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BOEING RC-135
From SKYbrary Wiki
R135
| Aircraft | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | RC-135 | ||
| Manufacturer | BOEING | ||
| Body | Narrow | ||
| Wing | Fixed Wing | ||
| Position | Low wing | ||
| Tail | Regular tail, mid set | ||
| WTC | Heavy | ||
| APC | D | ||
| Type code | L4J | ||
| Engine | Jet | ||
| Engine count | Multi | ||
| Position | Underwing mounted | ||
| Landing gear | Tricycle retractable | ||
| Mass group | 4 | ||
|
| |||
BOEING RC-135
Description
Special missions aircraft. Special missions adaptions based on the C-135 airframe. Originally developed as EC-135 command post for the B-52 nuclear bomber fleet. RC-135U, RC-135V Rivet Joint and RC-135W signals intelligence variants with automatic ELINT emitter locator system. RC-135V and RC-135W with nose featuring further sensor. TC-135W crew trainig version. RC-135S Cobra Ball for balistic missile launch detection. The US Air Force is re-engining its RC-135s with CFM engines.
Technical Data
| Wing span | 39.9 m130.906 ft <br /> |
|---|---|
| Length | 41.5 m136.155 ft <br /> |
| Height | 12.7 m41.667 ft <br /> |
| Powerplant | 4 x 80.1 kN P&W TF33-P9 or 4 x 106.8 kN CFM 56-2A2/3 turbofans. |
| Engine model | CFM International CFM56, Pratt & Whitney TF33 |
Performance Data
| Take-Off | Initial Climb (to 5000 ft) |
Initial Climb (to FL150) |
Initial Climb (to FL240) |
MACH Climb | Cruise | Initial Descent (to FL240) |
Descent (to FL100) |
Descent (FL100 & below) |
Approach | ||||||||||
| V2 (IAS) | kts | IAS | kts | IAS | kts | IAS | kts | MACH | TAS | 486 kts | MACH | IAS | kts | IAS | kts | Vapp (IAS) | kts | ||
| Distance | m | ROC | 3000 ft/min | ROC | ft/min | ROC | ft/min | ROC | ft/min | MACH | ROD | ft/min | ROD | ft/min | MCS | kts | Distance | m | |
| MTOW | 136000136,000 kg <br />136 tonnes <br /> kg | Ceiling | FL410 | ROD | ft/min | APC | D | ||||||||||||
| WTC | H | Range | 49004,900 nm <br />9,074,800 m <br />9,074.8 km <br />29,772,965.901 ft <br /> NM | ||||||||||||||||
Accidents & Serious Incidents involving R135
None on SKYbrary