More photos of the shrapnel damaged KC-135 (IG: lightning_ll_images)

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John97212@reddit

I am assuming they bolted four replacement engines on for the flight.

Checking for critical internal damage must have been a hell of a task as well.

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GxColls_AMT@reddit

You’d be surprised how much damage those engines can take. The limits for the blades are pretty big. Source: engine mechanic on KC-135s in the reserves

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Unidan_bonaparte@reddit

Would have signed off engines for a transatlantic flight that looked OK but was covered in shrapnel holes?

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MrDabb@reddit

I’m sure they were inspected and ground tested before flight.

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Well yea, Im just wondering how likely it actually is that any plane with shrapnel holes in it, and the engines specifically, would be certified to fly over Europe and an ocean to return back to base. Even if it cleared ground testing. Surely they'd put new engines in at the very least to be sure?

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LightningGeek@reddit

You can only base that decision on what you find. If the damage to the fan casing is superficial, and there is no evidence of damage to the fan blades or shrapnel in the core of the engine, then there is no reason not to go.

Doesn't mean they just have a quick external look and send it, but if a detailed visual inspection and a boroscope reveal nothing unusual, then there's no reason to change the engine.

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ElFarts@reddit

Well, this is a reddit trust me bro comment because well, I know the culture first hand. This is not the airlines. This is the military. They have 4 engines and I’m sure they were inspected and run up on ground. They’re gonna go man.

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tanksalotfrank@reddit

Yeah we kicked the tires, good to go!

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CensoredbytheGOP@reddit

You forget, the passengers and pilots have signed many many wrongful death waivers.

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CptSandbag73@reddit

That’s not how any of this works lol.

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EnsignNolo@reddit

It’ll be fine. You’ll see. What could possibly go wrong? Not like it’s rotary wing…

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iboneyandivory@reddit

Isn't there a blanket surrounding at first few turbine layers to contain the blades after in the event of a bird strike? I wonder if they could serve to mitigate damage from some amount of external projectiles too.

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Redman_307@reddit

What you can see there are the engine cowls that wrap around the engines. Only if the shrapnel went through the cowl and the engine case(s) would they need to replace the actual engine before flight. The shrapnel could have made it through the cowls and hit external parts of the engine(s), but externals can typically be replaced/repaired or even accepted depending on the damage without needing to replace the whole engine.

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JaaacckONeill@reddit

There's also Kevlar around the engines, to prevent uncontained engine failures. The kevlar could have absorbed the shrapnel before it entered the engine.

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ABoutDeSouffle@reddit

But isn't the kevlar layer between the fan case and the hydraulics/electronics to protect them from a broken blade? In that case, the shrapnel - coming from outside - would first hit the hydraulics/electronic and then the kevlar.

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Killentyme55@reddit

I'd be more concerned with shrapnel ingestion, turbines don't much care for FOD.

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Redman_307@reddit

Kevlar is typically only wrapped around the fan case. And only on some engine types- not all. It’s there for Fan Blade Out containment. If it were damaged, that could be a reason for replacing the engine as you would increase risk in case of a fan blade failure.

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AircraftDoc@reddit

Also, when changing an engine, the cowlings usually stay with the aircraft. Don’t personally know the 135, with some aircraft sometimes the nose cowl stays with the engine, sometimes it’s moved to the new engine. From the pictures, no way to tell if she has 4 new engines, some new engines, or all the same engines that were on when attacked.

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InsideOfYourMind@reddit

It appears the cowlings in the pic are damaged as well (unless they just replaced the engine itself and put them back on for transport)

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Killentyme55@reddit

Cowlings typically stay with the airframe, like if the engine in your car gets replaced you'd still keep the old hood.

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InsideOfYourMind@reddit

Agreed, I was just surmising a possibility off of what the op comment mentioned

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OptimisticMartian@reddit

Looks to me like at least 2 of the engines have repairs as well. So I don’t think so.

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I_Dunno_Its_A_Name@reddit

The engines go inside the cowlings. The cowling could be damaged with a new engine inside.

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2FAmademe@reddit

Unless major damage was found don’t see why they would.

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rathgrith@reddit

Speed holes, they make the plane go faster

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qzy123@reddit

“Put it in haich”

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Drapidrode@reddit

Processing img sb91oda6hmvg1...

zagreb ebnom zlotdik diev.

