Cobra Ball departure from Mildenhall 10.03.25.

[WinchesterMGF]

RC-135S 61-2662 departed Mildenhall today 10.03.25 to head back home to Offutt via Bangor. It was the 1st visit by one of these fab things since August 2019.
IMG_1837 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1846 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr

[slogen51]

Nice

Why are the engines on one side black? I did know once I think

[WinchesterMGF]

Nice

Why are the engines on one side black? I did know once I think

Thanks Mike.
The starboard wing and engines are painted black to reduce the reflected glare for the onboard cameras.

[slogen51]

Knew it

She is a classic

[LimaHotel01]

The original purpose of the black wing and engines was, as described above, to reduce glare on the mission optical sensors. Apparently with the newer digital optics now fitted the black anti-glare feature is no longer required and in fact the current optical sensors can be used for collection on either side of the aircraft. However the black wing and engines have been retained for tradition and heritage reasons. That is according to Robert S Hopkins III's book on the C-135 family and as a former Cobra Ball pilot he no doubt knows.

Kind regards,
LH01.

[sdad]

I'll have to catch the next one in 2030. Was that from Folly? Seems up early.

[WinchesterMGF]

I'll have to catch the next one in 2030. Was that from Folly? Seems up early.

It used the rwy10 under run and I caught it just down from Folly on the main drag - a bit more open and no fences.

[Marham1564]

Nice photo's mate got a good video down near AW as she turned

[Proteus]

Nice picture, it’s circumnavigated the globe in the last 2 months. I was lucky enough to know people who were crew for the ball in the seventies for anyone who wants to know the history of the ball have a look here. http://www.rc135.com/0000/INDEX.HTM

[paddyboy]

Cracking pair of shots there, Andrew

Well done and thanks for posting

Paddyboy