Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

Flying with the 100th ARW

Only modern military and government aviation can be posted in this section.
Post Reply
bigcrow
Posts: 694
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:46 am
Location: Vale of Evesham
Contact:
Contact bigcrow

Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by bigcrow » Thu Aug 13, 2015 3:04 pm

Last month I was given the great privilege to fly with the United States Air Force's 100th Air Refuelling Wing based at RAF Mildenhall, in one of their Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft call-sign 'Quid 74'. We flew down to a refuelling area known as the 'Speedy Track' over the Adriatic Sea to refuel eight General Dynamics F-16CM Fighting Falcon's from the 31st Fighter Wing based at Aviano AFB in Northorn Italy, call-signs 'Venom 21' & 'Buzzard 22' Flights. Here are some of the results. Click on the link below for my report on the wing

#1

Image63-8021/D KC-135R 100th ARW, 351st ARS, RAF Mildenhall. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#2

Image63-8021/D KC-135R 100th ARW, 351st ARS, RAF Mildenhall. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#3

Image89-2057/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#4

Image88-0525/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#5

Image88-0525/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#6

Image87-0351/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 555h FS "Triple Nickel", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#7

Image88-0444/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#8

Image88-0525/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#9

Image89-2057/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#10

Image88-0413/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#11

Image89-2057/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#12

Image88-0525/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#13

Image89-2009/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 555th FS "Triple Nickel", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#14

Image89-2009/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 555th FS "Triple Nickel", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#15

Image88-0525/AV F-16CM-40-CF 31st FW, 510th FS "Buzzards", Aviano AFB. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

http://www.touchdown-aviation.com/repor ... th-arw.php
Top
User avatar
Jazz
Posts: 922
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 9:31 pm
Location: KAAB

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by Jazz » Thu Aug 13, 2015 3:36 pm

The Muts. Congrats :thumb:
Dieu et mon droit. In hoc signo vinces
Top
User avatar
lardyboy999
Posts: 720
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:59 pm

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by lardyboy999 » Thu Aug 13, 2015 3:36 pm

Lovely stuff!

Brings back memories of a few trips I did with them back in the 90's.

Thanks for posting.

:thumbs:
Top
BigTed

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by BigTed » Thu Aug 13, 2015 4:25 pm

Stunning shots

C.
Top
LANCER
Posts: 259
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:03 pm

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by LANCER » Thu Aug 13, 2015 5:04 pm

Brilliant !!
Top
User avatar
Blackcat1
Posts: 26377
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:06 pm
Location: Southern edge of the Brecon Beacons, South Wales

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by Blackcat1 » Thu Aug 13, 2015 5:45 pm

Im turning green!!! lol ;-), awesome shots, all great shots but being a fan of the KC135 my fav is the KC135 cockpit shot! theres a difference Pacer Crag makes!!!

Thanks for sharing

Cheers
Gareth

6 Sqdn Canopeners
Oculi exercitus
Blackcats remembered
Jaguar Force Excellance! 2nd July 07.
Top
User avatar
Thunderbolt II
Posts: 1067
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:40 am

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by Thunderbolt II » Thu Aug 13, 2015 5:46 pm

Fantastic- made the most of your opportunity!
Top
User avatar
GhostFlight91
Posts: 4934
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 7:22 pm
Location: Lincoln

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by GhostFlight91 » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:04 pm

:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: Stunning mate stunning hats off
Top
User avatar
DanBeeden
Posts: 2089
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:10 pm
Location: Short finals

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by DanBeeden » Fri Aug 14, 2015 7:41 am

Terrific stuff - FC really is rolling out some stunning threads at the moment!!
Top
User avatar
Stu
Posts: 657
Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:10 pm
Location: North Norfolk
Contact:
Contact Stu

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by Stu » Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:49 am

Some very nice shots there :thumb:
Olympus Cameras UBC780XLT DJ-X10 DJ-X3 Planeplotter
Top
User avatar
Ashley Wallace
Posts: 796
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:37 pm
Location: Suffolk
Contact:
Contact Ashley Wallace

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by Ashley Wallace » Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:12 pm

Lovely mate - glad it all finally worked out. Its not as easy shooting up there as people think is it?
Top
bigcrow
Posts: 694
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:46 am
Location: Vale of Evesham
Contact:
Contact bigcrow

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by bigcrow » Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:47 pm

Cheers guys as Ash states its not easy at all up there, you are very cramped in the boom pod, not that, that was a problem when I was up there seeing as my boom operator was female.. :P Also the glass/windows are not that great with scratches & Hydraulic fuel all over them, but it is an amazing experience...
Top
User avatar
LTFT5
Posts: 2694
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:44 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by LTFT5 » Fri Aug 14, 2015 2:49 pm

bigcrow wrote:Cheers guys as Ash states its not easy at all up there
I find it hard enough when both feet are firmly on the ground. :D
A great set of images, really enjoyed viewing them

Andy
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”
Top
Nick Thompson
Posts: 283
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:43 pm

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by Nick Thompson » Fri Aug 14, 2015 3:50 pm

Fantastic set Stuart, the close ups with the aircraft approaching the boom and the dynamic banking away shots stand out in particular.
Top
graham luxton

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by graham luxton » Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:27 pm

Great shots and article Stu and yes, you were very privileged. After this and Ashley's trips I have visions of Mildenhall's Public Affairs being bombarded with requests to go flying!

Having had some experience of taking shots from KC-135's in the 70's and 80's I agree its not easy up there and one has to be very careful not to disturb the Boomer's concentration while trying to get those shots of a lifetime. Also managed to get F-16's but only once - 388TFW/HL's on Coronet Falcon, from Bergen to Hill in March'81.

Those flights were certainly the high point in over 50 years of being a USAF enthusiast.

cheers,
Graham
Top
tanker
Posts: 758
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:02 am

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by tanker » Sun Aug 16, 2015 5:16 pm

Beautiful set of pics,thanks for sharing.
Top
User avatar
TeeJay
Posts: 3338
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:43 pm
Location: Mid Suffolk
Contact:
Contact TeeJay

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by TeeJay » Mon Aug 17, 2015 4:52 am

Hi Stuart
Another fantastic airborne set of images :clap:
Simply superb
Thanks for sharing with us
All the best
Trev
Top
User avatar
paddyboy
Posts: 24502
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2011 7:32 pm
Location: Somewhere in Norfolk

Re: Flying with the 100th ARW

Post by paddyboy » Tue Aug 18, 2015 10:09 am

Hi Stuart :P

Sorry for the tardy reply :blush:

North Norfolk is still a no-go Wi-Fi zone in parts :whistle:

Stunning work, mate :thumbs:

Cheers

Paddyboy :clap:
XH558, always the first lady in my life
Just remember, please don't tell the wife

Image
GRIM REAPERS SUPPORTER
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Current Military Photography”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 100 guests