N571MA

This airframe, registered as N571MA, is a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker built in 1962 with U.S. Air Force serial 61-0325 / MSN 18232. The certificate holder is the corporate trustee WILMINGTON TRUST CO TRUSTEE, located in Wilmington, Delaware, United States; the aircraft is listed on U.S. registration records under that trust. Its history reflects military-origin production followed by post-service civilian registry actions, and the framework of ownership indicates custodial corporate holding rather than private individual possession. Operator and fixed home base details are not published in the supplied data; registry and trustee status are the primary documented administrative facts for this airframe. Condition highlights are not itemized in the provided dataset, though the airframe is described with modernized systems consistent with upgraded KC-135R conversions.

The cabin for this specific KC-135R is configured in a tanker/transport layout with a dedicated boom operator station and structural provision to carry up to six 463L pallets; typical passenger accommodation is listed at up to ~37 seats in transport configuration. Avionics on this airframe are described as upgraded military avionics with a modernized cockpit—block upgrades and Rockwell Collins-type systems on retrofitted airframes—supporting contemporary communication, navigation and mission systems. Typical missions for KC-135R variants involve aerial refueling and strategic transport tasks over long-range profiles consistent with a 9,574 nm ferry range and a service ceiling near 50,000 ft; specific route assignments and operator deployments for N571MA are not provided. Maintenance considerations for this conversion-class frame include continuing interface between legacy airframe structures and high-bypass turbofan systems and modern avionics suites.

The Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker family occupies a niche as a dedicated strategic tanker/transport derived from the KC-135 line, distinguished by re-engining with CFM56-2 units for improved fuel efficiency and thrust. In the secondary market, these airframes attract interest from military, government, and special-mission operators seeking heavy-lift aerial refueling capability; competing mission solutions are limited to other tanker platforms rather than simple transport aircraft. Buyer considerations emphasize airframe hours, maintenance records related to CFM56-2 installations, avionics upgrade status, and the complexity of supporting older structural elements when paired with modern systems. Resale and long-term support are shaped by the airframe’s military lineage, trustee ownership structures, and the specialized role of the KC-135R in operator fleets.