# What USAF Aircraft Did I See? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576 "2017-08-13T19:47:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/1 "2017-08-13T19:47:40Z")
Yesterday I saw a US Air Force aircraft on final approach into PDX (Portland, OR) as we were arriving at Costco to shop. My view was crystal clear but fleeting. Hence, no time to whip out a smartphone for a photo. [ul] [li]It looked like a Boeing 767, 777, or larger.[/li][li]It was all white in color, including the belly. No ornamental striping or identifying markings of any kind. The only marking was the [USAF logo](http://wallpapercave.com/wp/wflRr1u.jpg) along the rear side of the aircraft, just below the horizontal mid-line, halfway between the wings and the tail assembly.[/li][li]Here’s the kicker - It had a large, pronounced hump atop the fuselage just aft of the cockpit. No, I’m not talking [an extended hump found on the 747](http://fly.historicwings.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/HighFlight-747-7-600x260.jpg),nor a[small wifi hump](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZOTkt.jpg) like this aircraft. Think of it as a large boil or pimple atop the aircraft, perhaps three times the height of a commercial wifi hump and at least three times as long.[/li][/ul] Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/2 "2017-08-13T19:55:41Z")
Was it one of these? [Boeing E-6 Mercury - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-6_Mercury) ---
**Author:** ![EdelweissPirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/3 "2017-08-13T20:16:27Z")
Telperion, I suspect you’re right. While the E6 is technically flown by the navy, they seem to often be painted with what some would call USAF insignia (albeit with the word “NAVY” beneath. To wit: [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/E-6B_Mercury_flies_over_Solomons_Island_in_November_2014.JPG/800px-E-6B_Mercury_flies_over_Solomons_Island_in_November_2014.JPG) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/E-6B_Mercury_flies_over_Solomons_Island_in_November_2014.JPG/800px-E-6B_Mercury_flies_over_Solomons_Island_in_November_2014.JPG) Since we (a) we use E6s as command and control centers for nuclear-armed subs, and (b) we are likely commanding and controlling such subs in the norther pacific due to our current spat with North Korea, it seems likely that one might have landed at PDX for some reason or another. For example, maybe at the close of a mission, the crew was hungry and hankering for a Voodoo doughnut. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/4 "2017-08-13T21:43:55Z")
> [@Telperion](#): > > Was it one of these? [Boeing E-6 Mercury - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-6_Mercury) EC-135 in the Air Force … however these are four engine planes … did the OP see four or two engines? … perhaps you saw a rare and yet-to-be official EC-46? … Boeing’s military version of their 767 … ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/5 "2017-08-13T21:59:16Z")
You guys are good. [This](http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-deadliest-aircraft-the-us-militarys-arsenal-you-have-20305) [is what](https://theaviationist.com/2014/02/25/e-6-tacamo-new-dome/) [I saw](http://www.stratcom.mil/Media/Factsheets/Factsheet-View/Article/960928/e-6b-airborne-command-post-abncp/). ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/6 "2017-08-13T22:13:07Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > You guys are good. > > [This](http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-deadliest-aircraft-the-us-militarys-arsenal-you-have-20305) [is what](https://theaviationist.com/2014/02/25/e-6-tacamo-new-dome/) [I saw](http://www.stratcom.mil/Media/Factsheets/Factsheet-View/Article/960928/e-6b-airborne-command-post-abncp/). Eight minutes isn’t bad … but we can do better I think … ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/7 "2017-08-14T11:28:10Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > The only marking was the [USAF logo](http://wallpapercave.com/wp/wflRr1u.jpg) along the rear side of the aircraft, just below the horizontal mid-line, halfway between the wings and the tail assembly. Since the question has been answered, I can pick a nit: In military terms, the national ID markings are called a [roundel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundel#Military_aircraft) (even if they aren’t [round](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkenkreuz)), and the [navy](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:00VX-23_US_Navy_aircraft_in_flight.jpg) has them, too. One of my favorite reference books is [Rig Safearm](https://books.google.com/books/about/Rig_Safearm.html?id=pLy9oAEACAAJ), the Recognition Information Guide to Ship Associated Flags, Ensigns, and Aircraft Recognition Markings. I’m thinking a LTJG had a lot of time on his hands during a midwatch. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/8 "2017-08-14T15:40:17Z")
I found this simple classification one of the many interesting things (from **watchwolf** ’s StratCom [cite](http://www.stratcom.mil/Media/Factsheets/Factsheet-View/Article/960928/e-6b-airborne-command-post-abncp/)) about this aircraft: The airborne launch control system (ALCS) officer is the missile launch team leader and, along with the operations officer, operates the ALCS. This system allows Looking Glass to transmit launch codes to the intercontinental ballistic missiles in their underground silos should ground launch control centers become disabled. _It qualifies the aircraft as a weapon system even though Looking Glass itself cannot fire a bullet or drop a bomb._ The ALCS officer is also the intelligence planner and briefs the entire battle staff on current intelligence matters, develops threat assessments, and identifies emerging threats to the United States. [ital added] So otherwise this would be funded and managed like other aircraft used/bought by the Pentagon like a Cessna to shuttle civilians around or, say, tactical meteorlogical aircraft? ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/9 "2017-08-15T15:23:28Z")
[More information on the E-6](http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-deadliest-aircraft-the-us-militarys-arsenal-you-have-20305) Edit to add: The aircraft is indeed managed by the Navy with Navy pilots, maintenance, etc… ALCS represents one portion of the aircraft and is the Air Force content. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/10 "2017-08-15T15:36:42Z")
> [@txjim](#): > > [More information on the E-6](http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-deadliest-aircraft-the-us-militarys-arsenal-you-have-20305) > > Edit to add: The aircraft is indeed managed by the Navy with Navy pilots, maintenance, etc… ALCS represents one portion of the aircraft and is the Air Force content. The article says “the E-6A could remain in the air up to fifteen hours, or seventy-two with inflight refueling.” Just out of curiosity, what is the 72-hr limit set by? Some other consumable? Maintenance requirements? Crew? ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/11 "2017-08-15T15:47:37Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > The article says “the E-6A could remain in the air up to fifteen hours, or seventy-two with inflight refueling.” Just out of curiosity, what is the 72-hr limit set by? Some other consumable? Maintenance requirements? Crew? Link to [Airliners.net](http://Airliners.net) thread on the subject: [http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1370811](http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1370811) ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usaf-aircraft-did-i-see/793576/12 "2017-08-15T17:14:01Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > You guys are good. > > [This](http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-deadliest-aircraft-the-us-militarys-arsenal-you-have-20305) [is what](https://theaviationist.com/2014/02/25/e-6-tacamo-new-dome/) [I saw](http://www.stratcom.mil/Media/Factsheets/Factsheet-View/Article/960928/e-6b-airborne-command-post-abncp/). Aw, I would have gotten it but the size threw me. The E-6 is based on a 707. A 777 is almost twice as large in every dimension. (I know it’s hard to judge size of aircraft from the ground.) Next time number of engines would be useful.