Interesting sidebar Paul. It’s recently come out that the USAF is taking back the looking glass mission with a series of E4 based 747s. The reason is parts issues on the aging 717s. With a larger platform it will add new functionality. The Navy is going back to an EC-130 based TACAMO aircraft ( take command and move out)
I was an Avionics maintainer on the EC135s at RAF Mildenhall. Worked on RC135s there as well. Later, I was aircrew on the EC135 ARIA at WrightPatterson AFB and Edwards AFB when the entire wing moved out there. ARIA also used modified 707s called EC18s, much more space in those. Also, after the Apollo program ended, the name was changed to Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft. I had to hit LIKE on this video, but only because there was no button for OMG, I FREAKING LOVED IT.
Woo Hoo, I spent 2 years working on the electronics, uhf, hf, switchboard, ALCS boxes, multi track recorder, HARDS (high altitude radiation warning system) warning and VLF on that plane! Early on, the vlf wire antenna reel didn't work very well and when the hydraulic cutter and the manual cutter wouldn't work, they would have togfo out and land in the desert dragging some miles of wire. Rumor said a rancher had collected some of the orange cones and mounted them at the entrance of his farm.
@happycamper5213 I worked as weapons system team member on F-16C/D fighters at Luke AFB in 2000. Proud Panther Maintainer MAOW Weapons Crew 32 63rd Fighter Squadron
@@toddpeterson5904 It has a lot more weight these days - the Secretary of the Interior has a very familiar..."style" about his leadership and how tractable he is by people who play into his narrative.
The restoration is absolutely beautiful!!! It's been a long time for this EC-135 airframe, but definitely worth it. WOW!!!! I saw this very aircraft fly over our house so many times during its continuous non-interrupted mission operations. These aircraft were always well cared for & I'm glad to see that this airframe still is. Need to get those wings back on!!!! Thank you.
Awesome video. Appreciate the details and depth of commentary about this aircraft. Particularly the huge range of technology on board. Thank you, Mr Stewart.
I can't shake the feeling the SAC logo panel in the cockpit used to house something else, something still classified and since removed. Thank you for showing us around these marvelous machines.
I was a missile tech on a Trident submarine. We would have been on the receiving end of messages from this bird, on a bad day. Fun fact, our birds didn't launch via key turn, but by a plastic trigger.
A great video tour of an amazing piece of SAC history. I was a co-pilot on the EC1-135 in the mid 70's. When I upgraded to aircraft commander, I had to transfer to a different aircraft, since the EC-135 Aircraft Commander had to be an instructor. A couple of comments about the tour. The VLF antenna was actually about five miles long when fully extended, and was usually tested over water in case it could not be retracted, or the orange drouge seperated from the wire. Usually the boom operator was laying in the boom pod, keeping an eye of the antenna. If the drouge seperated, the wire looked like a rubber band snapping back toward the aircraft. The Co-pilot had the "red switch" to sever the antenna, and on one test, I had to activate the switch, when the Boom Operator called out "Cut the wire-Cut the wire!!!! Comment two is that (at least when I was there) I never heard of one EC-135 refueling another EC-135 (except for training). If a Looking Glass mission was require to extend it's misson (It's replacement couldn't assume station because of weather, or maintenence issues), there was a dedicated KC-135 tanker on alert to supply fuel for the "Double" mission. Flying around above Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and South Dakota at FL260 was certainly boring at times, but built up lots of flying hours, at about 8.5 hours each flight. Almost every General had their "Quirks" (how they liked their steak...No green M&Ms...and etc) The general usually made the takeoff and landing, (hence the Iinstructor Pilot requirement) and since they weren't fully qualified, it made for some "interesting" landings at times. As a Co-pilot I spent many of those events watching from the jump seat. I look back fondly on those days. Thank you for the tour!
These ECs and the RCs were so overweight with equipment, Boeing refused to certify the airframes. I accrued many hours on these and every minute was an adventure.
These videos are incredible. I think we’re all glad this aircraft wasn’t used 😮💨 What an amazing plane! Your knowledge of these jets, like the F-117 is almost legendary at this point
Paul , thanks for putting out another great aircraft tour and thanks to the staff at the SAC museum for the access. Great information and interior shots of the EC 135.
I appreciate the SAC emblem at 10:23 reminding the crew that 'Peace is our profession war is just a hobby'. I knew some of the pilots at Offutt who told wild stories. I worked in WWMCCS and provided documents for each Looking Glass flight.
Being that I was in SAC in the 70s, I’m very familiar with the”Looking Glass” -135 a/c and of most command and control aircraft, etc. of the time(NECAP, KC-1”CINC-SAC’s a/c”, various RC-135s? SAM 26000/27000), thx for this trip back down memory lane!
