Spadeadam 2011/2014

[johnhowe]

There is a Notam for Otterburn Ranges D512/D512A from 11th, March to 15th, March, 2013 9am to 5pm

SCF to 20,000 feet. not known what is involved.

http://www.scramblemagazine.nl/sis-summary" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[warrior2035]

Artillery? MLRS? Can't imagine why it should be an aircraft.

[Chris Procter]

From 15 March > 28 March Aircraft will be using Otterburn 9am>midnight except Wednesdays when they finish at 1700hrs

[johnhowe]

Notam for D510 & D510A RAF Spadeadam Additional Activity on Monday 18th, March, 2013. from 17.00pm to 19.00pm. SFC to 5,500 feet.

[johnhowe]

An infrequent visitor to Spadeadam put in an appearance on the Range this afternoon, one of Warton's Trials Aircraft, Typhoon IPA 1 ZJ 699 flown by Tarnish 6 Steve Long.

Before coming to Warton Steve served in the USAF doing trials work on the JSF, however he also put together a video which went viral
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3jWzQ7OmWs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[johnhowe]

Log for Monday the 15th, During the day there was Joint Warrior Aircraft on the Range Entendards (2) and Rafales
(Kimono) Tornado GR4s Vandal callsigns all above the cloud. Most of the morning was intermittent rain, cleared up
in the afternoon for the Helo sorties.

See Tac Blaze thread for the Dutch visitors.

[johnhowe]

Notam for Wiley Syke Drop Zone 5502N 0023400W a Para Drop Exercise as part of Joint Warrior will take place
on Saturday the 20th, April, 2013 Between 13.00 & 14.30 Lower SFC upper 4000 AMSL.

Edit; For info I don,t know how may troops are involved, but last time I saw one at Wiley Syke it involved 100s
of US Paras, using our C130s, 20 Army ambulances turned up as well as a convoy of troop carriers so Wiley Syke may be classed as a sterile area and only service personell allowed, in that event park near the cattle grid and
walk up the gorge, or get up earlier enough to park on the second layby.

[johnhowe]

A change to be at RAF Spadeadam on a Saturday. Just after 14.00hrs Ascot 116 called up Spade for vectors into the Wiley Syke Drop Zone. Ascot 116 was a C130 J Hercules at 14.16 the first batch of 5 paras from 45 Commando
dropped onto the Range approx half a mile northwest of the layby, the C130 did another circuit and dropped four
more Commandos at 14.23.

When you have'nt seen a para drop since Pegasus Fury (15 C130s at Carlisle) now that was something else.
I suppose I could go to Luce Bay and see the Big Drop on the 25th, depending on the weather.

[johnhowe]

Interesting day again at Spadeadam, I arrived at 11.30am I could hear a loud droning noise in the overhead something heavy with props, thought it might be Cyclops from Waddington, I was later joined by Catkins and
Geoff, Chris received a call from Michael who identified our mysterious aircraft as a Canadian P3 Orion it had been
orbiting Spadeadam in the same wide track for over 2 hours, as the cloud occasionally broke up Chris captured an
image of the Orion.

The weather at Spade was spitefull to say the least, we had a Quaker callsign and heard jets in the overhead above the clouds.

After lunch we heard from Carlisle that 2 Chinooks (Grizzly had launched and were heading our way, prior to this
a Navy Lynx, Vanguard One from HMS Illustrious, was flying around on a recce for Three Armoured Brigade for a
future operation.

Eventually The 2 Chinooks arrived and treaded us to an impromptu air display in around Wiley Syke after Chris had gone north for a better vantage point. After the Chinooks RTBd to Carlisle Two Apaches put in a fleeting visit.

I decided to leave Spade and go to Carlisle Airport, as I approached the cattle grid there was an army ambulance
and a large army lorry parked up. Sods law I did'nt enquire to to what may be happening, and twenty minutes
later I discovered that there had been a Parachute Drop at Wiley Syke after I left and was still going on.

I will paste the Wx forecast for tomorrow because I think the wind for the Wed Drop may be too strong
The Drop on Wed according to Notams is 7.30am to 8.30am BST the wind is very strong between 7am to 10am but dropped off in the afternoon.http://xcweather.co.uk/forecast/gilsland" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[catkins]

Eventually The 2 Chinooks arrived and treaded us to an impromptu air display in around Wiley Syke after Chris had gone north for a better vantage point. After the Chinooks RTBd to Carlisle Two Apaches put in a fleeting visit.

I decided to leave Spade and go to Carlisle Airport, as I approached the cattle grid there was an army ambulance
and a large army lorry parked up. Sods law I did'nt enquire to to what may be happening, and twenty minutes
later I discovered that there had been a Parachute Drop at Wiley Syke after I left and was still going on.

Army Commando were due a practice supply drop just S of Wiley Sike, but Herc couldn't find the marked, pre-arranged DZ - I wasn't aware of any other drop at the time. Got a good Chinook pair display ourselves, but could by the sound of it saved some petrol!! Still, interesting to see what was in the forest.

