Speckled Trout

[Three Forty]

Hello,

September, 2006, USAF Chief of Staff is in town, with this very nice 57-2589 "Speckled Trout", rare at Paris ! I shot it at LBG on Sept 30th, not the best photos but no choice, however I was very happy to see it 8)









For those who watched Transformers movie, this aircraft was Air Force One on ground :lol:

[SengaB]

Nice shot Stéphane,
I wish I had your great weather when I shot it at ADW last year. I took me 10 year to get a "BETTER" shot than the ones I got at Maxwell AFB in alabama.

57-2589
One of the oldest 707 types still flying.
Senga

[Three Forty]

Bad weather but better angle ;)

[SengaB]

Sheesh I'd kill for yours... Lets trade!

:)
Senga

[Three Forty]

Kill ? Oh no, it's only a plane :mrgreen:

Ok not an usual plane...

[moose135]

Nice shots, Stéphane. She sure looks good for a 50 year old lady.

[Chris102]

Very nice shots, Stéphane. I didn't even know this one was still in service.

[Mateo]

Very nice shots, Stéphane. I didn't even know this one was still in service.

And it may or may not be anymore. 63-7980 became the new Speckled Trout over the summer. It's an -R model, and it wears the standard haze grey, not the USA scheme (which doesn't count as an airline, but is one of my favourite liveries).

[Three Forty]

Thanks for the news Mateo ! 57-2589 came to LBG at least one time this year, on May 27, 2007. So for one of the last time I guess.

[cancidas]

anybody notice the ribs along the outside fuselage? what are those for? maybe moose can shed some light on them. also, i don't understand why there is a KC-135 in VC colors. help!

sorry stephane, awseome shots!

[moose135]

anybody notice the ribs along the outside fuselage? what are those for? maybe moose can shed some light on them. also, i don't understand why there is a KC-135 in VC colors. help!

Those are strengthening ribs on the fuselage. I forget when they were added (it was long before I started flying KCs). Sound waves from the water-injected engines were causing fatigue cracks in the fuselage, and the ribs were added for additional stiffening and strength.

This bird was used as transport for the AF Chief of Staff, hence the fancy colors. I remember reading that since this bird was retired earlier this year, the AFCOS is now using a normally painted bird, although that may be an interim ride.

[SengaB]

John,
When was this aircraft retired? Is that what you are saying?
Do you know when it weas retired?

Senga

[Steven Holzinger]

Can it still refuel other aircraft?

[moose135]

Sorry for the confusion, Senga. I went back to find the source of that information, and I think what I read was about the earlier Speckled Trout aircraft which was retired in 2006, replaced by this one, I think this one is still flying.

[Chris102]

Is the inside the same as the inside of a KC-135, or does it have a VIP interior?

I could never fly from here to Paris in a plane with only a handful of windows :shock: I'd go crazy!