The story
The RC-135 family has been the backbone of American airborne reconnaissance since the 1960s, flying from the Cold War to today without a break. Rivet Joint listens for electronic signals, Cobra Ball watches missile launches, and Combat Sent studies radar systems. What exactly they collect is classified — which is exactly the point.
RC-135s flew in the Vietnam War and in nearly every major US operation since, and Rivet Joint alone had logged more than 8,000 combat missions by 2010.
Quick answers
How do you identify a RC-135?
A KC-135 airframe with a long black 'hog nose' and big cheek fairings along the forward fuselage, covered in antennas. US jets fly from Offutt AFB, Nebraska; the RAF flies three from Waddington.
What does a RC-135 sound like?
Four CFM F108 turbofans, the same engines as the re-engined KC-135 — a perfectly ordinary sound hiding an extraordinary mission.
How fast is the RC-135?
Top speed is 435+ kts.
How many people does the RC-135 carry?
Typical configuration: Up to 5 flight crew plus 21-27 mission crew depending on mission.
How far can the RC-135 fly?
Range is about 3,390 nmi.
How big is the RC-135?
It is 135 ft long and 131 ft across the wings.
When did the RC-135 first fly?
Its first flight was in 1961.
How many RC-135s have been built?
32+ built.
How rare is a RC-135 in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first RC-135 catch is worth 250 points.
