During the early hours on Aug. 28, a WC-135C was spotted just to the South of the UK.
The aircraft was being refueled by a KC-135 tanker launched from RAF Mildenhall which met the “Sniffer” maybe out in the Atlantic.
The two WC-135 Constant Phoenix operated by the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron from Offutt Air Force Base, are an atmospheric collections aircraft used to detect the radioactive particles that result from a nuclear detonation.
They were deployed near North Korea in anticipation of Kim Jong Un rocket launches earlier this year.
The WC-135C Constant Phoenix is used to take air samples from possible nuclear explosions. The question is can it do the same for Chemical Weapons?
Someone speculates the aircraft carries sensor even capable to detect chemical substances down wind from the attack area days, or week after they were dispersed.
Another possibility is that the aircraft was either coming or going to monitor Fukushima radioactive leak.
But if it were to be on its way to either Japan or North Korea then it would be expected to route via Hawaii and fly over the Pacific rather than head east over the Atlantic.
Here’s the audio file of the aircraft arranging refueling with its tanker near Malta during its eastbound flight (you can download and hear the whole file on the LiveATC website where we downloaded the raw one).
Richard Clements for TheAviationist.com
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Interesting plane – Given that they might fly through less that healthy air, I wonder do they have the ability to close off the cabin air intakes and fly on internal oxygen??
They’re always flying on internal air. All of the -135 models have oxygen bottles back where the boom operator would normally be. If I remember correctly though the WC-135 can run off the pressurization from the engines, or from internal oxygen.
The airplane always is pressurized from engine bleed air (9th stage). The liquid oxygen converters were where the boomer would have been. They were 25 liters each. Times 6.
Gotta be better than the F-35
WC-135 airframes have two large supplemental charcoal filter packs, as well as HEPA/ULPA filters (we called them “lungs”) for their cabin air. When the instruments indicate contact with radioactive debris, the crew will also reduce cabin airflow to just maintain pressurization, and all personnel on board will go to 100% oxygen through their masks. They will stay on 100% O2 until activity readings drop back down into the safe levels. Everybody wears a dosimeter, and those records are monitored to prevent unsafe exposure. I flew that mission until I retired from the USAF in 2006.
They must have added the “Charcoal Packs” later. We were on 100% O2 until we cleared the area. The “Spheres” sampled directly from the overhead A/C distribution duct. And, I have had basal cell carsinoma’s removed. A result of being exposed to Ionizing Radiation.
Jim,
The “lungs” were installed well before I started flying with the program in 1986. They’re installed between the cabin bleed air and the overhead ducts. The 3000psi sphere collection system, aka “P-System”, took its samples from 9th stage engine bleed air before it was distributed to the cabin air system. The new sphere pumping equipment does something similar, it’s called WACS (Whole Air Collection System) and runs as part of the computer-controlled AARE (Advanced Atmospheric Research Equipment).
http://www.offutt.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/2012/11/121025-F-SR919-002.jpg
Darin R. Pfaff
I wonder if they are on the lookout for Fukishima detritus which has been spewing into the Pacific for over two years. BP have wiped out the Gulf and Fukishima has now wiped out the Pacific.
Worked on this bird back in 1966-69 stationed at McClellan AFB, 55th WRS.
I worked on 667 at McClellan over thew same period.
I was a Flight Engineer on WC-135’s a MCC late 60’s early 70’s. Great Airplane!!