F-35s to Fairford 27- 30th June 2016

[rh226]

The NOTAM has been published for the Transatlantic crossing route within Shanwick airspace.

Waypoint BALIX is 59N10W.

G0216/16 - AIRSPACE RESERVATION
TR:6000N 03000W 6000N 02000W BALIX
THE FOLLOWING SEPARATION WILL BE PROVIDED WITHIN OCEANIC AIRSPACE:
MNPS 60NM, NON-MNPS 120NM. FL250 - FL270, 27 JUN 15:32 2016 UNTIL 27 JUN 18:55
2016. CREATED: 24 JUN 09:54 2016

Times +1hr for BST

[Dylan]

and today there's a C17 and B747 apparently due for clean up duties after the B-52's were here. Info on FC.
Dylan

[rh226]

Just to let everyone know that there has been a 24hr delay - confirmed by Fairford.  Apparently the tanker has gone "tech".

It is thought that only 3 F-35Bs (including a RAF one??) will be arriving tomorrow (tanker permitting!!). The two F-35As plus some F-22s are supposed to be arriving on this Thursday.

Info courtesy of Fighter Control.

I will update tomorrow.

[rh226]

Yet another 24hr slippage, I'm afraid.  Confirmed by Fairford.

The expected arrival time has been about 1900BST both yesterday and today.  So hopefully the same tomorrow.  Incidentally, only one KC-10A will go into Fairford ("CLEAN52"), the other is scheduled to go to Mildenhall (CLEAN51").

About the only new information is that the two KC-10s "CLEAN51"/"CLEAN52" were/are 87-0117 and 87-0119.  Both are MPRS equipped - i.e. with the wing hose and drogue units necessary for F-35Bs.

Also OTIS80 KC-130J 168071 of VMGR-252 is at St. Johns and was due into Fairford at 2000BST tonight.  Whether it will now make the journey remains to be seen - there is no NOTAM for Fairford being open as yet (at 1230BST).

One further item which may be related is that CLEAN81 KC-10A 83-0077 went into Luke AFB yesterday.  Possibly to pick up the F-35As for Thursday.

Info courtesy of Fighter Control.

Will post update again tomorrow

[graham]

Great info Bob, thanks for keeping us all updated.

[zz]

Déjà vu anyone...?! 2014 all over again!

[rh226]

Game on.

KC-10As 87-0119 ("CLEAN51") and 87-0117 ("CLEAN52") have both just lifted off from MacDill AFB, FL on schedule about 0945BST (showing on Virtual Radar).  Timings as before , so arrival at Fairford at about 1900BST - don't forget that CLEAN51 is supposed to go to Mildenhall, but CLEAN52 will come into Fairford.  Shame as I need both of them!!

Other news is that the support equipment from Beaufort was brought back by RAF C-17 ZZ176 and arrived at Brize Norton yesterday evening.  The C-17 has just transferred across to Fairford this morning to drop off its cargo.

CLEAN81 KC-10A 83-0077 landed at MacGuire AFB, NJ last night after dragging four (??) F-35As from Luke AFB, Az.  Not known where the F-35s went, but guessed Langley AFB, Va.  This might make sense if there should be F-22s coming over as well (rumour has it).  It is thought that only two F-35As will make the trip across and the others will be airspares.  Altitude Reservation NOTAM is already up for their trip across the pond - times are 30min later than today.

The F-35As are due to go back to CONUS immediately after RIAT, but the F-35Bs should be around for Farnborough.

Happy spotting everyone!!!

[rh226]

Probably about an hour's delay.

One of the USMC F-35s had to RTB and everybody held over North Carolina for an hour or so waiting for the replacement.

Apparently OTIS80 is still due today, but I don't know what time - possibly around 2000 as originally intended, maybe later.

[Deleted]

ZM137 RAF
168726/VM VMFAT-501
168727/VM 

[rh226]

First of all, I would like to say a big thank you to the base and police for catering for the spotting fraternity so well. They opened up the bomb dump for parking and gave access to quite a large section of the base itself to allow people to get nearer the runway to see better and get their photographs.  Great job, guys, and thank you!!!

Anyway, expanding on Tarnish15's post above, here is how they arrived.

