F-16 To KC-135: I Thought We Had Something Magical
The following was written by an Oklahoma ANG F-16.
TULSA AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ok. — I was on a training mission about to circle Oklahoma City and head back to Tulsa when a rugged, big-boned KC-135 pulled up beside me and tipped his wing. He said he'd just left Tinker when he noticed my tail and had to say hello.
He convinced me to accompany him to Arkansas to see the Ozarks at sunset and I couldn't say no. And then right around the border he mentioned his love of Downton Abbey.
Maybe it was that combined with the altitude but next thing you know we're both on autopilot and I'm letting him steer his telescoping boom right into my fuel receptacle. It was so incredible I almost sprang my ejection seats. Afterwards I felt energized, like my combat radius could extend another thousand miles, but when I asked if I could keep a toothbrush at his hangar he disappeared.
Since then he hasn't called so I continually check the UHF for messages and fly over Tinker, hoping he'll notice. I heard som…
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