F-35s to Europe 15/04/2017.....to Lakenheath

[rh226]

NOTAM published for tomorrow Saturday 15/04/2017:-

G0173/17 - AIRSPACE RESERVATION
TR:6000N 03000W - 6000N 02500W - 6000N 02000W - 6000N 01500W - ORTAV
THE FOLLOWING SEPARATION WILL BE PROVIDED WITHIN OCEANIC AIRSPACE: MNPS 60NM, NON-MNPS 120NM.

FL240 - FL260,

15 APR 10:23 2017 UNTIL 15 APR 15:40 2017.

CREATED: 13 APR 14:50 2017

+1hr for BST

The grapevine (and FC) seems to think that this is for F-35s from 388FW at Hill AFB, UT.  However, no-one is saying where they are going.

Lakenheath, Marham, somewhere on the continent??  Your guess is as good as mine.

[rh226]

(Re-)quote from Scramble

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. NR-133-17
April 14, 2017
U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Fighter Aircraft to Deploy to Europe for Training
The U.S. Air Force will deploy a small number of F-35A Lightning II aircraft this weekend on a long-planned training deployment to Europe. The aircraft are scheduled to conduct training with other U.S. and NATO aircraft based in Europe for several weeks as part of the European Reassurance Initiative.
This training deployment signifies an important milestone and natural progression of the F-35 program, allowing the Air Force to further demonstrate the operational capabilities of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It also assists in refining requirements for eventually basing the F-35A in Europe, which is scheduled to receive the aircraft in the early 2020s.
Once the aircraft arrive in Europe, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. European Command will release additional information as it becomes available about the F-35A’s training deployment.
The F-35A is a fifth-generation fighter that provides the joint warfighter unprecedented global precision attack capability against current and emerging threats, while complementing the Air Force’s air superiority fleet. The F-35A is a multi-role precision attack fighter with unmatched lethality, survivability, and interoperability.

[rh226]

Saturday 15th April 2017

They are on their way.

It seems that Lakenheath will be their destination.....but could be wrong.

Mildenhall-based KC-135Rs "RCH069" 63-7999 [AE0390] and "RCH079" 61-0299 [AE0665] are dragging the waves of F-35As from 34FS/388FW based at Hill AFB, UT.  Also following is "RCH078" Maine ANG KC-135R 63-8872 [AE014E]

As at  10.30BST, "RCH069" was off the Southern tip of Greenland and "RCH079" was about halfway back towards Labrador.  Both are at FL260.

[Jeff]

F35 USAF c\s thud 11 through to 14
F35 USAF c\s alta 21 through to 24

09.23 reach68 rtb Bangor Maine
09.25 reach 69 pushed oceanic to cross 63_ 7999

[davebasing]

First pair of F35s just landed Lakenheath

[rh226]

Landed at 13.36BST, 1st wave serials

"Thud11" = 13-5072/HL......."388FW"
"Thud14" = 14-5098/HL

[Deleted]

Apr 15, 2017 13:33:04 GMT rh226 said:

Landed at 13.36BST, 1st wave serials

"Thud11" = 13-5072/HL......."388FW"
"Thud14" = 14-5098/HL

  5094
  5096
  5097 
  5102  Also In And Going Into Shelters
          x2 At Bangor In On Monday or Tuesday

[egcc]

It was only ever going to be Lakenheath, wasn't it? 

Thought about going this morning but then it's 8 F-35s, is it really worth £50 of fuel? Probably not! Thanks for keeping track everyone 

[rh226]

Thank you, Russ. First I have seen of serials being quoted.

All those are FY14.

Call signs were "ALTA21-24".

[rh226]

Thought to be staying (up to) two weeks - though a departure date of 24 April has been mentioned.

[rh226]

Looks like the other two are coming across tomorrow (Wednesday 19th April)

G0177/17 - AIRSPACE RESERVATION
TR: 6000N 03000W - 6000N 02500W - 6000N 02000W - 6000N 01500W - ORTAV
FLW SEPARATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED WITHIN OCEANIC AIRSPACE: MNPS 60NM, NON-MNPS 120NM.

FL250 - FL270,

19 APR 16:19 2017 UNTIL 19 APR 19:36 2017.

CREATED: 18 APR 13:50 2017

+1hr for BST

Possibly arriving about 19.30(?)

