nashwa wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 10, 2025 11:30 am

Any realistic hope of raptors gone then? I mean wasn’t the B-2 a surprise in 2017 so I’m gonna be delusional and stay hopeful.

I'm sure the request was made and declined.

Interesting reference to the B-1 flying as part of a Bomber Task Force mission, so possibly more than 2 coming over and staying longer than the RIAT weekend? Or maybe the USAF are justifying the trip as a BTF deployment for budget reasons? I can't see them putting on much of a flying display but a b...

Gerry will be demanding a Spicegirls reunion then!

Vulcanone wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 25, 2025 11:57 am

Remember the days when we had OCUs with Shadow Squadron status

I suggest they go with 207/74 Sqn so we can host a NTM again!

It'll free up more F-35Bs they would've used to train on with 207 for frontline ops, in every respect the A is identical to the B except for the STOVL trick obviously. Having a cheaper to operate version for training with it's nuclear back up role does make sense.

The TV news keep referring to the giant MOP weapon that only the B-2s carry to hit the underground nuclear facilities but is that a deep penetration bomb? I always thought the "bunker Buster" was the GBU-28 that the F-15E can carry?

Thanks, now I do remember the A-10s going over, so that's quite some build up.

In summary then, USAF units that are thought to be in the region, or heading there are:
389thFS F-15E
391stFS F-15E
494thFS F-15E
31stFW F-16CM
388thFW F-35A
493rdFS F-35A
134th FS F-35A?
1stFW F-22A

I'd say precautionary, there's a high risk of Iran striking US assets in the region so they want to be ready to respond at short notice. If we see an influx of new combat aircraft to the region there could be a plan to escalate so we'll see in the next few days. I'd expect a deployment of B-52s to F...

Fantastic!

I've heard there is a 737-800 being converted to a trainer for the E-6B crews in Oklahoma City, not sure what the military designation is though.

I think I remember a year when they couldn't rehearse due to bad weather but still did the flypast.

Drones are completely changing warfare, not hard to imagine an enemy of the US knocking out 40 B-52s from a couple of trucks like that! I wonder what Putin's response will be? I wonder what Trump's / US military / Homeland Security response with be ? Visits and photography has been hard enough arou...

Drones are completely changing warfare, not hard to imagine an enemy of the US knocking out 40 B-52s from a couple of trucks like that! I wonder what Putin's response will be?

I think many of us expected the 389th back through after the 391st went down.

AlexanderClover wrote: ↑

Wed May 28, 2025 7:16 pm

KevinJ wrote: ↑

Wed May 28, 2025 6:35 pm

This recent influx of C-17s and the Omni Air 767, does this point to the 389thFS coming back through soon or another deployment for the 48thFW?

494th going east this week.

Cheers.

This recent influx of C-17s and the Omni Air 767, does this point to the 389thFS coming back through soon or another deployment for the 48thFW?

The EX with CFTs has all the capabilities of the F-15E and I think the plan for most of the units getting them is to utilise all that capability. All the original batch funded were already assigned to replace F-15Cs in a few ANG units and the Kadena Eagles, so this must be a follow on order. I wonde...

Those F-16s are UAEAF, not Iraqi.

I wouldn't bother if todays stream is anything to go by. Camera work is atrocious and it kept stuttering like it's 1999!