KC-141 over Darwin?
 

Currnetly watching what looks like a KC-141 stooging about over Darwin with no sign of a B-52 in the BRA at all, so wondered if anyone knew what they are playing at?

Not worried about them wasting their juice and it certainly is a different sight seeing something that size at about 1000 ft doing orbits at random places over the suburbs. :confused:

KC-141???
I'd like to see a piccie of that. :E

Given that all C-141s were retired in 2006, I highly doubt it's one of them.

KC-141????

C-141 yes but all those left are in the DM boneyard or a few in museums.

When the production line was ending Lockheed proposed trading our A model Hercs on six C-141's....could have been a good deal but the offer lapsed. [bit like #6 KC-30]

Yes we'll aware the C141 was never a tanker (K mission modifier designator) hence the evil smilie.
The Canadians did try to order 4 C141 tankers in 1967, but Lockheed rejected the order.
The aircraft doing donuts over Darwin today was a KC135.

I think we can forgive the opening poster for mistaking the two, pretty similar to the naked eye without google images.

Where there's smoke there's fire though, you'd think it was there supporting "something" :cool:

The naked eye is in trouble! :E

Could it have come from Tindal ?

Sure it wasn't a KC-30 getting ready to drag 75SQN north?

I think the RAAF and the RSAF are doing some exercises this week?

There was a B52 in the circuit at around 1330 local.

Indonesian Air Force F-16's are in the region too...

Are we at war? :O

If the fifth column ABC are allowed to continue, we soon will be..:hmm:


"The media ... have now damaged our relationship with Indonesia by revealing news against the national interest about activities that were in the national interest."

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That's a fair call.

Thanks, DancingDog for that info.

I can now go to bed and sleep peacefully. We're not at war!

Ex Bersama LIMA / Padu 2013. Under the FPDA. UK, AUS, NZ, SG and MY Joint Military Exercise. Ends 19th Nov 2013 at 1100 UTC.

Ex Bersama LIMA / Padu 2013. Under the FPDA. UK, AUS, NZ, SG and MY Joint Military Exercise. Ends 19th Nov 2013 at 1100 UTC. Might have something to do with it. Just a thought...

I did say looks LIKE a KC-141, 4 donks and refuelling sting slung on the back. And yes, naked eyes, very iffy ones sometimes too, still looked something like a 1000 ft or so.
Must have spent a couple of hours over the northern suburbs and south over Palmerston. Maybe 1000 ft is a bit low but it wasn't too much higher and at low speed but not a dirty run, gear was up while I watched it.
Missed the B-52 later. It would explain the presence.
Don't think the RSAF use something that big for their F-16, mostly seen a tanker conversion C-130 with them previously.

As far as I'm aware there is no such Aircraft in the USAF USMC USN.
They have KC-10 KC-135 etc but no KC-141.
The only Aircraft with 141 in its name was the C-141 Starlifter which has retired long ago and was never used as a Tanker..........

If any assets required inflight refueling they would be assisted by KC-10's or KC-135's or the Omega 707's or the RAAF KC-30.

Do you really need me to paste these links?

Lockheed C-141 Starlifter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also the Singapore Airforce do indeed own several KC-135R tankers based from Changi WSSS Airport.

I highly doubt an Aircraft the size of a KC-135 would simply be stooging around DRW at about 1000' for an hour over the suburbs........:D

Maybe the Aircraft was conducting circuit training? Certainly a possibility, it would explain why you saw it at about 1,500' gear up ( downwind leg ) multiple times in an hour.:ok:

Saw it again this morning REAL close. Yes it isn't a KC-141, got that wrong, actually did mean a 135 (707 military version tanker) but it doesn't seem to be that either, donks too big so something a bit more modern and it IS RSAF.

It was just stooging about yesterday NOT do approaches and refusals just orbiting randomly in various places for quite a while. Maybe getting the lie of the land or an aerial tour of the local sights.:E

Must be here for the F-16 but didn't look like it had wing mounted fueller pods. Seems strange to use this one if it can only service a small bird at a time. Someone must know a bit more.:ok:

RSAF most certainly use the boom equipped KC135 type aircraft for fighter refuelling, as do all the other users of boom equipped tankers. By delivering fuel at much higher pressures than probe and drogue tankers, the boom operators aim to overcome their lack of multiple delivery points with speed of delivery.

BTW...modern KC135s have equally modern high bypass engines which appear to be much bigger than the older, slimline engines.

No doubt a KC-135R ( R meaning re-Engined ) with the bigger CFM 56 Engines.
They look quite big as mentioned in a post above.

By the way there are no such terms like "approaches and refusals"!!
Do you mean Touch and Go's or Go Arounds during Circuit training????

I will bet you that it was simply a KC -135 from the USAF or the RSAF conducting local circuit training and at the same time doing a little sightseeing over Darwin.....

"and at the same time doing a little sightseeing over Darwin....."

That's twice "sightseeing" has been mentioned, if they want to
look at Palmerston, they are welcome :O ;)

It is indeed the RSAF tanker photographed above. Has been in DN for the last several days.