Friday 01-07-2022

[UKdragon]

Forgot to mention.
I described this story in a post on my website here:
https://dragonladytoday.com/2017/07/16/the-u-2-at-riat/

[luxto]

The only time U-2's have flown Fairford to Fairford missions during the IAT/RIAT period was in 1995 when they were based here. Whether it happens this time who knows? - they will fly when required. The chances of a swap over happening during this years RIAT, which has happened a number of times in the past, are unfortunately remote.

[Pune]

During a visit to Beale in March 2017, I enquired about when the next Busy Relay would be. The answer was in early July - a week before RIAT. I suggested that they postpone it for one week, in order to participate at the show.
That happened. They swopped the jets before and after the show, and put one in static.
Many of you witnessed the departure of one on the Monday.
They hired Tesla cars as mobiles for this deployment - but that's another story!

Thank you, that must be what I'm remembering

[DGSP69]

Not sure where best to ask this so apologies if it is not in the right place. I remember reading that the BTF deployments to FFD were due to be 4 times a year. Is that still the plan for this year seen as we are around half way through 2022 and have only had 1 albeit a much extended one? Or could that extension mean they have cut the deployments down for the rest of the year?

[wessexspotter]

Not sure where best to ask this so apologies if it is not in the right place. I remember reading that the BTF deployments to FFD were due to be 4 times a year. Is that still the plan for this year seen as we are around half way through 2022 and have only had 1 albeit a much extended one? Or could that extension mean they have cut the deployments down for the rest of the year?

I did idly wonder whether the 2 Buffs they're flying in for RIAT may hang around afterwards, supplemented by a couple more. That said they are coming from two different squadrons, according to the RIAT website.