Actually, I thought he meant they can burn all of <i>their</i> fuel in <i>their</i> wings <i>or</i> give some of the fuel <i>they</i> were meant to use for personal consumption, also, to others.

Thanks a million Fred!

My favorite is the B-52 with the reflection in the belly. I can picture Slim Pickins riding a nuke under it now.

Actually we can burn it all or give it all away. The airplane actaully held a record for longest sustained flight for a little while: They took off from a base in Kansas flew around the world and landed California. But to answer your question the tankers are spread out around the world. Besides those that are temporarily deployed to the middle east, there are is a squadron (~15 airplanes) in Japan and a squadron in England.

Biznatch:
I am very happy doing what I do. Granted I am in the national guard so my life is somewhat different than my active duty counterparts, but there are some similarities. I, like many people that I know, had no intrest in the military. For those that have seen a post of mine in the Politics Board, I am about as liberal as they come. I joined the guard because I wanted something that they offered: my job. For that I am paid descently, I get 100% of my school paid for, I have travelled all over the world and I make up my own work schedule every month. If I need money, or there is a trip going some where I want to go I work, if not I take a couple of weeks off. And unlike many people I know, I truly like going to work...

As far as the plane goes, the whole thing is pressurized. We operate behind a 3ft x 3ft window.

Those are great shots! Thanks for sharing.

Those are astounding. Must be a really exhilerating job.