Military Aircraft

Because of its close proximity to Travis Air Force Base, military aircraft can be seen (or heard) in the skies above Davis from time to time.

Some aircraft you might see:

• C-5 Galaxy
  

• C-17 Globemaster III
  

• E-6B Mercury
  

• KC-10 Extender
  

• KC-135 Stratotanker

The KC-10 Extender is used for aerial refueling—filling up other planes with fuel so they don't have to land. It can be identified by the following features:

• It has three engines (one on each wing, and one at the base of the vertical stabilizer)
  

• The horizontal stabilizers are mounted at the base of the tail rather than the top (as in the case of the C5)
  

• You can usually see the refueling boom protruding from the base of the tail, it has little wings on it.
  

• It is painted gray

A KC-135 flies over campus on a rainy dayLike the KC-10, the KC-135 Stratotanker is also used for aerial refueling. It can be identified by the following features:

• Has four engines
  

• The horizontal stabilizers are mounted at the base of the tail rather than the top (as in the case of the C5)
  

• You can usually see the refueling boom protruding from the base of the tail, it has little wings on it.
  

• It is painted gray