[ACARSLogs] RC-135 Cobra Ball - resent just for Acars people!

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Sun Nov 20 09:05:13 EST 2005


offutt air pulse article

As one chapter closes in Cobra Ball history, another is set to begin 
By Staff Sgt. A.J. Bosker-55th Wing Public Affairs 08/19/2005
   
 Capt. Francisco Barajas and 1st Lt. Jamie Ozbun, 45th RS members, 
run through their preflight checklists. They, along with the 45th 
RS's commander Lt. Col. Keven Harshbarger, will be the last Air 
Force crew to fly a "small-engined" RC-135.   
As the dark jet exhaust from Cobra Ball 662's four Pratt&Whitney 
TF33 turbofan engines disappears into the sky, so too does a chapter 
in the history of the Air Force's RC-135 fleet.
Cobra Ball 662 is the last RC-135 in the Air Force inventory still 
flying the TF33 "small engines." The rest of the RC-135 fleet have 
already been upgraded with F108 "big engines" which are more 
powerful and fuel efficient, add greater range and improve the 
maintenance reliability rate.
"662 has provided years of dedicated service and we are sad to see 
it go; however, we look forward to its newly re-engined replacement 
which is more capable than its small motor counterparts," said Lt. 
Col. Keven Harshbarger, commander of the 45th Reconnaissance 
Squadron.
Along with the engine upgrades, Cobra Ball 662 will also feature the 
Rivet Glass cockpit. The cockpit upgrade replaces all the old analog 
dials and switches with digital displays that conform to modern 
global air traffic standards.
The Cobra Ball is a multi-faceted reconnaissance platform which 
provides national and theater command authorities with 
intercontinental ballistic missile treaty verification data and 
theater air defense warnings. In war, the Cobra Ball provides rapid 
recognition of theater ballistic missile launches.
A Cobra Ball mission crew consists of three pilots, two navigators, 
three electronic warfare officers, three airborne warning support 
members and three airborne system engineers. 


   Patrick E. Mower, MSgt, USAF (RET)


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