The Ilinios ANG deployment KC-135 57-1480 58-0003 58-0068 59-1487 F-16A "IL" 80-0556 80-0587 80-0591 81-0741 81-0762 82-0916 82-0917 82-0923 On Sat 7th May we got 2 more Illinois KC-135E's when they did a frame swap. 58-0003 "CODER71" and 58-0068 "CODER72" returned to the US while coming in the oth...

It’s a clickbait headline, there is no chaos, there does appear to be some additional costs from an approach path into Birmingham being unavailable during the launch and recovery of the drones. I agree about it being clickbait...what isn't these days? However it does raise two important issues whic...

Seen them improvise using a cherry picker - many years ago.

On a historic note this is the first time, since November 1963, that US bombers have been present at Fairford over the Thanksgiving holiday. Back then, 9 B-47E's from the 40th BW at Forbes AFB, Kansas, were standing by on nuclear alert, ready to launch against targets in the Soviet Union within 15 m...

According to a USAFE/AFA press release they will operate as the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron.

Sparky 119 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 07, 2024 3:59 pm

Any history for 60-0008 over here, given that it was a big gap filler for me at least.

Saw it at Upper Heyford in Oct 1964 and Marham in March 1967 - 19th BW Homestead both times.

ZZZ wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 03, 2024 2:19 pm

61-0028 was also at Mildenhall Air Fete in 1997. I hope it was anyway- that’s where I have it logged!

You're right it was - LA red.

61-0028 (not 029) belongs to the 49th TES and is "OT" coded rather than "LA" or "BD", so the chances of it deploying are effectively zero. Which is a HUGE shame because it looks absolutely fantastic in the photos! It would make for some interesting photos and press stories if it came! 'Russia baffl...

Three Geese wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:11 pm

Did anyone hear how many pax were on board the 747 that arrived from Barksdale yesterday.
Many Thanks For Any Information.

May have had a few personnel assigned to oversee the cargo but basically it wasn't a pax flight.

Great post - I also went to it. Thought they did well to get the US Navy involved. The USS America also sent an A-6 and A-7 to the Mildenhall show held the next day. In fact, we were lucky to get this Upper Heyford show as it was held during a period of aerodrome reconstruction with only limited fly...

Mightybees wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 01, 2024 6:39 pm

4 x Aviano F16's currently parked near to the sewerage works, as of 2pm today.
(1 special markings). Sorry, no other details.

1st pair dep approx 1750, 2nd pair approx 1807.

Does not seem possible that it was 43 years since I first espied a KC-10A at Long Beach in June 1981. In those days they wore that very smart scheme of white roof and thin blue cheat line. Reminds me of the time of my first sighting - 2nd BW 79-0434, on the first KC-10 visit the UK. This was at RAF...

Best KC-10 time for me was seeing 15 gathered at Mildenhall and another 9 at Fairford for Operation `El Dorado Canyon` in April 1986.

According to `BAR` only 1 WI ANG KC-135 was present in June 1990 - 59-1479 Arr 19th - Dep 23rd. 4 Penna ANG KC-135E's were present on the 24th - 57-1509, 57-2595, 59-1457 and 59-1506. All these returned home on the 30th June. The only one I logged on the scanner was Shake 86 outbound from UH on 30/...

Reported on the Fairford Movements Blogspot page as: Landed 11:35 19-5493 F35A DOZER1 U.S. Air Force Landed 11:35 19-5485 F35A DOZER2 U.S. Air Force Departed 15:28 19-5493 F35A DOZER1 U.S. Air Force Departed 15:28 19-5485 F35A DOZER2 U.S. Air Force https://ffdmovements.blogspot.com Serial/Call Sign...

According to `BAR` only 1 WI ANG KC-135 was present in June 1990 - 59-1479 Arr 19th - Dep 23rd. 4 Penna ANG KC-135E's were present on the 24th - 57-1509, 57-2595, 59-1457 and 59-1506. All these returned home on the 30th June.

shuck wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 26, 2024 2:39 pm

I have the following twelve U-2S assigned to the 99 ERS at Fairford since 20/09/19 ...

68-10329, 68-10337, 80-1066, 80-1069, 80-1070, 80-1071, 80-1076, 80-1079, 80-1080, 80-1083, 80-1085, 80-1096

I agree with that.

Another great trip down memory lane Arnold - used to look forward to those fortnightly KC-97L `Creek Party` rotations. Saw many overfly Southern England to/from Rhein-Main but rarely identified them. I also remember C-131A 52-5787 on its numerous "Airevac" visits to the UK. Interesting that you capt...

ATA 1142 - ATD1646 to Minot.

No Reach flights were involved this time. Support cargo arrived on 2 Atlas B747's - still waiting to be collected.