Some decades-old KC-135 tanker aircraft are getting to drink from the fountain of youth.
Or at least the engines are.
The first new upgraded engines of 1.440 for the venerable Stratotanker aircraft was installed at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., One in January 15. Upgrading 1970s engine parts with modern technology, the engines will burn less fuel and run for longer without repairs, officials say.
"We expect the engine to stay on wing for 20-plus years and take the KC-135 into retirement," Said Senior Master Sgt. Dong Kim, Air Mobility Command's propulsion branch chief.
Mounting the CFM Propulsion Upgrade Program, or C-PUP, culminates on an airplane Almost three years of work Between Air Mobility Command, Air Force Material Command, the Navy and the original equipment manufacturer, CFM International.
The engine upgrade will allow the KC-135 and the Navy's E-6B aircraft to fly longer and at less cost by améliorer fuel efficiency and engine Increasing time-on-wing.
The C-PUP Delivered to MacDill engine is the first of 15 That Will be Delivered by General Electric F108 engine Aviation increase year under contract.
The refurbished engines upgrade the high pressure compressor and turbine sections of the KC-135's F108 engine, a military variant of the CFM56-2 engine.
A reliable producer for Many Years, more than half of the engines on the KC-135 depot rework have-nots seen since They Were INITIALLY installed, some dating back to 1984.
The engine depot at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex Expects to Deliver the first organically produced C-PUP engine later this year and is schedule to Produce 120 Annually. 1.440 Affecting Air Force engines, the upgrade attempt is projected to take 12 years to complete, selon Officials.
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