E-6 going away

[Uncle Fester]

I think they're being repurposed from the daily Khat run from Ethiopia to Djibouti.

Fellow DJ bubbas, you know what I'm talking about.

Only time I ever saw Djiboutians move fast was when the Ambouli runway needed to be cleared for the khat plane.

 

[ChuckMK23]

From NAVAIR public affairs:

 

[FLGUY]

From NAVAIR public affairs:

I wonder why the Navy is designating this the “E-130J” and not the “EC-130J”, similar to its prior TACAMO iteration. I hope it isn’t a “good idea fairy / fitrep bullet fodder” type thing

 

[HSMPBR]

EC-130J is already taken by AFSOC

I wonder why the Navy is designating this the “E-130J” and not the “EC-130J”, similar to its prior TACAMO iteration. I hope it isn’t a “good idea fairy / fitrep bullet fodder” type thing

 

[Griz882]

EC-130J is already taken by AFSOC

I was thinking, No cargO goes in with the radiO.

 

[robav8r]

I wonder why the Navy is designating this the “E-130J” and not the “EC-130J”, similar to its prior TACAMO iteration. I hope it isn’t a “good idea fairy / fitrep bullet fodder” type thing

The Defense Industrial Complex will tell the Navy what the designation should be . . . .

 

[ChuckMK23]

It's a good looking airplane! I'm curious what the actual livery/paint/insignia will look like!

The E-4B Command Post stands alert on the ramp outside my office from time to time. It's impressive how it's painted up. It very much speaks serious business.

 

[ea6bflyr]

It's a good looking airplane! I'm curious what the actual livery/paint/insignia will look like!

Probably like most VQ special mission aircraft: non-descript white & grey

 

[AFidk]

New render afaik. Still kinda looks like it’s from the ps2.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

New render afaik. Still kinda looks like it’s from the ps2.

I agree, I've seen better renders in Flight Sim.
Since it's now a Command and Control mission aircraft, I guess those are not drogues, but super duper secret antennas trailing behind?

 

[Ozarky]

I agree, I've seen better renders in Flight Sim.
Since it's now a Command and Control mission aircraft, I guess those are not drogues, but super duper secret antennas trailing behind?

Drogue is just a part of the antenna; consider it the fletching on an arrow!

 

[hlg6016]

Serves the same purpose as a drogue as in it holds the antenna stable when extended. The old Q model antenna was about a mile long.

 

[ChuckMK23]

https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/E-130J-popular-name-announced-TACAMO-mission-aircraft/Thu-08072025-0941

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

Not quite sure that Phoenix is good name for an aircraft.
And with the AF WC-135 "Constant Phoenix," does that mean it rises from the ashes again and again?
Maybe it's just the DOSS in me, too many investigations.

 

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Not quite sure that Phoenix is good name for an aircraft.
And with the AF WC-135 "Constant Phoenix," does that mean it rises from the ashes again and again?