Exercise Sirio, Gando air base

[Geoff Dreft]

Didn’t arrive this morning until 11.15 so may have missed some earlier arrivals but in order, the following have been seen so far, until 13.10: –

T.23-11/31-31 A400 - departed 12.35 as Dumbo 02, #
C.15-21/15-07 F-18 Tiger markings on tail
C.15-22/15-09 F-18
C.15-16/15-03 F-18
C.15-67/15-33 F-18
C.15-27/15-14 F-18
C.15-52/11-52 EF-2000
C.16-38/11-38 EF-2000
TK23-07/31-27 A400
CE.16-04/11-04 EF 2000
C.16-46/11-46 EF 2000
C.16-58/14-58 EF 2000 #
??/14-66 EF 2000 tail marking for 50th anniversary of Ala 14
C.16-59/14-59 EF 2000 #
C.16-77/14-77 EF 2000
C.15-90/46-18 F-18 arrived in formation with the four Ala14 EF 2000s before it
T.21-05/35-05 C.295M
C.16-33/11-32 EF 2000
C.16-43/11-43 EF 2000

Aircraft marked # have “Pacific Skies 2024” badge on tail

[Geoff Dreft]

Further arrivals between 13.19 and 14.40 were:

C.15-81/46-09 F-18
T.21-12/35-12 C.295M as Azor 03
T.24-01/452-01 A330
C.16-67/14-67 EF 2000

In the pens, not seen flying, were:

C.15-92/not noted F-18
C.15-80/46-08 F-18

[Neil D]

From my photos. Four Hornets arrived just after 0930L

C.15-65/12-23
CE15.11/12-74
C.15-68/12-26
C.15-56/12-14

T.19B-23/09-502. Guardia Civil CN.235 at 1510L
The A.330 departed

Neil

[sschofield]

Didn’t arrive this morning until 11.15 so may have missed some earlier arrivals but in order, the following have been seen so far, until 13.10: –

T.23-11/31-31 A400 - departed 12.35 as Dumbo 02, #
C.15-21/15-07 F-18 Tiger markings on tail
C.15-22/15-09 F-18
C.15-16/15-03 F-18
C.15-67/15-33 F-18
C.15-27/15-14 F-18
C.15-52/11-52 EF-2000
C.16-38/11-38 EF-2000
TK23-07/31-27 A400
CE.16-04/11-04 EF 2000
C.16-46/11-46 EF 2000
C.16-58/14-58 EF 2000 #
??/14-66 EF 2000 tail marking for 50th anniversary of Ala 14
C.16-59/14-59 EF 2000 #
C.16-77/14-77 EF 2000
C.15-90/46-18 F-18 arrived in formation with the four Ala14 EF 2000s before it
T.21-05/35-05 C.295M
C.16-33/11-32 EF 2000
C.16-43/11-43 EF 2000

Aircraft marked # have “Pacific Skies 2024” badge on tail

Thanks for the log Geoff, a good haul! No overseas participation this year? There were Greek, Turkish and Portuguese F-16s last year!




...which was nice...

[sschofield]

From my photos. Four Hornets arrived just after 0930L

C.15-65/12-23
CE15.11/12-74
C.15-68/12-26
C.15-56/12-14

T.19B-23/09-502. Guardia Civil CN.235 at 1510L
The A.330 departed

Neil

Thanks for the additions Neil. The CN235 coded 09-502 should be T.19B-22.

[Neil D]

From my photos. Four Hornets arrived just after 0930L

C.15-65/12-23
CE15.11/12-74
C.15-68/12-26
C.15-56/12-14

T.19B-23/09-502. Guardia Civil CN.235 at 1510L
The A.330 departed

Neil

Thanks for the additions Neil. The CN235 coded 09-502 should be T.19B-22.

Thanks, Stuart. Don't collect serials but probably just mistyped.

Three Portuguese F-16s arrived late afternoon yesterday. It's a Sirio exercise, I thought not as big as Ocean Sky. Which one was last year?

Neil

[sschofield]

From my photos. Four Hornets arrived just after 0930L

C.15-65/12-23
CE15.11/12-74
C.15-68/12-26
C.15-56/12-14

T.19B-23/09-502. Guardia Civil CN.235 at 1510L
The A.330 departed

Neil

Thanks for the additions Neil. The CN235 coded 09-502 should be T.19B-22.

Thanks, Stuart. Don't collect serials but probably just mistyped.

Three Portuguese F-16s arrived late afternoon yesterday. It's a Sirio exercise, I thought not as big as Ocean Sky. Which one was last year?

Neil

Last year was Ocean Sky, I assumed this was just a new (or different) name. They haven't exactly over-advertised the exercise, there's been almost nothing other than the NOTAMS for the airspace in use!

[Graham]

I left the area today and noted the 3 F'16's on the ramp.Any serials yet? I'm back again Thursday and Friday when if all 3 fly at some point I should be able to add them.I 'm told 2 flew pm today.

[acsmith117]

I have seen the Portuguese reported as 15107 15108 and 15112.

[Graham]

Many thanks

[Geoff Dreft]

Interesting arrival this morning, presumably not for the exercise, is Bolivian AF Falcon 900 FAB001

[acsmith117]

Today is a spotters day I think.
Anyone attending?

