Older/exotic aircraft flying in/for the military

[PHXFLYR]

PHX ANG until recently had KC135E models manufactured in 1956. If that doesn't qualify for "older aircraft" nothing does!! NASA Langley for the longest time operated a B737-100. Manufactured in 1967, this particular aircraft was the first-ever B737 built by Boeing and was one of only 12 100 series 737's built, the rest being the longer -200 series after construction of this initial batch of aircraft. Originally delivered to Lufthansa, this particular airplane was used by Boeing for 737 certification flights prior to delivery and was donated by NASA to The Museum of Flight in Seattle several years ago.

For those who might pass thru ELP from to time to time,you'll find sitting on the ramp near the FBO the last known example here in the US of a CV990 Coronado .When it was originally manufactured by Convair in the late 50's early 60's it was at the time the fastest civilian airliner on the market. Unfortunatley dispatch reliability and a late entry into the market doomed the airplane pretty much from the start and the few that were operated here in the US by American soon found there way to second-tier supplemental airlines here in the US and a few overseas carriers, most notably Varig in Brazil ,Spantax the Spanish charter airline and US supplemental airline Modern Air Transport. Also seen there on occasion is NASA'S Super Guppy and a civilian C130 in white and blue colors with a US "N" number painted on the fuselage. Some pretty neat stuff.

PHXFLYR

By the way does anyone know who owns the 130 ? I might need a job soon.....

 

[BushwickBill]

There is a C141 parked at moffit near SJC. If you are landing south you can see it on the west ramp.

 

[LJDRVR]

Heard a contractor was still flying the A3 whale on some sort of contract. NASA was up until recently flying a F106 and still flies WB57's. Navy has a couple of F4's (not drones) Anything else cool flying in research, training roles?

The F-106 at Langley was retired back in 88'. There are no navy F-4's, the AF has a couple at Tyndall.

Oldest aircraft still in US military service? I'm going to guess it's got to be a KC-135 from the 56'-57' timeframe.

For the longest time it was 52-008 a B-52B Operated by NASA but still carried on the USAF inventory. "008" retired a year or two ago.

 

[Huggyu2]

There are no navy F-4's, the AF has a couple at Tyndall.

And some QF-4's at Holloman.

 

[JungleJett]

And some QF-4's at Holloman.

Those must be the ones I see beating up the pattern at DM on occasion.

 

[LR25]

Not really relevent now I guess, but about 10 years ago I saw a C-130 A model on the ramp at Dobbins, 3 blade props still on it. Even back then I figured all those were in the desert or at the most fighting a fire somewhere.

 

[Huggyu2]

Those must be the ones I see beating up the pattern at DM on occasion.

Those are probably the jets that get converted to drones by a company in Mojave, CA. When they are finished, they ferry them to Tyndall or Holloman, and D-M is their preferred gas-and-go stop.

I think there is only 1 pilot that does it. He flew F-4's and F-117's, and this is a pretty sweet deal for a retirement job, he says.

 

[flyf15]

Aren't there some An-26s, Mi-8s, and other russian equipment out there being operated by the US military?

 

[JungleJett]

Those are probably the jets that get converted to drones by a company in Mojave, CA. When they are finished, they ferry them to Tyndall or Holloman, and D-M is their preferred gas-and-go stop.

I think there is only 1 pilot that does it. He flew F-4's and F-117's, and this is a pretty sweet deal for a retirement job, he says.

That would be a pretty good gig. I figured it was heading to the yard. I will never get used to seeing an airplane enter the pattern and know it is doing its last circuit. I saw a BUFF a few weeks back doing some passes...and then it was over.

 

[414Flyer]

Those are probably the jets that get converted to drones by a company in Mojave, CA. When they are finished, they ferry them to Tyndall or Holloman, and D-M is their preferred gas-and-go stop.

I think there is only 1 pilot that does it. He flew F-4's and F-117's, and this is a pretty sweet deal for a retirement job, he says.

A friend if mine there is actually still active duty and does functional test flights on F-4s as they bring them out of AMARC.

 

[mudkow60]

I saw an F-86 at Luke AFB when I was in High School ('92). It has civilian, contract markings.

Also a gaggle of IAI Kafir's at NAS Pensacola in 2005 that were under a government contract as Red Air.

There is a unit located at Hulbert Field in Fort Walton Beach, FL that flys Russian Mi-8's, a Hind, and the AN-26. Also saw a Turbo DC-3 that was all white with a big black ? on the tail. It was military contract run.

My 1c worth...

 

[414Flyer]

I think that is 1st SOW. That AN-26 also has a question mark on the tail.

Some other exotic ones are the Gulfstream 2 outfitted with various sensors, especially IR, and the NT-43 with nose/tail radars. That Gulfstream is sometimes in company of various foreign assets we have acquired, and the NT-43 does some interesting radar work too.

 

[Alert height]

There's a BAC 111 that flies out of BWI sometimes with a Sabreliner as a chase plane. They are owned by Northrup-Grumman and do some kind of airborne radar research and tests.

ATI still flies DC-8's. See them at EWR all the time.

 

[Floyd R. Turbo]

There are two pilot training classes at Sheppard flying the T-37. When they are done, that's it for T-37 flying in the USAF. Should be around March 2009, I'm guessing.

Damn shame.... say what you will, I loved flying that ugly little f*****.

 

[greenj7]

Not really relevent now I guess, but about 10 years ago I saw a C-130 A model on the ramp at Dobbins, 3 blade props still on it. Even back then I figured all those were in the desert or at the most fighting a fire somewhere.

That C-130 was part of a Lybian contract for 16 airplanes. the first 8 were delivered, but in '72 when the next batch was ready the US goverment blocked the delivery (the extremists had taken over the Libyan govenment). Lockheed couldn't sell, deliver, or scrap them so they were pushed to the side of the ramp where they still sit.