Shore-Based - military aircraft - Brief Article

All Hands, Jan, 2001

E-6A Mercury

The E-6A provides secure, survivable, jam-resistant strategic communications while performing the Navy's TACAMO mission. The E-6B program has been established to upgrade TACAMO operational capabilities and will perform both the TACAMO and airborne command post mission with installed equipment.

WINGSPAN: 148 ft., 2 in.

LENGTH: 152 ft., 11 in.

HEIGHT: 42 ft., 5 in.

WEIGHT: 341,000 lbs. maximum takeoff

SPEED: 523 mph

CEILING: 42,000 ft.

RANGE: more than 6,400 nm (E-6A); 5,500 nm (E-6B)

CREW: 18 (E-6A); 23 (E-6B)

P-3C Orion/EP-3E Orion (Aries II)

The P-3, a land-based, long-range patrol aircraft, has been in the Navy since the 1960s. Both versions provide multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and combat capability to theater commanders worldwide.

WINGSPAN: 99 ft., 8 in.

LENGTH: 116 ft., 10 in.

HEIGHT: 33 ft., 85 in.

WEIGHT: 146,000 lbs. maximum permissible

SPEED: 473 mph

CEILING: 28,300 ft.

RANGE: 1,346 nm with three hours on station

ARMAMENT: Harpoon and Maverick; torpedoes; mines

CREW: 10 (three pilots, three flight officers/engineers three sensor operators, one in-flight technician)

C-130 Hercules

The C-130 is probably the most versatile tactical transport aircraft ever built. Its uses have been almost limitiess; transport, electronic surveillance, search and rescue, space-capsule recovery, helicopter refueling, gunship and special cargo deliver.

WINGSPAN: 32 ft., 7 in.

LENGTH: 97 ft., 9 in.

HEIGHT: 38 ft., 10 in.

WEIGHT: 175,000 lbs. maximum takeoff

SPEED: 400 mph maximum

CEILING: 28,000 ft.

RANGE: 460 nm

CREW: 4 (two pilots, one navigator, one loadmaster)

C-9B/DC-9 Skytrain II

The C-9B is used for fleet logistics support and military sealift.

WINGSPAN: 93 ft., 5 in.

LENGTH: 119 ft., 3.5 in.

HEIGHT: 27.5 ft.

WEIGHT: 121,000 lbs. maximum takeoff

SPEED: 575 mph

RANGE: 2,185 nm

CREW: 5 (one pilot, one co-pilot one crew chief, two attendants and 90 passengers)

C-12 Huron

The UC-12B/F/M Huron is a utility transport, equipped with high floatation landing gear and tip tanks. The UC-12F and UC-12M models also have hydraulically retractable landing gear.

WINGSPAN: 54 ft., 6 in.

LENGTH: 43 ft., 9 in.

HEIGHT: 15 ft.

WEIGHT: 12,500 lbs. maximum takeoff

SPEED: 298 mph maximum

CEILING: more than 35,000

RANGE: 1,965 nm

CREW: pilot only (or crew or two side by side).