Once one of the most prized and carefully guarded assets in the Air Force fleet, the first of 13 E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is now in a parking spot in the desert and will soon be followed by 12 more. The 45-year-old aircraft literally flew west from its base at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma to Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona on April 6. When the other 12 join it, the E-3 fleet will have been reduced to 30 and their days are numbered.
The E-3 will be replaced by the Boeing 737-based E-7 Wedgetail, and the first of those aircraft will be delivered in 2027. As always, the retirement is bittersweet. The world-changing role the aircraft played was celebrated as was the move to a modern state-of-the-art platform. Despite “Herculean” efforts by maintainers, the old 707s have slipped to below 65 percent dispatch rate. Only 25 Wedgetails will replace the fleet of more than 40 E-3s with no gaps in coverage, the Air Force says.
“The 45-year-old aircraft literally flew west from its base”
As opposed to flying virtually? Perhaps in a full motion sim.
Or figuratively? “The 45-year-old aircraft flew into history…”
Or perhaps it was flying true west instead of magnetic west?
Inquiring minds want to know…
Arizona is west of Oklahoma. It flew west while “flying west” (a term used in reference to retirement or death).
Damn, I missed the “buying the farm” simile.
Never mind.
I assume they will save one for the USAF Museum…
If only to heat the coffee from the microwaves…
Thanks John, your comment brought laughter to my read!
Please tell me they are not going to try to mount some kind of dome on top of a 737.
It’s a flat plate arrangement. There are pictures online. Boeing already makes them for export to other nations/governments.