Movements RAF Spadeadam 2015/16. + INfo

[catkins]

Glad you got to see some action, especially use of gorge! Shame about weather

[warrior2035]

RAF Chinook down the Gorge, that's rare, it's usually the Dutch.

[dannyboyo20]

Yeah I can't recall ever seeing an RAF Chinook going through, really took us by surprise! Managed one photo, just as a record shot as it was pretty dark!

ZH903 In Gorge by Danny Banks 2014, on Flickr

[johnhowe]

Is there going to be a TAC Blaze at Spadeadam in 2015.

[geoffmackay]

Merlin HC3 ZJ127 Vortex293 on the range at lunchtime. Had previously refueled at Carlisle.

Mid afternoon Chinook ZH903 Gambit 2 was on the range, presume Ex Chameleon.

Geoff Mackay
Carlisle

[johnhowe]

https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/ ... -fh_lsonsw For more photos Click on show more images on blue
flash bottom left hand corner.
viewtopic.php?f=16&p=868875#p868875


Nice set of images, even shows the rally cars on the range. I use to go to Alwinton and Harbottle Crag, ah those were the days.

[catkins]

Is there going to be a TAC Blaze at Spadeadam in 2015.

Opinion seems to be that there will not be a RNlAF TACBlaze Ex. this spring or any updated equivalent, which is a shame. However, who knows thereafter as NATO starts to press for greater spending again!

[johnhowe]

A Close Air Support Exercise" Sabre Steel" is scheduled for D 512 & D512A Otterburn Trg Ranges from 1st March, 2015 through to 13th,March, 2015
Multiple Fast Jets Involved 07.00 to 15.00.
There is a separate Notam for another Exercise from 2nd, March, 2015 through to 16th, March 2015 from 09.00. to 17.00 and 20.00 through to 02.00
SFC to 20,000 feet AMSL.again multiple aircraft involved.

[geoffmackay]

Carlisle Airport 02/03/15 @15:30

ZH775 Chinook arrived from Spadeadam direction. C/S Vortex 452. Shut down and was refueled using Oshkosh tanker. Wonder if this is a sign we will see more helicopter movements over the next few days.
The Lynx's that were due in yesterday PM did not show up.

Geoff Mackay
Carlisle

[geoffmackay]

Carlisle Airport - 11/03/15-19/03/15

Ex Cumbrian Capri
6no. Disforth Lynx's to be based here for the week. AAC to set up tented village on the disused runway. Using Spadeadam and Otterburn ranges. NOTAM for afternoon and evening flying in and around Cumbria with no lights.

TAC Blaze scheduled for May this year. No dates as yet.

Geoff

[catkins]

Thanks for that Geoff - good to hear especially about possible TAC Blaze return!
Chris

[dannyboyo20]

Great news re: TAC BLAZE. Will keep ears open!

[MrB0903]

Please advise what TAC BLAZE refers to - is it an exercise?

[Reptile 1]

https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=TAC+BLAZE

[toom317]

Carlisle Airport - 11/03/15-19/03/15

Ex Cumbrian Capri
6no. Disforth Lynx's to be based here for the week. AAC to set up tented village on the disused runway. Using Spadeadam and Otterburn ranges. NOTAM for afternoon and evening flying in and around Cumbria with no lights.

TAC Blaze scheduled for May this year. No dates as yet.

Geoff

Great news ref Tac Blaze, and thanks for the heads up for the Lynx.

[geoffmackay]

Carlisle Airport @17:30

5 Lynx now on ground.

ZE375 Outlaw 1
U/K Outlaw 3
XZ617 AAC906
U/K AAC973
Plus 1 more U/K Possibly Outlaw 2?

Compound with FARP set up near the woods. 2 more Lynxs to arrive Thursday. Flying Friday and Saturday during the day ( spadeadam) and then Monday and Tuesday evening. All subject weather.
As usual thanks to my usual contacts, you know who you are.

Geoff

[toom317]

Carlisle Airport @17:30

5 Lynx now on ground.

ZE375 Outlaw 1
U/K Outlaw 3
XZ617 AAC906
U/K AAC973
Plus 1 more U/K Possibly Outlaw 2?

Compound with FARP set up near the woods. 2 more Lynxs to arrive Thursday. Flying Friday and Saturday during the day ( spadeadam) and then Monday and Tuesday evening. All subject weather.
As usual thanks to my usual contacts, you know who you are.

Geoff

XZ617 again! I must have more shots of this airframe, on more occasions, than any other aircraft. Still, I'll be down to get a few more Fri/Sat. Hope to catch up with a few of the regulars as well.

[catkins]

Today from 10 am...
Apollo 1 + 2 Typhoon's multiple threats had the range for 30 mins working 282.05
Pirate 15 Hawk passed through onto Otterburn 279.0 switched to "Blue 17" for CAS work, couldn't find "Blue 17" using 3 scanners searching
Marham 89 Tornado did 2 runs then departed working 308.775
Stella 1 + 2 Tornado's several low level passes North/South worked both 308.775/282.05
Jackle 1 + 2 Tornado's several passes last 2 being low level then rtb via TILNI corridor
Couldn't park in normal spot as it was stuffed full of kit, 3 white vans and a landy, they also had a what looked like a TV/laser camera set up on a tripod with a large "sat com" dome next to it both in sandish color scheme (well that's what it looked like). Left at 12:40 due to heavy rain, on the way home over the old mil road "Monster 3" Tornado rattled ott just near Twice Brewed inb Otterburn for CAS work. Not bad for a couple of hours

A good day indeed tho shame rain all to often seems to accompany these days!
Re mention of kit at WS - when Wildcats were on site testing I noticed a tripod mounted light + kit & noted with my post viewtopic.php?f=16&t=109921&p=689946#p689946
'the light is probably a UV Mallina simulator/stimulator which replicates the threat of a man portable anti-aircraft missile with infrared seeker'. There are of course other possibilities!

Regards
Chris

[Durranhill]

Carlisle Airport 15.30 - Called round to see what was going on on my way back to work to find all the Lynx's under cover , an Army lad who was there said that they had just arrived at the Airport from Spade where they had been blowing up inflatable Tanks on the range .
Weather was very overcast with low cloud & starting to rain .

Stewart .

[geoffmackay]

Cumbrian Capri

13/03/15

12:40 Outlaw Formation (x4) took off for a sortie around Kielder Water. They returned at 16:30.They must have refueled at some stage, perhaps Otterburn? AAC906 a single Lynx was out in Spadeadam for around 40 mins at lunchtime.
Confirm 6 No. now here. Rumors are still of 2 Apaches coming but nothing confirmed. ZG915, ZG919, ZG920, ZE375 & XZ617 are all confirmed plus one other (someone help me out).

Nice to see some old faces around this afternoon.

Geoff
Carlisle