Accrding to FR24, it arrived at 23:30 UK (GMT+1) at Minot Air Force base which would confirm the deployment link.

Visual OTT at 16:52 local in the climb over Gloucester on a North West heading so likely US bound. FR24 showing aircraft but not flight number.

CMB523 National 747 N952CA now showing active on the ground at Fairford so presumably departing soon.

Looks like National NCR523 Boeing 747-400 from Spain on final approach to Fairford @ 11:41 may be uplifting deployment related equipment.

:roll: Reports of U-2s airborne and in the climb are still allowed, shame no one reports them anymore! I agree that it's a shame as they were a great prompt to confirm what I'd heard (and to look out for) passing overhead in the climb and to look out on the return. Hopefully the guidance you recent...

Nicely caught. Many thanks for sharing and yes it was certainly smoky (and incredibly loud). I must have parked up very close to you.

When cleared for take off pilot started response with 'Yay'! Read back departure instructions and opened throttles immediately.

Tenor21 off ground at 8:44 nice and low and very loud!

Rake 70 slightly East of Fairford at 23000 ft

Tenor21 clear taxi and hold runway 27. Awaiting departure instructions from Brize.

Likely tanker Rake 70 on way from Mildenhall

Surprised the weather was out of limits as I was at the fence (Whelford Road). Rain/hail arrived around 9:15 and it did get gusty but perhaps weather front to West or at higher altitude was much worse which would make refuelling an unnecessary risk to take. As Fairford is closed today is a Tuesday d...

Looks like engines shut down at 9:30

Still on ground at 9:12 local with engines running. Support vehicles seem to have pulled back but otherwise no signs of movement so 10am may be correct.

Any news on 27/09 decision from the crew?

Is there any chance the KC-135 that arrived this morning and which apparently offloaded pax (as per today's UK Movements thread) could have been bringing specialist maintenance/technicians flown in from the US via Mildenhall?

Thanks for the update Luxto, much appreciated.

Other than yesterday, have there been any signs of work/inspection since its arrival last week? It seems strange (to me at least) that the USAF don't seem in any hurry to get it back Stateside (they didn't seem in much of a hurry last year either to get the remaining deployment Bone home).

Does seem odd that there's no apparent urgency to fix 0119 so it can return to Dyess, especially with (presumably) displaced flying and support crew that should have returned a couple of weeks ago. According to other threads, the freight flights have only collected equipment so would any spares have...

Thanks all for your replies.

Has it gone tech? Been broken since the 25 hour mission That was quite a while ago now - any insight as to what the issue may be (without speculating) and did anyone see or know what the Western Global MD11F brought in/collected? Engines were apparently run the following day and the aircraft towed ...