TAC UK 2015

[geoffmackay]

Mobilisation starts 08/05/15 Carlisle Airport
Helicopters no doubt will arrive on Monday 11/05/15
Confirmed only 2 Chinooks ( variant unkown ) No Apaches this time.
Loaders and Mountain Flying courses.

Geoff

[Durranhill]

Hi Geoff ,
Thanks for the Heads up on Tac Blaze & 2 Chinooks is better than nothing .
Do we know how long they are here for ?? as I'll have to put some hols in .

Stewart .

[geoffmackay]

Stewart

I presume 2 weeks as normal. Helis normally arrive on the Monday PM and depart 2 weeks later late on the Friday morning.

HTH
Geoff

[Duane Hewitt]

Good stuff. Will be around for the first week at least.

[geoffmackay]

Wednesday 06/05/15

An update from Carlisle Airport.

Lighting sets have now arrived and 2No in place on helicopter stands ( confirming 2 helicopters coming ). Generators have also been delivered.


Geoff

[I ball]

Geoff
You say that they intend to carryout mountain training but do you know whether they have booked any slots at Spadeadam
Cheers

[geoffmackay]

Hi, every year this ex has been held, Spadeadam has been used. I cant see this being any different.

A small forward party arrived this morning and started marking out the compound.


HTH

Geoff

[colt99]

May be arrivals day today, 2 CH-47s being picked up by a station in Egham as Grizzly
http://www.live-military-mode-s.eu/
Click on Europe, the UK, then current to get the table of aircraft
Dave

[geoffmackay]

Thanks for that Dave, yes Grizzly formation due at 14:30L. An additional CH47 due on Monday afternoon making 3 in total.


Geoff

[GreekSpy2001]

D-661 and D-101 according to my radarbox. Just left Northolt after refuel.
Graham 12:50

[the laird]

1424 heading north passing Appleby D-101 From SBS/

clive KC (pp)

[Duane Hewitt]

Fuel Lines set up at 19 T'hold, makes for some better photos than just shooting them on their parking area on the disused.

[Duane Hewitt]

Got to Spade for the 3rd cab operating as a singleton mainly North range, did a nice pass over the red/white caravan and a high gorge pass before heading out. 2 ship loaded with troops at Carlisle at 1645 before heading to Spade. Hopefully the wind dies tomorrow.

[Durranhill]

Called round tonight at 20.00 , all 3 on the ground with a few checks being done .
Weather tomorrow is good with the winds dying down but a chance of rain later in the day for Spade , it will be cold early on with a chance of ground frost , Thu is not bad but according to the 10 day forecast when I'm off next week the weather is crap .

Stewart .

[toom317]

Duane, are there 3 at Carlisle, and if so, have you got a reg for the 3rd 0ne?

Danny

[geoffmackay]

Danny

D-101, D-106 & D-661.

Regards
Geoff

[toom317]

Thanks Geoff.

Danny

[johnhowe]

One solitary Thursday Boy at Wiley Syke, Me.

Arrived at 1030am just as Two Dutch Chinooks entered the range, concentrated much of there action in and around the Spadeadam Farm after 30 minutes I Relocated to Spadeadam Farm plenty of action with low level passes. One of the local farmers stated that if they put rotors under the fuselage of the chinooks
the Dutch could cut the grass, wait for it and put it in his DUTCH Barn.

Just after 2.0pm Two Chinooks callsign Grizzly 1 & 2 entered the range dropped troops a mile north east of the farm picking the troops up and taking them to other
nearby locations all comms on 282.05. the low flying was amazing.

Grizzly 1 & 2 relocated to Wiley Syke area and one flew sorties with underslung loads mainly jeeps, once again the flying is fantastic. I left early to catch Grizzly 1 & 2 land at Carlisle Airport at 16.00hrs.

[poison1]

Hi all,

At least 1 chinook was flying last night for definite.Could hear it as I walked back from the pub at around 2230 and could make out the strobes.It appeared to be doing circuits not far from Carlisle airport.

HTH
Poison1

[Durranhill]

Arrived just after 10 this morning to find D101 & 661 out & 106 on the ground.

After switching the scanner on Sabre 3 & 4 came up on 282.050 in Spade range , at 11.10 approx they called up the tower on 123.6 to say they were inbound for 25 , after tracking down 25 they then came up to the refueling area on 19 & did a Hot refuel before landing back on the pad & shutting down at 11.37.

14.00 Grizzly 2 - D661 with 38 p.o.b & Grizzly 1 - D101 with 34 p.o.b requested start up & departed to Spade at 14.39, they then contacted Spade on 282.050 , Skyray (Spade) said they had Romeo 206-208 & 504 threats available, the lead Grizzly ? then asked Spade for the whereabouts of the Romeo 7 threat but the other Grizz knew where it was so they switched places .
A Griffin HT1 with a Spectre callsign came in from the NW having 1st dropped someone off at Kirkbride & just as I was panning for a good photo Geoff turned up in his big Blue Transit & blocked my shot , Grizzly 2 then came back in , collected a small under slung load & dep back to Spade , the Griffin later dep back to Kirkbride & after that he called up the tower to say that he & another Griffin - Spectre 1 & 2 were heading back to Prestwick .

While Geoff & I were talking the Dutch turned D-106 which had not moved all day around with a tug so that it was facing west into the wind .

16.40 Grizzly 2 dep Spade for Carlisle , came in dropped off his troops , he was followed in by Grizzly 1 who did the Same , Grizzly 2 then went down to the refuel area , did A hot refuel then dep back to Spade .

Weather today at Carlisle was awful with strong winds , heavy rain at times & hailstones , I hate to think what it was like at Spade today as the Dutch were informed that there was a threat of thunderstorms in the area .

Stewart