Credit
U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
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At a glance
Measured figures
RC-135 · Length
Single source136 ft 3 in (41.53 m)[source]
SR20-G3 · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Boeing RC-135 | Cirrus SR20 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Reconnaissance aircraft[source] | Light aircraft[source] |
| Manufacturer | Boeing (airframe) L3Harris Technologies[source] | Cirrus Aircraft[source] |
| Status | In service[source] | — |
| Primary users | United States Air Force Royal Air Force[source] | — |
| Number built | 32 total airframes across all iterations[source] |
26 ft 0 in (7.92 m)[source]
Empty; RC-135 · Empty weight
Single sourceGross; RC-135 · Gross weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; RC-135 · Max takeoff weight
Single source124,000 lb (56,245 kg)[source]
297,000 lb (134,717 kg)[source]
322,500 lb (146,284 kg)[source]
Empty; SR20-G3 · Empty weight
Single sourceGross; SR20-G3 · Gross weight
Single sourceRC-135 · Range
Single source2,998 nmi (3,450 mi, 5,552 km)[source]
SR20-G3 · 1 × Continental IO-360-ES six cylinder, horizontally-opposed piston aircraft engine
Single source1 × Continental IO-360-ES six cylinder, horizontally-opposed piston aircraft engine , 200 hp (150 kW)[source]
RC-135 · 4 × CFM International F-108-CF-201 turbofan engines thrust each
Single source4 × CFM International F-108-CF-201 turbofan engines, 22,000 lbf (98 kN) thrust each[source]
RC-135 · Wing area
Single source2,433 sq ft (226.0 m 2 )[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
2,084 (through 2025)[source] |
| Introduction date | 1961[source] | — |
|---|
| Developed from | Boeing C-135 Stratolifter[source] | — |
|---|
| Capacity | 21–27 depending on mission requirements, minimum consisting of 4 Electronic Warfare Officers (Ravens), 14 Intelligence Operators and 4 Airborne Systems Engineers (mission crew)[source] | 3 passengers (4 using 60/40 flex seating in post-2012 models)[source] |
|---|
| Airfoil | root: BAC 310/311/312; tip: BAC 313[source] | — |
|---|
| Country of origin | United States[source]Country/countries explicitly given in the equipment row Origin column; not the country operating the row. Jet | — |
|---|
| Manufactured | — | 1999–present[source] |
|---|
| First flight | — | 21 March 1995[source] |
|---|
| Developed into | — | Cirrus SR22[source] |
|---|
| Propellers | — | 3-bladed[source] |
|---|
| Stall speed | — | 56 kn (64 mph, 104 km/h) CAS[source] |
|---|
| National origin | — | United States[source] |
|---|