Boeing E-3D AWACS Sentry AEW.1 seen overflying Lincoln

With the evening sunshine glinting on the radar 'mushroom' - one of the RAF Waddington based RAF Boeing E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft is seen flying over Lincoln after take off.

'In the mid-1960s, the US Air Force (USAF) was seeking an aircraft to replace its piston-engined Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star, which had been in service for over a decade. Testing of the first production E-3 began in October 1975, and the first USAF E-3 was delivered in March 1977. During the next seven years, a total of 34 aircraft were manufactured for the USAF.
NATO, as a single identity, also had 18 aircraft manufactured, basing them in Germany. The E-3 was also sold to the United Kingdom (seven) and France (four) and Saudi Arabia (five, plus eight E-3-derived tanker aircraft).' (Wiki)

A total of 68 E-3 Sentries were built, most of which are still flying. The Royal Air Force purchased seven E-3Ds in the 1980s, and five still remain in service based at RAF Waddington. Four are operational with one used for training. The other two were withdrawn in March 2019. The aircraft are designated Sentry AEW.1

2021 update The UK officially retired its E-3D Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet at a ceremony at RAF Waddington on Sep 28, marking the end of 30 years of service with the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The E-3D has served the RAF and NATO nations in a number of operations and theatres across the globe, ranging from counter narcotic operations in the Caribbean through to Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was during Operation Iraqi Freedom that the UK E-3D Sentry and its operating unit, No. 8 Squadron RAF, accumulated more flying hours than any other platform in UK service. More info here: www.key.aero/article/royal-air-force-retires-e-3d-sentry-...

You can see a random selection of my aviation memories here: www.flickriver.com/photos/heathrowjunkie/random/

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Lincoln (show map)

Taken on: December 2, 2011

Tags:

Boeing

E-3

Sentry

Lincoln

Military

RAF Waddington

RAF « less

Sets appears in: • Lincoln • Military Transports, Tankers & Reconnaissance more » • Overflights « less

Groups appears in: • Flickr Addicts • Aircraft more » • Military Aviation Photography • Flickritis: over 87,000 waiting for a vaccine. • Aircraft Spotting • Boeing • Plane Spotting • Boeing 707 • WADDINGTON AIR BASE • Planes & Airports • Military Transport Aircraft • Military Aircraft • Aviation Photography Group • Aircraft Junkies • Aviation Worldwide • ALL AVIATION PHOTOS • AVIATION ♥ PASSION! • World Aviation Pics and Vids • Planespotting in Britain • Plane Spotting [around the world] • UK Military Aviation post 1945 • GLOBAL MILITARY AVIATION • Aviones (Sin limite de grupos) • Aircraft Addiction • Flickr Social • A V I A T I O N ✈ • Plane-Spotting • ALL JET AIRCRAFT ✈ • Plane in a Frame (unlimited upload) • world military aviation • #1 The Aviation reference group • *** Aviation (No 30/60 Limit) *** • SpottingLog - Aviation Photography • Boeing # Military Aircrafts • All series [No 30/60 Limit] • The best photographs from around the world. « less

Camera: Olympus u20D,S400D,u400D, f/5.2, 1/160 sec, 17.4mm, ISO 64 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Olympus u20D,S400D,u400D
Aperture:	f/5.2
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/160)
Focal Length:	17.4mm
ISO:	64
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	06-1003
Show full info

Stats: 2,840 views / 1 comment