ARIA January 2010 Newsletter

2010

It is hard to imagine a more exciting year than 2009 working with Windfall Films and National Geographic. But then again, I couldn't have imagined the ARIA alumni working with Windfall Films in 2009. So you never know who is going to knock at your door asking questions about ARIA. This is only one example why it is important to record the ARIA history. The ARIA history cannot be completed without you. In this New Year I look forward to your stories and photographs so we can record the ARIA history. I hope you and your families have a safe and healthy 2010.

Do you remember when it all began?

Last month Ed Hite asked the question, "Do you remember when it all began?" In 1958 in the radar shop at Patrick Air Force Base a request was made for anyone interested in volunteering in an attempt to recover telemetry data from missiles. This involved flying in an aircraft equipped with instrumented receivers and recorders and a non directional antenna. Ed raised his hand along with others. Several C-54s were so equipped along with a few C131s. After many hours attending RCA schooling on telemetry and data collection, the actual missions of receiving and recording missile data began. Information from this time up to the A/RIA and T/RIA Aircraft conversions are non-existent. What we do know is that equipment from these original instrumentated aircraft was eventually installed in the T/RIA, Telemetry Range Instrumentation Aircraft. These aircraft were easily confused with the ARIA aircraft because they shared the classic "Droop Snoot" radome. Two of the four T/RIA aircraft later became converted for use as ARIA aircraft, aircraft 62-4128 and 62-4133.

Do you remember when it all began? Help us fill in this missing information so we can make the record complete.

Skylab

I watch and listen to hours of video and audio tracks each month trying to locate any mention of ARIA. I am always happy when this rare event of ARIA being mentioned happens. The NASA video Skylab The First 40 Days is now online. Go to http://www.flyaria.com/skylab.html.

Book on Military Boeing C-135 and Boeing 707s used by the Military

From previous newsletters as many of you know John Gourley is creating a book for Squadron/Signal Publications on C-135 and military 707 aircraft. John has been working hard with the publisher so that this book will cover the entire ARIA era, not just aircraft from 1990 to present. That is not only good news for ARIA but will provide a good reference to many programs that would have been omitted in the last change of the book's scope of aircraft coverage. With this change of scope John is requesting information on additional programs that these aircraft have been involved in. Any information about these programs and aircraft will be beneficial to the book. Of course, if you know of any programs that are not listed and are relevant to the book please forward that information also. You can contact John Gourley at tacamo@digital.net.

RIVET DIGGER
COBRA JAWS
IWATCH
TRAP
RECCE STRIKE
BURNING LIGHT
PACER CLERK
RAMP

RECCE STRIKE NKC-135A 553132
C-135A used in AFSATCOM/HAVE LACE/and ICNIA configurations
IWATCH C-135A 600377
C-135B 612662 SATCOM test bed (before conversion to RC-135S)
TRIA C-135B 624128 (also photos of ARIA and ALOTS configuration)
KC-135A 553136 (when used for IGY and military test programs)
PACER CLERK KC-135A KC-135A 591518
RIVET DIGGER NC-135A 600371 in Nuclear Test Ban Treaty configuration + as ARGUS I
BURNING LIGHT NC-135A 600369
NKC-135A 553123 as Airborne Laser Laboratory
NKC-135A 553119 ECM test bed
JKC-135A 553120 as used in Operation FISH BOWL
NKC-135A 553124 with refueling boom for ATCA program
PAVE ONYX NKC-135A 553125
RECCE STRIKE NKC-135A 563596
JKC-135A 553128 with rocket pods on wingtips
NKC-135A 553131 as used for aurora + ionospheric research
NKC-135A 553132 used by LTV for Electronic Recon Research systems program
BIG CROW NKC-135A 553132 EW Laboratory
TRAP NKC-135A 553134
RAMP JKC-135A 553127
NC-135A 600371 while supporting SDI programs
BRIAR PATCH KC-135A 553121
RIVET QUICK KC-135R 591514
RIVET STAND KC-135R 553121
COBRA JAWS KC-135R 553121

ARIA 2011 Memorial Service and Reunion

2011 will mark the 30th anniversary of the loss of ARIA 328 and we are planning a memorial service and reunion. Tim Hart has been working on this project over the past year and through the web site has collected your input on how to make the 2011 event a success. Those of us that attended the previous events know that it was an experience that we want to be a part of again. We don't want you to miss out. Give us your input; it only takes a few minutes. Go to http://www.ariamemorial.com/reunion.html and complete the ARIA 2011 Reunion Information Request form.

Silent Flyer

The silent flyer section on the ARIAMemorial.com web site started years ago on flyARIA.com, long before there was a foundation. Personnel that worked with the Apollo/Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft program in any capacity are eligible to be listed in the Silent Flyer Memorial. If you know of the passing of a fellow alumni please submit their information to the ARIA 328 Memorial Foundation. The submission form is located at http://www.ariamemorial.com/silentflyer-0.html .

4950th Test Wing Reunion & Luncheon

Mark your calendar for the first Friday in March for the 4950th Test Wing Reunion & Luncheon. I want to thank Perl Bryslan for coordinating this event.

When: March 5, 2010 (1st Friday in March)
Time: 11:00 AM
Where: Homer's Smorgasbord (Formerly "Duff's)
Fairborn Plaza Shopping Center
1284 N. Broad Street Fairborn, Ohio
Who: ANYONE from the 4950th Test Wing or WPAFB MILITARY or CIVILIAN, PAST or PRESENT SPOUSES WELCOME !

ARIA Web Site Update

The ARIA web sites have successfully been moved from Kansas City to Washington, DC. I have updated all of the backend software. Please let me know if you discover any problems with the web sites.

Correction Submissions

No corrections this month.

Did I Forget Something?

Please let me know if I have not included your submitted information in the newsletter. Have something you want to include in the newsletter? It is easy to do, just send me an email.

Mailing List Instructions

If your email provider requires a verification process for you to receive mail, please add newsletter@ARIAMemorial.com to your whitelist (safelist).To remove yourself from the mailing list, reply to this email with the following subject: Remove. If you change your mind and want to subscribe, you can send an email to newsletter@ARIAMemorial.com with the following subject: Subscribe. You will receive a confirmation email when you unsubscribe or subscribe from the mailing list. We hope you stay with us!

Contact Information

I can be contacted through the ARIA Memorial web site or by Randy.Losey@ARIAMemorial.com. You can also use this email address to submit information to be included into the ARIA Newsletter.