N764MA

This airframe, registered as N764MA, is a Boeing-built transport/tanker constructed in 1964 as a Boeing C-135FR Stratolifter with United States military serial 63-12738 (c/n MSN 18698). The airframe is recorded in corporate trust ownership under WILMINGTON TRUST CO TRUSTEE, a corporation based in Wilmington, DE, US, and carries a United States civil registration. The example is a re-engined variant fitted with modern turbofan powerplants and is documented in fixed-wing multi-engine category records. Ownership is held through a trustee corporation based in Wilmington, Delaware, reflecting a non-operational corporate title structure rather than direct commercial airline ownership.

The airframe is configured in a tanker/transport cabin layout with a flight crew of 3 and is equipped with a refuelling boom plus provision for hose-and-drogue operations via BDA or pod installations, allowing flexibility between boom and probe-and-drogue fueling techniques. Typical mission profiles for this configuration encompass long-range tanker and strategic transport duties enabled by a transoceanic range of 9,572 nm and a service ceiling up to 50,000 ft, while cruise speed is approximately 460 kts. As a re-engined C-135FR fitted with the CFM56-2/F108 series, maintenance considerations center on the upgraded propulsion system and associated airframe modifications required for modern turbofans. Registry details list the owner as a corporate trustee in Wilmington, Delaware, with operations recorded under the United States registry.

The Boeing C-135 family occupies a niche for long-range strategic tanker and transport roles derived from classic jet transport designs, offering extended endurance and high-altitude capability. The re-engined configuration with CFM56-2 / F108 engines improves fuel efficiency and thrust compared with original powerplants, positioning this airframe for continued specialized use rather than mainstream passenger charter markets. Competing types for tanker/transport missions are limited to other military-derived platforms; resale and maintenance considerations typically focus on airframe age, conversion scope, and the logistics of spare parts and certified maintenance support for an airframe built in 1964.