Hey AsLan7 - You Good?

[kas232ca]

Saw the KC-135 down in Iraq. Just checking in. I assume you are in the left seat at WN these days for your day job?

[AsLan7]

Saw the KC-135 down in Iraq. Just checking in. I assume you are in the left seat at WN these days for your day job?

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Hey thanks for asking, k232...

Yes, tragic loss. I did not know the six crew members on that KC135 that went down but had friends who did. Heartbreaking for sure. Somehow that tanker clipped the top of the tail of the other one and fortunately the other tanker was able to land in Israel even with half the tail taken off. It will be awhile before we know the details but it is rare to lose a tanker. Only a handful of the fleet have ever been lost since they were introduced in the mid 50's. Boeing built a heck of an airplane back then.

And you are correct. I'm enjoying semi retirement now (after 26 years with the military)in the left seat of the 737 with SWA. Look for me sometime. I usually introduce myself as Cap'n Jack.

[kas232ca]

Saw the KC-135 down in Iraq. Just checking in. I assume you are in the left seat at WN these days for your day job?

.
Hey thanks for asking, k232...

Yes, tragic loss. I did not know the six crew members on that KC135 that went down but had friends who did. Heartbreaking for sure. Somehow that tanker clipped the top of the tail of the other one and fortunately the other tanker was able to land in Israel even with half the tail taken off. It will be awhile before we know the details but it is rare to lose a tanker. Only a handful of the fleet have ever been lost since they were introduced in the mid 50's. Boeing built a heck of an airplane back then.

And you are correct. I'm enjoying semi retirement now (after 26 years with the military)in the left seat of the 737 with SWA. Look for me sometime. I usually introduce myself as Cap'n Jack.

Glad to hear you are good. Yeah, the older Boeings were tough (my dad retired from North American>Rockwell>Boeing)

Will keep my ears out for you during the announcement, although I am generally American or Breeze these days.

[bruceb58]

Did you fly the KC135 before the yaw dampers were installed? My friend, who is a retired colonel, said it was the hardest pane he ever flew while in the AF. He flew MANY different aircraft with the last one being the F-35.

[AsLan7]

I did b58. Actually I’ve flown almost every model of KC135 including the T models which were specifically configured to refuel the SR71. (man I’m old)

The yaw damper was installed in the 1990’s to counteract Dutch roll tendencies due to the swept back wings. The swept back wings helped to reduce drag. The KC135 is incredibly fast for a 4 engine jet, cruising at almost .89 Mach. The downside is a yawing tendency that can be dangerous at altitude if the crew is not properly trained to overcome that Dutch roll phenomenon.
After the yaw damper was installed, it helped mitigate those tendencies but we were still trained in the Simulator on how to counteract if the Yaw damper failed.

[bruceb58]

Sent you a message.

[kas232ca]

I did b58. Actually I’ve flown almost every model of KC135 including the T models which were specifically configured to refuel the SR71. (man I’m old)

The yaw damper was installed in the 1990’s to counteract Dutch roll tendencies due to the swept back wings. The swept back wings helped to reduce drag. The KC135 is incredibly fast for a 4 engine jet, cruising at almost .89 Mach. The downside is a yawing tendency that can be dangerous at altitude if the crew is not properly trained to overcome that Dutch roll phenomenon.
After the yaw damper was installed, it helped mitigate those tendencies but we were still trained in the Simulator on how to counteract if the Yaw damper failed.

I would imagine that the KC-135 that survived the collision would have been a handful without much of its vertical stab and rudder, and I would think the yaw damper would be inop at that point.