French Air Force Tanker - Newquay

[Auster_9]

Hello,

I have to apologise here and now that I am not really up to date with modern aviation, but was sat at my desk at work today and this French Air Force KC-135? flew past my window. Have been told that they are something of a rarity in British skies, so ventured outside and managed to get these two shots on my ye old camera as she came around for a second pass. Hope is of interest to someone.

Cheers,

Martin

[Jetnoise]

Now that's something you don't see every day!

[capercaillie]

They are indeed quite a rarity, I've only ever seen one (Fairford 1995) and that includes quite a number of trips to French shows . The French designation is the C-135FR, no idea why they never adopted the K when they were tankers all along.

Looks like the were throwing it around a bit. Good catch.

[PeterR]

Nice shots Martin!

[st24]

Indeed a great rare catch. Perversely the best UK place to see these has always been St Mawgan/Newquay; annoyingly usually the days before/after the annual shows they used to have down there!!

[tankbuster81]

Love the first image.Seeing the ground in the photo, gives it real perspective.

[Skyflash]

Tremendous catch.

[Talldan76]

Another vote for the first shot... almost looks as though the angle is unreal.

[Big Eric]

Great shots, however it's very odd that they'd be throwing it about at such a low altitude on full flap(?), the gear down and the rear basket not wound-in properly !

Was this a fly-by for the tower to assess what was going on with the refuelling basket, or is it a model?

[capercaillie]

Baskets on French tankers always hang loose, its just how it is, c'est la vie. (thought the emoji looked French )

[Big Eric]

Baskets on French tankers always hang loose, its just how it is, c'est la vie. (thought the emoji looked French )

That's true - I'd forgotten about that.

Great shots.

[Auster_9]

Was this a fly-by for the tower to assess what was going on with the refuelling basket, or is it a model?

The photos seen here were on it's second circuit. It did 5 before leaving the area. This one was the most dramatic!

Martin

[Auster_9]

Here is one, going the other way, taken on the 30 November. I do work sometimes (honest!).

Martin

[speedbird2639]

Baskets on French tankers always hang loose, its just how it is, c'est la vie. (thought the emoji looked French )

surely this is the 'French' emoji?

[davidjones533]

.

[Wissam24]

Baskets on French tankers always hang loose, its just how it is, c'est la vie. (thought the emoji looked French )

surely this is the 'French' emoji?

Cheeky!

I do find the drogue attachment for the boom rather..comical...but when it's on a machien like this, you can't say now. They're actually not all that uncommon in Newquay, relatively speaking, but I'm desperate to catch one nonetheless.

Nice

[PeteM]

They're actually not all that uncommon in Newquay, relatively speaking, but I'm desperate to catch one nonetheless.

Nice

Fourth visit to Newquay since July, appears to be alternate months. All you need to do is book 4 weeks A/L in March

[Col. Chibani]

The French designation is the C-135FR, no idea why they never adopted the K when they were tankers all along.

Bicoze we don't do things as ze rest of the world and we left NATO at this time.
More seriously, I guess that the French Air Force just chose their own designation (KC-135 is the USAF name, 717 is the initial Boeing name).
F stands for "France" (obviously).
R stands for "Re-engined".

surely this is the 'French' emoji?

You didn't chose this emoji because it is holding a white surrendering flag, did you ?
I don't want to start a new Hundred Years' War. It would ruin my week-end ...

[Ledhead27]

Can't say I've ever seen a 707/KC-135/C-135R etc. etc. achieve that kind of bank angle before at such a low level, superb catch!

[PeteM]

They're actually not all that uncommon in Newquay, relatively speaking, but I'm desperate to catch one nonetheless.

Nice

Fourth visit to Newquay since July, appears to be alternate months. All you need to do is book 4 weeks A/L in March

My prediction was wrong! 475 (31-CF) did 3 x ILS approaches at Newquay this morning.

[Pen Pusher]

Can't say I've ever seen a 707/KC-135/C-135R etc. etc. achieve that kind of bank angle before at such a low level, superb catch!

It's not that low.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZT4BdI7STE[/youtube]
Brian

[Ledhead27]

Well blow me sideways!

[CJS]

Well blow me sideways!

I think that would have done more than just blow you sideways.