[Geoff Dreft]

Spottersday log, covering the morning mission. Sadly we were not taken anywhere near the ramp so there are undoubtedly some omissions, such as the Air Force helicopters that took part in the exercise.

TK.23-07/31-27 A400
FAB001 Falcon 900 FABolivia
CE.15-11/12-74 F-18
C.15-56/12-14 F-18
15107 F-16 FAP
15108 F-16 FAP
C.15-22/15-09 F-18
C.15-16/15-03 F-18
T.21-12/35-12 C295N
T.21-05/35-05 C295N
CE.16-04/11-04 EF-2000
C.16-46/11-46 EF-2000
C.16-43/11-43 EF-2000
C.16-38/11-38 EF-2000
D4-03/37-03 CN-235-100
**/14-58 EF-2000
C.16-59/14-59 EF-2000
C.15-77/46-05 F-18
C.15-75/46-03 F-18
C.15-27/15-14 F-18
C.15-90/46-18 F-18
C.15-80/46-08 F-18

C.15-81/46-09 F-18 towed to shelter
**/46-20 F-18 outside shelter didn’t fly in morning
**/46-21 F-18 outside shelter didn’t fly in morning

There were also two F-18s parked in a twin shelter close to the southern gate we entered through but I can’t say if they may have flown in the mission.

Geoff

[Geoff Dreft]

Replying to Stuart’s message above, the Air Force officer running the spottersday made a PowerPoint presentation about the base and whilst my Spanish didn’t get beyond counting to three, I think he said that Sirio and Ocean Sky would happen on alternating years. Incidentally, anyone know why “Sirio” which my phone tells me translates as Syrian?

[sschofield]

Spottersday log, covering the morning mission. Sadly we were not taken anywhere near the ramp so there are undoubtedly some omissions, such as the Air Force helicopters that took part in the exercise.

TK.23-07/31-27 A400
FAB001 Falcon 900 FABolivia
CE.15-11/12-74 F-18
C.15-56/12-14 F-18
15107 F-16 FAP
15108 F-16 FAP
C.15-22/15-09 F-18
C.15-16/15-03 F-18
T.21-12/35-12 C295N
T.21-05/35-05 C295N
CE.16-04/11-04 EF-2000
C.16-46/11-46 EF-2000
C.16-43/11-43 EF-2000
C.16-38/11-38 EF-2000
D4-03/37-03 CN-235-100
**/14-58 EF-2000
C.16-59/14-59 EF-2000
C.15-77/46-05 F-18
C.15-75/46-03 F-18
C.15-27/15-14 F-18
C.15-90/46-18 F-18
C.15-80/46-08 F-18

C.15-81/46-09 F-18 towed to shelter
**/46-20 F-18 outside shelter didn’t fly in morning
**/46-21 F-18 outside shelter didn’t fly in morning

There were also two F-18s parked in a twin shelter close to the southern gate we entered through but I can’t say if they may have flown in the mission.

Geoff

Thanks again Geoff. If by "twin shelter" at the Southern end, you mean the concrete one close to the end of the Eastern runway, that's the QRA shelter, so those 2 jets wouldn't be involved in the exercise.

[sschofield]

Replying to Stuart’s message above, the Air Force officer running the spottersday made a PowerPoint presentation about the base and whilst my Spanish didn’t get beyond counting to three, I think he said that Sirio and Ocean Sky would happen on alternating years. Incidentally, anyone know why “Sirio” which my phone tells me translates as Syrian?

Thanks! No idea what the significance of "Sirio" is either!

[TFSeagle13]

Sirio is the Spanish for Sirius meaning 'Bright Star'.

[Graham]

Noted flying in todays pm mission were 2 NH-90's that didn't show and of course departed in the wrong direction, anyone read these please?

[gimli]

Got my holiday timing slightly wrong and ended up flying out on Monday 21st at 12:55, so actually saw most of the arrivals other than the EUFI's after 13:00.

Noted from the observation deck of the terminal at about 11:15 on the Monday morning (in addition to Geoff's original post) were:
F/A-18 '46-20' was towed from the hangar area to the HAS area
F27 D2-02 to the left of the large hangar
AS332 HD.21-21/802-21 outside the same
Mirage F.1 '46-13' and a CASA 212 on the ramp between the hangars close by the sea
C295 that was in the hangar nearest to the sea and then pulled back onto the main ramp sometime around 12:00.
F/A-18 inside the hangarette behind the Ala 12 F/A-18s and another parked outside one of the HAS's at the top end.

Probable support for the Portuguese F-16's on Saturday 19th, on ground at 9:30 and departing at 10:50 was KC390 26901.

On Monday the 14th October I noted the following F/A-18's:
C.15-77/46-05 (from photo)
C.15-79/46-07 (from photo)
C.15-80/46-08 (from photo)
C.15-81/46-09 (from photo)
(C.15-82)/46-10
C.15-86/46-14 (from photo)

Also present that day were A330 T.24-01/452-01, C235 D.4-03, AS332 HD.21-21/802/21, EC-135 HU.26-05/09-303 (Guardia Civil) and A400 F-RBAB French Air Force.

Regards
Jim

[Graham]

The illusive NH-90's were noted again today(25th) departing on a mission around 19.00 hrs as I was sat on a plane. EF-18M C.15-35/15-22 was a lunchtime addition from Zaragoza and Casa 235 -300MPA EC-KEM/103 was outside civil side as we taxied out.