Exercise TAC BLAZE 2019 - Carlisle

[rh226]

For anyone who is up in the far North West......

Exercise TAC BLAZE 2019 is a helicopter exercise in the North of England, with the participating helicopters based at Carlisle - Crosby.  Exercise commences on 21/02/2019 and lasts two weeks.

As per usual, the RNLAF is taking part, with the following aircraft having arrived in the UK today (21st February):-

AS-532U2 Cougar (via Lakenheath for gas & go)
S-456 "WILDCAT1"
S-453 "WILDCAT07"

CH-47D Chinook (via Mildenhall for gas & go)
D-101 "GRIZZLY1"
D-664 "GRIZZLY2"
D-667 "GRIZZLY3"

AH-64DN Apache  (via Wattisham for gas & go)
Q-05 "REDSKIN01"
Q-09 "REDSKIN02"
Q-14 "REDSKIN03"

Credit FC.

[rh226]

Looks like Cougar S-444 has joined the party.

Credit FC.

[rh226]

Friday 8th March 2019

Everything went home today.

The Cougars went via Lakenheath for a fuel stop.

The Apaches went via Northolt fir a fuel stop.

One Chinook (D-667) routed direct home, the other two routing OTT Benson then OTT Northolt and down the heli-lanes over London and home.....no fuel stop.

Credit FC.

[rugbyref]

Has Q14 gone tech at Northolt or has the pilot decided to stop for lunch? The other 2 departed.

[rh226]

No, Phil. It departed Northolt about 15min before the other two.

[rugbyref]

Oh well, made 2 of the 3 needed, 1 Chinook and 1Apache. Can’t complain at that when watching from the back garden!

[rh226]

Phil,

Sorry, I didn't read your post correctly.

The singleton which departed 15min before the other two was "REDSKIN1" Q-05.  The pair departing a bit later were "REDSKIN2" Q-09 and "REDSKIN3" Q-14.

Cheers,

Bob

[rugbyref]

Bob,

Thanks. Shame Redskin3 did not show up on ads-b after leaving Northolt. I assumed Q-09 was a singleton, and didn’t step outside to see it/them.