Looking Glass Aircraft in RAF Service Query

[McColm]

You are extremely close with the 'two tin cans' and wire idea. Next time when you go to the beach take a short-wave radio with you.

[AS.12]

If you're talking about the E-6 Mercury, the RAF don't operate them. The E-6 is only used by the USN.

Hi guys,

Sorry for the thread revival but thought I'd follow-up on this.

The E-6 is no longer a solely Navy asset and has operated in UK airspace on numerous occasions, most notably during the course of the Royal Wedding in April 2011 when good weather and a predictable orbit allowed many spotters to photograph it through telescopes

It usually uses callsign GOTFMS and is active on ADS-B.  

So, in a sense, though the RAF doesn't have a Looking Glass capability it is available to UK plc when needed.

Origin of the name Looking Glass: it was a pure reflection of the SAC Offutt deep-bunker C&C functions.  It was the most famous, but there was a series of other remote command and airborne missile launch platforms on the '135 airframe.  Not only operated by SAC but also theatre commands.