66‑Year‑Old KC‑135 Flew Final Mission, Then Re‑activated From Boneyard

The United States Air Force’s KC‑135 Stratotanker, now 66 years old, completed its last scheduled flight in December before being removed from the aircraft storage facility known as the boneyard. The tanker, a workhorse of the Air Mobility Command, has powered the U. S. military’s global reach for decades by refueling fighters, bombers, and transport aircraft in mid‑air. After its final mission, the aircraft was pulled back into the active inventory, a move that signals the Air Force’s intent to keep older tankers operational while newer models are phased in. The decision underscores the continued reliance on the KC‑135 platform to sustain rapid deployment and sustainment of forces worldwide.