1/C Aviation Ashore

[Farva1]

Anyone been to Tinker AFB? I'm heading to VQ-4 this summer. The aircraft are E-6's, not EA-6B's either. My understanding is that these birds are communication links between the commander-in-chief and the strategic bombers. They kind of look like refuelers or commercial airliners. If anyone has any scoop on the squadron or area, let me know. Thanks

U of I MIDN

 

[Phiman]

Just wondering what phase you are going on, I am going aviation ashore too, hopefully, and I was curious as to when they would cut my orders.

 

[Farva1]

2nd phase Phiman but I think I was the first at my unit in that phase to find out.

 

[wink]

E-6 Mercurys (Boeing 707s) replaced the old C-130 TACAMO aircraft. They used to be kept airborne 24 hours a day to transfer launch order and other messages to SSBNs. That was done with a very low freq. radio wave that required a trailing wire antenna varying in length to over 3000 feet. Today the E-6 is capable of serving as a full spectrum flying command post, as you have heard. That is why they have been moved to Tinker AFB (check out the Tinker Burger, a favorite during x-country stops)where the old Strategic Air Command was headquartered. Now days I believe they are crewed by a multiservice compliment of airmen and just plain senior officer types to make decisions in an emergency. Check out the trailing wire antenna on that thing. It is pretty cool.

 

[Farva1]

Thanks for the info wink, will do.

 

[beau]

Haha!.....coming out to Sooner Land! Hopefully you get to get to fly with them to some fun place for a couple of weeks (they deploy for a couple of weeks at a time. Dont go to Travis AFB, you have to sit on the ramp on alert all day, fun!). I've been up to VQ-4/3 a couple of times but must say its a really small squadron/base as far as the Navy is concerned. Bad enough being with the AF.

Finch

GO SOONERS!!!