In flight with the Italian Air Force B707 tanker
On Apr. 3 2008, the last of 4 Italian Air Force B.707TT of the 8th Gruppo made its last operative flight during the build up phase of the Spring Flag Exercise. The aircraft, serialled MM62151, using c/s I-2151 with 67 people on board carried to Decimomannu 4 pallets of material and equipment. 23.000 FH have been flown in the last 16 years all around the World in both air-to-air refueling (AAR) missions and transportation. The aircraft, originally purchased from the TAP airlines, will be replaced by the KC-767A, a military version based on the Boeing 767-200ER version, that the ITAF has bought in 4 examples. The delay in the delivery of the new tanker (initially scheduled to be delivered in 2006) compelled the ItAF to extend the operative life of 2 of its B707 for another 2 years (the other B707s were sold to the Omega Air), with the Boeing company paying for the cost of the maintenance of the aircraft. The KC-767A, that has recently lost the KC-X competition with the KC-30 (based on the Airbus A-330) for replacement of the USAF KC-135 and KC-10, should be delivered to the 14th Stormo at the beginning of the 2009; in the meanwhile the Italian crews will train on a B767 provided by Boeing (an aircraft that not having any AAR capability) that will allow the 8th Gruppo pilots to acquire a basic training on the new type.
To read the full report of a flight on board a B707 during an air-to-air refueling mission click here: http://cencio4.wordpress.com/works/agip25/
Hi David
Just to complement your info, B.707T/T MM62151 was indeed purchased from the portuguese airlines TAP-Air Portugal (civil registration CS-TBU), but before that this Boeing 707-3F5C served with the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) where it had the serial 8801. It was officially delivered to the PoAF on September 23rd, 1971, and together with her sister 8802 (later CS-TBT and MM62150) operated in the cargo/passenger role between continental Portugal and the african colonies. If my memory serves me well, they both were passed on to TAP in 1976, a great loss in my opinion. But, as we say here, one man’s loss is another man’s gain, in this case AMI’s gain. ;o)
Best regards from Portugal,
Carlos J. Gomes