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The SR-71 used a different high flashpoint fuel (JP-7) to most aircraft, which require separate tankers (KC-135Q) with segregated storage.



No. The Q's ran on JP-7. They had the turbojet engines, while most other tankers had turbofans.


The Q like most early KC-135 used used Turbojets(J57) later upgraded to Turbofans (CFM56) as the T

J57: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_%26_Whitney_J57

CFM56: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFM_International_CFM56

As far as I know only the A-12 family and the X-51 used JP-7 given it needed Triethylborane (TEB) to ignite.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JP-7

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triethylborane

More on the KC-135Q/T

https://www.blackbirds.net/tankers/kc135q.html

http://www.habu.org/kc-135q/kc135q.html




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