INFO: U-2's @ Fairford 04/12/14

[RJB]

At time 05:15 two aircraft are outside the main hangars, nose-on and with ground crews in attendance. One aircraft is fully visible inside the partially opened hangar.

Rgds,

Richard

[Stroudy]

Can anyone give an ETD please? I'll be driving past at 7:20am but cant stop for long.

[RJB]

Sorry, first one airborne at 06:38. No hex code showing on SBS.

Rgds,

Richard

[EGLL_EGGW-Spotter]

"337" should be in the hangar

Blog: http://www.bzzspotters.blogspot.com
Google Groups: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en# ... zzspotters

[Knife 04]

Dragon 53 now airborne and plotting on PP heading North

AE0968 - 80-1094

[SamP]

Dragon 53 now airborne and plotting on PP heading North

AE0968 - 80-1094

This should be 80-1086, so looks like a box swap. Unusual on an East bound jet!

[Knife 04]

Cheers Sam - did not see '1094 on the list from yesterday but this is the number plotting on PP

Interestingly he headed North initially and is now plotting heading back South - to gain height I guess

Cheers

Darren

[Knife 04]

Now on 275.62

[StormsInAfrica]

Is there still one due in today? Rumour has it there is?

[big john]

Dragon 53 now airborne and plotting on PP heading North

AE0968 - 80-1094

This should be 80-1086, so looks like a box swap. Unusual on an East bound jet!

The box swap took place sometime last year as it was 086 in January this year,

[Pune]

Notam removed..

[RJB]

The third aircraft has now been pulled out of the hangar and parked next to this facility with the engine blanks in place and (currently) no ground crew in attendance.

Hangar doors were wide open when I returned here a few minutes ago, but are now being shut at time 11:19.

Am I correct in thinking that without a Notam in place there can be no permitted arrival of the 4th aircraft today? (excuse my ignorance).

Rgds,

Richard

[Pune]

U3860/14 - AD AND RWY 09/27 OPEN. AVAILABLE FOR SCHEDULED MOVEMENTS ONLY. 04 DEC 12:00 2014
UNTIL 04 DEC 13:30 2014. CREATED: 04 DEC 11:13 2014

[Pune]

Any movements down your way!!

[Knife 04]

Dragon 31 on 278.600 inbound

Edit looking for 09

[StormsInAfrica]

Do we think they will be leaving tomorrow morning?

[Knife 04]

Switched to 133.75

Descending from 10.5 to 6 thousand

[RJB]

80-1087 now parked outside main hangar. 68-10337 still parked beside hangars at time 13:00.

Rgds,

Richard

[POL]

Am I correct in thinking that without a Notam in place there can be no permitted arrival of the 4th aircraft today? (excuse my ignorance).

As far as I know, the airfield isn't shut, so they don't really need a NOTAM in place for aircraft to arrive/depart, they just do so as it's so infrequent.

[big john]

Not shut, but in standby mode, so in theory must be activated by Notam. Even if something is on short finals, as happened earlier this year.