Lockheed KC-141 Starfueler

[sandiego89]

Wonder if an offset boom (just to the side of the ramp) or extreme aft boom mount would still allow for the ramp door to be used?  Not a criticism, was just thinking about something for a similar airframe. 

Remind the pilots not to over-rotate on takeoff or the boomer station might get interesting!

An Air Force one version would be neat- just drive the limo up the ramp! 

[The Rat]

Wonder if an offset boom (just to the side of the ramp) or extreme aft boom mount would still allow for the ramp door to be used?  Not a criticism, was just thinking about something for a similar airframe. 

Good idea! 

[Rheged]

Wonder if an offset boom (just to the side of the ramp) or extreme aft boom mount would still allow for the ramp door to be used?  Not a criticism, was just thinking about something for a similar airframe. 

Good idea! 

An idea that will be incorporated in the backstory currently under construction.  Thank you!

[su27rules]

  

[Rheged]

Here it is, people!  Rheged's attempt to provide a suitable backstory to support this excellent piece of modelling. 

The KC-141 Starfueller.

 The KC-141 Lockheed Starfueller  began life as a result of concern within some quarters in the Pentagon  in early 1965 that nearly  all of the USAF tanker aircraft were of the same basic design, the Boeing  KC-135, and that if a systemic problem developed it would  severely hamper the work  of  Strategic Air Command's long range bombers.  Several possible alternative  airframes were considered, with the eventual choice being the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter. (1) It was suggested by some members  of the Senate and widely in the House of Representatives that the choice of a Lockheed product owed more to a desire to reduce the influence of the "Boeing Bunch" within the Pentagon and to support high value employment in  Marietta, Georgia than to any  intrinsic merits of the Starlifter.  (2)

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker  (3) had been introduced in 1956, and had proved an excellent load carrier and tanker but by 1965 the fleet was being very heavily utilised both by the B-52 force and by fighter and attack aircraft  over Vietnam. As a transport its  loading door  was in the fuselage side, which limited the shape and size of loads.  The Starlifter, with its rear loading capability,  offered  much more potential as a versatile  airframe on its introduction in 1963.

Lockheed had already begun discussions with Short Brothers of Belfast  to produce an aircraft to Operational Requirement  ASR34. ( SC5/40 and later SC5/45) .  The proposal was for a Belfast fuselage with Starlifter wings and (probably) four Rolls Royce Conway turbofans. One of the options suggested was for a tanker variant with a Flight Refuelling  Limited Mk32B  probe and drogue pod under each wing and a further refuelling drogue on the centreline. This proposal, known within Lockheed and Shorts as the Georgia Bel(le), did not progress further than initial discussions.

In late 1965  the decision had been made to equip a number of Starlifters with a flying boom refuelling station.  On the prototype, an aircraft coded 91950,  this was located on the centreline of the fuselage and installed in a modified rear loading ramp (4)  .  Whilst this installation proved the concept was valid, production KC-141s had the boom and its operator's  station offset to the port side of the rear loading ramp. (5)  This allowed the continued use of the  airframe's full load carrying capacity  when not engaged in tanker operations.
By 1969,  Vietnam operations by both  USAF and USN aircraft were of high intensity and it was suggested that the KC-141 should  be equipped to act as a "flying gas station" for both forces. Despite the rumour prevalent at the time that the USAF referred to  the USN as "the enemy" and North Vietnam as "the opposition" (2), there was agreement to the proposal.  Reference was made to the "Georgia Belle"  option and a Flight Refuelling Limited Mk32D probe and drogue pod installed under each wing.  KC-141s were identified as either boom  only or duplex fitted.  The aircraft operated both  as  a basic tanker using only  fuel storage below the cargo deck or as the enhanced tanker with extra fuel tanks installed on the cargo deck itself.