[johnhowe]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22298637" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This footage comfirms that Joint Warrior has finished, and Eagles Warrior has commenced on the 26th, April and
finishes on the third of May or thereabouts.

There is a notam For Spadeadam Forest A captive unmanned helium baloon and Kite Flying will take place within
0ne nautical mile of Low King Hill between 07.45am & 1815pm on Sunday the 28th, April, 2013.

[johnhowe]

I arrived at Spadeadam at 8.0am on Wednesday the 1st, May, after receiving info that there might be a parachute
drop. Unfortunately it had taken place on the 30th, April, from what I can gather a large number of French troops had been helicoptered in from Carlisle by the various Chinooks, Pumas, and Seakings.

On arrival I saw that the Diamond DA 42 twin was orbiting over Spadeadam at about 2000, feet, below the Diamond were two AH 64s Apaches and they were monitoring a large troop movement in the convines of the airfield.

At 8.15am Commando 1 & 2 Seakings flew into the Range for EW west of Berry Hill.

9.50am Two AH 64s entered the range and were assisting an FAC on removing the troops (simulated)
on the airfield.

10.50am The two Apaches which had been at the airport changed their position and came to Wiley Syke to
enable David to try out his new Canon SX 50 one hovered within 50 yards of our position for 20 minutes and gave an impromptu display of low flying apache style.

on arrival at Wiley Syke the first layby was occupied by a french army lorry, troops and a couple of moble mortars
this gave the impression that we were going into see some action, another reason for hope was the presence of an Army Ambulance but this was withdrawn after an hour.

12.00 an Army Lynx flew around the range for a few minutes.

As if to signal the end of the Exercise, Marham 33 entered the Range to do some medium level EW.

14.20 Marham 33 dropped to low level and flew a couple a couple of low passes east to west and north to
south.

14.23. Deathray 33 another Marham GR4 entered the range for low level work, both the GR4s flew near to David and were captured by his new Canon

I left at 2.30pm to make my last visit to Carlisle to capture my favourite Army/RAF Tanker The Oshkosh and the camo landrovers all lined up on the disused runway.

Frank.
( John Howe is the name of an Industrial steam engine on Ribble Steam Railway where I volunteer)

[johnhowe]

Exercise at Otterburn Army Military Training Areas.

Commencing on the 3rd, June, 2013 Exercise " Pashtun Sabre 19 " takes place within The Otterburn Trg Areas and
finishes on the 14th, June, 2013 Multiple Aircraft will be involved from SFC to 16,000 Feet controlling agencies will
be on 279.00or 130.025. Times 08.00 t0 02.00hrs. There will also be a Close Support Exercise under The Pashtun Sabre 19 banner at Brizlee Wood from 3rd June, throughto 13th, June, slightly different times 9.0am BST to 21.00 BST Freqs. Info from public Notam sites.

Edit 3/6/13. viewtopic.php?f=121&t=10965 this thread gives directions to
spotting sites in Northumberland/Otterburn.

[johnhowe]

This morning I went to Otterburn Army Range gaining entry to the range via Alwinton I met up with a friend of mine who is a local sheep farmer, we toured the range passed the time of day with the range wardens and due to
lack of action I went to Kielder Water for lunch and travelled 14 miles from Kielder to Wiley Syke, one solitary C 130 Hercules Ascot 708 on the range and he had tech problems.

But the day was not wasted due to the superb meteorological conditions I obtained some fantastic images with my new to me Canon.

[johnhowe]

According to Notams D510 & D510A are deactivated from the 17th June through to the 21st June, 2013 between 09.00 hrs and 17.00hrs thats the bad news.

However D510 & D510A will be reactivated from 17.00 to 03.00 on the 17th, June through to the 21st, June, 2013
SFC to 5000 feet.

[michael1970]

It's for apaches frank guess the usual night flying or late afternoon sorties.

[catkins]

Singleton Apache heading direction of Otterburn 11:35ish today over Tyne valley east of Corbridge from SE presumed Leeming? Presume Apache will use Spade and Otterburn for duration of Ex.

[catkins]

Singleton Apache Longbow returning Leeming direction from Otterburn? Direction over Tyne valley 13:50ish

[johnhowe]

Interesting Notam for Spadeadam D510/D510A The Range will be additionally active from 17.00 to 17.30BST on Monday the 1st, July, 2013. there are various notams for surrounding Ranges and areas some for an hour and over
I'm wondering if this Notam concerns the Exercise Android involving 50 Aircraft, anybody else have and thoughts or ideas as to why the notam is for just 30minutes.

[catkins]

Also as you imply, there is a NOTAM for North Pennines covering same time slot:
P0049/13: Military operating area activated
Q) EGXX/QRMCA/IV/BO/W/195/245/5450N00231W032TRA 005 ACTIVATED
LOWER: FL195, UPPER: FL245
FROM: 01 Jul 2013 16:00 GMT (17:00 BST) TO: 01 Jul 2013 16:30 GMT (17:30 BST)
My presumption was Ex. Android but as no info is the order of the day, watch that space and see if anything appears!