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Altcar 2020

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Campbell89
Posts: 699
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2018 8:48 am

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Campbell89 » Tue Jan 21, 2020 5:23 pm

Been here around an hour. Two wildcats on the field both covered. No signs of anything else other than a fuel tanker that arrived and parked in the middle of a field.

Lytham TL
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2012 5:34 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Lytham TL » Tue Jan 21, 2020 5:49 pm

They went out Monday at about 1500, for 3 hours or so. They recover over the railway lines. better sit it out for a while.

Campbell89
Posts: 699
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2018 8:48 am

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Campbell89 » Tue Jan 21, 2020 5:53 pm

Thanks, the fuel tanker is where I think the Merlins were last year. I’m planning to hang around for a while anyway yet. My luck would be that they return 5 mins after I leave otherwise!

100arw
Posts: 1151
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:32 pm
Location: North East

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by 100arw » Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:39 pm

When they land at the FARP, there is one spot along the path where you can see and photograph the complete airframe through holes n the hedge. Assuming of course the FARP is in the same location as the last ex.

Re the jobsworth and taking photographs. I had a run-in with him the last time, so asked him to come back to the guardroom and discuss the matter with his boss. When there his boss confirmed whilst some may not like it happening, the taking of photographs from the footpath is not illegal nor can it be stopped. However, being a devils advocate, I then disagreed with him, saying that if it could be proved that they are used to assist terrorism, it could be an offence - but that would be highly unlikely. We then all parted on good terms.
P.

Tarnished1
Posts: 438
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:00 am

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Tarnished1 » Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:28 am

They don't appear to have flown since Tues, could be wrong, nothing on adsb anyhow. There has been fog/mist in the area yesterday and again today (am). Presume exercise still scheduled to finish tomorrow?

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Yammer
Posts: 5464
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:27 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Yammer » Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:38 pm

Thursday - 12.35 pm

callsign TIGER 65 ( see post 8 on page 1 ) is up - taking the pressure for both Barnsley and also the Wessex regions - *might be* heading south
Shobdon Blog - Residents photo list

https://shobdonegbsblog.blogspot.com/

dervish
Posts: 1232
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:46 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by dervish » Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:55 pm

Tarnished1 wrote:
Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:28 am
They don't appear to have flown since Tues, could be wrong, nothing on adsb anyhow. There has been fog/mist in the area yesterday and again today (am). Presume exercise still scheduled to finish tomorrow?
Flown every day.

Tomorrow morning, Friday 24th., there will be a short open period, 08:00 - 09:30, for locals to meet the crews and take photos as they did last year. Photo ID will be required for adults (and no unaccompanied minors are allowed). Do not park anywhere which casues an obstruction to the base or local householders. There will be a charity collection which anyone going should support.

Tarnished1
Posts: 438
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:00 am

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Tarnished1 » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:43 pm

dervish wrote:
Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:55 pm
Tarnished1 wrote:
Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:28 am
They don't appear to have flown since Tues, could be wrong, nothing on adsb anyhow. There has been fog/mist in the area yesterday and again today (am). Presume exercise still scheduled to finish tomorrow?
Flown every day.
Thanks. Obviously not appearing on adsb then since arriving.Thought weather may have curtailed the sortie schedule particularly yesterday.

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Yammer
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Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:27 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Yammer » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:46 pm

""Obviously not appearing on adsb then.""

They can switch it off if they wish - an SF exercise my be one of those occassions.
Shobdon Blog - Residents photo list

https://shobdonegbsblog.blogspot.com/

Tarnished1
Posts: 438
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:00 am

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Tarnished1 » Thu Jan 23, 2020 3:02 pm

Trawled thro mode-S log on "Albert's site". Some "hits" noted for 2 of the helis taking part...but not in NW of UK.

ZK554 [43C7D1] reported by site in Midhurst @ 1315z (400ft)

ZH842 [43C315] "Tiger 65" (actual arrival callsign? 814NAS) 2 sites down in Cornwall incl Redruth @ 1336z.

