N679MA

This airframe, registered as N679MA, is a Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker built in 1964 with manufacturer serial number 18684. It is listed as operated by Metrea Strategic Mobility (operator), a United States-based corporation, and carries a US registration. The type is an older Stratotanker airframe, notable for its longevity in tanker service and conversion flexibility; its operational record reflects long-term service life typical of C-135 derivatives and continued use in strategic air-to-air refueling and limited transport roles. Operated commercially by Metrea Strategic Mobility out of the United States, this example retains a refueling boom and airframe modifications that prioritize sustained endurance and structural maintenance cycles.

The cabin is arranged in a refueling tanker layout with a flying boom and can be reconfigured for limited transport, accommodating up to approximately 37 passengers in a transport role. Typical mission profiles for this specific airframe include long-endurance aerial refueling sorties and strategic mobility flights, exploiting the airframe’s extended range of 9,580 nm and high-altitude capability to operate near its 50,000 ft ceiling. Avionics and specific onboard communications suites are not detailed in the public data provided; maintenance considerations focus on legacy airframe support, engine life-cycle management for the four CFM International F108 turbofans, and upkeep of the refueling boom system. Crew accommodation for operations is compact, listed as 3 seats for flight and refueling duties.

The Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker family occupies a niche between pure strategic tankers and multi-role transport-converted derivatives, offering long range and high-altitude refueling capability with the ability to carry a limited passenger load when needed. Competing platforms are other mid-life tanker conversions and newer tanker transports, but this airframe’s specification—particularly the four CFM International F108 engines producing 22,000 lbf each—keeps it relevant for operators requiring extended-range refueling without full fleet replacement. Market demand for such airframes tends to favor corporate or government operators who can support legacy maintenance programs; resale considerations hinge on structural fatigue life, refueling-system condition, and the availability of parts for the C-135 family.