|
Description
| Notes: Formerly NKC-135 reconfigured as command, control, and communications aircraft for cinccent. | ||
| Manufacturer: | Boeing | |
| Base model: | C-135 | |
| Designation: | EC-135 | |
| Version: | Y | |
| Nickname: | STRATOLIFTER | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1925-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Transport | |
| Modified Mission: | Special electronic installation | |
Specifications
Propulsion
Performance
Recent comments by our visitors
| Jim Dole Gahanna, OH | If anyone whom I flew with that wants to contact me can at jyddentz@msn.com 07/23/2015 @ 16:10 [ref: 69175] |
| Billy D. Williams Milledgeville,, GA | Changed email addresses, please use my new email address 07/18/2015 @ 14:58 [ref: 69170] |
| James Dole Gahanna, OH | I was assigned to the U.S. Cent com and was the best job I had. I really enjoyed working with the personnel I was assigned with. I do not miss the military, but after my retirement.... I really miss the flying. A/C 327 and 125 were fabulous aircraft to be assigned to. Chief Williams, Lester Gamble, Ivan Phillips, Charles Moody, George Seddon, Doug Nix, Jeff Ryan...... I miss you all. We should plan a reunion sometime. God Bless you all and God Bless our country and our military. 07/03/2015 @ 15:06 [ref: 69155] |
| Billy D. Williams milledgeville, Lake Sinclair, GA | Every one: I retired from Civil Service, after Military, boy what a mistake Civil Service was. Anyway my new email is billydfastback@outlook.com, sure would like to hear from anyone. I ride my Harley all over the United States, so I could stop by for a visit. Still say the Program was the best I was ever in, and had the privilege with working with the best men/women the Air Force had to offer. good Luck and enjoy your retirement. 05/21/2014 @ 13:39 [ref: 68481] |
| James E. Nobles, CMSgt (Ret) Black Hawk,, SD | I worked with the SAC engineer and Chief Billy D. Williams during the conversion of this aircraft at Warner Robins. I was in Quality Control and was responsible to assure weight and balance requirements were documented and met. During this period Chief Williams and I accompanied this aircraft to Griffis AFB twice to weight it. I owe my TSgt and MSgt stripes to the 6.5 years spent in the 19BW/19ARW. I was reassigned to Ellsworth in 1986 on the B-1B aircraft where I spent the next 9 years in the 28BW and earned my SMSgt stripes. Highlights of my assignment in the 28th include working with an accident investigation team for a mid-air collision of a B-1B and and KC-135, and being the senior enlisted member of aa operation readiness assessment test of the B-1B that was directed by Congress. In 1995 I was selected for reassignment to work the C-130J program at the Lockheed Plant in Marietta GA. I earned my Chief Stripes on the C-130J, but I owe them to the great Chiefs like Billy D. Williams, who showed me what it takes to earn the right to wear them. 04/18/2010 @ 06:49 [ref: 26030] |
| Tip Slater , CA | I was the CENTCOM AO who had to acquire an airplane for Gen Kingston. At the time I was a Recon AO belonging to a SAC liaison unit to CENTCOM.
MGen Robert Taylor the DCINC was informed by me that SAC didn't want to continue Airbone C2 support to CENTCOM with their Looking Glass birds. I was told to inform Taylor. I passed this info to him. He stated that it was expected since Gen Davis CINCSAC wanted to get SAC out of the contingency business. The MOA between SAC and CENTCOM ref our organization said he could use me a his own AO he then tasked me to get Kinston his own airplane. Long story short 1 year later we got 55125 an airplane our of Wright Pat that couldn't fly 4 hours. The AF tasked E Systems (Big Safari) to modify the acft to meet our flight needs (not our comm needs). We requested SAC fly the plane our of Warner Robbins. The deal was we funded and added a boom. I was reassigned to CENTCOM to run the program. Robbins didn't like the mission and the first AC quit after we briefed him and the staff. We got the cast offs; Gerry Rourke and his team got the job and ran with it. Williams was the maintenance lead (I do have stories about him and his team. Best group to do this job. A few back room deals with the Big Safari office led to an antenna and some power. I made deals with the JCSE folks to be our first comm operators. Our first mission was a disaster. It was a flight to Egypt with BGen Carnes. We got off an hour late because I couldn't find the General and his staff and during the flight the cook almost poisoned us. The second mission with Kingston wasn't as bad but wasn't all that great either. Went to Oman UAE and home. Got chewd out by Kingston, but survived. 3 years later I left CENTCOM with an upgraded 125 (no more water engines APU comm suite AF comm team an air refueling capability, new interior) and another aircraft about to be delivered. Gerry took over my job. Good memories learned more than I'll ever be able to describe and have CENTCOM stories that last for days. I heard from many members of the teams that flew and maintained these missions that these were the toughest yet most rewarding times in their careers. I agree with both. 01/01/2010 @ 12:20 [ref: 25506] |
| Tip Slater , CA | I was the CENTCOM AO who had to acquire an airplane for Gen Kingston. At the time I was a Recon AO belonging to a SAC liaison unit to CENTCOM.
