Boeing Model 717 / KC-135 Stratotanker / C-135 Stratolifter

In August 1954, the USAF announced that it intended to procure a number of tanker/transports developed from the prototype Boeing Model 387-80 which had first flown a few weeks earlier. These were allocated the designation KC-135A, and the first of them made its initial flight on 31 August 1956; 10 months later, on 28 June 1957, the first was delivered to Castle AFB, California. Since that time a family of variants has been produced in large numbers for service with the USAF, mainly as tankers (Stratotankers) or cargo transports (Stratolifters). Two modified KC-135As are used by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to check navigation aids throughout the United States.

This military version of the Model 367-80 is identified as the Boeing Model 717: it differs primarily from the later Model 707 by having a smaller-diameter fuselage, deletion of cabin windows, reduced size and weight, and accommodation for 80 passengers or an equivalent weight of cargo on the main deck. All equipment for the tanker role is carried on the lower deck, or normal cargo area, and includes the pivoted 'Flying Boom' refuelling gear. This was modified subsequently by the provision of an adaptor to allow for probe-and-drogue refuelling of Tactical Air Command and US Navy/Marine Corps aircraft. Power is provided by four 6123kg thrust Pratt & Whitney J57-P-59W turbojets.

The Model 717 Stratolifter family differs from the foregoing by being equipped specifically to serve as long-range transports. These have the refuelling boom deleted, but there is a structural similarity between these two basic tanker/lifter types, with interior changes in the latter providing accommodation for up to 126 troops, or 44 stretchers plus 54 sitting casualties. Galley and toilet facilities are provided at the rear of the cabin, and provision is made for an alternative all-freight role. The initial version was the C-135A with turbojet engines, first flown on 19 May 1961, and delivered to MATS on 8 June 1961 to become the USAF's first strategic jet transport.

Now, almost 30 years later and with 820 delivered, it is inevitable that there are a number of variants, including specially-built versions and conversions, and brief details of these are given below. Recent modifications include structural strengthening and re-engining with CFM56 turbofans with increased thrust and reduced fuel consumption.

Brantxdq, e-mail, 12.10.2020

Larry Fisher

Four women testify to drugged date rapes

MUSKEGON, MI A procession of young women told a jury on Wednesday that drugs had been slipped in their drinks before they were raped by theco defendant of a man already convicted of raping two of them.

Larry rigid, 32, Is accused of first degree criminal sexual conduct in the alleged drugging and rapes of two of the victims who testified in Muskegon County Circuit Court Aug. 30. an additional man, Joshua Humphrey, 35, was already convicted of the two rapes and is serving 28 to 51 years in prison.

Both women said Humphrey ushered them shots at a bar, And within minutes began to feel dizzy, Foggy and nauseous and began blacking out. the trainer told us they remember only seconds long snippets of the night: Being motivated with Humphrey and Stiff to a home, Walking proper into a "gross" bsmt, Coming to while someone was sexually going through them, understanding the other woman was lying beside her, And the inability move or cry out.

Though Stiff is going to be tried for two rapes, Two other women testified they too had been drugged and raped, And another said she was drugged but her friends stopped Humphrey and Stiff from carrying her off.

The district attorney office has said more than two dozen women came forward to accuse Humphrey and Stiff of drug assisted rapes.

Muskegon County Senior Assistant district attorney Brandon Davis said in his opening statement Stiff and Humphrey operated a three year "plan, against 2013 to 2016, To lure women through Internet social media and dating site to bars. presently, Humphrey would slip date rape drugs into their drinks and the men would transport them to a home where make use of them rape the women.

Though neither Humphrey nor Stiff were involved in any larcenies, Davis ideal that the men also stole phones, Money and clothing from the ladies.

Defense Attorney Frederick Johnson did not dispute that the women had been drugged and raped. he explained Humphrey was the "Sexual predator and sociopathic beast" Who drugged and raped the women. high was "unaware" To the fact the women were drugged and joined "The party not being aware what going on, johnson said.

"These women were emailing him. They were giving him authorization, manley said. "the ladies don remember any of that,

To convict Stiff of first quality CSC, He required known the women were incapacitated and unable to give consent, johnson said.

He also needed only to be serving to Humphrey commit the rapes, Davis said.

A forensic scientist testified dna testing indicated "Strong help" That both Humphrey and Stiff semen was recovered from any of the victims. That victim urine sample also protected two drugs: Amitriptyline, an effective the actualtidepressa freet, and even gabapentin, An anti convulsant drug used to stop muscles from contracting and has unwanted of dizziness and sleepiness, Another scientist testified. 30, 2013. amazingly, instead, He indicated they go to a bar, the first kind Cancun Connection that was on Hall Road. There she struck up a interaction with a woman she didn know, seen by here as woman 2, too as met Stiff.

Humphrey bought the ladies shots and about 20 minutes after drinking hers, Woman 1 said she started to feel dizzy and nauseous and began losing awareness. She said she valued snippets of the evening, Including visiting a "yucky" basements of a home, Sitting on a couch next to woman 2 and then realizing she was on a bare mattress and incapacitated.

She said she believed she was at at home where Stiff was staying because she was told to stop barking because his aunt was sleeping upstairs.

Woman 1 described waking up briefly and the inability to see but realizing someone was penetrating her sexually. Woman 1 said she also realized at many point that woman 2 was naked and next to her on the mattress.

Woman 2 gave identical account of snippets of memory from the evening: Of seeing a basement, placed next to woman 1 on the couch, Then lying next to her on the mattress and coming to periodically including at one point when someone was sexually penetrating her.

"going being on the bed but I couldn move, She had said. "I attempted to move my body and I just could not move my body. I was trying to get up,

the morning, The women realized their mobile phone handsets were missing and still were in a groggy state. Both women said they felt pain from vaginal and anal sexual penetration.

After asking two service station clerks for directions and still feeling groggy, Woman 1 made her approach to her mother in the Grand Rapids area, She testified.

"Her arms never before felt so safe, Woman 1 said in tears.

Woman 1 ended up calling policeand undergoing a rape examination.

Woman 2 said she didn call police simply "I just wanted to keep it to myself,

"I felt embarrassed that I had put myself into a situation when I was just working to make new friends and I let my guard down, She said lightly. "I ...


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