12/03 - 18/03
Aircraft - Boeing WC-135W 'Constant Phoenix'
Serial - 61-2667 (C/N 18343)
Operator - United STates Air Force
Date and Location - 17/03 RAF Mildenhall
Further Information -
Operated by the 45th RS, of the 55th Wing, based at Offutt Air Force Base. The aircraft is one of 2 operated (The other being 62-3582 C/N18565) by the USAF in the Weather Reconnaissance Role. The WC-135 Constant Phoenix is a special purpose aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 and used by the United States Air Force. Its mission is to collect samples from the atmosphere for the purpose of detecting and identifying nuclear explosions. It is also informally referred to as the "Weather Bird" or "The Sniffer". The aircraft is equipped with external flow-through devices to collect particulates on filter paper and a compressor system for whole air samples collected in holding spheres. The Air Force previously flew ten WC-135B weather reconnaissance airplanes flew in support of weather analysis, nuclear detection, and other scientific research. The mission of the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron is to maintain, operate, and support OC/RC/TC/EC/WC-135 aircraft providing worldwide reconnaissance and treaty support to the National Command Authorities, warfighters, and international treaty members.
Ryno56
Mild03
Aircraft - Lockheed WC130H
Serial - 65-0985 (C/N 4140)
Operator - United States Air Force
Date and Location - 17/03 RAF Mildenhall
Further Information -
Operated by 105th AS, under the command of the 118th AW, based at Berry Field Air National Guard Base. The Aircraft is one 20 C130H/J (10xH and 10xJ) used by the USAF in the Weather Reconnaissance Role. The aircraft is a modified version of the C-130 transport configured with palletized weather instrumentation for penetration of tropical disturbances and storms, hurricanes and winter storms to obtain data on movement, size and intensity. The aircradt flies with a crew of Five; pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and weather reconnaissance loadmaster, on all flights. However, as of 2010, only the WC-130J model, introduced in 1999, is in service in an active weather reconnaissance role, with the aircraft being operated by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, with the H aircraft being used in a support/utility role.
Ryno56
Aircraft - Lockheed C130J-30
Serial - B-536 (C/N 382-4140)
Operator - Royal Danish Air Force (Flyvevåbnet)
Date and Location - 14/03 RAF Lakenheath
Further Information -
Operated by the Air Transport Wing Aalborg, under Eskadrille 721, based at Aalborg Air Base. The aircraft is one of 4 aircraft the RDAF have in the Tactical Transport Role and received its first C130J in 2004 replacing its older generation C130H aircraft that were previously bought in 1973. The RDAF was created in 1950 as a amalgamation of the Danish Army Air Corps and the Danish Naval Air Service. The RDAF have operated aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire, Lockheed F-104G Starfighters, North American F-100D and F-100F Super Sabres and the Lockheed Martin F16. The Aircraft were used to support 6 F-16 aircraft from Fighter Wing Skrydstrup that were deployed to Naval Air Station Sigonella on Sicily to assist in maintaining the no-fly zone over Libya as part of the 2011 coalition intervention in Libya. With on going Operations in Afghanistan a RDAF Hercules is based at Khandahar AB to provide support to NATO forces.
Captain Scarlet
Aircraft - Cessna UC-35B
Serial - 90102 (C/N 560-0538)
Operator - United States Army
Date and Location - 15/03 RAF Mildenhall
Further Information -
Operated by Company E of the 6-52nd Aviation Battalion based at Wiesbaden AAF in Germany. The Aircraft is one of 27 (20xA versions and 7xB versions) used by the US Army in the Utility Aircraft Role. The Aircraft is based on the Cessna Citation V (Model 560), which is a turbofan-powered small-to-medium sized business jet built by the Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. The Regiment is also responsible for the 205th MIBDE operating the RC12K and the 1-214th AVN operating the UH60 and C12 is varying Roles. Wiesbaden Army Airfield (IATA: WIE, ICAO: ETOU) or WAAF is located southeast of the city of Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany and is currently the home of the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade.
MacksAviation
Aircraft - Boeing E-6B Mercury
Serial - 162783 (C/N 23889/986)
Operator - United States Navy
Date and Location - 14/03 RAF Mildenhall
Further Information -
Operated by Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron THREE [VQ-3] "Ironman" based at Tinker Air Force Base, is one of two squadrons assigned to Strategic Communications Wing 1. The Aircraft is one of 16 of the type in service in Electronic Warfare Aircraft Role. The aircraft is an airborne command post and communications relay based on the Boeing 707-320. The original E-6A manufactured by Boeing's defense division entered service with the United States Navy in July 1989, replacing the EC-130Q. VQ-3 accepted its first E-6B Mercury aircraft during a ceremony at Tinker Air Force Base on the 10th October 1997 with all 16 being delivered by 1992. Two Squadrons operate the E6B, Eight are assigned to VQ-3 and eight to VQ-4.