They do get around...will these return to Altcar??

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Yammer
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Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:27 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Yammer » Thu Jan 23, 2020 3:53 pm

LIFTER 1 and LIFTER 2 reported at Hurn this afternoon - what will be at Altcar for the open house
Shobdon Blog - Residents photo list

https://shobdonegbsblog.blogspot.com/

Tarnished1
Posts: 438
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:00 am

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Tarnished1 » Thu Jan 23, 2020 4:17 pm

ZK560 [43C7D7] "SHF510", ZK556 [43C7D3] "VTX487" & ZK561 [43C7D8] "SHF505" all had dep Altcar hdg sth now over Shropshire....ZK556 not reported before involved in Ex. Must have swopped with ZK554 at some stage. I suspect its a one way ticket back to Odiham...only the ex RAF merlins and wildcats for tomorrow am??

STARIL
Posts: 93
Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 2:41 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by STARIL » Thu Jan 23, 2020 9:03 pm

23rd: Around 1300 two chinooks arrived ZK560 and ZK56? from the NW from the sea. Heard then coming 7-8 minutes before they appeared. Strange that SF use a chopper that is soooo unstealthy! The third was sationary on the ground by the northern edge of the range parked nose in to the boundary trees.
Thought it must have been (ZK554) but see it might now be (ZK556). Can anyone confirm the swap over and when 554 left?
KB

Lytham TL
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2012 5:34 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Lytham TL » Fri Jan 24, 2020 12:00 am

Assume that is you Kev, I have the same problem, saw all three on the ground early Tues morning. Rgds Martin

pg1610
Posts: 2376
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:32 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by pg1610 » Fri Jan 24, 2020 11:01 am

Tarnished1 wrote:
Thu Jan 23, 2020 3:02 pm
Trawled thro mode-S log on "Albert's site". Some "hits" noted for 2 of the helis taking part...but not in NW of UK.

ZK554 [43C7D1] reported by site in Midhurst @ 1315z (400ft)

Confirm serial read by site or helicopter only seen ?? , I ask because if not confirmed then the use of Tactical codes would seem to be in play with the chinook fleet likewise was ZK556 read off on departure from Altcar see later posting ?
Phil

powerslave
Posts: 1147
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:56 pm
Location: Lancs.

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by powerslave » Fri Jan 24, 2020 12:33 pm

The last few years there has been a lot of helo activity over Preston and Warton from Altar.
Have’nt noticed any this week.Was great last year we had a Merlin circling over the police hq low level at midnight making a right old noise.

STARIL
Posts: 93
Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 2:41 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by STARIL » Fri Jan 24, 2020 7:36 pm

Lytham TL indeed.
I was told on Monday night that one of the chinooks was sick. As ZK554 was the only chinook that hadn't moved all day assume it was the sick one.
ZK560 and ZK561 have been seen all week and photographed many times so tactical codes do not seem to have been in use (although that does not exclude general use however).
ZK556, 560 and 561 were tracked a number of times down to the London area at similar times. ZK554 clashed with these I seem to remember. The one not flying on Friday looked to be in a different part of the range so MAY have brought some spares and spanners for ZK554 to be repaired earlier in week?
KB

Lytham TL
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2012 5:34 pm

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Lytham TL » Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:38 pm

KB, thanks for that. I am now happy to take 554 seen at 08:30 on Tuesday morning

Tarnished1
Posts: 438
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:00 am

Re: Altcar 2020

Post by Tarnished1 » Tue Mar 03, 2020 11:47 pm

I didnt see any chinook on the ground fri am. I walked around to where 2 of the 3 merlins were located in a field near the western range boundary. ZK554 must have departed before fri as all chinooks had gone by then (other 3 reported dep thurs mid afternoon). I suspect ZK554 was already down at Odiham by early Thurs afternoon.

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