Offutt's 55th Wing redundant aircraft are taken out of service

As the 55th Wing prepares to temporary operate out of Lincoln Airport starting early next year, while Offutt Air Force Base is shut down for construction work, Team Offutt already bid farewell to the rare and only operational WC-135C Constant Phoenix “Nuke Sniffer” with tail number 62-3582.

At the beginning of November 2020, WC-135C 62-3582 had its fini-flight at Offutt and is projected to retire later this month. Being a former EC-135C, this particular aircraft was converted into a WC-135C in 1998.

The 45th Reconnaissance Squadron Sylvester has now only one WC-135 at its disposal (WC-135W, 61-2667). The USAF has begun overhauling and modifying the first of three Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers into WC-135R Constant Phoenix “Nuke Sniffers”. During the Fiscal Year 2019, the USAF has been requested USD 208 million for the Constant Phoenix upgrade. This, with an additional USD 8 million planned for the Fiscal Year 2020 have started the conversion programme.

Although it is not known what will happen to the obsolete Nuke Sniffer, it is expected that the aircraft will soon be flown to the 309th Aircraft Maintenance And Regeneration Group, also known as the Davis Monthan storage boneyard, situated near Tucson (AZ).

Photos: USAF