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Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

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vulcanxl425
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Location: East of Lossiemouth

Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by vulcanxl425 » Sun Sep 18, 2016 10:49 am

As reported in the "Sunday post" a military aircraft loaded up yesterday the first cargo of nuclear waste from the UK to the USA.
The aircraft reported to have flown to South Carolina.
Having now seen another Sunday paper the aircraft in question used was a USAF C-17
Seems to be a lot of C-17s around these days.

Al

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onemac
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by onemac » Sun Sep 18, 2016 11:50 am

I'm sorry Al but the media have already stated that a C-17 couldn't land at Wick. All you chaps, the intense security yesterday at both bases and my own eyes must be wrong. I shall contact the Sunday Post and ask them which version I should believe..... :Wow:

Al (one of the other ones).

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Thunder
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by Thunder » Sun Sep 18, 2016 11:52 am

Hmmmmm, so that's where the McChord bird disappeared to from Lossiemouth for a few hours yesterday?

pikman747
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by pikman747 » Sun Sep 18, 2016 12:57 pm

The runway at Wick was improved just to handle these flights.

Bragail
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by Bragail » Sun Sep 18, 2016 7:50 pm

Improvements financed by the US. Six flights in total planned, all C-17's. For 'nuclear waste' read Weapons grade uranium.

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onemac
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by onemac » Sun Sep 18, 2016 8:07 pm

Best left for the media to speculate - we don't need another CND camp at Lossie/Wick.

Al

Bragail
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by Bragail » Sun Sep 18, 2016 8:36 pm

Yeah, good call onemac - at least there'll be a few unusual movements up at Wick for the locals. B

IanM
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by IanM » Mon Sep 19, 2016 12:29 pm

According to the BBC news site the aircraft involved was a C-5. The accompanying photo shows it to be totally devoid of any markings, including titling and serial.

Ian

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Pen Pusher
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by Pen Pusher » Mon Sep 19, 2016 12:36 pm

Was the photo taken at Wick or just a stock C-5 image?

Image

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-h ... s-37406068

Brian

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Adam
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by Adam » Mon Sep 19, 2016 12:39 pm

Check the photo credit 'ThinkStock'

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vulcanxl425
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by vulcanxl425 » Mon Sep 19, 2016 12:52 pm

Aircraft involved at Wick was a C-17.The Mail on Sunday showing a photo of it taking off.It was described in the paper as a grey four engined aircraft :lol:

Al

Contrail1958
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by Contrail1958 » Tue Sep 20, 2016 6:24 pm

Looking forward to more Flights

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vulcanxl425
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by vulcanxl425 » Sun Oct 02, 2016 9:40 am

"The Sunday Post" today has a follow up story on the nuclear flight.As we thought Wick airport runway is too short and would need to have been extended to be around 7700ft .This follows an £8 million upgrade for the airport.

Possibly a further dozen C-17 flights expected to be undertaken in the coming year for this" deadly" cargo.Again they will have to use Lossiemouth for refuelling on the return flight back to the States.

Al

POL
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by POL » Sun Oct 02, 2016 11:19 am

vulcanxl425 wrote:As we thought Wick airport runway is too short and would need to have been extended to be around 7700ft
Except for the fact it's not "too short", the figure quoted is the take-off run of a C-17 at maximum takeoff weight.

There's 700kgs of uranium being moved, over 9 (or more) flights, so that's around 80kgs of uranium per aircraft. Add to that the fact that Wick probably doesn't have enough fuel on site for the C-17, so the aircraft uses Lossiemouth for fuel (and customs?), I can categorically say the aircraft is nowhere near MTOW.

Besides, apply a bit of common sense; would such risks really be taken with uranium?!

tm74sqn
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Re: Nuclear Waste Flight at Wick - Sat 17/9

Post by tm74sqn » Sun Oct 02, 2016 6:38 pm

Anyone know what the 'critical mass' is for weapons grade Uranium? Would 80kgs lumped together lead to a melt-down or something worse? Perhaps our resident nuclear boffin - sorry, I mean scientist - would like to comment . . . . !
Cheers, TM74

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