DUE: 03/06/14

[Rubberneck]

U2 DRAGON86 eta 0840bst

U2 DRAGON88 eta 0850bst

U2 DRAGON21 eta early pm

[sherriff]

86 & 88 now on the deck. Both visible from BZN during vectors to FFD 27, despite cloudbase limits. Camera out of battery...shucks!
88 jockey seemed a jolly fellow, by the sound of him.
21 awaited eagerly.

[bizfreeq]

21 should be in around 13.30 last I heard

[09andrew]

Hi
Can anyone viewing the U2's or any sabre strike arrivals please post some pics on here, or the current military photography thread? I'd love to come down and view myself but it's a 3 hour drive!
Cheers Andy

[opsjockey]

yup, as per the heads up forum, Dragon 21 around 13:00 / 13:30.

[SamP]

80-1093 Unmarked
68-10337 9th OG Special Markings

Really wish I'd gone for them this morning now!

[big john]

Dragon 21 working 275.625 Approaching Southern FIR boundary then routing towards VLN

[Al dunn]

Any location update pleasd

[nick197]

Fairford open presumably for the U2 12:50pm - 13:30 local
U1777/14 NOTAMN
Q) EGTT/QFAXX/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5141N00147W005
A) EGVA B) 1406031150 C) 1406031230
E) AD AND RWY 09/27 OPEN. AVAILABLE FOR SCHEDULED MOVEMENTS ONLY.

[big john]

Did 21 make it? Didn't hear anything after initial contact.

[Kevin Brewer]

Yes it did, just around 13.00. Serial not confirmed but possibly 069 with a red BB tail code. Currently 3 on the deck here plus the C5. No idea when any of them will be departing I,m afraid.

[Al dunn]

Are they still outside, might have a trip over after work

Regard

Al

[Nippy]

I was at Fairford for the last one, confirmed 069. Now, a silly question. How does the USAF numbering work? I'm very new to military stuff! There was a small 80 and 069 larger on the tail. Is this 80-1069 or just 80069? Also what is the C5 number? 60016 is on the tail but what would the rest be? Sorry if this is a dumb question.

[SamP]

Are they still outside, might have a trip over after work

Regard

Al

They're apparently hangared now Al, in one of the hangars on the mid point as opposed to the B-2 hangars as usual too.

I was at Fairford for the last one, confirmed 069. Now, a silly question. How does the USAF numbering work? I'm very new to military stuff! There was a small 80 and 069 larger on the tale. Is this 80-1069 or just 80069? Also what is the C5 number? 60016 is on the tale but what would the rest be? Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Not a dumb question at all You are correct with 80-1069 and the C-5B is 86-0016.

U.S. Military aircraft are registered by Fiscal Year, which is what the 80-/86- is, Fiscal Year 1980/1986 etc. Most aircraft themselves tend to display the last five figures of their full serial on the tail. Some (mostly Fighter Jets, also the U-2s) display their Fiscal Year and last three figures of the serial.

Best way to be sure if to get yourself a book with U.S. Military Aircraft serials and use that as a guide.

[Mike]

How the US military serial system works and more.............. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html

[Nippy]

Many thanks for the help, and the link. Now all I need to do is get photting so my pictures can be halfway as good as some on here!