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Post by alex94 on Jun 7, 2020 20:31:20 GMT
Whats the registration of that rare one Erik?
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Jun 8, 2020 0:38:08 GMT
That one's 58-0062, which is also still around these days as a KC-135T. I was looking back and some old posts and discovered I'd requested this one back in the days before I started painting, so I guess it's finally come full-circle 61-2666 is an NC-135W used by the 645th Materiel Squadron Detachment 2 of Air Force Materiel Command to test systems upgrades and new equipment for the active RC-135 fleet. It's based at Majors Field in Greenville, Texas where contractor L-3 Technologies has a facility.
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jun 9, 2020 0:53:18 GMT
More Official portraits Erik's latest masterpiece .... this time in the form of the following RC-135T .... USAF 376th Strategic Wing RC-135T 55-3121 (1976)Decided to present this one "first" .... and "individually" too ... because the way things shaping up at the moment this one, being P&W J57 powered, as well as being a different aircraft/engine configuration than our other RC-135's .... is ("technically speaking") going to require a new and stand-alone aircraft base pack thus increasing our "RC-135 TYPE" base packs to 3 ... It'll be supported by our B367-80 panel .... featuring the water/methanol injection system for early type P&W turbojet engines .... .... and will additionally be supported by the our our P&W J57 TURBOJET (no reverse thrust) version sound pack. When released this subject's also likely feature a number of FDE tweaks .... which neither our other military line of these aircraft or civil B707/720 SERIES have (yet) publicly received. "THANKS" again Erik Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by alex94 on Jun 9, 2020 4:28:51 GMT
Is this a new model to accompany the paint as well mark?
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jun 9, 2020 4:54:10 GMT
NO .... it's an existing model, but, one that "needs to be" transitioned to a "NEW" base back .... in order to correctly support this particular texture .... and for which I understand a few more textures might also soon appear. For those same reasons I mentioned a couple of years ago .... it's extremely unlikely we'll be seeing any new B707/720/C-135 TYPE UI models here ... and that's regardless how of optimistic I "like to" always try to remain It was necessary (as a service message) for me to comment in regard to the new base pack/model combination associated with this new texture, but, as the purpose of this thread is primarily in regard to Erik's new textures .... please address any specific model/panel/sound queries/comments to other forum pages and we'll address them there Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Jun 9, 2020 22:05:55 GMT
...And here's the next one to support the new base pack! In 1961, funding was allocated for nine RC-135As, which would be used for photo mapping purposes. As other C-135 missions increased in importance and became a higher priority, the order was reduced to four, and the first was delivered to the Air Photographic & Charting Service's (a division of MATS) 1370th Photo Mapping Wing at Turner AFB, Georgia in September 1964. Significant issues with the camera equipment proved complicated to solve, so while the four aircraft were active in the intervening years testing systems and equipment, the first actual mapping mission was only flown in September 1969. By 1972, the satellite technology had advanced sufficiently to take over mapping duties more efficiently than the aircraft, so their equipment was removed and they were loaned out to various tanker units for crew training and transport duties. In the late 1970s, they were modified with air refueling equipment and redesignated KC-135Ds, which they kept after being upgraded with TF33s in 1990. They had a few different marking schemes in their short time in photo mapping service, and this is 63-8060 as seen in mid-1965 with its original MATS titles.
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Post by CORLL ONE on Jun 10, 2020 11:24:17 GMT
All these 135's coming out of the paint hangar look awesome...great job Erik!!!
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Jun 10, 2020 22:28:51 GMT
Thanks so much! It's long been one of my favorite military aircraft, so it's been a lot of fun to represent as many of them as feasibly possible with what we have on hand. Here's the balance of the RC-135A fleet at various times in its history: In 1966, MATS was redesignated as Military Airlift Command, so here's 63-8058 as seen that year with updated titles. Later, in 1968, the 1370th PMW was redesignated as the Aerospace Cartographic and Geodetic Service, and 63-8059 had an updated tail band to reflect this when it began flying its intended missions in late 1969. Finally, after they were de-modified around 1972, they bounced around wings in this generic paint. 63-8061 is seen here around 1979 when it was on assignment with the 55th SRW at Offutt AFB. Although they no longer had an operational reconnaissance role, they kept the RC-135 designation until being converted to tankers.
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Jun 14, 2020 16:27:57 GMT
Barring any other variations I come across, this should round out the VIP birds; these two are also from the 89th MAW, in the late 1980s. 62-4126, 1987. After Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, the blue paint was reinstated on most VIP aircraft, albeit with a slightly different scheme with much less bare metal. It's not really visible here because of the wing, but this aircraft (and a few others) had an extra crew/service door in the left rear fuselage. 62-4125, 1989. This one had more blue paint on the engines (even inside the inlets, which is certainly a look) and pylons for some reason.
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jun 14, 2020 19:46:19 GMT
Had one of those come through AKL during early 1984 .... same livery.
Can't immediately recall the registration (I'm away from my photo archives at the moment), but, I think, from memory, it was might have been either #2145 (as above)or #2147 .... not sure which until I check.
Think it was en-route to CHC .... probably to drop off, or uplift, US personnel involved with the Antarctic program.
The aircraft would only go only as far as CHC .... where US C130's or C141's would then fly round trips between there and McMurdo Base with both personnel, equipment, and supplies during the southern simmer months.
Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by mrfsu00 on Jun 14, 2020 20:01:12 GMT
Erik, Your work is absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to fly the VIP birds when I get back from being on a military deployment. If you are interested, there is a VIP bird that is very similar to the ones you have already done. When Secretary McNamera ordered the 135s they came with “United States Air Force” titles and wore them for about four years or so. Picture here: m.facebook.com/aviationmt/photos/a.735829616779034/958387627856564/?type=3&source=57&__tn__=EH-RAlso, pretty cool story from a vet that served in the 89th during the time these beautiful planes were flying: people.virginia.edu/~rjr/whdays/Thanks again, Erik. Beautiful and stunning work, Sir. Very Respectfully, Casey
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jun 14, 2020 20:09:45 GMT
Think Erik's done that later VC-135 scheme .... and the earlier one too .... as quoted below and appears on PP10 of this thread among other new military birds .... Something else to look forward to (perhaps) upon your return from deployment .... and by which time these should all be released/publicly available Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by mrfsu00 on Jun 14, 2020 20:16:09 GMT
Many, many thanks, Mark. Always love the great work all of you do and continue to do.
Should be back next month (I’m only in Tunisia, so I kinda feel bad calling it a “deployment” haha.)
Anyway, thank you so very much to you, Mark, and all the talent that makes HJG such a wonderful treasure.
Very Respectfully,
Casey
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jun 14, 2020 20:26:29 GMT
Erik will appreciate those sentiments I'm sure .... since it's his motivation that have resulted in all of the latest military birds (presented throughout this particular thread) evolving into into reality .... "virtual reality" I mean Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by christrott on Jun 15, 2020 1:05:05 GMT
Love the new Boeings Erik. Any plan on doing the C-135C Speckled Trout (61-2669) or did I miss it and you already have it done?
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