Possible Deployment

[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!

[exatco]

Dutch site scramble.nl reports exercise Steadfast Noon includes B52 participation. May or may not be relevant.

[GoldenPlane]

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

[Arran J]

Any other indications for the department later this month?

B2s would be the dream

Cheers

[raameagle]

Patience! If there is to be a deployment, somebody will post something eventually...

[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.

[nitro999]

Fairford is NOTAM closed until 18:00 local time today

[tornado17]

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.

[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

[Uncle Sam]

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?

[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

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

[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.

[colt99]

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

[city42]

if the reported deployment is for late this month i would think we would see the support arrive this week

[BOLLO]

ALTRV for AR 20NE early doors 03.15/0615 FL 150/270 ????

[Arran J]

Will hope for the best, but patience is the only way at the moment

[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

[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?

[Amp]

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.

[Plane enthuiast]

First C-17 went to Al Udeid