[rh226]

Wednesday 19th April 2017

16.57BST "RCH068" KC-135T 60-0339 [AE0483] Eastbound at FL260 is over the Atlantic dragging "THUD11" Flight of 2 F-35s.  Current Inmarsat position report at 60 01 00N, 039 00 00W

[rh226]

Serials of the newcomers are:-

Arr 19.49BST   "THUD11" = 13-5081/HL
Arr 19.51BST   "THUD12" = 14-5091/HL

[rh226]

The F-35s have been flying several sorties every (working) day so far - including some evenings.

Looks like they really want to get stuck in with the friendly opposition. Be interesting to know how they actually fared against the 4th generation fighters.

[rh226]

Tuesday 25th April 2017

F-35As 14-5094 and 14-5102 (as "CONAN01/02") departed at 08.35 this morning to Åmari AB, Estonia for an undisclosed period of time.

They were accompanied by "QUID89" KC-135R 63-8871.

Only a day trip.  They arrived back just after 19.00.

[rh226]

No flying today (3rd May), nor yesterday afternoon.

Looks like they are going home tomorrow (4th May). Possibly a second wave on the next day.

NOTAM published as follows:-

G0201/17 - AIRSPACE RESERVATION
TR1:FL250 FL270 MIMKU MOGLO ETARI 5500N 02000W - 5430N 02500W - 5400N 03000W
TR2:FL270 5400N 03000W - 5400N 02000W DOGAL
THE FOLLOWING SEPARATION WILL BE PROVIDED WITHIN OCEANIC AIRSPACE: MNPS 60NM, NON-MNPS 120NM.

FL250 - FL270,

04 MAY 09:10 2017 UNTIL 04 MAY 14:00 2017.

CREATED: 03 MAY 14:40 2017

+1hr for BST

Which would make departure somewhere around 08.45 - 09.00BST.

[bizfreeq]

Not far off Bob, it was a 9.20am departure as Thud 61 flight. Six took off, four carried on across the pond:
13-5072 Thud 61
14-5091 Thud 62
14-5097 Thud 63
14-5102 Thud 64

13-5081 Thud 65 and 14-5094 Thud 66 returned to Lakenheath after some general handling. I suspect these two will go tomorrow, Friday, with the other two that didn't fly today.

Cheers
Mark

[rh226]

That was because of the tankers "faffing" about. They originally wanted a 29 departure instead of 11, then changed their mind and had to trek up the other end.

Mildenhall-based KC-135R/Ts "RCH080" 59-1471 and "RCH081" 61-0321 will accompany them across the Atlantic.

"RCH082" 63-8871 will turn back at 30W and RTB Mildenhall.

[rh226]

No NOTAM as yet (21.50BST), so I would guess that the remaining four will wait for today's tankers to return.

[bizfreeq]

Perhaps a weekend departure then Bob....that'll give those that haven't been yet a chance of seeing some if it goes that way!
Cheers
Mark

[rh226]

It is a Sunday departure, Mark. Here is the NOTAM:-

G0209/17 - AIRSPACE RESERVATION
TR1: FL250/FL270 KUGUR MOGLO ETARI 5500N 02000W 5430N 02500W 5400N 03000W
TR2: FL270 5400N 03000W 5400N 02000W DOGAL
THE FOLLOWING SEPARATION WILL BE PROVIDED WITHIN OCEANIC AIRSPACE: MNPS 60NM, NON-MNPS 120NM.
FL250 - FL270,
07 MAY 10:10 2017 UNTIL 07 MAY 15:00 2017.
CREATED: 05 MAY 14:59 2017

+1hr for BST

Departure around 10.00BST - give or take a bit..

[rh226]

Sunday 7th May 2017

Everything went smoothly this morning.

KC-135s "RCH090-092" departed at 10.06-10.07 and the F-35s "ALTA71-74" at 10.10. Routed up the usual way > MAM > LEE  > LUK and then hard left for MIMKU.

"RCH090"  KC-135T   59-1471 )......will take the F-35s to CONUS

"RCH091"  KC-135R   61-0321 )

"RCH092"  KC-135R   63-8871........will return to Mildenhall from 30W.

All gone now.

Question to ponder.......

With F-35As now attending the Paris Air Show, will they stage through Lakenheath on the way to/from the show?  Or, even, will they operate from Lakenheath?

[bizfreeq]

Or will it be the Italian built one that appears at Paris? First flight was this past week I believe
Cheers
Mark

[rh226]

That was the Italian F-35B (BL-01) that has just flown.

No, they will be USAF ones.  See

.

[bizfreeq]

And I'd already read that too! Senior moment Bob, and a couple of beers! 😄
Cheers
Mark