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Post by michael on Sept 30, 2016 23:06:34 GMT
except possibly a pair of HH-60s which were reported Westbound over Northolt and later in the Boscombe Down area. Bob I can confirm I saw the 2 HH-60's (from Mildenhall)leaving Lakenheath westbound just before 10am
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Post by rh226 on Oct 1, 2016 19:51:32 GMT
That's about when I left John's Field to go off to Lakenheath to see the Eagles' departure, Michael.
EDIT:- The Pavehawks' serials have been reported on FC as being 89-26205 and 89-26206.
Saturday 1st October
Today's visitor was :- 64-14844 RC-135V 55Wg........."COBRA38"
The wife and I went into Cambridge today, so I don't know if the C-21 turned up. EDIT:- It didn't.
Called in at the airport in the forlorn hope of seeing ZH866 outside Marshalls.......no joy. However, I did see the lovely sight of one of the local Tiger Moths G-AHIZ flying. Definitely worth a gawk!!! LOL.
Bit more action tomorrow, so look forward to making at least three....I wish - it's more likely to be zero!!
Going to be staying on another week - it's the big ANG KC-135 changeover next weekend. With the new financial year, hopefully there will be a lot more action, too.
Cheers,
Bob
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Post by rh226 on Oct 2, 2016 19:34:28 GMT
Sunday 2nd October
........and zero it was. The C-5 and the McGuire KC-10 have both delayed into Monday.
Visitors:- 60-0313 KC-135R 22ARW 59-1476 KC-135R 92ARW
Based:- 58-0069 KC-135T.........back from a 6+ week deployment/detachment out East somewhere (Incirlik??)
Should have been an exotic visitor at 19.00 tonight. "VVPR529" EP-3E 156529 was on the books. No show so far, and I suspect a cancellation.
Haven't made anything since the Georgia C-130 on Thursday. Hopefully tomorrow will perk up. Fingers crossed.
Cheers,
Bob
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Post by rh226 on Oct 3, 2016 20:55:06 GMT
Monday 3rd October
Well, the fog did not clear until 10.30 and our four visitors disappeared in very short order (2 KC-135 and 2 x RC-135). We probably lost Arizona ANG KC-135R 64-14829 because of the fog and it went into Aldergrove of all places. Believed to be their first ever '135.
Inbound visitors?? Three separate LN F-15s did single overshoots at various times. One was identified as 91-0321/LN of 492FS.
"QUID11" based KC-135R 61-0321 departed South this morning - probably down to Istres.........didn't even know it was in.
"SLUR43" MC-130J departed to Souda Bay to join "SLUR41/42" from yesterday.
"AMINO41" MC-130J returned this evening (from Africa??) - straight over John's (jargon's) head.
All in all, carp!!
Oh yes, runway changed to 11 this afternoon and looks like it will stay that way all week, so it looks like John's Field will be good for photographing inbounds.
Cheers,
Bob
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Post by rh226 on Oct 4, 2016 20:38:38 GMT
Tuesday 4th October
Visitors:- 60-0356 KC-135RT 22 ARW.......................There are only 8 of these ART birds and I've seen just 2 (and this is one of them!!) 57-1473 KC-135R 106ARS/Alabama ANG 86-0036 KC-10A 305AMW......................Departed and returned soon after with a problem 61-0280 KC-135R 336ARS 64-14839 KC-135R 108ARS/Illinois ANG 63-7982 KC-135R 92ARW 84-0087 C-21A 76AS ZZ176 C-17A 99 Sqdn......Special Tail......"RRR817" 00-0183 C-17A 62AW
There were three separate high overflights by a single HH-60G.
A pair of 494FS F-15Es (red tail band) made a standard approach to Lakenheath's runway 06 :- 92-0364 and xx-xx02(three possibilities).
Two trailing overflights were seen:- "RCH799" 01-0189 C-17A at FL370 routing MAM (at 08.40BST) > NAVPI "RCH470" 84-0062 C-5M at FL350 routing CLN (at 08.49BST) > REDFA
Finally, KC-135R 63-8025 was finally identified as belonging to (336ARS)/452AMW at March ARB - which makes it the first AFRC unit that I know of to have an MPRS (wingtip drogue refuelling pods) equipped KC-135. Mind you, I have only managed to identify 14 out of the 20 airframes so modified, plus 12 out of the 20 KC-10s.
The two pots today bring my total up to 50 for the visit so far.