Great presentation Paul. I crewed the EC135A,G&L at Grissom, the RC135D at Eielson AK and the RC-135S a Sheyma AK. Your presentation was right on and brings back memories.
I've recently returned to aircraft scale modelling (mainly cold-war era examples - I've finished B-58, SR-71, A-37, F-4). Your vids are very helpful and inspiring, thx!
I have a itch for SAC aircraft. These are the planes that won us the Cold War. These were state of the art systems that we still use today. Thanks for this treat and happy flying.
I was a looking Glass crew chief at Ellsworth AFB in late 80s , I was assigned to 61-0297 , I think 8049 might have been there once or twice , but I do remember 8048 , 8051 , and 8052 being stationed there those were the C model ACFT. With the antenna drogue on the bottom , and more crew I think it was 24 compared to 12 on the A model I crewed on . Thanks for the video
@@matthewnewton8812 When we had an alert exercise it was an adrenaline rush running out to the airplane , the engines had explosive cartridges in them about the size of a coffee can to start them up there was smoke everywhere from all the planes starting , while everyone scrambled to get up the ladder and to they're stations I was the last up closing the crew door , I would grab the ip seat between AC ACFT commander, and copilot, we would taxi on to the runway with full power as if to take off to war , then throttle back, and taxi back to alert facility , sometimes all the B-52s on alert would come right behind us , and sometimes just us. The fun part was after doing refuels, cleaning starter breech caps , doing inspections , and maintenance ready for the next one.
In the 80s, after installation of the EC-135C Computer Support System and the third data position, the EC-135C had seating for 28 crewmembers. This number included the jump seat on the flight deck. Five in the cockpit, seven in the communications compartment, 12 in the battle staff, and four in the galley. Until they were eliminated, the EC-135C was equipped with 28 parachutes.
We in Offutt's POL section had an old saying back then.."I'm stuck here at AWFUL AFB on the banks of the MISERY River in OH MY GOD, Nebraska!" January 1980 to July 1983.
049 was stationed at Offutt AFB. During the 1980s I spent hundreds of hours working and flying on that specific plane (and several others, including the E4B) within the PACCS squadron. Our job was to maintain all of the communications and launch equipment. It was interesting to hear the narrator share that some of the information regarding the equipment is still classified. Also interesting (but entirely justified) that the cryptograph bays were empty in the video.
Excellent video. It should be noted that the US Navy is actually considering supplementing their E-6 fleet with a fleet of specially modified C-130J models that would fly at lower altitudes trailing a very low frequency (VLF) wire to communicate with Navy submarines.
That museum really is wonderful.... I grew up with these flying patterns over my head out of Offutt AFB. The SAC museum used to be primarily out doors next to the base. I remember when it first moved to its present location which was quite the improvement and has only expanded since.
It is my sincere hope that when the VC-25b aircraft are retired from service you'll find a way to be among the first people to get a private tour, I thoroughly enjoy your videos and always learn something even on aircraft I'm very familiar with. One minor comment regarding the SR-71: as you mentioned they needed to hit the tanker after their initial takeoff and climb but it wasn't because of how much fuel it burned or as often misrepresented that it leaked so badly on the ground due to the panel gaps it would run out of fuel shortly. The issue was actually how little fuel it initially had for takeoff. While the SR-71 had a maximum fuel capacity over 130,000lbs the max fuel on take-off was only about 80,000lbs, but after several crashes it was determined taking off at max weight was causing premature failures of its specialized tires. Additionally in the event of engine failure at take-off / initial climb out it couldn't maintain sufficient speed and would also crash. To address these incidents they reduced the ground fuel loading to just 40,000lbs.
Great job as always Paul. One reference, if I may? I once was a Crew Chief on McDonnell F4-D with USAFE during the cold war. Those also could use the "Cart Start" system, short for cartridge. Whilst they certainly made a lot of smoke (first timers think the aircraft is on fire) the rapidly expanding gasses were not actually an explosion. Rather much like a slowed down shotgun shell, the size of a two litre pop bottle with the ends cut off. The Cart was loaded into a large locking (very thick and strong) can, with two electric leads for ignition. When ignited, it would take about a very long 60-90 seconds for the powder to rapidly burn. The expanding gasses traveled via a pipe to start the turbine spinning. Then add fuel and spark. On the 135 derritives once started; bleed air would be selected and sent, one at a time to start the others. I'd imagine during wartime or any ORI, the last two would be started during taxi to the end of runway?
Paul, thank you for this video. Seriously. I've been a major C-135 enthusiast for years. It's been very hard to find detailed images and videos of many variants, including this one. This video scratches a part of my brain that nobody else has been able to scratch yet. Now I'm just hoping for an RC-135 interior tour! :P
Thanks for the interesting information. I like your way of telling and filming. It is good that the plane is stored inside the building. As for me I was only in one aviation museum, but twice, in Monino near Moscow.
