Page 1 of 4
Possible Deployment
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2024 3:08 pm
by FFDspotter
Early days, but Global Sentinel has posted on X of a possible BTF Fairford in late October. This has been shared across Facebook. I guess we’ll know if the support equipment shows up. This could be a rumour but Global Sentinel has been fairly reliable - don’t shoot the messenger!
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2024 3:35 pm
by exatco
Dutch site scramble.nl reports exercise Steadfast Noon includes B52 participation. May or may not be relevant.
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2024 4:58 pm
by GoldenPlane
exatco wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2024 3:35 pm
Dutch site scramble.nl reports exercise Steadfast Noon includes B52 participation. May or may not be relevant.
This was also the case in the recent years, but without a deployment to RAF Fairford.
Jordy
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 6:43 pm
by Arran J
Any other indications for the department later this month?
B2s would be the dream
Cheers
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2024 7:24 pm
by raameagle
Patience! If there is to be a deployment, somebody will post something eventually...
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2024 1:49 pm
by Harkins
I know naff all about the tracking stuff, but I’ve just noticed on social media some excitement about a pair of B-52s heading vaguely this way (Turf11 and Turf12 and that 3 KC-135s have departed Mildenhall to refuel them.
Obviously looks more a GPM or perhaps heading further south somewhere. So highly unlikely anything to do with a deployment at Fairford given no support has arrived in advance.
Sorry, forget all that. I now see it’s already long been in the tracking section and I’ve just proven that I’m a very poor enthusiast. Grovelling apology.
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2024 1:56 pm
by nitro999
Fairford is NOTAM closed until 18:00 local time today
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2024 2:16 pm
by tornado17
Harkins wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2024 1:49 pm
I know naff all about the tracking stuff, but I’ve just noticed on social media some excitement about a pair of B-52s heading vaguely this way (Turf11 and Turf12 and that 3 KC-135s have departed Mildenhall to refuel them.
Obviously looks more a GPM or perhaps heading further south somewhere. So highly unlikely anything to do with a deployment at Fairford given no support has arrived in advance.
Sorry, forget all that. I now see it’s already long been in the tracking section and I’ve just proven that I’m a very poor enthusiast. Grovelling apology.
Of note is that if the aircraft suffers a malfunction and cannot return to the US until it's fixed, it would divert to Fairford if that is the nearest base that can accommodate it.
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2024 5:37 pm
by colt99
Possibly not relevant, but this NOTAM is up for Mildenhall.
I'm wondering if equipment is being moved from Mildenhall to Fairford?
U6299/24: Mildenhall: Aerodrome limitation
Q) EGTT/QFALT/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5222N00029E005
B-52 TOWING CAPABILITIES NOT AVBL.
FROM: 06 Oct 2024 00:03 GMT (01:03 BST) TO: 01 Nov 2024 00:59 GMT
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2024 8:53 pm
by Uncle Sam
colt99 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2024 5:37 pm
Possibly not relevant, but this NOTAM is up for Mildenhall.
I'm wondering if equipment is being moved from Mildenhall to Fairford?
U6299/24: Mildenhall: Aerodrome limitation
Q) EGTT/QFALT/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5222N00029E005
B-52 TOWING CAPABILITIES NOT AVBL.
FROM: 06 Oct 2024 00:03 GMT (01:03 BST) TO: 01 Nov 2024 00:59 GMT
Mildenhall to be used as a BUFF diversion airport if they were to divert?
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2024 1:33 pm
by colt99
Uncle Sam wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2024 8:53 pm
colt99 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2024 5:37 pm
Possibly not relevant, but this NOTAM is up for Mildenhall.
I'm wondering if equipment is being moved from Mildenhall to Fairford?
U6299/24: Mildenhall: Aerodrome limitation
Q) EGTT/QFALT/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5222N00029E005
B-52 TOWING CAPABILITIES NOT AVBL.
FROM: 06 Oct 2024 00:03 GMT (01:03 BST) TO: 01 Nov 2024 00:59 GMT
Mildenhall to be used as a BUFF diversion airport if they were to divert?
Other way round Uncle Sam, they have towing equipment at Mildenhall, but its not being used during the dates above.
I'm thinking that rather than flying everything over from the US, they might be supplementing it with Mildenhall gear
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2024 3:14 pm
by Philwinward
That’s what I thought colt99. But thinking about it further , if they have any problem with an aircraft blocking Fairford runway, and they have to divert a following aircraft , they are very restricted on where they can taxi a B52 under its own power at Mildenhall. I seem to remember that on the earlier deployments some of the aircraft used to carry a tow bar in its bomb bay in case they were diverted.
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:59 am
by colt99
Philwinward wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2024 3:14 pm
That’s what I thought colt99. But thinking about it further , if they have any problem with an aircraft blocking Fairford runway, and they have to divert a following aircraft , they are very restricted on where they can taxi a B52 under its own power at Mildenhall. I seem to remember that on the earlier deployments some of the aircraft used to carry a tow bar in its bomb bay in case they were diverted.
It shouldn't make a difference, if a plane does need to divert, they are not going to have the ability to tow it anyway
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2024 11:00 am
by city42
if the reported deployment is for late this month i would think we would see the support arrive this week
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2024 9:04 am
by BOLLO
ALTRV for AR 20NE early doors 03.15/0615 FL 150/270 ????
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2024 3:07 pm
by Arran J
Will hope for the best, but patience is the only way at the moment
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 4:30 pm
by Plane enthuiast
Globe Sentinel has quote tweeted the previous tweet with “CMB flights expected over the next couple weeks”.
Personally I’m willing to wait until wheels on tarmac
But this account is usually spot on
We shall see
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2024 10:10 pm
by Uncle Sam
A couple of heavy lifters have been in and out of Minot AB over the last 24hrs. One C-5 heading to Ramstein.
Does this add more credibility to the rumours?
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2024 10:45 pm
by Amp
Uncle Sam wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 10:10 pm
A couple of heavy lifters have been in and out of Minot AB over the last 24hrs. One C-5 heading to Ramstein.
Does this add more credibility to the rumours?
If it (and the earlier C-17) had stopped at Fairford, then yes.
Re: Possible Deployment
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2024 9:40 am
by Plane enthuiast
First C-17 went to Al Udeid
