• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » News » E-4B “Doomsday Plane” Makes Secretive Flight to Base Near Area 51
News

E-4B “Doomsday Plane” Makes Secretive Flight to Base Near Area 51

Matthew Klint Posted onJuly 26, 2021November 14, 2023 6 Comments

a large airplane on a runway

In a rare move, the E-4B “Doomsday” plane made a visit to the secretive Tonopah Test Range Airport in Nevada with the U.S. Secretary of Defense onboard.

E-4B “Doomsday Plane” Makes Unannounced Stop At Secretive Test Base

The E-4B is also known as the Nightwatch aircraft and the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC). There are four in the fleet and these modified Boeing 747-200 aircraft were built to serve as a nuclear command center that could withstand a nuclear blast and allow the President of the United States to launch nuclear retaliation. These jets can also be used to direct military operations and are used to transport the Secretary of Defense.

The visit was not published, but discovered by a correspondent for The Drive, with the arrival of 74-0787, the registration for the jet, noted at Tonopah Test Range Airport (TTR). The aircraft was also using the callsign TITAN25, which is reserved for when the Secretary of Defense is onboard (like Air Force 1 is only the call sign when the U.S. President is onboard).

😎 https://t.co/xG6i2LFNyd

— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) July 25, 2021

In addition the E-4B, an Air Force Gulfstream V (C-37A) typically used as VIP transport also “possibly” landed at TTR about 60 minutes before the E-4B. While the C-37A appeared to be enroute to TTR, that is a guess since the aircraft turned off its transponder before reaching its destination.

It could be that the C-37A was used to transport Austin To Area 51 or another place during his visit, leaving other passengers (and potentially a press pool) onboard the E-4B with window shades closed at TTR.

The E-4B took off after a few hours, with Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III tweeting out when the plane made a technical stop in Alaska. Austin is headed to Asia this week.

Wheels down in Alaska. pic.twitter.com/vjrpLW8LF3

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) July 24, 2021

CONCLUSION

This is all so mysterious. The E-4B itself, the odd stop at Tonopah Test Range Airport, the Gulfstream V, and the nature of the visit. While the clandestine operations of the U.S. government may not be as sexy or fascinating as some of us imagine, it is nevertheless interesting to ponder what was the nature of that stop in Nevada.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Il-114-300, A New Russian-Built Turboprop Aircraft
Next Article The Lovely Diane, A United Flight Attendant, Sommelier, And Barista

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • a plane parked at an airport

    Venezuela Bans Six International Airlines After U.S. Airspace Warning

    November 28, 2025
  • United Airlines Special Meals

    United Airlines Dramatically Expands Special Meal Options

    November 21, 2025
  • United Airlines Dakar Stockholm

    United Airlines Quietly Ends Dakar Service And Scraps Stockholm For Summer 2026

    November 20, 2025

6 Comments

  1. Ghostrider5408 Reply
    July 26, 2021 at 9:56 am

    I think this is all about nothing, the fact that there were reporters onboard makes this nothing. If there was something mysterious there does one really think a plane would land with reporters on board for heavens sake.

    False Flag

  2. Willem Reply
    July 26, 2021 at 11:07 am

    Looks like “Tonopah” is misspelled as “Tonopha” everywhere. It’s okay, it’s early Monday morning…

  3. Frank Reply
    July 26, 2021 at 12:11 pm

    @Ghostrider, you don’t know that. He could have been there to verify that our invaluable creepy clown technology has not fallen into foreign hands.

    The other 4 people who have ever had to go to Tonopah will absolutely love that joke.

    • Stuart Reply
      July 26, 2021 at 3:02 pm

      The Clown Motel! I actually sent a picture of it to Matthew a few months when driving through and offered to do a review. He passed.

  4. Pingback: America’s “Doomsday” Modified Boeing 747 Flies To Base Near Area 51 | AIRTRAVELLER PH
  5. Pingback: Vegas Nearly Launched a Titanic-Themed Resort?! - Eye of the Flyer

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Unreasonable-Hospitality-credit-Vanyer-Media
    Book Review: Unreasonable Hospitality – Perfect For Travelers December 7, 2025
  • Air France Airbus A350 in Paris
    Will An Airbus A350-2000 Take On The Boeing 777X? December 7, 2025
  • United Airlines FaceTime passenger
    My Seatmate FaceTimes Loudly From LA To London On United Airlines December 6, 2025
  • German court skip flight segments
    German Court Says You Can Skip Flight Segments, Even If The Airline Rats You Out December 6, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a black credit card on a blue keyboard
    Bilt Rent Day: British Airways Transfer Bonus + Up To 6X Points On Dining, 4X Points On Travel December 1, 2025
  • Thanksgiving Resolution
    A Thanksgiving Resolution November 27, 2025
  • United Europe flights 2026
    United Airlines Trims Some Europe Flights While Adding Others In 2026 Shuffle November 18, 2025
  • a man and woman behind a counter
    Review: Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge Kuala Lumpur (KUL) November 27, 2025

Archives

December 2025
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Nov    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.