The Navy EP-3 being held by the Chinese is consistently referred to as a "Spy" plane.
Isn't this really a "surveillance" plane? I have always thought of a true spy plane as one designed to intentionally invade hostile airspace and avoid defenses, ala the U-2 and SR-71/A-12. How could a lumbering 4-engine turboprop be considered a spy plane?
Are the RC-135s flying out of Kadena "spy" planes too?
I don't think so.
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- GunFighter 6
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RE: "Spy" Plane?
What is the defination of surveilance ??
that is i think the question.
probably for the americans a flight in a U2 plane over russia is just plain surveilance, however the russians see it as spying.
i think in the eye of the chineese it is definately a spy plane. and i can't say i blame em.
that is i think the question.
probably for the americans a flight in a U2 plane over russia is just plain surveilance, however the russians see it as spying.
i think in the eye of the chineese it is definately a spy plane. and i can't say i blame em.
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- Braniff747
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RE: "Spy" Plane?
For simplicity:
Surveillance = the aircraft is operating legally in international airspace.
Spying = the aircraft is operating illegally within another country's sovereign airspace.
Surveillance = the aircraft is operating legally in international airspace.
Spying = the aircraft is operating illegally within another country's sovereign airspace.
RE: "Spy" Plane?
So Based on Braniff747's explaination....the P-3 was still only a surveilence aircraft.
But spy sounds better for the news casters. Helps them create a better story then one exists.
But spy sounds better for the news casters. Helps them create a better story then one exists.
RE: "Spy" Plane?
Of course! Newscasters love the coverage!
-Jason
N139J
-Jason
N139J
RE: "Spy" Plane?
The EP-3 is used on recon flights, and has advanced electonic equiptment that listens to wireless communications and other things. I think most people mistake the EP-3 as an AWACS type plane, but with that type of equiptment on board, i would call it spying.
RE: "Spy" Plane?
I would say it becomes a spy plane when the data/information being gathered is not freely broadcasted, secret, or restricted in some way (hidden, encrypted, etc.) Such an example would be taking a picture of an airfield. This would be surveillance, yet trying to take pictures of secret activities going on at this airfield would be spying. This works out with the legal/illegal flying...if they must illegally fly in airspace, then they are being restricted from information and therefore spying and not just gathering information.
My 2 cents...
My 2 cents...
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- chdmcmanus
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RE: "Spy" Plane?
Spying generally refers to illegal or covert collection of data. The EP-3 simply monitors, openly I might add, the transmissions of its intended subject. It doesn't reach in and steal anything, it merely collects what is already there. Are the people who listen to ATC on a scanner spies?
If you don't want someone to see in your house, you close the curtains. A spy is one who tries to get inside the house. Surveillance is watching the curtains to see the shadows.
On the other side of the coin, I also see where Gunfighter6 is coming from, in that the perception of the incident comes from which side of the wall you are on.
If you don't want someone to see in your house, you close the curtains. A spy is one who tries to get inside the house. Surveillance is watching the curtains to see the shadows.
On the other side of the coin, I also see where Gunfighter6 is coming from, in that the perception of the incident comes from which side of the wall you are on.
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- Guest
RE: "Spy" Plane?
Have to agree with the media angle...makes more people pay attention when the term 'spy plane' is used, although the EP-3 is merely a sponge, soaking up the EM band for any interesting data....a lot like the term 'stealth fighter' as applied to the F-117A. Those of us in the know about that plane refer to it correctly as a 'stealth strike aircraft' as it has no gun or missiles in which to go on the offensive or to even defend itself were it to be jumped by hostile forces....
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