Apollo/Range Instrumentation Aircraft Support of Apollo 17
Michael Zeitfuss - ARIA Communications System Engineer - Pan American World Airways - Aerospace Services Division
Deployment for Reentry Support
Three ARIA were required to provide support for Apollo 17 reentry.
ARIA #2 (TN 328) departed Patrick AFB 1438Z/11Dec1972 and landed at McClellan AFB 5+12 later at 1950Z (~2130nm). After RON, ARIA #2 departed McClellan at 2215Z/12Dec1972 and arrived at Hickam AFB at 0350Z/13Dec1972 (~2270nm). ARIA #2 staged from Hickam on 19Dec for reentry support from 400K earth interface until enter blackout.
ARIA #3 (TN 326) departed Patrick AFB 1910Z/10Dec1972 and landed at McClellan AFB 5+15 later at 0025Z/11Dec1972. After RON, ARIA #3 departed McClellan at 1650Z/11 Dec 1972 and landed at Hickam AFB 5+20 later at 2210Z/11 Dec. After RON, ARIA #3 departed Hickam AFB at 2105Z/12Dec and landed at Nandi International airport, Fiji Islands, 7 hours later at 0405Z/13Dec1972 (~2800nm). ARIA #3 had traveled ~7,200 nm from PAFB to Nandi. ARIA #3 staged from Nandi on 19 Dec for reentry support.
ARIA #4 (TN 329) departed Patrick AFB 1440Z/10Dec1972 and landed at McClellan AFB 5+20 later at 2020Z/10Dec1972. After RON, ARIA #4 departed McClellan at 2250Z/10 Dec 1972 and landed at Hickam AFB 5+30 later at 0420Z/11 Dec. After RON, ARIA #4 departed Hickam AFB at 1945Z/12Dec and landed at Nandi International airport, Fiji Islands, 7 hours later at 0245Z/13Dec1972. ARIA #4 staged from Nandi on 19 Dec for reentry support.
Figure 8: ARIA Deployment from Patrick AFB to Staging Bases for Apollo 17 Reentry Support