N717MA

The airframe bearing tail number N717MA is a Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker/Stratolifter built by The Boeing Company in 1964 with manufacturer serial 63-12735. The airframe is recorded as owned by the corporate trustee WILMINGTON TRUST CO TRUSTEE, located in Wilmington, DE, US; this corporate ownership is the principal registry entry and represents the documented ownership timeline. The aircraft is registered in the US and retains its original airframe lineage as a 1964 build, with maintenance and valuation notes not published in the supplied data. No public record of operator reassignment or civilian conversion events is provided in the dataset.

This specific C-135FR airframe, N717MA, follows the operational profile typical to Stratotanker/Stratolifter derivatives: configured to support long-range, multi-role sorties with systems and airframe endurance suitable for extended missions up to the published ferry or operational range. Cabin layout and seating specifics are not published in the provided data, but the model family is normally arranged for tanker/transport role flexibility rather than a fixed passenger configuration. Avionics fit for this airframe is not detailed here; routine operations would emphasize communications and mission avionics consistent with multi-role fixed-wing multi-engine platforms. The owner’s Wilmington, DE registry address indicates a civilian corporate trustee holding rather than a named operational flying unit; maintenance considerations would therefore follow trustee-directed preservation or transfer protocols as per standard US civil registry practice.

The Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker/Stratolifter occupies a niche between strategic air-to-air refueling and medium heavy-lift transport platforms, leveraging modernized powerplants like the CFM56/F108 series to extend life and efficiency. With a cruise speed of 461 kts and a service ceiling of 50,000 ft, the type competes technologically with other converted jet transports and tanker derivatives, where buyer interest centers on reliability and commonality of engines like the CFM56. Market and resale considerations for this airframe would hinge on its 1964 build year, engine life, structural fatigue status, and the legal posture of the corporate trustee owner; specific maintenance records and valuation figures are not published in the supplied dataset.