RC-135

F-14 pilot recalls when he nearly fired an AIM-7 Sparrow against a Boeing 727 on intercept vector to the RC-135 his Tomcat was escorting

F-14 pilot recalls when he nearly fired an AIM-7 Sparrow against a Boeing 727 on intercept vector to the RC-135 his Tomcat was escorting

The F-14 Tomcat Overall, the US Navy's Grumman F-14 Tomcat was without equal among Cold War fighter jets. Six long-range… Read More

2 weeks ago

USAF grounds entire fleets of KC-135 tankers, RC-135 reconnaissance planes, and WC-135 “nuke sniffers” to replace faulty tail pins

The inspections should take just 30 minutes and even before the order was issued, at least 90 KC-135s had already… Read More

10 months ago

China releases video showing PLANAF J-11 intercepting USAF RC-135V and says the Rivet Joint engaged in dangerous maneuvers against its fighter aircraft

The Chinese military has accused the US of engaging in “dangerous maneuvers” and “seriously violating” international law as per a… Read More

11 months ago

Video shows Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet flying within 20 feet of USAF RC-135 reconnaissance plane

The Chinese Navy J-11 pilot flew an unsafe maneuver by flying in front of and within 20 feet of the… Read More

11 months ago

The story of the RC-135 Spy Plane that was diverted to intercept a Soviet Tu-95 bomber because no fighters were on alert. The RC-135 was renamed FC-135.

‘The RC-135 was diverted to do the intercept. The RC snuck up on the Bear from low rear and then… Read More

1 year ago

Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter jet fires missile near RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft

On Sep. 29 a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name: Flanker) fighter jet “released a missile” near a British RC-135… Read More

1 year ago

The Libyan MiG-23 pilot that fled to a Greek WW II airfield and all the skirmishes between Gaddafi’s fighters and US and French reconnaissance aircraft until early 1981

MiG-23 pilot Hazem al-Bajigni subsequently found himself accused of intending to steal a C-130 transport and fly the plotters out… Read More

3 years ago

USAF Sent RC-135 Crews to UK to train on RC-135 Simulators

The RC-135 mission crew simulators in fact were affected by last March floodwaters and some of the training had to… Read More

4 years ago

Former USAF specialist who defected to Iran was RC-135 aircrew member during OIF. She Earned the Air Medal for her contributions during the Iraq War.

Former Tech. Sgt. Monica Elfriede Witt was charged with espionage on Feb. 13, 2019 Former Tech. Sgt. Monica Elfriede Witt,… Read More

5 years ago

THAT TIME A KC-135 STRATOTANKER AIRCRAFT EXPLODED AFTER A FAILED PRESSURE TEST

The outflow valves which are used to regulate the pressure of the KC-135 were capped off during a 5 year… Read More

6 years ago

“U.S. SPY PLANES OFTEN FLY AT 10-15 KM FROM OUR SOUTH BORDER” RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SAYS

RQ-4 Global Hawk drones along with RC-135 and P-8A Poseidon spy planes approach the southern Russian border at 10-15 km… Read More

6 years ago

55th WING RB-47 CO-PILOT SHOT DOWN AND IMPRISONED BY SOVIETS WILL BE BURIED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Col. Bruce Olmstead was assigned to the 55th Wing when his RB-47B reconnaissance jet was shot down on July 1,… Read More

6 years ago

RAF RC-135 AIRSEEKER ON A HIGHLY CLASSIFIED MISSION NEAR RUSSIAN BORDER TRACKED BY PLANE SPOTTERS USING A MOBILE PHONE APP

The RC-135 could be seen at 27,000ft as it was gathering intelligence about Kaliningrad naval air base on the Baltic Sea… Read More

7 years ago

THIS IS HOW U.S. AIR FORCE AIRMEN HELPED RAF 51 SQUADRON TO FIX RC-135 ‘AIRSEEKER’ LANDING GEAR

The landing gear was retracting into place. However, it continued to bounce around and would not lock. As told by… Read More

7 years ago