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]
Falcon 20F · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Boeing RC-135 | Dassault Falcon 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Reconnaissance aircraft[source] | Business jet[source] |
| Manufacturer | Boeing (airframe) L3Harris Technologies[source] | Dassault Aviation[source] |
| Status | In service[source] | Out of production, in active service[source] |
| Primary users | United States Air Force Royal Air Force[source] | Federal Express (formerly) French Navy United States Coast Guard |
17.15 m (56 ft 3 in)[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; Falcon 20F · Empty weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Falcon 20F · Max takeoff weight
Single sourceMaximum; RC-135 · Maximum speed
Single source504 kn (580 mph, 933 km/h)[source]
Cruise; Falcon 20F · at 12,200 m (40,000 ft) (econ. cruise)
Single sourceMaximum; Falcon 20F · at 7,620 m (25,000 ft) (max cruise)
Single source862 km/h (536 mph, 465 kn) at 7,620 m (25,000 ft) (max cruise)[source]
750 km/h (470 mph, 400 kn) at 12,200 m (40,000 ft) (econ. cruise)[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]
Falcon 20F · 2 × General Electric CF700 -2D-2 turbofans thrust each
Single source2 × General Electric CF700 -2D-2 turbofans , 20 kN (4,500 lbf) thrust each[source]
RC-135 · 4,900 ft/min (
Single source4,900 ft/min (25 m/s)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Number built | 32 total airframes across all iterations[source] | 512[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | 1961[source] | 3 June 1965[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] | 8–14 passengers[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 | — | 1965–1991[source] |
|---|
| First flight | — | 4 May 1963[source] |
|---|
| Developed into | — | Dassault Falcon 10 Dassault Falcon 50[source] |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | — | 5,200 L (1,100 imp gal; 1,400 US gal)[source] |
|---|
| Aspect ratio | — | 6.4:1[source] |
|---|
| Stall speed | — | 152 km/h (94 mph, 82 kn)[source] |
|---|
| National origin | — | France[source] |
|---|