ARIA Aircraft
The original eight ARIA were model EC-135As constructed by Boeing Aircraft. The EC-135A aircraft were modified KC-135 aircraft derived from the prototype Boeing model 367-80.
There were four additional aircraft modified for use for airborne telemetry. However, they were not equipped with the Apollo radio equipment. These were TRIA, Telemetry Range Instrumentation Aircraft. In later years, two of these EC-135B T/RIA aircraft were used in the ARIA mission.
Later, additional aircraft were modified for the ARIA program; Boeing 707-320C aircraft. The Boeing 707 is also based on the Boeing 367-80.
The first flight of the 367-80 took place on July 15, 1954. The KC-135 was the first production aircraft based on the 367-80. A total of 820 KC-135s were produced. The first flight of the KC-135 was on August 31, 1956 and was classified as a Military tanker-transport.
The first flight of the Boeing 707 took place on December 20, 1957. It should be noted that the Boeing 707 was a variant of the 367-80 as was the KC-135. The Boeing 707 is not the commercial version of the KC-135, each aircraft type had its own developmental pathway.
A/RIA and T/RIA Aircraft
Patrick Air Force Base
