RAF Marham - USMC F-35 deployment

[rh226]

RAF Marham will host F-35Bs from VMFA-211 (based at MCAS Yuma, AZ) in September 2020.

They will exercise with the Marham jets before joining them on the HMS QE.  In passing, this will be the largest number of F-35s embarked on a single vessel to date.

Exact details on dates and numbers are not as yet known.

[rh226]

Monday 31st August 2020

Everything is getting into position:

- 10x F-35Bs ("MAZDA11-15", "MAZDA21-25") have crossed the US and are now at MCAS Beaufort, SC (possibly includes air spares). Their KC-135R tankers ("GOLD62" and "GOLD72") have gone into Robins AFB, GA.
- the KC-10As ("GOLD61" and "GOLD71") are positioning from McGuire AFB, NJ to Bangor , ME ready for the transatlantic drag.

Rumour has Wednesday 2nd for the action, but with arrival at Marham when it is getting dark.

[rh226]

ALTRV has now been posted for tomorrow (Wednesday 2nd) - see NOTAM thread aviationforall.proboards.com/thread/14360/eastbound-shanwick-altrv-2020-marham .

"Not before" time at 30W suggests an earliest ETA at Marham of about 19.00 - 19.15BST (give or take).

[Jeff]

Message from RAF Marham

We are aware that some people have been planning to visit RAF Marham when the United States Marine Corps arrive in the UK for a short detachment.

We would like to remind everyone that we do not have a viewing area, and that all land surrounding us is privately owned farmland. The landowners will not be permitting access to their land. They require regular access to their land, have crops that they rely on for income & the safety of their workers is paramount. RAF Police & Norfolk Constabulary will be conducting patrols of the area. It is imperative that everyone keeps to government guidelines to stop the spread of coronavirus, the latest guidelines @ t.co/L0z5iov26T

We understand that this may be disappointing for some but the livelihood & the health of our local community must come first.

We will not be publishing aircraft movement timings. We would like to thank you all for your continued support. 5/5

[Deleted]

Mazda 11/21 Flights on deck Bangor

169620/CF-00
169621/CF-01
169587/CF-02
169588/CF-03
169589/CF-04
169607/CF-06
169608/CF-07
169610/CF-08
169614/CF-09

CF-05,CF-10,CF-11,CF-12 No Serial On Photo`s

[rh226]

Seeing reports of a possible 24hr slip due to turbulence over the Atlantic

[rh226]

Trying again tomorrow (same times). New ALTRV posted.

[monarch01]

I wonder why they are coming in over Scotland, the RAF F-35's from Beaufort came in over Cornwall....

[rh226]

The US always come in over Scotland and the UK ones (almost) always come in over Cornwall. It is just down to their preferred routing, maybe down to preferred en-route diversion airfields (Keflavik v Lajes).

[rh226]

Thursday 3rd September 2020

All seems to gave gone without a hitch.

The F-35Bs departed MCAS Beaufort, SC as two cells at about 11.10BST ("MAZDA11-15") and 11.45BST ("MAZDA21-25"), joining with their respective KC-135Rs 63-8003 ("GOLD62") and 62-3544 ("GOLD72") near Charleston, SC.  The KC-135s had launched from Robins AFB, GA. The trail then proceeded up to over Nova Scotia where the F-35s were handed over to their respective KC-10As 86-0023 ("GOLD61") and 84-0192 ("GOLD71") for the long haul across the Atlantic to EAF Marham, arriving at about 19.25BST and 20.00BST.

The KC-10As went into Mildenhall as is usual on deployments.

The 10 F-35Bs are:-

169620/CF-00 F-35B VMFA-211

169621/CF-01 F-35B VMFA-211......CAG c/s...serial in red
169587/CF-02 F-35B VMFA-211

169588/CF-03 F-35B VMFA-211
169589/CF-04 F-35B VMFA-211
169607/CF-06 F-35B VMFA-211

169608/CF-07 F-35B VMFA-211
169610/CF-08 F-35B VMFA-211

169614/CF-09 F-35B VMFA-211
169414/CF-25 F-35B VMFA-211

[rh226]

FC report that they are all parked in the "sunshade" area in the SW corner this afternoon (Friday 4th)