RC-135 Air Seeker

[delbydoo]

Is this REALLY how it's going to look? Don't know if this has been 'shopped in anyway, but I'd like to think that it would have a more conventional RAF look to it. Mind, it does look like it has just come out of the paint shop (real world lol)

[maddog65]

Yeah, Would have thought it would look like other RAF birds.

[Firebird]

It is somewhat disappointing not to see it in either the same grey as the E-3 fleet or even the Hemp/grey scheme.
I know that the first one was due to be rolled out for painting in January, so either they are ahead of schedule or it hasn't been done yet.

[MIKE JG]

I don't think that is an American bird that's been photoshopped. It's got some lumps that the American birds don't have leading me to thinks it's authentic.

Makes Mark's job A LOT easier!

[Firebird]

Another version eh, Mike?

Or is it a standard W model?

[Stewart Pearson]

Wonder if they use special paint on them, to cut down outside static interference on their instrumentation etc?

[MIKE JG]

Yea it would be a slightly modified W/V model. Just a few different antennas and lumps.

[CelticWarrior]

I don't know if I'm talking BS, but I was told by an aircraft engineer that they prefer the aircraft, or at least the top of the aircraft, to be painted white because it reflects light (the sunlight heats up the inside of the aircraft) reducing the need for air conditioning. Aircraft operating above the tropopause will be subject to constant light (in daytime, obviously) and I should imagine this is where the RC-135s will be for the majority of their operating time. Aircraft with darker colours have higher long term operating costs.

[jetmax]

With all the equipment in the back, it does get a bit toasty in there (so I am told).

[andrea81]

how many RC135 did RAF order?

[Stewart Pearson]

how many RC135 did RAF order?

I believe it's 3. Not sure if they're buying or leasing them.

RAF crews have been training for a couple of years now with USAF personnel.

[MIKE JG]

Sadly they're just converted US KC-135R models. The youngest one will be something like 45 years old when it's delivered.

[missionrecon]

Yes, all of the above is true. Especially with the livery design.

1. The RAF pushed to have the original Nimrod livery with Red Bird emblem. Big Safari said "Hell, no. Trust us." The USAF nodded solemnly.

2. Not a photoshopped image, just a very rare look at this project since Big Safari (Greenville, TX) doesn't instagram their work often, if ever!

3. Each RC-135 is subject to upgrades leapfrogged roughly every two years; That baby Air Seeker has the newest racks Big Safari has to offer.

4. Sentence number 3 means that half the RC-135 fleet have mostly different cheeks from one another at any given time. Thus:

5. Sentence number 4 means that the 55 WG package will likely be one of the most difficult to keep up with accurately (Props to MAIW staff!)

6. This package won't come soon enough

[MIKE JG]

Bleh, easy enough to mod the models as required. Finding up to date pictures of all of them is the real pain.

[missionrecon]

Ah fear not. Some of us get to touch these regularly. When I learn how to model AI Ill see to it that it never gets outdated.