Dates

Event

1 March 1957

Constructed as a KC-135A-BN.
Aircraft roll-out date

5 April 1957

First flight.

18 May 1957

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 55-3123.

1957

Redesignated as JKC-135A.
Aircraft was delivered as a dedicated test bed, with no refueling boom.

From January 1964 to 30 June 1964

Participated as part of the Quick Reaction Capability QRC-220A program.

July 1964

Began serving as the primary platform for testing the Airborne Optical Lightweight Tracking System (ALOTS). Flight tests for the system began in 1965.

1977

Converted to a NKC-135A.
Conversion to Airborne Laser Laboratory completed by General Dynamics.

7 March 1978

Photographer: David Lednicer
Notes: At Edwards AFB - The Airborne Laser Laboratory (ALL) taxies out for a flight. Testing of the ALL culminated on May 26th, 1983 when the chemical laser firing from the dorsal turret (mounted on the other side of the fairing on top of the aircraft) shot down an AIM-9B missile.

From NMUSAF: This plane was extensively modified by the Air Force weapons Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and used in an 11-year experiment to prove a high-energy laser could be operated in an aircraft and employed against airborne targets. During the experiment, the Airborne Laser Lab destroyed five AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and a Navy BQM-34A target drone.

4 May 1988

Transferred to 4950th Test Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
Aircraft landed at Wright Field for preservation at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

20 May 1988

To National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
View the Location Dossier

19 July 1995

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

6 May 2008

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

2 November 2011

Photographer: Andrew King

Transferred to 4949th Test Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM.