Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix

WC-135 Constant Phoenix
	A WC-135 Constant Phoenix on takeoff
Role	Atmosphere testing related to nuclear incidents
Manufacturer	Boeing Military Airplanes Division
Introduction	December 1965
Status	3 aircraft in service (WC-135R)
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	14 (10 converted C-135B, one converted EC-135C, three converted KC-135R)
Developed from	C-135 Stratolifter
Variants	OC-135B Open Skies

The WC-135 Constant Phoenix is a special-purpose aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter and used by the United States Air Force. Its mission is to collect samples from the atmosphere for the purpose of detecting and identifying nuclear explosions. It is also informally referred to as the "weather bird"^[2] or "the sniffer" by workers on the program and international media respectively.^[3]

^ "Third, final WC-135R Constant Phoenix arrives". 55th Wing Official Website. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
^ Cenciotti, David (April 12, 2017). "U.S. Air Force deploys WC-135 "nuclear sniffer" plane to Japan to monitor North Korea's possible nuke weapons tests".
^ Johnson, Jesse (May 20, 2017). "China denies intercept of 'nuke-sniffer' plane was unsafe, says U.S. must halt surveillance flights". The Japan Times.

[Third_WC-135R-1] "Third, final WC-135R Constant Phoenix arrives". 55th Wing Official Website. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.

[2] Cenciotti, David (April 12, 2017). "U.S. Air Force deploys WC-135 "nuclear sniffer" plane to Japan to monitor North Korea's possible nuke weapons tests".

[3] Johnson, Jesse (May 20, 2017). "China denies intercept of 'nuke-sniffer' plane was unsafe, says U.S. must halt surveillance flights". The Japan Times.

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