I was on the ground crew of the 55th from 84-89 before going to Europe. The internal areas look so good after everything was stripped and repainted. When I knew the aircraft, it seemed it was the same internal paint from the 1960s, and I don't believe the front electronics shelves were painted, but I could be wrong. It was definitely a different time, ensuring we launched 3 of these a day and had one on alert and another on standby. Along with the RCs and E4s. It used to be a very busy flight line.
There’s so many distinct variants of the EC-135 that I almost feel it’s worth mentioning that this is the EC-135C (I think). Just glancing at the wiki, each lettered variant is configured for a different mission. I think most people are used to thinking the sequentially increasing letters as being all around upgrading over the previous (like B-52).
My guess regarding the B52's lowered landing gears during air refueling: It's not to slow down the airplane, but to have more drag and higher thrust, so the engines work in an optimal range. Plus, with more drag, it might be easier to precisely control the speed.
Great video as always Paul, love the video's of the aircraft that were a major part of the Cold War and their constant airborne statuses, and their derivatives...these aircraft played such pivotal roles throughout the era, and even to this this with the qty of KC-135's still toodling about...hard to believe that even the old analogue systems from yesteryear are still deemed classified/top secret, given the nature of digitilisation nowadays. Thanks for the video and all the efforts put in to bring them to us, greatly appreciated!!!! Cheers from Sydney!!!! 🍻🍻🍻🍻
The Sioux City, Iowa airport lies approximately 95 miles north along the Missouri River from Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska where Looking Glass flights originated. At the south end of Sioux City Colonel Bud Day Field is a golf course. I used to play there and in the evenings, Looking Glass would practice touch and go landings on Sioux City’s long (a former Army Air Force Bomber training base with 10,000 ft runways) runways.
Nice video! Glad to see they finally have the restoration finished! Two points: 1) as you mention about the red & white area under the boom pod was marked off - you could actually get an electrical shock if you touched the airplane while the HF antennas were operating and that was the main reason for the area being marked. And 2) as you mentioned about he 707 being used for the E-6 Navy plane, it was because at the time of procurement, the 707 was the only narrow body 4 engine plane still being produced, so the main reason they went with it, the body width was just a bonus. I was a mechanic on the EC-135H’s at RAF Mildenhall and love those planes! Cheers!
Ya know it! "In this one, sir, there are no military geniuses" r. i. p. ; James Earl Jones, Powers Boothe, Martin Landau, Darren McGavin, Rip Torn, Nicolas Coster - may their memory be a blessing
Great tour! I wondered how the restoration turned out. I’ve been lucky enough to be on the E-6B a couple times and see their setup. Fun fact, I actually used one of those teletypes on the ground a few times to talk to an aircraft. Classic old school systems!
I remember these operating around Ellsworth AFB in the early to mid 70's. I maintained the test equipment used to keep the bombers, missiles, and kc/ec 135's operating.
@@PaulStewartAviation I especially appreciate the look behind the curtain of the more obscure, less flashy birds. It really scratches a curiosity itch.
Thank you Paul. I find these videos so amazing and very interesting. I wish more young people would take a interest and see what technology was available at that time.
Not to be mean, but... How does it help young people when they see what technology was available at that time (decades ago) ? Almost none of those electronics are currently used outside of the military, and would not help understanding how to work on or work with what is currently being used or what is coming in the future.
In HSROTC we got a field trip to March AFB which was SAC at the time. They brought us down to the command center booth looking down on the operations floor. They did an alert demo for us, not quite “War Games” but damn close. It would have been 1975
This aircraft is on display at the SAC Aerospace Museum located between Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska on Interstate 80. This aircraft is one of the newest features of the museum.
Interestingly it was the short legged landing gear that ensured the B707 a/c could not be lengthened in the same was as the DC-8 and even the little brother B-737
Nice video. have not seen any on the inside of these planes before. I worked the EC135-H for 7 years at RAF Mildenhall, in that time the insides changed a few times.
I was born in 1962 - a year after that went operational. That gear was super state of the art - my first computer had 4k of RAM and was way ahead of some of that gear. I see some old fairchild and harris stuff - it belongs in a ... wait, a ... museum
Hi Paul, glad you are not my GP ( joke), but fabulous to follow your journey through aircraft history story in the US of A and now the ultimate death machine ( just in case machine). Pardon my cynicism, but this visit reinforces my belief that the Americans were and continue to be an afraid nation, fearing the external, but ignoring the domestic threats. The Civil war fears are still at play. Keep them coming, the stuff you produce is fabulous. Cheers from Melbourne.
