Libya Update Thread - 48 hours for Libyan Freedom ??

[Mike]

On BBC now,it's 91-0304.

[zero_gravity]

U2 now over the area above FL600

[zero_gravity]

May just be a rotation flight inbound Fairford rather than a tactical mission

[SteveS]

Not seen a NOTAM that Fairford is open...

[T_J]

Not seen a NOTAM that Fairford is open...

Probably one out of RAF Akrotiri?

TJ

[T_J]

Haven't seen the footage, but it's probably be the safety pin for the flare dispensers. They would be pulled at the exit from the dispeersal or near the end of the runway to avoid the possibility of an inadvertent firing on a busy apron.

The pins/tags are on the flare dispensers and all the missiles. As you say it will be a safety measure.

TJ

[zero_gravity]

Not seen a NOTAM that Fairford is open...

Thinking about it the rotations usually go out east first then the replaced a/c comes back west , so its more likely an "active" flight

Looking at the way its being illuminated on PP I would say its well to the south of Malta , probably loitering off the Libyan coast line N of tripoli.....cameras rolling.

[quid21]

In case no-one saw it, there's video footage of the crash scene.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12819132" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

not sure I'd want to stand that close to the remains of an AIM-120C.........

Sorry about the other post, but I had no idea from the title of this thread that this thread would contain anything about the crash!! The thread title sounds more like a political discussion about the conflict, not specific details.

[22A]

1.00pm today and the TV news hit a new low for reporting. The reporter was outside a British Tornado base. A caption on the screen read "RAF Marham, Norfolk" but this reporter announced he was at RAF MarKham in Lincolnshire"!
A genuine mistake or
the level of reporting that is now accepted or
the basis of a fraudulent mileage claim?

[TankBuster]

Sad to see the wreckage of the LN F-15E on the TV, but I'm so glad the crew were ok.

I was very surprised to see that the aircraft is still as complete as it is after crashing, it must have floated or glided down to the ground as most fast jet crashes leave nothing more than small bits & pieces. Surely it must now be a target itself, although thats probably a bit difficult with the Rebels climbing all over it.


TankBuster

[Thunder]

Listening to the news over the last few days, I'm shocked at the poor quality of reporting both from poor information and the apparent lack of basic communication skills ie: poor spoken grammar, stuttering and spluttering and so on.

[Pune]

Pleased the F15 crew are safe and sound, looked from the images on the beeb at lunchtime that the serial ended in '304' if that is of help to anyone, amazing the airframe is still somewhat intact...
Cheers
Pune

[quid21]

Personally, reporting is reaching rock bottom especially with the Sky News Skystrator pile of crap........

[SteveS]

Spot on Jem, but let's try and stay on topic please all.

Steve

[Quixoticish]

It is probably not a requirement for a television cameraman to know one transport aircraft from another, nor for a specialist aircraft reporter to know everything about steam engines when reporting at a local fete.. Give these guys a break, will you, they are out of their comfort zone. We, on this site, are extremely knowledgeable about our subject, as were Reg. Turnbull and Raymond Baxter, knowledgeable aircraft people both, or are non-specialist reporters meant to be be experts in everything. If it makes you feel smug knowing more than they do, then.........fine............ You may consider the fact that some times, these guys can be in three countries on the same day, with absolutely no time to check up on the subject to any degree. But we know we could do a better job than them, of course.

Well said jem60. I wasn't aware that knowing what a C-17 is had somehow become a pre-requisite for being considered a regular human being. The reporter probably doesn't want to be there and was assigned there by his superiors. If people want a target for their flippant comments then they should perhaps direct it further up the hierarchy rather than at the one person who probably can't do a damn thing about it.

[SteveS]

Guys, please keep on-topic. People aren't looking at this thread for comments about journalist's qualifications.

[Vulcanone]

The F-15E reportedly came down near a rebel airbase, according to a post on PPRune.

TS

[Pune]

Well said, getting back to the subject, are Lakenheath's F15's now based elsewhere for operations do we know, or are they A2A refuelled there and back?
Do we have any contacts Fairford way that could shed any light on probability of op's there, B2's and the like?
Cheers
Pune

[rmt_1982]

The F-15E reportedly came down near a rebel airbase, according to a post on PPRune.

TS

Makes you wonder if it tried recovering there and dropped short..

[Thunder]

Do we have any contacts Fairford way that could shed any light on probability of op's there, B2's and the like?
Cheers
Pune

Do you honestly think anyone in the know would say so on an open forum?
Anyway the United States are keen to take a step back from this asap and there is no need to forward deploy any of the big 3 as was demonstrated over the weekend, so unless it goes to all out war I doubt it. These air strikes are just to take out AD and C+C of Libya in order to carry out the main mission of operating a "no fly zone" not to systematically destroy the Libyan Armed Forces.