Apollo / Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft
ARIA Website and Archive
Worldwide Support of Space and Earth Programs for over 30 Years
GMT (UTC), from your device’s clock. “Day” is the day of the year.
A ceremonial demonstration, not a real launch. It resets to T−60:00 at the top of every hour GMT and counts down. For real launches, visit WorldSpaceLaunch.com.
An illustration, not live data. The ARIA antenna operator acquired the signal; the seven-foot dish then tracked it. Antenna Control Console
On this day in ARIA history
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 audio, with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center video (public domain) edited by Randy L. Losey to fit the audio. Press play to start.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration required a platform to provide tracking and telemetry to fulfill Apollo requirements in remote locations across the world, including meeting the needs of the Department of Defense. In 1966 the Apollo Range Instrumentation Aircraft program was born.
On May 6, 1981, the Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft 610328 departed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on a training mission. Less than an hour later, the aircraft crashed in Walkersville, Maryland. All 21 personnel aboard perished in the horrific crash.
The dawn of a new millennium ended the Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft program. ARIA played a vital role in the United States defense program for over three decades. Before it would end, ARIA would touch the hearts of those that served in the program supporting the United States of America and other countries around the world.
flyARIA.com is a private website with no affiliation to the United States Air Force or government agency. I created this site to provide a haven to record the history of the Apollo / Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft program dedicated to the crew, passengers, and families of ARIA 61-0328.
The original eight
The aircraft requirement for Apollo was set at eight, six to be on station with two standby spares. Select a tail number to open its record.
The complete fleet: TRIA, EC-18 and ALOTS
ARIA 60-0374
60-0374 was one of the original eight Apollo Range Instrumentation Aircraft stationed out of Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. After a long career as an ARIA aircraft, it flew to the National Museum of the Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, for its final flight, retiring on November 3, 2000.
The ARIA aircraft displayed “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” on the fuselage.
Worldwide support
From Ascension Island to Diego Garcia, and Dakar to Darwin, the ARIA deployed throughout the world. Hover over or tap a site to see its name.
The archive
Remembrance
Information donation
Please consider an “information donation” of any ARIA-related material to be presented on the ARIA website.
“To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die”Thomas Campbell