Yes I can't disagree there. Most of America's current threats are all from within, as evidenced by the events following the last election and the fact that 50% of the population will try and justify it. It provides some insight into how people like Hitler can be elected... decent people can be tricked...
Terrorism is still a (partly) external threat to the U S A. But Civil War fears are being over hyped by only one side of our political party's - the Republicans have been like that for a few decades now. The "other half" of our population knows that ain't happening - but still get caught in the fear mongering. America is demonstrating what happens when the press becomes captured by commercialism and gives excessive "fuel" to politicians that gain popularity. Trump has proven Hitler's maxim - say anything that gets attention, no matter how big the lie just keep repeating it till it drowns out everything else.
Very interesting. Thank you. Those cooling air grilles must have been separated from the cabin air by a heat exchanger, otherwise they could not have maintained cabin pressurisation.
To add a bit, there was a reason the emergency action officer - a General - got his own bunk. Besides the simple fact of being a General. For everyone else, flying the Looking Glass mission was their job. For the Generals, it was something they had to do in addition to their job. So the poor Brigadier General would have to put in a 14 hour day at Building 500; fly a Looking Glass mission all night; and then be back to work first thing in the morning. One reason the Air Force generally speaking has the highest enlistment standards: The officers do the fighting and the Generals put in the 36 hour workdays.
During DEFCON-1 situations (very heighten tensions in which nuclear war could ensue), looking glass pilots would wear an eyepatch over one eye so that they could keep one eye protected from the bright flash of a nuclear explosion. This was later replaced with quick dimming goggles similar to Transition lenses or LCD welding shields.
Thanks for watching everyone! Please give the video a thumbs up so that TH-cam knows what types of videos you enjoy. More tours coming soon 😃
I always give your videos a thumbs up, I wish I can give you more than one.
Interesting sidebar Paul. It’s recently come out that the USAF is taking back the looking glass mission with a series of E4 based 747s. The reason is parts issues on the aging 717s. With a larger platform it will add new functionality. The Navy is going back to an EC-130 based TACAMO aircraft ( take command and move out)
I was an Avionics maintainer on the EC135s at RAF Mildenhall. Worked on RC135s there as well.
Later, I was aircrew on the EC135 ARIA at WrightPatterson AFB and Edwards AFB when the entire wing moved out there. ARIA also used modified 707s called EC18s, much more space in those. Also, after the Apollo program ended, the name was changed to Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft.
I had to hit LIKE on this video, but only because there was no button for OMG, I FREAKING LOVED IT.
haha cheers :) My next video will be a B-50.
Woo Hoo, I spent 2 years working on the electronics, uhf, hf, switchboard, ALCS boxes, multi track recorder, HARDS (high altitude radiation warning system) warning and VLF on that plane! Early on, the vlf wire antenna reel didn't work very well and when the hydraulic cutter and the manual cutter wouldn't work, they would have togfo out and land in the desert dragging some miles of wire. Rumor said a rancher had collected some of the orange cones and mounted them at the entrance of his farm.
@happycamper5213 I worked as weapons system team member on F-16C/D fighters at Luke AFB in 2000. Proud Panther Maintainer MAOW Weapons Crew 32 63rd Fighter Squadron
Looking Glass.... makes me always think, and perhaps quite apt recently, of James Earl Jones and "By Dawn's Early Light"
Alice in Wonderland.
@saintuk70 And of course, the B-52 Comms Officer in Dr. Strangelove. "Uhhh, negative function, Sir!".
@@The_DuMont_Network Where's Major Kong?
That was a surprisingly good movie. Chilling but good
@@toddpeterson5904 It has a lot more weight these days - the Secretary of the Interior has a very familiar..."style" about his leadership and how tractable he is by people who play into his narrative.
The restoration is absolutely beautiful!!! It's been a long time for this EC-135 airframe, but definitely worth it. WOW!!!! I saw this very aircraft fly over our house so many times during its continuous non-interrupted mission operations. These aircraft were always well cared for & I'm glad to see that this airframe still is. Need to get those wings back on!!!! Thank you.
This is the first video I have watched from you, I loved it, everything was perfect! Great job!
Welcome aboard!
Awesome video. Appreciate the details and depth of commentary about this aircraft. Particularly the huge range of technology on board. Thank you, Mr Stewart.
Many thanks :D
I can't shake the feeling the SAC logo panel in the cockpit used to house something else, something still classified and since removed.
Thank you for showing us around these marvelous machines.
On most airliners that is where the Captain's FMC module would reside.
I was a missile tech on a Trident submarine. We would have been on the receiving end of messages from this bird, on a bad day. Fun fact, our birds didn't launch via key turn, but by a plastic trigger.
