BTF 22-2 General Discussion thread

[thevulcan]

Just got a quick question am I right in thinking that last night's mission which is still on going now will be the longest continuous sortie of a USAF bomber from UK soil since 2003?

[Supra]

'luxto' is on here now & probably checking his extensive records as I type? He will know the answer to that one!

[Supra]

Okay! Your starter for 10... Confer all you wish. (adopt Holy Grail voice) "Wattt... is the longest Bomber Mission time flown from UK. soil ever?"

[Thunder]

The Black Buck raids were over 16hrs, do they count?

[page_verify]

Presuming you mean UK to UK, and non~combat as well as combat? In which case, it’ll probably be one of these recent BTF missions although there might be an odd exception somewhere. The concept of very long missions from a forward deployed base being a normal mission profile is a relatively recent addition to US doctrine. Since Iraq-2003, several countries have started denying the US diplo clearances they could previously depend on (France/Germany/Spain/Iraq etc.) for their regional combat missions.

[Seahornet1]

The Black Buck raids were over 16hrs, do they count?

The question was about USAF bomber sorties over 23 hrs long from the UK. So, does a 16 hr RAF one from Ascension Island count...?

[thevulcan]

Yeah we can count RAF Bomber missions as well.

[Thunder]

The Black Buck raids were over 16hrs, do they count?

The question was about USAF bomber sorties over 23 hrs long from the UK. So, does a 16 hr RAF one from Ascension Island count...?

The question didn’t say anything about USAF only and didn’t relate to the recent 23 hr mission either, it said the longest bomber mission conducted from the UK ever. Which I read it as an actual mission and not a training flight. So yes the Black Buck raids must be up there if not the answer,

[STN RAMP RAT]

Ok I will get pedantic …..

Ascension, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, part of the British overseas territory of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. So if Ascension Island is included then we should include Deigo Garcia which is part of the British Indian Ocean territories.

[Seahornet1]

The Black Buck raids were over 16hrs, do they count?

The question was about USAF bomber sorties over 23 hrs long from the UK. So, does a 16 hr RAF one from Ascension Island count...?

The question didn’t say anything about USAF only and didn’t relate to the recent 23 hr mission either, it said the longest bomber mission conducted from the UK ever. Which I read it as an actual mission and not a training flight. So yes the Black Buck raids must be up there if not the answer,

Yes, sorry, I didn't notice that Supra had asked a different question to thevulcan's original one... (Ascension still isn't part of the UK though.... )

[Hendon Chipmunk]

If you count a fatally 'unsuccessful' 'mission' with stops, how about 9th September to 1st October 1956 round-the-World Vulcan flight (but XA897 crashed on landing at Heathrow)?

[Supra]

Edited

Yes, sorry, I didn't notice that Supra had asked a different question to thevulcan's original one... (Ascension still isn't part of the UK though.... )

Shirley (sic) you mean the Bridge of Death keeper? Yes indeed the Devil is in the detail! Get the answer wrong (or Smart-arses) & into the 'Gorge of Eternal Peril' you go!
PS:- Sprogs & Yoofs should Google 'Monty Python & the Holy Grail'

[Noddi3]

Just a quick question for those with knowledge of flight planning and airspace.
Zeus51 and 52 today are showing on FR24 as out of Brize, having I assume actually departed Fairford. Is this because the flight plan was issued from Brize? There must be something I don't understand about the relationship between BZZ and FFD, it has always puzzled me why the returning U2 talks to 'Brize Director' when he is actually landing at FFD. Is the reason linked to their close proximity to one another?

[raameagle]

Fairford doesn't have any radar so it's all done by Brize Norton hence 'Brize Director etc'.

As for FR24, the system doesn't always pick up non-standard flights properly and can quite often have their start point showing as being different from where it actually was.

Regards

Mark

Just a quick question for those with knowledge of flight planning and airspace.
Zeus51 and 52 today are showing on FR24 as out of Brize, having I assume actually departed Fairford. Is this because the flight plan was issued from Brize? There must be something I don't understand about the relationship between BZZ and FFD, it has always puzzled me why the returning U2 talks to 'Brize Director' when he is actually landing at FFD. Is the reason linked to their close proximity to one another?

[Noddi3]

Thanks Mark

[Pune]

Hi Folks,
Can anyone tell me if parking is still at a premium at Fairford, coned off etc?
Thanks
Pune

[Johnny]

Hi Folks,
Can anyone tell me if parking is still at a premium at Fairford, coned off etc?
Thanks
Pune

Still coned off 27 end but not had any problems yet at washpool Lane

[Pune]

Hi Folks,
Can anyone tell me if parking is still at a premium at Fairford, coned off etc?
Thanks
Pune

Still coned off 27 end but not had any problems yet at washpool Lane

Thanks Johnny

[wessexspotter]

Just musing whether deployment will go on longer than usual given current events i.e. the crews and ground support rotated, and the Buffs staying put for a while?

[roughcutter]

Just musing whether deployment will go on longer than usual given current events i.e. the crews and ground support rotated, and the Buffs staying put for a while?

Start worrying when the bomb laden convoys start trundling along the M4 from Welford