USAF KC-135R

The 459^th Air Refuelling Wing, US Air Force Reserve Command, based at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, US has confirmed it will be sending a KC-135R Stratotanker to this summer's Air Tattoo.

The KC-135, which is a regular and popular participant at the Air Tattoo, provides the core aerial refuelling capability for the USAF and has a basic crew of three: a pilot, co-pilot and a boom operator for the re-fuelling operation. It flies at 530mph at 30,000ft but can fly up to a height of 50,000ft.

The US Air Force Reserve Command provides combat-ready units for active duty whenever there are not enough trained units in the Regular component of the Air Force to perform any national security mission.

An Air Tattoo spokesman said: "We're delighted that the US Air Force has been able to commit one of its assets so early in the year and we hope it will be the first of many. The KC-135 is an important aircraft enabling the USAF to project itself globally. To have it on static display at the Air Tattoo not only demonstrates US air power but also the close links that have built up between the airshow and the USAF over many years."

In December, US President Barack Obama marked the end of the Iraq War by visiting Andrews Air Force Base to meet the crew that brought back the American flag that flew over Baghdad during the conflict.

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