A great video tour of an amazing piece of SAC history. I was a co-pilot on the EC1-135 in the mid 70's. When I upgraded to aircraft commander, I had to transfer to a different aircraft, since the EC-135 Aircraft Commander had to be an instructor. A couple of comments about the tour. The VLF antenna was actually about five miles long when fully extended, and was usually tested over water in case it could not be retracted, or the orange drouge seperated from the wire. Usually the boom operator was laying in the boom pod, keeping an eye of the antenna. If the drouge seperated, the wire looked like a rubber band snapping back toward the aircraft. The Co-pilot had the "red switch" to sever the antenna, and on one test, I had to activate the switch, when the Boom Operator called out "Cut the wire-Cut the wire!!!! Comment two is that (at least when I was there) I never heard of one EC-135 refueling another EC-135 (except for training). If a Looking Glass mission was require to extend it's misson (It's replacement couldn't assume station because of weather, or maintenence issues), there was a dedicated KC-135 tanker on alert to supply fuel for the "Double" mission. Flying around above Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and South Dakota at FL260 was certainly boring at times, but built up lots of flying hours, at about 8.5 hours each flight. Almost every General had their "Quirks" (how they liked their steak...No green M&Ms...and etc) The general usually made the takeoff and landing, (hence the Iinstructor Pilot requirement) and since they weren't fully qualified, it made for some "interesting" landings at times. As a Co-pilot I spent many of those events watching from the jump seat. I look back fondly on those days.
Thank you for the tour!
Thanks for the extra information! I love hearing from people who flew in these planes I’m looking at.
These ECs and the RCs were so overweight with equipment, Boeing refused to certify the airframes. I accrued many hours on these and every minute was an adventure.
Interesting fact, thanks!
These videos are incredible. I think we’re all glad this aircraft wasn’t used 😮💨 What an amazing plane! Your knowledge of these jets, like the F-117 is almost legendary at this point
Cheers! 😀
Paul , thanks for putting out another great aircraft tour and thanks to the staff at the SAC museum for the access. Great information and interior shots of the EC 135.
Another fantastic video. Thanks for visiting Omaha and the SAC museum!
Thank you!
I appreciate the SAC emblem at 10:23 reminding the crew that 'Peace is our profession war is just a hobby'. I knew some of the pilots at Offutt who told wild stories. I worked in WWMCCS and provided documents for each Looking Glass flight.
Excellent program! Thank you for putting this together. I learned a lot.
You're welcome!
Being that I was in SAC in the 70s, I’m very familiar with the”Looking Glass” -135 a/c and of most command and control aircraft, etc. of the time(NECAP, KC-1”CINC-SAC’s a/c”, various RC-135s? SAM 26000/27000), thx for this trip back down memory lane!
Great presentation Paul. I crewed the EC135A,G&L at Grissom, the RC135D at Eielson AK and the RC-135S a Sheyma AK. Your presentation was right on and brings back memories.
Glad to bring back some memories!
I've recently returned to aircraft scale modelling (mainly cold-war era examples - I've finished B-58, SR-71, A-37, F-4).
Your vids are very helpful and inspiring, thx!
Glad you enjoy them. I hope to film a B-58 next year :)
I have a itch for SAC aircraft. These are the planes that won us the Cold War. These were state of the art systems that we still use today. Thanks for this treat and happy flying.
Great work Paul 👍 I appreciate the effort you put into these videos.
Incredible video Paul.
I don't know, he missed the formula for the paint scheme😂
I was a looking Glass crew chief at Ellsworth AFB in late 80s , I was assigned to 61-0297 , I think 8049 might have been there once or twice , but I do remember 8048 , 8051 , and 8052 being stationed there those were the C model ACFT. With the antenna drogue on the bottom , and more crew I think it was 24 compared to 12 on the A model I crewed on . Thanks for the video
Thank you for your service! I was a Surveillance Radar Technician on the E3 Sentry (AWACS).
@@NovejSpeed3 And thank you for serving.
That’s amazing. Was it as dramatic and nerve wracking as I imagine? Or were you guys chilled out like it was no big thing?
@@matthewnewton8812 When we had an alert exercise it was an adrenaline rush running out to the airplane , the engines had explosive cartridges in them about the size of a coffee can to start them up there was smoke everywhere from all the planes starting , while everyone scrambled to get up the ladder and to they're stations I was the last up closing the crew door , I would grab the ip seat between AC ACFT commander, and copilot, we would taxi on to the runway with full power as if to take off to war , then throttle back, and taxi back to alert facility , sometimes all the B-52s on alert would come right behind us , and sometimes just us. The fun part was after doing refuels, cleaning starter breech caps , doing inspections , and maintenance ready for the next one.
