Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix
The WC-135 Constant Phoenix is a special-purpose aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter and used by the United States Air Force. Its mission is to collect samples from the atmosphere for the purpose of detecting and identifying nuclear explosions. It is also informally referred to as the "weather bird" or "the sniffer" by workers on the program and international media respectively.
Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix
A WC-135B at Fairford in 1988. This aircraft later became a WC-135W.
The same aircraft seen at RAF Alconbury in 1992
Boeing C-135 Stratolifter
The Boeing C-135 Stratolifter is a transport aircraft derived from the prototype Boeing 367-80 jet airliner in the early 1950s. It has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707. Boeing gave the aircraft the internal designation of Model 717. Since the first one was built in August 1956, the C-135 and its variants have been a fixture of the United States Air Force.
Boeing C-135 Stratolifter
C-135B Stratolifter for VIP transport parked on the flight line at Andrews AFB
The C-135C Speckled Trout at Edwards Air Force Base