L1945  "OTIS80"    168071/BH       KC-130J  VMGR-252

L1958  "CLEAN52"  87-0117           KC-10A   60 AMW......white "Travis" band on tail and, surprisingly, did not have MPRS wing units

L2007  "TABOR1"   ZM137              F-35B      RAF (embedded within VMFAT-501)

L2008  "TABOR2"   168727/VM-19  F-35B      VMFAT-501

L2010  "TABOR3"   168726/VM-18  F-35B      VMFAT-501

Good article on the action by FC's AeroResource.  I think that you all can see this without being members.

Will update later regarding today's action.

[rh226]

Update time.

The two tankers "CLEAN81" KC-10A 83-0077 and "CLEAN82" KC-135R 58-0098 departed McGuire AFB, NJ at 13.10BST.  Join up with the fighters appears to have happened and they are plotting on ADSB-Exchange just past Nantucket Island heading for Nova Scotia (as at 13.50BST).  Presumably they will refuel over Nova Scotia and then "CLEAN82" will RTB to its home base of Bangor IAP, Me.

It would appear that there are 3 x F-35A using callsigns "TABOR31/32/33" and the serials are being quoted for these as 12-5042/52/58.  There is also currently a "TABOR34" with them, but that is presumably the airspare.

As to arrival time, they would appear to be about 30 min behind yesterday's timings, in theory arrival should be around 20.40BST.  However, best give them allowance for making up time, so could be earlier.  Don't shoot the messenger.

Info courtesy of FC.

[rh226]

All arrived safely and made up a little bit of time as well!!

20.23     3 x F-35As did an echelon port run & break

L20.25   "TABOR31"  12-5042/LF  61FW

L20.26   "TABOR32"  12-5052/LF  61FW

L20.27   "TABOR33"  12-5058/LF  61FW

L20.33   "CLEAN81"   83-0077      60AMW...with white "Travis" tailband.

Once again thank you to the Police and RAF (from Northolt apparently).

That's it from me for this thread.  I hope some of you were able to get down there and see them.

[rh226]

The three F-35As departed for the US at 1235BST on Wednesday 13th July as "CLEAN81/82 Flight".

Accompanying tankers were "CLEAN81" KC-10A 83-0077 (which brought them in) and "CLEAN82" KC-135R 59-1495 (which had arrived the day before).

Credit FC for info.

[graham]

Many thanks for all the top info here Bob, it's been much appreciated

[rh226]

ZM137 was planned to do a flypast at Marham for their Families Day on Thursday 21st.  We shall see if it happens......

The F-35Bs are thought to be departing back home on Friday 22nd July.

[rh226]

KC-10s "CLEAN52" 83-0077 [AE01E1] and "CLEAN51" 87-0119 [AE0231] will arrive in Fairford this morning (Thursday 21st July) to take the F-35Bs home tomorrow.

EDIT:- Both tankers on the deck by 11.30BST

[rh226]

Friday 22nd July

NOTAM for the Atlantic Airspace reservation now posted as follows:-

G0288/16 - AIRSPACE RESERVATION
TR:BALIX 6000N 02000W 6000N 02500W 6000N 03000W
THE FOLLOWING SEPARATION WILL BE PROVIDED WITHIN OCEANIC AIRSPACE: MNPS 60NM, NON-MNPS 120NM.

FL250 - FL270,

22 JUL 11:47 2016 UNTIL 22 JUL 15:18 2016.

CREATED: 21 JUL 14:24 2016

Add 1hr for BST

So, as they cannot pass BALIX (59N10W) before 12.47BST, I would guess take-off not before around 11.00 - 11.30BST.  Don't shoot the messenger.

[rh226]

All three F-35Bs and both KC-10s took off around 11.45BST and routed out over Gloucester, Great Malvern (about 12.00BST) and RAF Valley.  Apparently the F-35s did some loose 3-ship passes over Fairford before joining the tankers.

Also, the KC-130J departed at 12.54BST as "OTIS80".  It joined UL/L9 at MALBY and then routed Westwards over the Irish Republic.

Twitter and "The Sun" had fun.  See www.thesun.co.uk/news/1486401/fighter-jets-spotted-escorting-passenger-plane-across-uk/?CMP=spklr-_-Editorial-_-FBPAGE-_-TheSun-thesun-_-20160722-_-News-_-524501199.

Credit FC for the info (and the link!!)