Finally and rather sadly, as the name ‘NOMAD’ suggests,
some of it’s participants are already “wandering
to find pastures new”. This year saw the R.A.F. already
taking part from their home base, for ease of logisitics
etc. and the Belgians only having a very limited involvement,
so the exercise is fast becoming a shadow of it’s former
self. |
Ramp and air space is a necessity, as there
is always a large number of visiting aircraft present, flying
numerous missions during the three week period. The standard
length for the exercise is three weeks and mission packages
are gradually built up, week by week. The first and second
week missions escalate in size and complexity, through to
the third and final week, which often sees the largest mission
packages being flown, involving almost all of the visiting
aircraft. In previous years NOMAD has seen approximately
40 visiting aircraft present, from as many as six different
nations, however in the year, the exercise celebrated it’s
10th Anniversary, only three nations were present at Waddington
for the whole exercise. The Belgian Air Force did attend
during week three but only made a brief appearance with two
aircraft. Incredibly, although a Belgian Air Force initiated
exercise, the Belgians were only able to take part for 2
days of their three week event, due to financial restraints.
Other absentees from the usual line up were the Royal Air
Force, who chose to fly their missions from their home station.
This year it was the turn of R.A.F. Leeming in North Yorkshire,
to take part with their Tornado F.3 aircraft. Although no
Tornado F.3s were present at Waddington, several ‘observers’ from
Leeming visited the ACMI facility at Waddington during the
exercise. In past year’s there has been much fluidity
in the aircraft involvement, however the 2004 exercise hardly
saw any changes of the aircraft taking part. There were the
normal number of support flights, involving both transport
and V.I.P. aircraft making regular visits to Waddington.
A list of all of the aircraft which visited Waddington for
Exercise NOMAD is shown in the table below, giving arrival
and departure dates and call-signs.
There are also currently strong rumours, which are
about to be another major factor inside the next twelve months
too! It has been suggested that BAe are to close the ACMI
facility at Waddington early next year and therefore 2005
will see the final NOMAD exercise taking place at Waddington.
It has also been suggested that the event will perhaps take
place as early as April 2005, instead of the normal Summer
detachment? |
The
Belgians
|
 |
Number 2 Wing
from the Belgian Air Force at Florennes in Belgium..
|
The
Swiss
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Swiss Air
Force sent a mixture of unit personnel, as usual.
|
Therefore, the remaining ‘NOMADs’ will have to
follow suit and also find pastures new in thevery near future
- a great pity for all us NOMAD followers! |