Flyingmonster
Aircraft - British Aerospace 146 CC2
Serial - ZE700 (C/N E1021)
Operator - Royal Air Force
Date and Location - 14/03 AAC Wattisham
Further Information -
Operated by 32 (The Royal) Squadron based at RAF Northolt in London. 32 Squadron operates the RAF's 2 BAE146 CC2’s with A Flight and are used for VIP Transport role. 32 also operate 6 BAe 125 CC.3 with C flight and 2 Agusta A109s with B Flight.No. 32 Squadron was formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps on 12 January 1916 at Netheravon and moved to France as a fighter squadron equipped with Airco DH.2s in May. The principal purpose of 32 Squadron is to provide communications and logistical support to military operations; the Squadron's capacity should be based on military needs only; and any royal or other non-military use of... spare capacity is secondary to its military purpose." The British Aerospace 146 (also BAe 146) is a regional airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002.
Tim Holden
Aircraft - Vickers VC10
Serial - XV106/W (C/N 836)
Operator - Royal Air Force
Date and Location - 14/03 Newcastle International Airport
Further Information -
Operated by 101 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton. No. 101 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Vickers VC10 C1K, K3 and K4 and since 10 Squadron disbanded in 2005, the squadron is the only operator of the VC10. In 1978, the RAF announced a plan to convert second-hand civil Vickers VC10 aircraft for conversion to aerial refueling aircraft and the first K2 flew in 1982.[12] No 101 Squadron was chosen to operate the aircraft and was reformed at RAF Brize Norton on 1 May 1984. The VC10 and Lockheed TriStar tanker/transports are due to be replaced in RAF service by the Airbus A330 MRTT under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Project; they are currently restricted to use as tankers, and will not be used beyond the end of the 2010-2015 support contract. VC10s supported the British air strikes on Libya on 19–20 March 2011 as part of the coalition operations to enforce UN Resolution 1973.
MRG2507
Aircraft - Airbus A310 MRTT
Serial - 10+26 (C/N 522)
Operator - German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Date and Location - 12/03 Newcastle International Airport
Further Information -
Operated by the Special Wing Command (Flugbereitschaft BMVg) and is based at Köln-Bonn. The aircraft is one of 6 Airbus A310: 1x A310 VIP (10+21), 1x A310 MRT (10+23) and 4x A310 MRTT (10+24 - 10+27), this airframe is used in the Stategic Transport/VIP Transport role. The unit also operate the A319, A340, CL-601 and the Global 5000. The Squadron was formed on 1 April 1957 and various aircraft in its history including the Tu-154M, Lockheed L-1329 Jetstar and the Piaggio P149D. The Luftwaffe has the main assets of its VIP fleet based at Köln-Bonn.
MRG2507
Aircraft - Airbus A310-304
Serial - F-RADC (C/N 418)
Operator - French Air Force (Armée de l'Air)
Date and Location - 12/03 Prestwick International Airport
Further Information -
Operated by ET 03.060 'Esterel' based at Paris - Roissy (Charles de Gaulle airport) but the official base of ET 03.060 is Creil-Senlis (BA110). The aircraft is one of 3 the Armée de l'Air have in service in the Strategic Airliner/Transport role. The unit is also responsible for operating the Services 2 A340 aircraft used in the same role.The French Air force operates a large number of Cargo aircraft with the backbone of its cargo fleet being the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160. They will start to be replaced by the Airbus A400M once it becomes available. The transport squadron "Esterel" was established in May 1968 the air base in Velizy-Villacoublay and recieved the A310 in 1993.
Watson
Aircraft - Beechcraft RC-12K Guardrail
Serial - 50152 (C/N FE6)
Operator - United Sates Army
Date and Location - 13/03 Prestwick International Airport
Further Information -
Operated by the 1 MIB (Military Inteligence Battalion) also known as the "Flying Eye Battalion". The unit is based at Wiesbaden in Germany and comprises 4 companies – HHSC, A Company, B Company, and C Company. The intelligence unit supports US military activity in Afghanistan and other US Operations and interests. The Aircraft is one of 18 the US Army operate in the Intelligence Gathering role. Based on the C12 Huron the aircraft is operated by a crew of 2 and incorporates the Guardrail V system. The systems on board the aircraft are controlled from a ground unit or station and was acquired in 1991.
Watson
