The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an American airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed by Boeing. E-3s are commonly known as AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System). Derived from the Boeing 707 airliner, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control, and communications.
History[]
During the War of 1996, an AWACS designated Eagle Eye 370 was dispatched from Moffett Field to investigate an City Destroyer that appeared off the coast of California while providing live updates to President Thomas Whitmore from the White House of their progress.[1] The AWACS failed to make visual contact on the craft due to interference caused by the aliens, and only to fly directly into the incoming object and killing everyone on board.
Following the failed counterattack against the aliens, AWACS launched from Air Force bases near San Antonio were responsible for reestablishing U.S. military radio and radar capabilities.[2]
Gallery[]
Behind the scenes[]
- The AWACS was modified from a store-bought 1:100 scale model kit of a KC-135 refueling plane. The model was suspended on a fishing line in front of a ten-foot by eight-foot sky photograph and filmed with a drifting camera while the big photo background was moved on a dolly.
External links[]
References[]
- ↑ Stephen Molstad. Independence Day, p. 45 (1996), HarperPrism
- ↑ Stephen Molstad. Independence Day, p. 203 (1996), HarperPrism
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||