Free Republic

Aircraft number 61-2664 was built in 1961 at Boeing's sprawling Seattle works in Washington state. A variant of the commerical 707 airliner, the aircraft was first fitted out to perform the tasks of weather reconnaissance for Military Airlift Command. She performed these tasks for almost a decade. In 1972, WC-135 number 61-2664 was refitted to serve as a strategic reconnaissance platform. Dozens of other C-135s had been converted to comically long-nosed RC-135s over the decades, but 61-2664 was to join a specially small fraternity: Cobra Ball. Two RC-135 S-models were produced, both stationed at Eielson AFB, Alaska. Their highly...

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- Shortly after Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced the restarting of the Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems EA-6B outer wing panel production line in St. Augustine, Fla, a ceremony was held to commemorate the occasion on Dec. 17. The production line, which was formerly in Bethpage, N.Y., befire closing in 1987, is expected to produce 54 shipsets. Delivery of the first shipset is scheduled for July 2005. Once completed, the outer wing panels will be installed on Prowlers at fleet sites or at Navy depots. NAVAIR EA-6B Program Manager Capt. Ken Smolana who was on hand...