In the 80s, after installation of the EC-135C Computer Support System and the third data position, the EC-135C had seating for 28 crewmembers. This number included the jump seat on the flight deck.
Five in the cockpit, seven in the communications compartment, 12 in the battle staff, and four in the galley. Until they were eliminated, the EC-135C was equipped with 28 parachutes.
I was stationed at Offset AFB from 1980 to 1989 working these aircraft. Lots of good memories.
We in Offutt's POL section had an old saying back then.."I'm stuck here at AWFUL AFB on the banks of the MISERY River in OH MY GOD, Nebraska!" January 1980 to July 1983.
SAC has this down to a science, now lost to history. Glad this aircraft was preserved.
049 was stationed at Offutt AFB. During the 1980s I spent hundreds of hours working and flying on that specific plane (and several others, including the E4B) within the PACCS squadron. Our job was to maintain all of the communications and launch equipment. It was interesting to hear the narrator share that some of the information regarding the equipment is still classified. Also interesting (but entirely justified) that the cryptograph bays were empty in the video.
Excellent video. It should be noted that the US Navy is actually considering supplementing their E-6 fleet with a fleet of specially modified C-130J models that would fly at lower altitudes trailing a very low frequency (VLF) wire to communicate with Navy submarines.
That museum really is wonderful.... I grew up with these flying patterns over my head out of Offutt AFB. The SAC museum used to be primarily out doors next to the base. I remember when it first moved to its present location which was quite the improvement and has only expanded since.
I remember as a kid seeing the old SAC museum but could remember when that was as compared to being in Ashland
So glad you could make it out to Ashland. I am lucky enough to live about 25 minutes from this great museum. It is surely worth a visit!
Good stuff
Thanks!
It is my sincere hope that when the VC-25b aircraft are retired from service you'll find a way to be among the first people to get a private tour, I thoroughly enjoy your videos and always learn something even on aircraft I'm very familiar with.
One minor comment regarding the SR-71: as you mentioned they needed to hit the tanker after their initial takeoff and climb but it wasn't because of how much fuel it burned or as often misrepresented that it leaked so badly on the ground due to the panel gaps it would run out of fuel shortly. The issue was actually how little fuel it initially had for takeoff. While the SR-71 had a maximum fuel capacity over 130,000lbs the max fuel on take-off was only about 80,000lbs, but after several crashes it was determined taking off at max weight was causing premature failures of its specialized tires. Additionally in the event of engine failure at take-off / initial climb out it couldn't maintain sufficient speed and would also crash. To address these incidents they reduced the ground fuel loading to just 40,000lbs.
Great job as always Paul.
One reference, if I may? I once was a Crew Chief on McDonnell F4-D with USAFE during the cold war. Those also could use the "Cart Start" system, short for cartridge. Whilst they certainly made a lot of smoke (first timers think the aircraft is on fire) the rapidly expanding gasses were not actually an explosion. Rather much like a slowed down shotgun shell, the size of a two litre pop bottle with the ends cut off.
The Cart was loaded into a large locking (very thick and strong) can, with two electric leads for ignition. When ignited, it would take about a very long 60-90 seconds for the powder to rapidly burn. The expanding gasses traveled via a pipe to start the turbine spinning. Then add fuel and spark.
On the 135 derritives once started; bleed air would be selected and sent, one at a time to start the others. I'd imagine during wartime or any ORI, the last two would be started during taxi to the end of runway?
Amazing stuff mate, love the production quality!
Paul, thank you for this video. Seriously. I've been a major C-135 enthusiast for years. It's been very hard to find detailed images and videos of many variants, including this one. This video scratches a part of my brain that nobody else has been able to scratch yet. Now I'm just hoping for an RC-135 interior tour! :P
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes I’ve got to find an RC-135 to film now 😂
Thanks for the interesting information. I like your way of telling and filming. It is good that the plane is stored inside the building. As for me I was only in one aviation museum, but twice, in Monino near Moscow.
Another excellent production. Thank you for all your effort and the knowledge you share with us.
My pleasure!
Paul, great video, Best one I've seen on this A/C!
Thanks
thank you!
Another fantastic tour, very very interesting.
I was on the ground crew of the 55th from 84-89 before going to Europe. The internal areas look so good after everything was stripped and repainted. When I knew the aircraft, it seemed it was the same internal paint from the 1960s, and I don't believe the front electronics shelves were painted, but I could be wrong. It was definitely a different time, ensuring we launched 3 of these a day and had one on alert and another on standby. Along with the RCs and E4s. It used to be a very busy flight line.
I remember driving our R-5 fuel trucks around there all the time!
Terrific video (as usual) of a fascinating aircraft! Love your attention to detail.
There’s so many distinct variants of the EC-135 that I almost feel it’s worth mentioning that this is the EC-135C (I think). Just glancing at the wiki, each lettered variant is configured for a different mission.
