Something catching the sun...

Crash_Hawk · Post by **Crash_Hawk** » 27 Apr 2007, 17:07

Technically the E-3 is based off of the C-137 airframe or the 707-320 series..

Nice Pic!! :dance:

Jonathan

Post by **Garry Russell** » 27 Apr 2007, 17:10

Crash_Hawk wrote:Technically the E-3 is based off of the C-137 airframe or the 707-320 series..

Yep.....I mentioned that before about the 137 but these are more like the 707-700

Garry

Chris Trott · Post by **Chris Trott** » 27 Apr 2007, 23:49

Garry Russell wrote:No James

It's built as military so it would be based on a C-137.......707's are airliners

Garry

C-137 = 707-320. There was no difference between the two except avionics fit.

In fact, I do believe that all of the RAF E-3s were converted from formerly civilian registered and operated aircraft, just like the USAF's aircraft. There were only a very small handfull of aircraft delivered as C-137s from the factory, and most were in the VC-137 guise for several countries in addition to the famous pair that saw service as "Air Force One".

Post by **Garry Russell** » 27 Apr 2007, 23:51

The RAF wer new build about the last off the line and have the CFM56 engines like the 707-700 and i said based on the C-137 rather than the airliner version which these never were.

Garry

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 28 Apr 2007, 00:12

The two VC-137C (26000 and 27000) were based on the 707-320.
http://www.707sim.com/air-force-two.html

The earlier 86970 thru 86973 (fiscal year 1958) were apparently based on the 707-120,so shorter fuselage.

They were frequent visitors to Heathrow in the 1970/80s. They must have been Air Force One in those days before the VC-137C.

Whole range of military Boeing 707 variants here:
http://www.air-and-space.com/Boeing%207 ... litary.htm

As Garry says all the E-3 were new builds.

It is the other variants that were ex airliners.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 28 Apr 2007, 00:31

Cheers Ian

The point I was originally making as well about E-3 being based on the C137 military version was to differentiate from the C-135 which some folk think the E-3 is based on.

The 707 had a wider fuse than the C-135 which used the same basic fuse of the 367-80.

These were some of the few 707 derivatives built with the CFM-56 making the closest 707 variant the 700 rather than the 320 which the base C-137 was a version of. Of course the E-3 was not at all like the airliner apart from the base structure.

This must surely make the RAF built ones among the most advanced of the type....as built.

Garry

kit · Post by **kit** » 28 Apr 2007, 18:09

Robin wrote:Aren't we the only air force to have the refuelling probe on the E3?

How about the French ones?

L'Armee de l'Air have KC-135 tankers with short hoses and drogues trailing off the end of the booms as I recall. Originally set up to fuel the Mirage IVs but work also on the 2000Ds and Ns.

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 28 Apr 2007, 20:58

I think the point was that the RAF E-3s are the only ones that can be refuelled as well as doing the refuelling

Post by **Garry Russell** » 28 Apr 2007, 20:59

Hi Ian

Concur

That's the message I got......it has both types of receptors.

Garry