FighterControl

I'm really missing NOTAMs posted in this Fairford section, so here is one giving possible airfield 'in-use' time:-


U5229/22 - RUNWAY 09/27 SURFACE CONDITION WET-WET WITH LESS THAN 1/10 INCH
STANDING WATER. 08 SEP 08:42 2022 UNTIL 08 SEP 17:30 2022. CREATED: 08 SEP 08:45
2022

BLACK01 departed to the N East around 0730L [PP]

See viewtopic.php?f=8&t=224407

tm74sqn wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:57 am

I'm really missing NOTAMs posted in this Fairford section....

Sorry to many others but I'm 100% in agreement with this - in the HU section it so easily gets lost under posts with several pages of movements such as Lakenheath and the like and with different thread titles each day it can be hard to find it - it's not as if there are lots of posts about the U2 as it can only be tracked by a select few who kindly post the available info about its outbound and return journeys whenever they can.

I have to agree with other posters as I too miss these posts in looking out for the U2s that I'm lucky enough to see most times they fly. It was always helpful to be notified of possible departures and impending arrivals. I've found the OTT not as 'user friendly' to see the Black 01 posts with so many movements reported by such a great community.

I also agree with the above. I found it much easier to find the info that I wanted rather than having to troll through lines of posts In the OTT section which are somewhat irrelevant to me. Can we please go back to how it was as the majority seem to want, rather than bow to a pedantic anal minority.

Thumbs up from me....I posted in the HU section , but agree it was far easier for fans of the Dragon to follow things via a dedicated thread in the Fairford section.

atech wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 10:55 am

...a pedantic anal minority.

I presume you mean the Admin team who set the rules to which everyone signs up?

Take it up with them if you aren't happy.

Nighthawke wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 11:15 am

atech wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 10:55 am

...a pedantic anal minority.

I presume you mean the Admin team who set the rules to which everyone signs up?

Take it up with them if you aren't happy.

The irony that the people who aren't happy with it are actually the minority here

Everyone else uses the forum sections correctly but for some reason Fairford just has to be different.

I also agree the posts should have remained in the Fairford section. For me it comes down to keeping track of things, searching for U-2 movements (or even Bomber movements from previous deployments) in the Heads Up section is an absolute nightmare. If it’s in the Fairford section it’s far easier, with far less threads to look through. This wouldn’t be an issue if a daily log was also kept in the Fairford section, but that would require someone’s spare time to maintain daily. The Prestwick section basically does this off their own back, with a daily running thread of the most interesting movements. Some of those movements are also posted in the relevant Heads Up or Reach sections inbound or outbound and it works flawlessly.

For those subscribed to any airfield sections of the forum, you also receive a notification when something is posted which provides an instant alert that something is happening. You can’t do that in the Heads Up section, because it covers absolutely everything around the country.

I know this means Fairford runs differently to every other airfield on the forum, but the way the airfield operates is pretty different to the norm.

Maybe it’s time for a poll, we could set one up in both the heads up section and the Fairford section and see what the members of the forum actually say. I’m not having any brexit results though, if it’s closer than a 60/40 split the results will be deemed null and void.

SamP wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 11:31 am

the way the airfield operates is pretty different to the norm.

Not sure I'd agree with you there Sam!

We have a daily LN thread, a daily Marham thread, a daily Coningsby thread and a daily Reach thread (albeit in its own section). Why can't we have a FFD ops thread in the Heads Up section? There's no difference between one U-2 movement and 30 F-15 movements if that happens, just one thread happens to be longer than another.

I’ve just added to my above regarding the Prestwick section. In my opinion it’s a good example of how things can work. The threads in the Heads Up section covering those bases you mentioned are constantly kept at the top because they are so busy, a post tracking the U-2 launching at 8am is buried by the time it’s returning at 4pm. You can’t compare a usually quiet airfield with a busy one.

SamP wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 11:36 am

I’ve just added to my above regarding the Prestwick section. In my opinion it’s a good example of how things can work. The threads in the Heads Up section covering those bases you mentioned are constantly kept at the top because they are so busy, a post tracking the U-2 launching at 8am is buried by the time it’s returning at 4pm. You can’t compare a usually quiet airfield with a busy one.

!00% with you Sam & your previous . By any measure Fairford U2's are a unique operation - I don't see why FC can't allow them a unique solution on the Forum , especially one thats worked well for years until recent 'interference' by the mods . Before I'm accused of being 'anti-mod' you guys do a brilliant job on the whole but I think you're wrong on this one .

All the forum staff do a fantastic job helping to keep the forum running smoothly in their spare time whilst also enjoying the hobby. We’re no different to the members of the forum and we don’t always unanimously agree on decisions. I was up for giving the U-2 movements a go in the Heads Up section, but the one definite down side I’ve seen is a drop in the amount of posts being made following their movements, and that’s not good for anyone. Personally I don’t have any issue with posts being made in two different places, occasionally. More information is better than none and I don’t mind having to merge topics together if it happens.

Interested to hear what others have to say as always. I’ll get a poll set up soon and let the masses decide.

Just as the guys have said, I enjoyed having a quick check on Fairford thread every morning, really enjoyed and appreciated the info' given by those tracking the U2's, I for one would like to see it return to how it was.
Thanks
Pune

If it ain't broke.....!

Trickle of data from the north , looks like BLACK01 is returning..

tracking in about 60 miles NE of Redcar

Just passed abeam Cosford and turned for Gloucester , about 15 mins to the field

Keep Fairford as it was. The comment by SamP about "For those subscribed to any airfield sections of the forum, you also receive a notification when something is posted which provides an instant alert that something is happening. You can’t do that in the Heads Up section, because it covers absolutely everything around the country." is an important one.