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Over-Conversation220@reddit

It can go 100 hectares on a liter of kerosene

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NoDoze-@reddit

They holes are whistling Dixie! LOL

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Beachhouse15@reddit

Happy cake day!

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TheGoldenHoratio@reddit

I want everything that’s coming to Krusty the Clown, which is me, Krusty!

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AlexLuna9322@reddit

Happy cake day Mr Car Salesman!

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rathgrith@reddit

Danke schön

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waudi@reddit

Awww I was going to comment this.

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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

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ElGuachoGuero@reddit

Those battle damage MAF’s are gonna be crazy. Hope their ICRL is accurate and up to date

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NoDoze-@reddit

Some of those dots look photoshopped, they dont match up from pic to pic. People pass pics off as legit so easily these days. LOL

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Hot_Net_4845@reddit (OP)

They match that of the original image and video. I don't know of any other images of 59-1444 with the patches.

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EpiphyticOrchid8927@reddit

Looks like those mechanics did a great job

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ILikeFlyingMachines@reddit

I guess straight to the boneyard?

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quietflyr@reddit

It'll be repaired for sure.

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Mbizzy222@reddit

Looks like my complexion from high school.

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here_walks_the_yeti@reddit

We can warn them that the Clearasil might not work for them either.

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TheTangoFox@reddit

Oxy pads it is

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BigD_277@reddit

Oxy10. Burn that S off!

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NoDoze-@reddit

OMG Im traumatized! LOL

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FSUnoles77@reddit

I can feel my face burning after reading this.

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tavenger5@reddit

Should have used that speed tape that they had - ClearaSeal

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AdSquare3489@reddit

Put her on the pill.

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RandyBeaman@reddit

Looks like it went quail hunting with Dick Cheney.

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BaZing3@reddit

Did it apologize for getting shot?

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HawkAlt1@reddit

In all honesty, that should reveal just how terrifying Darth Cheney was. He shot a lawyer. In the face. And the lawyer apologized for getting shot.

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PetriDishCocktail@reddit

Ouch!

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Center_Mass705@reddit

Bravo

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FOSSnaught@reddit

And just on time for Picture day. Fuggin typical.

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Blue_Etalon@reddit

What's the consensus here? Scrapped for parts and then to the bone yard, or back to Tinker for full repair?

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Top_Pay_5352@reddit

Probably repaired as tankers are vital!

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ILikeFlyingMachines@reddit

But KC-135 are ancient.

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Blue_Etalon@reddit

That's what I would bet on. But what do I know

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84Cressida@reddit

Tinker. It flew back pressurized

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RBeck@reddit

Did they stop three times because they didn't want to fly at max altitude? Also not sure I'd want to put fuel in the air-refueling tanks until all the holes are actually fixed.

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ILikeFlyingMachines@reddit

You can fly at altitude without pressure, just need oxygen.

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3tenthsOfVerstappen@reddit

Looks pretty badass 🤣

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Pop_Smoke@reddit

That’s a lot of speed tape.

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FLABANGED@reddit

Someone would've had a good time patching everything up.

I GET TO USE THE ENTIRE ROLL‽‽

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Memory_Less@reddit

With all those shrapnel holes does this make the plane a part of the Swiss military? /s

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heyinternetman@reddit

So does the plane get a Purple Heart?

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HamasDaddyOnFire@reddit

Guard jets have personality (ex: Spook 50)...let's hope some enterprising Ohio crew chief puts a placard in this one to tell the story. With a Purple Heart.

I'd donate.

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CannonAFB_unofficial@reddit

Spook 50 is an AD tail. I’ve flown her dozens of times. Shes currently at MacDill but has been at Fairchild/the Deid for the previous at least 5 years.

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HamasDaddyOnFire@reddit

My understanding is that particular piece of iron has migrated to/from the guard at some point in the past, but I could be wrong on that. In any event, guard jets tend to be more personalized in that respect, even if Spook is AD.

RIP to the Spook boom.

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CannonAFB_unofficial@reddit

I’ve only ever florwn guard tails deployed and I felt like I was walking in Air Force one. It’s insane how clean they keep them. And usually have a full lav, which is also clean.

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HamasDaddyOnFire@reddit

Microwaves, too.

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ilrosewood@reddit

That plane needs to be more careful when shaving.

