#1808

Boeing EC-135

🇺🇸 United States ·first flew 1961· military aircraft

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Boeing EC-135E 60-0374 USAF-Museum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Greg5030 Greg Hume· CC BY 2.5
2. Boeing EC-135C (717-166), USA - Air Force AN1155085: Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation· GFDL 1.2
3. Boeing EC-135G (717-148), USA - Air Force AN0823212: Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation· GFDL 1.2
4. Boeing EC-135 62-3579 Ellsworth: TSGT Michael Haggerty, USAF· Public domain
5. Gen. Richard A. Ellis, Strategic Air Command, commander in chief, Boeing EC-135, Exercise Global Shield '79: SSGT John Marine· Public domain
6. 0175 Boeing EC135E (49544966807): kitmasterbloke· CC BY 2.0
7. 19417 EC135 (49631547373): kitmasterbloke· CC BY 2.0
8. Boeing EC-135 ALCC inside: USAF· Public domain
9. Boeing EC-135C (717-166), USA - Air Force AN1159910: Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation· GFDL 1.2
10. Boeing EC-135C 62-3585 Operation Looking Glass (16138359000): Clemens Vasters from Viersen, Germany, Germany· CC BY 2.0

what is it?

The Boeing EC-135 is a retired family of command and control aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter. During the Cold War, the EC-135 was best known for being modified to perform the Looking Glass mission where one EC-135 was always airborne 24 hours a day to serve as flying command post for the Strategic Air Command in the event of nuclear war. Various other EC-135 aircraft sat on airborne and ground alert throughout the Cold War, with the last EC-135C being retired in 1998.

fun facts

First flew 65 years ago, in 1961.

spec sheet

first flight: 1961-02-03
introduced: 1965
retired: 2000
status: retired
number built: —
role: military aircraft
origin: 🇺🇸 United States
makers: Boeing
engines: —
top speed: —
range: —

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

family

Sources: Wikidata Q645248, Wikipedia: Boeing EC-135 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.