DRAFTED!!!

[anthonyp]

Yeah, this'd be a slightly narrower focus than the "Ploughshares into Swords" concept, as these would still be unarmed.

[jcf]

I've been on a weird kick lately.  I think Alvis' winner for the KC-X competition over at ARC sent me over some cliff I hadn't seen coming in my Whiffing...

Civvies in NON-COMBAT military roles.  I'm talking all manner of aircraft available out there, in the drab greys, greens, and tans of the world's militaries, just doing mundane things like air-to-air refueling, cargo carrying, Sigint, AEW, SAR, etc.

I've gone so far as to go on an eBaying binge and bought a couple 747's that are going to end up in USAF colours (like a C-19 747-100 in Euro I, a KC-25B 727-200 in Shamu colour scheme, a C-33 747-400 in AMC grey, etc; these are actual designations, check out Global Security's Civvie to Military designation list).  Not to mention A340's, Il-86's, Il-96's, more DC-10's, MD-11's, 727's, 777's, etc.

Like I said, mundane subject, but it's really gripped my imagination as of late.  Maybe its because I'm running out of Sidewinders, or something...

Mundane? Not really, seeing as the synonyms for mundane include 'commonplace', 'repetitive', 'unvarying' etc., the mundane for this board tends to be "let's take X and hang bombs/guns on it".  So your concept is rather refreshing.

Jon

[anthonyp]

Thanks, Jon!

OK, so "mundane" isn't the right word.  How about "aircraft undertaking non-vainglorious pursuits?"   

[anthonyp]

BUMP for the simple fact that this is one of my pet projects.

[jcf]

C designations assigned to 'drafted' DC-3/3A in WWII.

The Wacos were all given the UC-72 designation, but each separate Waco subtype received a differnt letter:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco_C-72

Impressed Stinson Reliants were UC-81, again with different suffixes depending on model:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinson_Reliant#Military_operators

Beech 17s were UC-43A - K, (UC-43 was a producton version for the military):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Staggerwing#Military_designations

Impressed Fairchild 24s were designated UC61B - J:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_24#Military_variants

Why I point this out, is that the specific designations for different versions of a given aircraft plays well
into Anthony's concept, thus an aircraft 'borrowed' from United can have a different designation from
an aircraft of the same type borrowed from Delta. All the various sub-types of airliners can quickly
use up the alpha characters for a given type.  

[kitnut617]

I was wondering if it could be a KC-4, there are E-4B's flying around ---

[jcf]

I was wondering if it could be a KC-4, there are E-4B's flying around ---

Nope, as E-4 is a designation in the E for electronic series, not the C for cargo series,
and C-4 is the Gulfstream I (VC-4A, TC-4C).

A tanker conversion would be KE-4.

KC-19A (747-100 tanker) or KC-33 (747-400 tanker) are RW plausible.

[anthonyp]

Nope, as E-4 is a designation in the E for electronic series, not the C for cargo series,
and C-4 is the Gulfstream I (VC-4A, TC-4C).

A tanker conversion would be KE-4.

Sorta like the KE-3A's that were built for Saudi Arabia (CFM56 powered planes).

[upnorth]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Dornier 228 in this discussion yet. It's a great example of a civil aircraft that has been pulled into military duties or atleast paramilitary duties when you consider that it serves with several coast guards around the world.

I always though it would look great with a tail hook and rigged out as a COD aircraft.

[anthonyp]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Dornier 228 in this discussion yet.

It IS a great plane.  I was torn between doing mine as a COD or E-2ish thing.  I went the AWACS route:

[anthonyp]

Here's a few more of my "Ploughshares into Blunted Swords" models from over the years:

Convair 880 as a cargo plane for the Federal Republic of Central America:



USN P-7A from a 757-200 and P-8A from a 737-800:



USAF KC-28A from an MD-11:



USAF KC-77A from a 777:



Republic of Louisiana Vigilante MMA from an A321:



USCG HC-145 from an BAE146:



USCG E-13 AWACS from a Friendship F27:



And here's one that's been on the bench for a while, a DC-8-73 version of the E-3:



Then there's the following that are on my bench:

USN DC-6 based P-3
Russian Il-96 based Il-98 Tanker
Russian (or possibly Canadian) Il-96 based AWACS ala Alvis' insane creation that kicked off this idea
USAF Boeing SST something
French (Or someone else) A319 based MMA (x2)
CRJ900 based COD (x2)
Beagle Basset 206 ultralight gunship (x2)
Dash 8 (x2) light gunship or MMA
Falcon 20 1/72 COD (USN?)
Falcon 20 1/144 COD USN
Jet Commander COD (USN)
Rutan Voyager (x2) Manned RQ-4 or something similar
ERJ145 USAF logisitics
ERJ190 (x3 in 1/100) as MPA (P-8 lite)
ERJ190 in 1/144 as a P-8 lite for USN
777-200 (x3) as E-14 Looking Glass III, E-15 Awacs, and possibly a replacement for the Vomit Comet
A340 (x3) for the USCG (Coast Guard 1), tanker for RAF and USAF?
CRJ200 for FRoCA logistics
Concorde (x4) as royal transport, airborne command posts
DC-8 (x4) as MPA, AWACS, tanker possibly replacement for Vomit Comet
Fokker 100 (x2) for USCG and possibly USN
Tu-334 as a Russian COD
787-8 (x3) in 1/200 for USAF as E-15 Looking Glass IV, Air Force 1, and a tanker
Spruce Goose as some sort of large SAR aircraft

[Alvis 3.14159]

Plowshares into Shields?

Alvis Pi

[Scooterman]

I'm in this!  Got several more things in 1/144 and 1/200 sitting around.

[anthonyp]

Plowshares into Shields?

Alvis Pi

That could work too.

[PR19_Kit]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Dornier 228 in this discussion yet.

It IS a great plane.  I was torn between doing mine as a COD or E-2ish thing.  I went the AWACS route:

The only problem with the Do-228 is it's a leading contender in the World's Ugliest Aeroplane contest...........