Cheers,
Bob
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Post by rh226 on Oct 5, 2016 20:30:27 GMT
Wednesday 5th October
Apart from the KC-10 and the March KC-135R 61-0280, everything visiting cleared out today.
Visitors:- 57-1453 KC-135R 106ARS/Alabama ANG ZA559/049 Tornado GR.4 9 Sqdn........................"Tirpitz31".......overshoot
Based:- 61-0299 KC-135R..............."BLUE59" (unusual)....back from a 4 week deployment in the Med..........my last based aircraft aat Mildenhall
Several lots of F-15s made approaches to Lakenheath over Mildenhall. Those identified were F-15Cs 84-0010, 86-0171 (493FS) and F-15Es 91-0321, 96-0202 (492FS) An unidentified HH-60 also made its high approach to Lakenheath over Mildenhall.
Also went into Cambridge today. RAF Hercs noted were ZH873 (on the engine run pans) and one with UN markings on the tail.
Tomorrow ought to see the ANG tankers start coming through in earnest, so fingers crossed for some decent ones.
Cheers,
Bob
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Post by rh226 on Oct 6, 2016 20:54:30 GMT
Thursday 6th October
No ANG tankers today - when will they come through??
Very slack day, visitor at 07.50BST, then hours of circuit-bashing by one KC-135 and two MC-130s. Catches of the day quite late on.
Visitors:- 58-0089 KC-135T 6AMW 168848 P-8A no marks/(VP-26)......"VVLK03"........went into Lossiemouth around midday.....then came down here?!?! ZZ665 Rivet Joint 51 Sqdn..................."SAME40"........back from Greenville, Tx after having some teething problems corrected (we hope!!) 61-2662/OF RC-135S 55Wg......................."COBRA55"......I've only seen one of the three and this is it!!
There were 5 separate approaches to Lakenheath by HH-60s - identified one as 89-26205/LN.
Lots of F-15 approaches, but none identified.
Very strange that the P-8A came down here. "VVLK02" 168857 of VP-26 and "TALON40" 168760 of VP-16 also went into Lossiemouth today. VP-26 are officially participating in Joint Warrior 16-2, so I suppose that the VP-16 one came along for a bit of experience in European waters (the airframe has only just come back from many months at Kadena)
Cheers,
Bob
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Post by brizewatcher on Oct 7, 2016 18:30:33 GMT
Sounds like your having an excellent time! When are you returning to Wiltshire?
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Post by rh226 on Oct 7, 2016 18:39:01 GMT
Regrettably, that will be this Sunday, Olly. We have a few appointments that cannot be missed.
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Post by rh226 on Oct 7, 2016 21:03:39 GMT
Thanks, Olly.
Friday 7th October
Not a lot to say about today, except very slack. The MacDill KC-135 departed before I got up. The KC-10 finally departed to Ramstein. The P-8 departed at 14.15BST to go back to CONUS, calling "Trident03". ZZ665 was evidently continuing its test flying (it had an American crew - from L-3 presumably) using radio callsign "Zulu Zulu 665".
Visitors:- 62-3509 KC-135R 77ARS 62-4139/OF RC-135W 55Wg......"BAMA71"....Was cursing my luck, then it diverted in after AAR problem over Scotland.......My last Rivet Joint.
Lakenheath was very slack as well - very few movements. Think I heard the F-15s coming back from Albacete late on.
Tomorrow is another day. So, let's hope for a decent number of movements!!
Cheers,
Bob
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Post by Jeff on Oct 8, 2016 11:59:12 GMT
Hi Bob, sounds like your having fun...2 x C-5M expected today; 86-0025 eta 1325L with RCH269 and 86-0017 due after 15;00 with RCH633
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Post by rh226 on Oct 8, 2016 12:29:56 GMT
Cheers, Jeff. Certainly am having a good time.
Don't think that "RCH633"/86-0017 has got off from McGuire (again!!) and the other is on long finals as I type. Don't need either anyway.
Last two LN F-15s from Red Flag are on their way back over the pond at present with "CLEAN33" 62-3568. Don't need any of these either!!
Rumour has it that 4 Hickam KC-135s are due through tomorrow. From the serials given to me, I don't need any of them. Oh dear!! EDIT:- Now known to be next weekend, not this one.
