N569MA

This article covers airframe N569MA, a military-to-civil conversion of the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker built in 1963 with manufacturer serial number 18626. The airframe is recorded as owned by Wilmington Trust Company (trustee) / Metrea (operator), a corporate trust arrangement based in Wilmington, DE, with Metrea identified as the operator. The aircraft carries a United States registration (US) and has a service history consistent with re-engining and conversion to KC-135R standard. Notable registry actions include its recorded change of operator into a corporate trust arrangement and ongoing civilian operation under Metrea.

The cabin of N569MA accommodates 37 seats, reflecting typical tanker-to-transport interior layouts used for personnel movement, mission crews, or configured logistics sorties rather than a commercial passenger fit. Avionics on the KC-135R platform are commonly upgraded during re-engining and conversion cycles; this airframe’s CFM56-2 installation implies auxiliary systems and maintenance regimes aligned with the R-model standard. Typical mission profiles for this operator-configured Stratotanker include long-range ferry and logistics flights leveraging a 9,580 nm range and strategic airlift or tanker support roles conducted from the operator’s base in Wilmington, DE. Maintenance considerations specific to this airframe center on the CFM56-2 engines and legacy KC-135 airframe systems retained since its original 1963 manufacture.

The Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker family occupies a niche for long-endurance refueling and transport missions where robust range (9,580 nm), high service ceiling (50,000 ft), and reliable turbofan powerplants are required. Competing platforms in the tanker/transport retrofit market include modified airliners and other military tanker conversions, but the R-model’s CFM56-2 re-engining offers improved fuel efficiency and maintainability compared with older powerplants. Buyer and operator demand for single-airframe examples such as N569MA tends to focus on specialized mission capability, lifecycle maintenance of legacy airframes, and the availability of parts and maintenance expertise for the CFM56 series.