me if i am wrong but didn' t the kc-135 come before the boeing 707, both of which are based on the dash-80?
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@justins84844 years ago Will civilian contractor tankers be used in a war time scenario or just in peacetime? 1
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@Anderson_Hwang4 years ago Just a minor correction regarding to the Taiwanese Mirages you mentioned at T hey're not getting replaced by F-16Vs, F-16Vs are intended to replace our aging F-5E/F Tiger IIs
Heres a link
Our military thinks that the high altitude capabilities of the Mirages cannot be carried on by F-16s (which are more comfortable at lower altitudes)
The Mirages will be replaced by a different aircraft that has yet to be decided .. ...Expand 4
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@couchfighter2 years ago There is a kc135/707 here in saint louis right now, training w the new t7 i am assuming.
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@SubodhMishrasubEE4 years ago Can please you do an episode on sukhoi su 30 (mki) 1
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@petertimowreef90852 years ago Huehuehue passing gas
he even said " we don' t want to blow you off" wahaha.
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@eversurfer2 years ago What an awesome comprehensive view of a boomer. What would curtis lemay think? The fundamentals of the boomer waypoints and timeline to make multiple missions i can see without the mission planners (our true strength of multiple instituions) we would be void of the strength of those multiple missions.
a story recalled echos of a female voice mid atlantic to all of the quarantined mh130 crew flying the midnight sun, her voice echoing soft and inspired words of a boomer, " fill her up"
another question to f15 pilot what happens when a tanker is challenged, said, " there is not a fighter pilot who would hesitate to give his life for the boomers. ". ...Expand
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@DaveWhoa4 years ago I work in it, i' ll never have any job with fighter jets (top gun being my fave movie - yeah i' m that guy) but damn i love your podcast! 5
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@daviswebb83744 years ago Can you do an episode on army aviation. 2
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@chrishofrichter84173 years ago The refueling pod timeline he gives for the kc-10 is incorrectly stated as 19. The first kc-10 with pods rolled off the assembly line as a 1987 was the last kc-10 built and the only one to be outfitted with pods from the factory. 19 more of the kc-10s were outfitted with pods during scheduled depot maintenance over the course of a decade or so.
chris hofrichter/ kc-10 hydraulicchief 1994-2009. ...Expand
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@fraucow4 years ago I was wondering why the usaf would choose the 767 instead of the 7 as the next tanker? The 7 is newer, bigger, and a united pilot friend of mine says that it uses less runway then the 767.
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@NateParkerPhoto4 years ago Just watched your interview on vf i mean vanity fair, really well done. You have an excellent presence on camera and your voice is good- you should have respects from maine usa. ...Expand
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@Robert_Kawalec3 years ago Hi! What do you think about squadron 303 movie?
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@michaelmulligan02 years ago Read up on the air refuelling of the black buck raid during the falklands war
something like 15 victor tankers to refuel 1 vulcan bomber.
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@MisterLongShot_Official2 years ago Should have got senior airman patricia leyman to talk about tankers!
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@jonathanplank20294 years ago How about c-5s and c-17s oh and c-141s.
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@NateParkerPhoto4 years ago You could just do a split screen with your face and mic on one side and it would be that much more engaging. Out.
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@mike280033 years ago Man for those that butthurt with that opening get a life. Jello you said nothing wrong there some people just go way out of the way to be offended by something. 2
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@altebo2 years ago No, they are not interested in range, or they never would have made the same mistake thrice with hornet, super hornet & lighting. 1
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@cam5454 years ago Can i be critical without coming across as rude? This episode seemed like a bunch of words that never found a topic.