A United States Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker, registration 59-1459, departed MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, this morning at approximately 6:15 AM UTC, heading south. The aircraft, identified by hex code AE04C2, was observed on a mission described by observers as a "repressing mission" near Curaçao. The specific purpose of the flight, including whether it was related to surveillance aircraft like Rivet Joint or AWACS, remains unconfirmed by official sources. Flight tracking data indicates the KC-135R Stratotanker is en route to a southern destination. The U.S. Air Force has not released details regarding the operational objective of this particular flight. Observers noted the aircraft was flying at a high altitude and appeared to be actively engaged in its mission. This flight activity follows general mentions of U.S. Air Force presence and observation capabilities in the region. The nature of the "repressing mission" remains speculative among aviation enthusiasts and trackers.
