Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker Illinois Air National Guard 1:400 Diecast by GeminiJets

Add an important U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft to your military aviation collection with this 1:400 scale Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker diecast model by GeminiJets. Representing aircraft 63-7981 of the Illinois Air National Guard, this Gemini Macs Series collectible recreates one of America's most recognizable aerial refueling and strategic support aircraft.

Finished in its military gray scheme with Illinois Air National Guard markings, this compact 1:400 scale model is ideal for collectors of U.S. Air Force aircraft, military aviation history, aerial tankers, and GeminiJets diecast airplanes.

Features:

• Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker
• Illinois Air National Guard markings
• Aircraft number 63-7981
• United States Air Force aircraft
• GeminiJets Gemini Macs Series
• 1:400 scale
• Diecast metal with some plastic components
• Detailed exterior
• True-to-scale proportions
• Approximately 4 inches long
• Approximately 4-inch wingspan
• No display stand included
• No opening features
• Brand new in manufacturer's original unopened packaging

HISTORY ASPECTS:

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker has served as one of the most important aerial refueling aircraft in U.S. military aviation. Developed from Boeing's jet transport designs of the 1950s, the KC-135 gave the United States Air Force the ability to refuel aircraft in flight, dramatically extending the operating range and endurance of fighters, bombers, and other military aircraft.

The KC-135R represents a major modernization of the original Stratotanker. Installation of more efficient CFM56 turbofan engines improved fuel efficiency, performance, reliability, and operating capability while helping extend the useful life of the KC-135 fleet.

Air National Guard units have played an important role in KC-135 operations, providing aerial refueling capability in support of training, deployments, exercises, and military operations. Aircraft such as 63-7981 demonstrate how a design originating during the early jet age continued to support modern military aviation decades later.

The KC-135's longevity also makes it an unusual aviation-history collectible. Few military aircraft types have remained operational across so many generations of combat aircraft, making the Stratotanker an important companion piece to models of the fighters and bombers it was designed to support.

Did You Know?

• • KC in KC-135 identifies the aircraft as a tanker/cargo aircraft.
  • The KC-135 first entered U.S. Air Force service during the 1950s.
  • The KC-135's primary mission is aerial refueling, allowing other aircraft to remain airborne longer and operate farther from their bases.
  • The KC-135R received modern CFM56 turbofan engines, substantially improving performance and efficiency over earlier versions.
  • Air National Guard tanker units contribute to both domestic readiness and worldwide U.S. military operations.
  • Aerial tankers are often described as force multipliers because they greatly extend the effective operating range of other military aircraft.
  • At 1:400 scale, this model provides collectors with a space-efficient way to display a large four-engine military aircraft alongside other aviation collectibles.