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United States Air Force Boeing WC-135B 61-2666
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United States Air Force Boeing WC-135B 61-2666
United States Air Force Boeing WC-135B 61-2666 (msn 18342) at McCleelan Air Force Base. Boeing C-135B-BN Stratolifter (Boeing 717-185) 61- 2666 was rolled out on 15 February 1962 ; flown on21 March 1962 ; delivered to the USAF on 30 March 1962.. Assigned to Military Air Transport Service in April 1962: Set several world-class cargo lift and speed records. In august 1965 converted to WC-135B and assigned to the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Weather Reconnaissance Wing, Air Force Weather Service, McClellan AFB, CA. Also designated Constant Phoenix to collect atmospheric samples for the purpose of detecting and identifying nuclear explosions. Informally referred to as sniffer or weather bird. Rotated with 56th WRS, 9th WRW at Yokota Air Base, Japan. 4-86: Provided atmospheric sampling support following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. After4-89: Det 2, 645th Materiel Squadron, 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Majors Field, TX. supported flight testing of RC-135 fleet, as well as serving as crew trainer for pilots assigned to Det.2. 5-95: Converted to WC-135W; Conversion included small fairings and attachments for equipment under evaluation, check fairings, hog nose and SIGINT antennae. Identical in appearance to RC-135W but lacked full reconnaissance suite of RC-135W. After 2003: Converted to NC-135W. Assigned to Det 2 with L3 Comm to support flight testing for RC-135 fleet. 2007: Test flying the Northrop-Grumman LN-120G stellar-inertia tracking navigation system. By 5-18: with 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing, Greenville, Txl Date: 1967
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Media ID 28681931
© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans
1962 1965 1967 2003 2007 303rd 55th 56th Accident Antennae Appearance Assigned Atmospheric Boeing Cargo Check Collect Constant Conversion Converted Crew Delivered Designated Detecting Evaluation Explosions Flown Identical Identifying Included Informally Lift Materiel Mcclellan Navigation Nose Nuclear Phoenix Pilots Provided Purpose Reactor Reconnaissance Records Referred Rolled Rotated Samples Sampling Serving Sniffer Speed Squadron Strategic Suite Support Supported System Systems Test Testing Tracking Trainer Usaf Wc 135b Wing Base Chernobyl Comm Fleet Greenville Majors Northrop Grumman Rc 135 World Class
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In this photograph, the United States Air Force Boeing WC-135B 61-2666, also known as "Constant Phoenix," is seen gracefully parked at McClellan Air Force Base. This historic aircraft, with the manufacturing serial number msn 18342, was first rolled out on February 15, 1962, and took its maiden flight on March 21, 1962. Delivered to the Military Air Transport Service in April 1962, it quickly set several world-class cargo lift and speed records. In August 1965, the C-135B-BN Stratolifter was converted into a WC-135B and assigned to the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Weather Reconnaissance Wing, Air Force Weather Service. It was also designated as "Constant Phoenix," and its primary mission was to collect atmospheric samples for the purpose of detecting and identifying nuclear explosions. The aircraft was informally referred to as a "sniffer" or "weather bird." Throughout its illustrious career, the WC-135B 61-2666 rotated between the 56th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, and Det 2, 645th Materiel Squadron, 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Majors Field, TX. In the late 1980s, it provided atmospheric sampling support following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. After 1989, it was converted to a WC-135W and assigned to Det 2 with L3 Comm to support flight testing for the RC-135 fleet, as well as serving as a crew trainer for pilots assigned to Det.2. In the early 2000s, the WC-135W was further converted to an NC-135W. It continued to support flight testing for the RC-135 fleet and, by 2007, was testing the Northrop-Grumman LN-120G stellar-inertia tracking navigation system. By 2018, the WC-135B 61-2666, with its rich history and invaluable contributions to the US Air Force, remains a vital asset in the ongoing quest for scientific discovery and national security. This photograph is part of The Peter Butt Aviation Collection, available through Mary Evans Prints Online.
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