Douglas EC-24A

McDonnell Douglas · United States · first flew 1958 · transport aircraft

The EC-24A is a single US Navy electronic warfare training aircraft converted from a surplus Douglas DC-8-54F airliner, used to simulate threat emitters for fleet training.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, swept
E — Engines	4 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	45.87 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Electronic aggressor/EW trainer variant of the DC-8
Four underwing turbofans on swept low wing
US Navy electronic warfare training aircraft

Indistinguishable externally from a civil DC-8-50 series; four underwing podded turbofans and the long narrow fuselage are the key silhouette features.

Specifications

The Douglas EC-24A has a length of 45.87 m (150 ft).
It has a wingspan of 43.41 m (142 ft).
Its maximum speed is 933 km/h (580 mph).
Typical crew: Variable mission crew.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The US Navy acquired one DC-8 in the 1980s and converted it to the EC-24A configuration to provide realistic electronic warfare environments for fleet exercises, operated by VQ-4 and later contractor crews. The type was eventually retired as its threat-simulation equipment became obsolete.

Variants

Only one EC-24A was built; no sub-variants existed. The aircraft was a one-off conversion with no production run.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the US Navy primarily at NAS Barbers Point and later Tinker AFB; retired in the 1990s with no successor in the same role until contractor-operated alternatives emerged.

Related aircraft

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