I think most people are used to thinking the sequentially increasing letters as being all around upgrading over the previous (like B-52).
It is a "C" model.
Wings Aviation Collection, brought out a plastic kit, The EC-135 Looking Glass in a 1:72 scale with this exact example and reg of 38049.
My guess regarding the B52's lowered landing gears during air refueling:
It's not to slow down the airplane, but to have more drag and higher thrust, so the engines work in an optimal range. Plus, with more drag, it might be easier to precisely control the speed.
Great video, I was with Blue Eagle and was Crew Chief on Airborne Command Post flying the Pacific.
As always Paula another brilliant and well illustrated video. I love your Channel and all your great Content keep it coming Cheers Kurt Australia
I love the fact that the museum has her restored in such a good condition, she looks like she just rolled off the assembly plant line.
Great video as always Paul, love the video's of the aircraft that were a major part of the Cold War and their constant airborne statuses, and their derivatives...these aircraft played such pivotal roles throughout the era, and even to this this with the qty of KC-135's still toodling about...hard to believe that even the old analogue systems from yesteryear are still deemed classified/top secret, given the nature of digitilisation nowadays.
Thanks for the video and all the efforts put in to bring them to us, greatly appreciated!!!!
Cheers from Sydney!!!! 🍻🍻🍻🍻
Cheers from Wollongong!
The Sioux City, Iowa airport lies approximately 95 miles north along the Missouri River from Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska where Looking Glass flights originated. At the south end of Sioux City Colonel Bud Day Field is a golf course. I used to play there and in the evenings, Looking Glass would practice touch and go landings on Sioux City’s long (a former Army Air Force Bomber training base with 10,000 ft runways) runways.
Nice video! Glad to see they finally have the restoration finished! Two points: 1) as you mention about the red & white area under the boom pod was marked off - you could actually get an electrical shock if you touched the airplane while the HF antennas were operating and that was the main reason for the area being marked. And 2) as you mentioned about he 707 being used for the E-6 Navy plane, it was because at the time of procurement, the 707 was the only narrow body 4 engine plane still being produced, so the main reason they went with it, the body width was just a bonus.
I was a mechanic on the EC-135H’s at RAF Mildenhall and love those planes!
Cheers!
Thanks for the extra info! Cheers
Good stuff!! I'm a (Old) US Army veteran and a avid airplane nerd!! Keep them coming!
Cheers! Next will be the B50 probably :)
Great tour and history lesson too!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another fantastic video Paul, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
Hi Paul.
Very cool, and very scary at the same time
I like how the garden seat is placed just below the stand well clear radiation warning stripes!!
Any “By Dawn’s Early Light” fans.
Ya know it! "In this one, sir, there are no military geniuses"
r. i. p. ; James Earl Jones, Powers Boothe, Martin Landau, Darren McGavin, Rip Torn, Nicolas Coster - may their memory be a blessing
Sure am, have it on DVD.
Alice in one plane, mad hatter in the other.😂
Yep
Great tour! I wondered how the restoration turned out. I’ve been lucky enough to be on the E-6B a couple times and see their setup. Fun fact, I actually used one of those teletypes on the ground a few times to talk to an aircraft. Classic old school systems!
I remember these operating around Ellsworth AFB in the early to mid 70's. I maintained the test equipment used to keep the bombers, missiles, and kc/ec 135's operating.
I always thought the 707 was a beautiful looking aircraft. Thanks Paul, another great, informative vid.👍🇦🇺
Boy this was very interesting and I've heard of Looking Glass and a lot of these old aircrafts I really love your content and I enjoy your videos.
Excellent video, Paul. I may be in the calling area at the end of the month to see these beauties 😍
Thanks!
Thank you! :)
@@PaulStewartAviation I especially appreciate the look behind the curtain of the more obscure, less flashy birds. It really scratches a curiosity itch.
Great video I always look forward to watching your videos (:
Glad you like them!
Thank you Paul. I find these videos so amazing and very interesting. I wish more young people would take a interest and see what technology was available at that time.
Not to be mean, but... How does it help young people when they see what technology was available at that time (decades ago) ? Almost none of those electronics are currently used outside of the military, and would not help understanding how to work on or work with what is currently being used or what is coming in the future.
In HSROTC we got a field trip to March AFB which was SAC at the time. They brought us down to the command center booth looking down on the operations floor. They did an alert demo for us, not quite “War Games” but damn close. It would have been 1975
You make very good videos about planes very knowledgeable
Glad you like them!
10:16 look at the throttle of engine 3 - set for a cart start already. So really no time wasted in case of an alert
Think that the 707 first made in early 60's but models of it are still flying! They made GOOD air plains then!
