“The E-6 and the E-4 are going on 35 years old.”
For Tacamo, it’s not the airframe that matters. Just need something big enough for the generators and the transmitter. And the antenna reel.
We used to fly the EC-130Q.
And you are correct, if it was performing it’s mission we’d all likely be dead by now.
Training and/or transit. They have to keep moving. Can’t be in one place too long. It’s likely the #1 strategic target in the world.
We were always told if we ever light ‘er off for real, we had 20mins to live.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polo_Hat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_Essential_Emergency_Communications_Network
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TACAMO
A little light, doomsday reading for you Saturday morning.
Amen. I am ready for the Aliens to be broadcast LIVE on CNN. But if this passes for “journalism”, they would be better served cleaning my 5 bedroom house and 3 toilets.
As I recall, the E-6 TACAMO’s absorbed the duties of the former Looking Glass plane - now does comms with the sub fleet and CONUS defenses / offensive assets.
As least that’s something I read way back. Gotta love those huge engines on the TACAMO planes.