TRIA Aircraft 61-2664

11 ARIA

A/RIA - T/RIA Aircraft
Patrick Air Force Base
Brevard County, Florida
May 25, 1970
Source: Bob Burns

TRIA Aircraft 61-2664

The United States Air Force aircraft 61-2664 was a Boeing C-135B T/RIA, Telemetry Range Instrumentation Aircraft, prior to a RC-135S conversion.

The most noticeable feature of the T/RIA aircraft was the large radome mounted on the front of the aircraft. The T/RIA shared this style radome with the A/RIA, Apollo Range Instrumentation Aircraft. Inside of the T/RIA's radome were two drum style antennas along with the aircraft radar. Inside the aircraft was a antenna operations panel and equipment racks for the RF equipment. This equipment was removed from the C-130 tracking aircraft and installed into the T/RIA aircraft.

61-2004 is included in the above photograph as it was configured in 1970 with with the "Droop-Snoop" radome at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. The photograph was taken on May 25, 1970.

61-2664 was converted to an RC-135S aircraft and was used as a United States airborne intelligence platform Cobra Ball II.

61-2664 crashed on March 15, 1981 at Shemya Air Force Base Alaska on approach. There were 24 occupants of the aircraft and the resultant crash killed 6.

Cobra Ball II Aircraft 61-2664

61-2664 On Takeoff From Shemya AFB
Source: ARIA Archive

In Memory

Staff Sergeant Steven C Balcer
Major William R Bennett  
First Lieutenant Loren O Ginter  
Master Sergeant Stephen L Kish  
Captain Larry A Mayfield  
Staff Sergeant Harry L Parsons III