Thanks for the tour.
I have a friend that is a pilot on the Navy's E-6B Mercury's. Pretty cool plane for sure. Great video. 😁👍
This comment is for the algorithm. ;) Thanks for your amazing aviation videos, Paul.
This aircraft is on display at the SAC Aerospace Museum located between Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska on Interstate 80. This aircraft is one of the newest features of the museum.
These videos are the best as I would love to visit in person but currently unable to so thanks I may consider supporting the channel
cheers
Bro, I'm a KC-46 boom and I can tell you the vision system makes depth perception a challenge indeed.
Extremely interesting !
Did you notice the phone handset at 16:20 has been used so much it's enamel is nearly gone?
Note that the general’s seat gets integrated ashtrays, while everyone else has to bring their own ashtray
Interestingly it was the short legged landing gear that ensured the B707 a/c could not be lengthened in the same was as the DC-8 and even the little brother B-737
I crewed 052 and 581 at Offutt AFB. Good times!
Nice video. have not seen any on the inside of these planes before. I worked the EC135-H for 7 years at RAF Mildenhall, in that time the insides changed a few times.
Again, a very good vidéo 👍👍👍
Thank you so much 😀
@@PaulStewartAviation so much work done And very good comment as well!!!
Sorry my poor english comments , i’m a french speaker…
no problem, merci :)
I was born in 1962 - a year after that went operational. That gear was super state of the art - my first computer had 4k of RAM and was way ahead of some of that gear. I see some old fairchild and harris stuff - it belongs in a ... wait, a ... museum
Excellent videos mate. I'm now subscribed.
Awesome, thank you!
Hi Paul, glad you are not my GP ( joke), but fabulous to follow your journey through aircraft history story in the US of A and now the ultimate death machine ( just in case machine). Pardon my cynicism, but this visit reinforces my belief that the Americans were and continue to be an afraid nation, fearing the external, but ignoring the domestic threats. The Civil war fears are still at play. Keep them coming, the stuff you produce is fabulous. Cheers from Melbourne.
Yes I can't disagree there. Most of America's current threats are all from within, as evidenced by the events following the last election and the fact that 50% of the population will try and justify it. It provides some insight into how people like Hitler can be elected... decent people can be tricked...
Terrorism is still a (partly) external threat to the U S A. But Civil War fears are being over hyped by only one side of our political party's - the Republicans have been like that for a few decades now. The "other half" of our population knows that ain't happening - but still get caught in the fear mongering.
America is demonstrating what happens when the press becomes captured by commercialism and gives excessive "fuel" to politicians that gain popularity. Trump has proven Hitler's maxim - say anything that gets attention, no matter how big the lie just keep repeating it till it drowns out everything else.
Love your work, thanks😊
Great video, thanks for your hard work
Fascinating! Thanks!
Great vdieo, two thumbs up
Have a lot of hours on 049, 047/048. Having started out early in the PACCS/ABNCP I was sure happiy when we upgraded to the C"s with the TF33's.
The plane is in immaculate condition.
As I recall, being stationed at Offutt more than forty years ago, the bird never looked THIS good!
very good! congratulations for all team.
Woe. I had no idea of this fascinating aircraft. Scary
This is at the strategic air command near Ashland NE, my local museum, awesome to see you there!
The pleasure was all mine. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit even though it was a million degrees C/F. :)
Awesome video. Well done 👏👍
@@icare7151 He's really in a class all his own. I don't know any other content creator who has the attention to detail Paul does. First class.
Love your videos!
Very interesting. Thank you. Those cooling air grilles must have been separated from the cabin air by a heat exchanger, otherwise they could not have maintained cabin pressurisation.
Excellent video
Cheers, glad you liked it!
I can't even begin to tell you the number of times I've needed an airborne nuclear attack command center. How much to rent by the day?
To add a bit, there was a reason the emergency action officer - a General - got his own bunk. Besides the simple fact of being a General.
For everyone else, flying the Looking Glass mission was their job. For the Generals, it was something they had to do in addition to their job. So the poor Brigadier General would have to put in a 14 hour day at Building 500; fly a Looking Glass mission all night; and then be back to work first thing in the morning.
One reason the Air Force generally speaking has the highest enlistment standards: The officers do the fighting and the Generals put in the 36 hour workdays.
Thanks for the extra information.
Building 500, SAC Headquarters. Also known as the "Puzzle Palace."
During DEFCON-1 situations (very heighten tensions in which nuclear war could ensue), looking glass pilots would wear an eyepatch over one eye so that they could keep one eye protected from the bright flash of a nuclear explosion. This was later replaced with quick dimming goggles similar to Transition lenses or LCD welding shields.
Interesting, thanks for the extra info
Fascinating. Thank you!