High Gallery
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U.
S. Military Aircraft Boeing EC-135 Photo by Coil B. Thouanel |
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At the beginning of the 1960s, Strategic Air Command decided to add to its inventory a number of flying command post which might survive any nuclear exchange that might knock out ground headquarters. Thus 17 KC-135B tankers, power by 18,000-lb thrust Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-5 turbofans, were reconfigured as EC-135C flying command post with a command space, rest area, and extensive communication facilities. The success of the EC-135C prompted a number of complementary conversions of the basis of the turbojet-power KC-135A. First came six EC-135A communication relay aircraft able to double in the command post role. other models followed, and some 40 or more aircraft remain in service for command and associated tasks. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
| Manufacturer: Boeing | Length: 136 ft. 3 in. |
| Date Deployed: August 1965 | Height: 41 ft. 8 in. |
| Model: A | Wing Span: 130 ft. 10 in. |
| Crew: Four | Wing Area: 2,433.0 sq. ft. |
| Nickname: | Empty Weight: 98,466 lb. |
| Basic Role: Aerial command post and communication relay plane. | Max. Weight: 297,000 lb. |
| Other Versions: EC-135A: Communication relay, EC-135C: SAC post attack command control system aircraft, EC-135G: ICBM launch control center aircraft, EC-135H: command post, EC-135J: upgraded EC-135Cs, EC-135K: Tactical Air Command post, EC-135L: relay aircraft, EC-135P: Pacific Air Forces command post. | Armament: None |
| Principal User: U. S. A. | |
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Performance |
Propulsion |
| Range: 1,500 miles with 150,000 pounds of transfer fuel ferry mission, up to 11,015 miles. | Power Plant: Pratt & Whitney J57-P-59W turbojet. |
| Max. Speed: 585 mph. | Horsepower: 13,750-lb thrust. |
| Ceiling: 50,000 ft. | No. Of Engines: Four |
| Climb Rate: 2,000 ft. per minute. |