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MissNashPredators11@reddit

Why tf does she look sad

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curtishawkin@reddit

'tis merely a flesh wound

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hippo96@reddit

Come back here you coward

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WhatsUpSteve@reddit

Shrapnel that hits the entire length of a huge jet? That's some crazy accurate AA fire.

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wehooper4@reddit

Was hit on the ground.

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WhatsUpSteve@reddit

Majority of those shrapnel is at the belly of the plane and light on the top. Are you sure about that?

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benzee123@reddit

Nothing some speed tap can’t fix

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Myusername468@reddit

"Flak Attack"

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Brainyface@reddit

Why does it have a wire to the fin

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Icewolfkezion@reddit

Its an antenna.

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The3levated1@reddit

Damn, the 15 year old Kia I scrapped a few years back had less holes in its body!

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BustedMeJesusNut@reddit

Until I read the caption I was wondering if Iran had converted 105s or 120s to vertical mount. Been a long time since aircraft took radar fused damage

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ABoutDeSouffle@reddit

If I was the pilot and they showed me this and told me to fly this halfway around the globe, I would first have laughed hysterically and then asked them if they are OK.

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Kanyiko@reddit

Chances this aircraft will gain the nickname "Patches Galore"?

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Zap_brannigann@reddit

More likely Patches O'Houlihan

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CptTurnersOpticNerve@reddit

would have to have dodged it to earn that one

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Kanyiko@reddit

Perhaps the drone had "Luck of the Irish" written on it.

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angrytortilla@reddit

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ThaddeusJP@reddit

Favorite bit there was (sorta) Janice Rand shaking her head at seeing the Enterprise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuifrXlfG_w&t=117s

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angrytortilla@reddit

One of mine as well. I always loved this whole scene.

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Cost_doesnt_matter@reddit

That big bitch is as tough as my ex wife, and that bitch was toooouuuuugh!!!

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fishmousse@reddit

I think it's gonna need more than just tinkering. Should have flown it to Overhaul AFB.

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Killentyme55@reddit

Apparently it's already headed towards Tinker.

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daLoke@reddit

whoosh

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Killentyme55@reddit

Dammit how did I miss that???

That's embarrassing, but I'll leave it up to teach me a lesson.

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MikeTangoRom3o@reddit

How the hell is it still air worthy ?

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StillNotaCenobite@reddit

Looks pretty cool. Very reminiscent of the WW2 bombers returning from runs.

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hhazinga@reddit

Sidebar: was there an equivalent of speed tape in the 1940s?

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HwanZike@reddit

Planes weren't fast enough, regular tape worked fine

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hhazinga@reddit

Mmmmh good point. Intriguing.

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bug_eyed_earl@reddit

Let’s just reinforce all the aircraft where the shrapnel holes are, right?

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Accomplished-One7476@reddit

scar tissue makes you stronger

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beerme04@reddit

Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever

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PleaseJustLetsNot@reddit

Best. Movie. Ever.

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RustGrit@reddit

Shane Falco was also from Ohio, just like this plane. I get the reference.

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chillinwithmoes@reddit

Footsteps Falco? From the Sugar Bowl?

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Accomplished-One7476@reddit

awesome movie 🤘🤘

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horseman5K@reddit

Nope. Scar tissue skin is weaker and less healthy than normal uninjured skin.

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madmike99@reddit

Don’t they say tiger stripes are sexy? What about tiny leopard spots

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FileCandid5591@reddit

Ein hoch aufs Speed Tape

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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

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Ktan_Dantaktee@reddit

Did… did those mf’s just speed tape the fuck out of it and call it a day?

Tf was Sheet Metal even doing?

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Chrisdkn619@reddit

So is that speed tape?

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maple_syrup777@reddit

still the sleekest

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flourier@reddit

Looks like we know what parts of the plane to reinforce now

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onethousandmonkey@reddit

Is the left seat looking at a fresh side window and what looks like a tarp? I see speed tape right below the window with a silver frame.

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Western-County4282@reddit

I wonder if they drew straws when it came to who had to fly it

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Unhappy_Cress_7431@reddit

Unimaginable what the World War pilots and paratroopers went through.

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id0ntexistanymore@reddit

Go bucks

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Efficient_Sky5173@reddit

Swiss cheese flying fortress.

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Warm-Tiger-997@reddit

wouldnt it be flak? i dunno just asking

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Animal__Mother_@reddit

Damage was inflicted while in the ground so no.

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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

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