EX ARCTIC CHALLENGE/BALTOPS/SABRE STRIKE/AMPLE STRIKE 17

[Optic Watch]

CHILL is bang on ....well south I am afraid.

OW

[Gary]

Don't need tankers to get here. So don't require ALTRV.
As stated by others, Fairford NOTAM will be best indicator. But also as previously commented these can be very late.
Unless anybody picks up Gander and/or flight plan info.

They usually tank on the US side of the Atlantic, before crossing Here's an example of the cancelled res from last Friday

AR20(NE) New
05/26/2017 03:00
05/26/2017 05:00
ZBW
250
270

[martmpf]

Take your point and agree, but only because it doesn't make any sense to take off heavy with fuel and as such use more. Tank when airborne, as F15's and similar do here when on long trip.
Anyway Gary, I'm sure you know that. But info for those that don't is what this forum is all about.

[Rory76]

MYTEE 24 Flight is in bound OTBH (Al Udeid AB )

Not going to bother- Al Udeid's a bitch to get to at this time of night....

[page_verify]

Too soon logistically for the Buffs today - the ground crews will only just have got over their jetlag

[graham luxton]

The head of Global Strike Command is reported to have said bombers will arrive in June, so given that, the earliest they'll arrive is Thursday 1st.

[johnwayne]

The head of Global Strike Command is reported to have said bombers will arrive in June, so given that, the earliest they'll arrive is Thursday 1st.

Well 'Golf Lima' I reckon that would be consistent with 2014 & 2015 B52 arrivals for Sabre Strike - Fri 5 June in '15 & Thurs & Fri 2/3 June 2016 all mid/late afternoon in week preceding Baltops/Sabre Strike .Also if they were to come via an Arctic Challenge strike mission recovering to Fairford that would be consistent with earlier Arctic Challenge briefing suggesting B52 participation late in 2nd week i.e.1/2 June . We'll see !

[TS010]

Thursday arrival with a flypast at Valley for the families day again?

[sabrejet]

I thought so too: timing is similar so far.

[Stroudy]

With all of the extra personnel present compared to the last couple of years (I think I'm right on that?) and extra accommodation and storage/services areas of the base open at the moment than i recall seeing for the last couple of years, I wonder if there are more aircraft due than in recent years.. and here for slightly longer? This isn't an excited over optimistic post, just opening discussion based on resources arrived on base so far and sites I've seen around the base compared to the last few exercises.

Cheers.

[Spitfire88]

There was 169 on yesterday's 767 and 150 something on the first 767 flight so not 500 personal

[glendale]

in the local pub last night a friend of mine was talking to some usaf guys one said he was here for 10 days and another said he was here for 30 days also I don't know if the last 767 was it or not but a united airlines 767 or777 is due and this united rumour came from my neighbour who works at heathrow and has to go to fairford to handle the flight.im on base working tomorrow so hopefully I will have a bit more info if allowed to post it

[bizfreeq]

They are usually given over the radio to ops on the way in

[martmpf]

And were, reported on here. POB (Persons On Board). Probably for emergency provision in case?

[martmpf]

No problem
Incidentally, POB means ALL persons. Pilots, crew included.

[Lordhintonlewis]

It was 167 on the omni from barksdale and 169 on the atlas

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[graham luxton]

Re the POB - its passed to approach control in case the a/c crashes and that applies to all inbounds. Not all the personnel will arrive from the US, some will be European based and detached as required.

[martmpf]

I think what Graham refers to in the second part of his post are additional staff required for a significant deployment. Cooks and similar, security, Military Police, are just a few that come to mind. These are not aircraft type specific. So could be brought in from places much closer than the USA.

[StormsInAfrica]

All B-2 equipment arrived into Mildenhall before being taken to Fairford by road. Aircrew arrived on civvy flights into Heathrow.

[baz1]

indeed it did creates a nice diversion' only see what they want you to see