MGen Robert Taylor the DCINC was informed by me that SAC didn't want to continue Airbone C2 support to CENTCOM with their Looking Glass birds. I was told to inform Taylor. I passed this info to him. He stated that it was expected since Gen Davis CINCSAC wanted to get SAC out of the contingency business. The MOA between SAC and CENTCOM ref our organization said he could use me a his own AO he then tasked me to get Kinston his own airplane. Long story short 1 year later we got 55125 an airplane our of Wright Pat that couldn't fly 4 hours. The AF tasked E Systems (Big Safari) to modify the acft to meet our flight needs (not our comm needs). We requested SAC fly the plane our of Warner Robbins. The deal was we funded and added a boom. I was reassigned to CENTCOM to run the program. Robbins didn't like the mission and the first AC quit after we briefed him and the staff. We got the cast offs; Gerry Rourke and his team got the job and ran with it. Williams was the maintenance lead (I do have stories about him and his team. Best group to do this job. A few back room deals with the Big Safari office led to an antenna and some power. I made deals with the JCSE folks to be our first comm operators. Our first mission was a disaster. It was a flight to Egypt with BGen Carnes. We got off an hour late because I couldn't find the General and his staff and during the flight the cook almost poisoned us. The second mission with Kingston wasn't as bad but wasn't all that great either. Went to Oman UAE and home. Got chewd out by Kingston, but survived. 3 years later I left CENTCOM with an upgraded 125 (no more water engines APU comm suite AF comm team an air refueling capability, new interior) and another aircraft about to be delivered. Gerry took over my job. Good memories learned more than I'll ever be able to describe and have CENTCOM stories that last for days. I heard from many members of the teams that flew and maintained these missions that these were the toughest yet most rewarding times in their careers. I agree with both. 01/01/2010 @ 12:03 [ref: 25505] |
| lester gamble dallas, TX | hi centcom team i was very supise to stumble up on these articles about my old team mates i missed all of you guys the originals and the ones that took over after my retirement in 1989 yes i was almost one of the origionals back while 125 was a water hog i have lived on that plane away and at home those two airplanes were my resonsibility engine hyd and enviromental between my self and moody the crewchief and some time george sedden along with ivan phillip as a mater of fact the whole cent com crew officers and enlisted that were deployed from warner robins at any give time day or night we were ready to deploy especially the ones that started out with the late gen kingston and all the other cinc that took command of us contral command i will never forget my last few years at worner robins and my special assignment to cent com on board the special misson acft and believe you me i took pride in my job and my responsibility. you know i can go on and on about the missions aboard 125 and 327 its a never ending story i am still working as a jet eng mechanic at a test cell testing cfm56 eng for ge. 12/15/2009 @ 14:20 [ref: 25431] |
| chris ayers carnesville, GA | my name is chris ayers. i came to the centcom elite team in march 1992 and left the air force to retire and leave centcom in 1994. retired chief billy d. williams was correct when he commented that these were the best. i have never worked with a more talented group of men in my entire career.i had traveled alot aboard a kc-135a/q/r model tankers but to travel with centcom was the highlight of my career. i was assigned as primary crew chief aboard centcom aircraft 55-3125 which was an ec-135y. staff sgt nathan hunt nick named the plane "bad manners"and if you had a bad day with this plane you understood why. i was re-enlisted by general joseph p. hoar whom replaced "stormin norman".his enotourage were nothing but the best you could expect as professionals. bad manners took me to some interesting places and i met some interesting persons and will cherish this special part of my career very much.i am curious as to what happened to some of the pro's that worked on the two one of a kind birds. i think i can safely assume that they have all retired by now and i wish them the absolute best. i was at robins a.f.b. back in the fall of 2007 when they were fixing to send the black knights to the four winds, i only wish i would have seen the old teams and the two white tops there.i do wish that centcom would have made a book as a salute to the various maintainers over the years.these two birds were indeed the other women in our life on that tarmac we called home.i have retired in carnesville, ga. and currently work as this counties only marshal.still married and have two grand kids and alot more grey hair. 08/04/2008 @ 18:09 [ref: 22355] |
| Paul Mathis Cleveland, OH | 1977 I arrived at Wright Patterson AFB. I was assigned as asst C/C of 3125. We called it the "thunder chicken" thanks Cliff. 125 was TDY and came home 3 weeks later. When I first saw it, the boom was sticking out. The boom had no wings on it, and it had a big loop antenna on the end of it. They explanned to me that it was testing a new comm sys. Ok. This meant many TDY's. The mission ran out of money soon after that, (the 70's) and no TDY's for this young buck, but she flew, and flew. From 77 to 79 no plane flew more or any better, until she slid off the runway. Yes I was teased but I still Love her. I'm happy to see her and 327 passed away in style as they both should. At Wright Patt they were both grand ladies and well liked. Fond memories of 327 in Surinan and the time I spent with it in the ARIA flt. I know John Mulkey would be proud. Peace to all that read this. Don't forget those who passed on 61-0328 Mathis 01/19/2008 @ 07:33 [ref: 19356] |