All the best,
Bob
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Post by rh226 on Oct 8, 2016 21:46:32 GMT
Saturday 8th October
The nighttime peace was shattered at 03.21BST by "HUNK98" (Cobra Ball 61-2662/OF) departing on a mission, rapidly followed by "QUID447" (61-0299). "QUID448" also taxied but was stood down before take-off. Unfortunately, the mission was terminated early when "QUID447" developed an IFE (hydraulics failure) and "HUNK98" returned at 08.45BST. The QUID stooged around for a time burning off fuel and then landed successfully, but had to be towed off the runway due to lack of steering.
Visitors:- 59-1522 KC-135R 108ARS/Illinois ANG....had to hold while the IFE "QUID447" landed. Going back to CONUS. 86-0025 C-5M 436AW 62-3568 KC-135R 22ARW......................"CLEAN33"...brought "TABOR83 Flt" back from the US (at last -should have been back 10 days ago!!) 62-4138/OF RC-135W 55Wg........................"OLIVE21"....will be staying for a while
Lakenheath 98-0135/LN b F-15E 492FS )........"TABOR83 Flt" 91-0315/LN b F-15E 492FS )
Think that is now a full house at Lakenheath apart from the 4 x F-15Cs on rework at WR-ALC.
Our last night tonight as we are leaving for Wiltshire around midday tomorrow. The books show a busy morning (7 x KC-135, 1 x KC-10, 1 x C-5), so fingers crossed that they all come in (before I depart, of course).
Cheers,
Bob
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Post by rh226 on Oct 9, 2016 20:00:18 GMT
All good things come to and end. Had to get back, otherwise would have stayed another week.
Sunday 9th October
58-0083 KC-135R 166ARS/Ohio ANG 85-0027 KC-10A 305AMW...................The usual Sunday KC-10 flight. Quick turn round and off to Ramstein 62-3511 KC-135R 166ARS/Ohio ANG 86-0017 C-5M 436AW......................Finally made it off the deck at McGuire!! Quick turn round and off to Ramstein 60-0347 KC-135R 166ARS/Ohio ANG 64-14840 KC-135R 166ARS/Ohio ANG 59-1480 KC-135T 6AMW
and after I left:-
61-0293 KC-135RT 22ARW.....................This is the other ART bird that I have already seen (see remark for 4th October) 168204 UC-12W SPMAGTF-CR-Africa..."ATILA04"...already been to Shannon and Prestwick....was due in at 15.30BST, but I could not stay.
The 4 Ohio ANG tankers are going out East and are the start of the big ANG change-over - which continues all next week. It's a week late compared to past years!!
Only other thing known for next week is an MC-130H sometime.
That's it, I'm afraid, until next year. It's been a great time - made 58 in total, so cannot really complain. To all my viewers, thank you for staying the course.
All the best,
Bob
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Post by bizfreeq on Oct 10, 2016 5:35:46 GMT
Excellent reporting Bob,made great reading each day! The 'Atilla' went straight back to Germany as far as I know and passed the Hall by. It was running about an hour late. Cheers Mark
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Post by brizewatcher on Oct 10, 2016 19:03:06 GMT
Thanks for the reports Bob, look forward to next year! Hope you had a safe journey back to Wiltshire!
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Post by rh226 on Oct 10, 2016 19:53:27 GMT
Thanks both. Glad you enjoyed the commentary - it was fun doing it.
Had an excellent run back - made it back to the house in under 5 hours including 4 stops as well as dropping the caravan off in its storage place.
We're definitely looking forward to next year, probably late April (after the Easter school holidays!!) when we will go up again. Hopefully more nice machines then - fingers crossed.
All the best
Bob
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Post by christoff on Oct 10, 2016 20:10:09 GMT
Thanks for all the reports Bob, Its been a pleasure to read them. Nice to know you got home safely and hope the skies stay clear for you.
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Post by rh226 on Oct 10, 2016 20:18:43 GMT
Thanks, Chris.
Just finalising my logs prior to writing them up in the "proper" book. If luck is with me, Doug MacDonald ("banterops" blogsite) will provide some LN F-15 serials that I was not able to read off at the time - but he is always a week behind, so it will take a while.
Meanwhile, caught my last Atlas ZM409 today, having missed it on delivery the day before I went up to Mildenhall.
Cheers,
Bob
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Post by graham on Oct 14, 2016 17:51:40 GMT
Cracking reports Bob, great reading and looks like you had a good time. Thanks for taking the time to post them all, it's much appreciated.
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