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Aircraft #59-1487 is currently scheduled to go on static display at the Illinois Air National Guard facilities within Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. This particular aircraft is one of the original 126th Air Refueling Wing KC-135’s. The paint scheme is the one that was worn by aircraft of the Strategic Air Command toward the latter part of SAC's existence at the end of the Cold War. The distinctive glossy gray carries a bold blue stripe with a "constellation" of stars. The blue stripe and stars is referred to as the Milky Way. This was a historic scheme that represented Strategic Air Command on the KC-135 and bombers and embodied the motto "Peace is Our Profession" at a time when peace was forged through superior fire power.


Look who got a makeover

Aircraft #59-1487 is currently scheduled to go on static display at the Illinois Air National Guard facilities within Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. This particular aircraft is one of the original 126th Air Refueling Wing KC-135’s. The paint scheme is the one that was worn by aircraft of the Strategic Air Command toward the latter part of SAC's existence at the end of the Cold War. The distinctive glossy gray carries a bold blue stripe with a "constellation" of stars. The blue stripe and stars is referred to as the Milky Way. This was a historic scheme that represented Strategic Air Command on the KC-135 and bombers and embodied the motto "Peace is Our Profession" at a time when peace was forged through superior fire power.

Related Imagery
A B-1 Bomber, from the 28th Bomber Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., departs an aerial refueling track after a mid-air refueling session with a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott AFB, Ill. The 126 ARW is part of the Illinois Air National Guard and routinely performs aerial refueling for U.S. Armed Forces and NATO allied aircraft . (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens/Released)
A B-1 Bomber, from the 28th Bomber Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., approaches a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott AFB, Ill., during a routine training flight. The 126 ARW is part of the Illinois Air National Guard and routinely performs aerial refueling for U.S. Armed Forces and NATO allied aircraft. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens/Released)
A KC-135R Stratotanker from the 126th Air Refueling Wing, located at Scott AFB, Ill. returns home after a successful aerial refueling mission. The 126 ARW is the only aerial refueling Wing in the Illinois Air National Guard and routinely practices its mission with U.S. Armed Forces and NATO allied aircraft to maintain a high state of readiness. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens/Released)
A KC-135R Stratotanker from the 126th Air Refueling Wing returns home after performing an inflight aerial refueling mission. The Illinois Air National Guard Wing constantly trains in its mission to maintain a high state of readiness. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens)
Mike Ashmore, left, and Philip Romero, Eco Wash Team members from Pratt & Whitney, Dallas, Tex., install the wash hose of an ECO System to the front of a CFM International CFM56 engine (F108 military designation) on a KC-135R Stratotanker at Scott AFB, Ill., on August 24, 2011. The hose sprays water through the engine and washes off deposits and build ups. The 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, is participating in the engine wash as a fuel conservation measure. Washing the engine is expected to reduce the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) margin by 5-6 degrees resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. (U.S. AF photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens) (Released)
Philip Romero, an Eco Wash Team member from Pratt & Whitney, Dallas, Tex., moves a water collector into place while performing an engine cleaning on a CFM International CFM56 engine (F108 military designation) for a KC-135R Stratotanker at Scott AFB, Ill., on August 24, 2011. The 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, is participating in the engine wash as a fuel conservation measure. Washing the engine is expected to reduce the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) margin by 5-6 degrees resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. (U.S. AF photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens) (Released)
Water drains out of a CFM International CFM56 engine (F108 military designation) on a KC-135R Stratotanker during an ECO System engine cleaning at Scott AFB, Ill., on August 24, 2011. A collector placed beneath the engine catches the deionized, chemical free water allowing it to be recycled back into the ECO System for filteration and reuse. The 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, is participating in the engine wash as a fuel conservation measure. Washing the engine is expected to reduce the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) margin by 5-6 degrees resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. (U.S. AF photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens) (Released)
A tank gauge marker (right) shows the number of liters being collected as water is recycled into an ECO System tank after the engine wash of a CFM International CFM56 engine (F108 military designation) on a KC-135R Stratotanker at Scott AFB, Ill., on August 24, 2011. The system holds 400 liters in each of two tanks and can collect back up to 360 liters for each one to be filterated and reused. The 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, is participating in the engine wash as a fuel conservation measure. Washing the engine is expected to reduce the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) margin by 5-6 degrees resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. (U.S. AF photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens) (Released)
Mike Ashmore, an Eco Wash Team member from Pratt & Whitney, Dallas, Tex., monitors the spray time of the ECO System engine washer during the cleaning of a CFM International CFM56 engine (F108 military designation) on a KC-135R Stratotanker at Scott AFB, Ill., on August 24, 2011. To avoid over heating the engine it is sprayed for two minutes followed by a five minute cool down period. This is repeated three times for each of the four engines on a Stratotanker. The 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, is participating in the engine wash as a fuel conservation measure. Washing the engine is expected to reduce the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) margin by 5-6 degrees resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. (U.S. AF photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens) (Released)
Mike Ashmore, an Eco Wash Team member from Pratt & Whitney, Dallas, Tex., directs a water collector into place underneath a CFM International CFM56 engine (F108 military designation) on a KC-135R Stratotanker while performing an engine cleaning at Scott AFB, Ill., on August 24, 2011. The 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, is participating in the engine wash as a fuel conservation measure. Washing the engine is expected to reduce the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) margin by 5-6 degrees resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. (U.S. AF photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens) (Released)
Water drains out of a CFM International CFM56 engine (F108 military designation) on a KC-135R Stratotanker during an ECO System engine cleaning at Scott AFB, Ill., on August 24, 2011. A collector placed beneath the engine catches the deionized, chemical free water allowing it to be recycled back into the ECO System for filteration and reuse. The 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, is participating in the engine wash as a fuel conservation measure. Washing the engine is expected to reduce the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) margin by 5-6 degrees resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. (U.S. AF photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens) (Released)
An ECO System engine washer from Pratt & Whitney, Dallas, Tex., is used to clean the inside of a CFM International CFM56 engine (F108 military designation) on a KC-135R Stratotanker at Scott AFB, Ill., on August 24, 2011. The 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, is participating in the engine wash as a fuel conservation measure. Washing the engine is expected to reduce the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) margin by 5-6 degrees resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. (U.S. AF photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens) (Released)