On Saturday, July 20th a photo started circulating around the local interwebs of a plane being flanked by 2 fighter jets on approach to Bangor International Airport. The photo took flight, no pun or poor dad joke intended. It’s been circulating around several of the local radio station websites, with a glaring bit of extremely wrong information.

In the article, it states the aircraft, identified by a local US Navy veteran(thank you for your service) as a KC-135 dragging 2 Navy jets. It’s not the correct identification.

The aircraft in question, isn’t a KC-135, which is a 4 engined aircraft. The current replacement for the again US Air Force fleet of KC-135s and KC-10s, is the dual Boeing KC-46 Pegasus based on the Boeing 767 airframe. However, that’s not what this is either.

The aircraft is an Airbus A330MRTT operated by the French Air Force, or Armee De L’Air if you’re my wife or in laws. The fighters are Dassault Rafales. Also of the French Air Force.

The fighters and tanker were making a brief stop over on their trip east from Alaska participating in the Arctic Defender 24 exercises hosted by the German Air Force at Eielson Air Force Base.

Bangor’s proximity to Europe(as opposed to Seattle’s) brings in many flights stopping for fuel or whoopie pies before crossing the pond, or on their arrival to the US. There are several countries that stop off with their military assets on arrival or before heading back home. The French being one of them.

The Airbus A330MRTT refueling tanker operated by the French Air Force on final approach to Bangor International Airport on Saturday, July 20th.

A Maine Air National Guard KC-135R on approach to Bangor International Airport.

One of two French Air Force Dassault Rafales that landed recently at Bangor International Airport

French A330MRTT and 2 Rafales on the overhead.