After the end of the Vietnam conflict, KC-141s operated out of several USAF Germany airbases and, after October 1975 from Fairford in Gloucestershire.  It was at this time that ten of the 60 tanker aircraft were modified by Marshalls of Cambridge to "Probed" status. It has been suggested that the contract was awarded to Marshalls  as they were a third party company  in no way implicated in the Lockheed bribery scandal; news of which was breaking at this time.  (6)  Despite a great deal of research and use of  Freedom of Information legislation, it has not been possible to ascertain why this urgent modification was made.  The phrase 'Special  Operational Requirements' was used more than once in bureaucratic responses  to requests for data. It is known that single aircraft and crews  are noted as on 'Temporarily Detached Duty' on several occasions from 1975 to 1984.  Should any of this community have more information on the reasons for this modification, I would be most  interested to hear from you.

The KC-141 was a remarkably safe aircraft, only eight  in total were written off through accident or malfunction and in only two of these cases was there any  loss of life.  Near misses, however were not unusual  and airframe  repair was  frequently necessary.    One incident, however , is worthy of particular note.  A probed Starfueller  was supporting  New Jersey Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing exercises  off the coast of Maine in 1987 when it experienced what was later described as a "critical fuel incident"  and issued a mayday call. Due to either incorrectly connected fuel management valves and/or fuel contamination ( depending upon which source you accept as accurate) The aircraft had insufficient useable fuel to return to base.  Fortunately a VC10 tanker  escorting Buccaneer attack aircraft home from a Red Flag exercise was in the area,  and was able to  assist.  The Starfueller's own tank contents were all assumed to be unusable, but it was possible to use fuel to be drawn directly from the refuelling probe's surge tank.  The RAF VC10 streamed one of its refuelling drogues and effectively "towed" the KC-141 to a safe landing at Bangor in Maine.  A contemporary photograph  of this VC10 exists in  RAF 10 Squadron records,  the nose bearing the lettering  "Trenchard, Dowding & Harris Ltd., Aero Recovery Services.  AA and RAC approved." (7)

By  the late 1990's the KC-141 was becoming surplus to requirements. The USAF no longer had the heavy demands that Vietnam had placed on its tanker fleet and preferred to reduce the number of different aircraft types in tanker use.  The Starlifter  itself was being replaced in long distance load carrying duties by the C-17 Globemaster as many airframes were running out of fatigue life.  The last known KC-141 flight took place in late 1996.  No airframes exist  in preservation in museums, but it is reported that at least 12  KC-141 aircraft can be found in the "boneyard" at  Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (. 

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_C-141_Starlifter
(2) Rear Admiral Vernon. Z. Quimby USN (Retired) in conversation with the author
(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_KC-135_Stratotanker
(4) Illustrations:-   https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=51196.0
(5) Additional research by Dave Sandiego
(6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_bribery_scandals
(7) Short article in RAF Yearbook 1988 "All Done by VC Ten derness" Squadron Leader Christopher Evans .  Evans received a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air for his actions.
(  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis%E2%80%93Monthan_Air_Force_Base


As with all of the backstories I produce , this one may be regarded as a "work in progress" and should any other forum member have further data to add, please do so!  Someone in our community (I forget who)  said that they appreciated footnotes..................I trust that these are  considered satisfactory.

[PR19_Kit]

Absolutely LOVE it!   

[NARSES2]

Brilliant   

[Tophe]

 
interesting, thanks! I am tempted to build the same kit (or "make" it virtually as drawing) with low wing and engines above the wing, and cut-off fuselage to  become a little plane.

[MiB]

It's a really good idea! I don't know why the USAF not follow this

[The Rat]

TERRRRIFIC! 

[Rheged]

TERRRRIFIC! 

I am delighted (and somewhat relieved) that you approve of my contribution to your  work.

[The Rat]

I am delighted (and somewhat relieved) that you approve of my contribution to your  work.

I'm honoured! 

[comrade harps]

Footnotes? References and citations? Don't get me started! 

[Captain Canada]

Nice one Davey ! She looks so right like that.

[The Rat]

Nice one Davey ! She looks so right like that.

Thanks!