On Tuesday afternoon, I saw a large aeroplane decending to land at East Midlands Airport. It had a large disc attached over the middle of it. It was larger and louder than a regular commercial plane. Does anyone know what type of aircraft this was?
2007-12-05 21:11:41 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Large with a disc above it sounds like an E3 Sentry AWACS aircraft. These are based at RAF Waddington in this country and are used to see movements over a 200 mile range.
2007-12-05 21:15:41 · answer #1 · answered by The Drunken Fool 7 · 8⤊ 1⤋
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is a military airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, to the United States, United Kingdom, France, NATO and other air defense forces.
The E-3 Sentry is a modified Boeing 707-320B Advanced commercial airframe. Modifications included a rotating radar dome, single-point ground, and air refueling points. The dome is 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter, six feet (1.8 m) thick at the center, and is held 14 feet (4.2 m) above the fuselage by two struts.
2007-12-07 05:01:13 · answer #2 · answered by Fireguy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From the description, it's most likely to be an AWAC. AWACs aren't all the same however, different planes hold the equipment so an answer can't really be given as to what aircraft it was- AWACs are used by both the RAF and USAF- alongside many other nations' air forces- but it was most likely an RAF aircraft.
2007-12-06 12:15:29 · answer #3 · answered by Nick.391 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a AWACS ( Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, such as the Boeing E-3 Sentry.
2007-12-06 08:28:32 · answer #4 · answered by Salazar Slytherin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My guess would be a USAF or NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft. It's built on a Boeing 707 airframe and the disk is a radar antenna. It is used in Airborne Warning and Control. NATO has several of them, although most belong to the US Air Force.
2007-12-06 05:21:22 · answer #5 · answered by Warren D 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes I agree with the other answers but do not forget that the RAF have seven of this type of aircraft also.
2007-12-06 11:47:50 · answer #6 · answered by Francis7 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think It would be the E3 its a radar plane that disc is its radar
2007-12-07 19:18:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was most likely an USAF AWAC or RAF Nimrod. They are flying aircombat control centers.
2007-12-06 05:17:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
USAF AWAC with a 'saucer dome' has been watching you!
RAF Nimrods have a long nose.
2007-12-06 05:21:11 · answer #9 · answered by john 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Try an internet search on "AWACS."
2007-12-06 18:50:47 · answer #10 · answered by aviophage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