Six Unique Aircraft of the U. S. Air Force: A Closer Look

Let's take a peek at six special aircraft in the U. S. Air Force. These planes aren't your regular jets; they have unique jobs. The MC-12W Liberty started service in 2009. It's a low-altitude plane that helps soldiers on the ground. It's like a spy camera in the sky, sending important information to troops. There are 13 of these planes, ran by the Air National Guard. Next, we have the RC-135S Cobra Ball. It's been around since 1961. This plane is like a secret agent, collecting data on missile tests. It's based on the C-135 Stratolifter and has fancy sensors to do its job. The Air Force has three of these planes. The E-8C Joint Stars is another interesting plane. It started service in 1991 and was used to manage battles. It could spot enemy forces and help plan attacks. However, the last of these planes retired in late 2023. Now, let's talk about the famous U-2 Dragon Lady. It's been around since 1956 and is one of the oldest planes still used. It flies high to take pictures and collect signals. The Air Force planned to retire it, but some people in Congress want to keep it. The WC-135 Constant Phoenix has a cool job. It checks the air for signs of nuclear tests, making sure countries are following the rules. It's been doing this since 1965. Lastly, the WC-130 Hercules is like the weather reporter of the sky. It flies into storms to learn more about them. It's been doing this job since 1962.