Seen Over Your House Today

bobbo · January 31, 2013, 11:43:15 AM

On my way home from work - no camera, of course! - Watched a USAF C-32 leaving Dover AFB.

bobbo

PR19_Kit · February 05, 2013, 08:13:45 AM

While I was en route down the A40 toward Oxford yet again, along the Witney Bypass which runs almost parallel to the 27 runway at Brize Norton, there was a NATO E-3 Sentry doing circuits!

It wasn't a RAF one as it had TF-33 engines and it was very pale grey, too grey for the USAF versions I thought. Goodness knows why they'd be needing practice there, but it occured to me that it may have been an RAF 'Rivet Joint' crew learning to handle the TF-33s before they get their VERY ancient aeroplanes. (....more ancient than the Nimrod R2s that were stolen from away from them....

)

scooter · February 05, 2013, 09:56:38 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 05, 2013, 08:13:45 AM

It wasn't a RAF one as it had TF-33 engines and it was very pale grey, too grey for the USAF versions I thought. Goodness knows why they'd be needing practice there, but it occured to me that it may have been an RAF 'Rivet Joint' crew learning to handle the TF-33s before they get their VERY ancient aeroplanes. (....more ancient than the Nimrod R2s that were stolen from away from them.... )

I'll join you in that, Kit. I've no idea why the USAF and NATO never re-engined the Sentry with CFMs, even though the C-135 fleet have had them for years

jcf · February 05, 2013, 10:24:09 AM

The RAF RC-135Ws are being converted from KC-135R airframes, all of which have CFM-56 engines, as do the
USAF RC-135s.
Not that it's much consolation but the three airframes chosen, the three youngest, went through the engine conversion and extensive rebuild process in the early '90s, which included major systems relacement and
upgrade, so at least from that standpoint they are relatively 'new'.

Captain Canada · February 05, 2013, 02:43:34 PM

I love watching 707 types do circuits....one of my favourite aeroplanes. I've got to get down to Selfridge one of these days and sit around and watch and wait. One time I saw 4 or 5 of them in the air, but I was driving on the hiway and had no camers....

PR19_Kit · February 05, 2013, 04:39:44 PM

I'd forgotten how smoky even the TF-33 engined ones were. You could see the Sentry coming for MILES!

lancer · February 06, 2013, 01:12:27 PM

Again, no camera, but no real chance to use one, but, I had to take my brother up to RAF benson yesterday for the tailors parade. Ended up sitting in the stores for 4 boring hours, but on leaving about middday, I got to see 4 Merlins spooling up on the apron along with a forlornley little looking oxford copper chopper just sitting there. Oh and a beautiful looking Spit PR19 asa gate guardian. Today all I get to see is a Chinook plodding around in the sky.

Captain Canada · February 06, 2013, 01:36:14 PM

Of course, after mentioning it, and not being my 'field day' at work, the boys were out near Selfrdge ( on our side, across the river ) and a MI ANG KC-135 flew right over them, ulktra low and did a nice bank.....and I've been bringing my camera every day too !

PR19_Kit · February 06, 2013, 02:27:56 PM

Quote from: lancer on February 06, 2013, 01:12:27 PM
Again, no camera, but no real chance to use one, but, I had to take my brother up to RAF benson yesterday for the tailors parade. Ended up sitting in the stores for 4 boring hours, but on leaving about middday, I got to see 4 Merlins spooling up on the apron along with a forlornley little looking oxford copper chopper just sitting there. Oh and a beautiful looking Spit PR19 asa gate guardian. Today all I get to see is a Chinook plodding around in the sky.

What's a tailors parade and why was it at Benson?

I think that 'PR19' on the gate is actually a PRXI and it's a 1/1 scale model. Or it was when I was there last a few years ago anyway. It's darn near perfect though, even at close ranges, even JMNs would be fooled.

Gondor · February 06, 2013, 03:14:14 PM

A Tailors Parade is when the tailors shop is open for anyone needing new uniforms or alterations to existing ones. Similar to Sick Parade and such, the Parade part obviously from the fact that it would occur in a military origination.

Gondor

Martin H · February 06, 2013, 03:20:38 PM

Quote from: joncarrfarrelly on February 05, 2013, 10:24:09 AM
The RAF RC-135Ws are being converted from KC-135R airframes, all of which have CFM-56 engines, as do the
USAF RC-135s.
Not that it's much consolation but the three airframes chosen, the three youngest, went through the engine conversion and extensive rebuild process in the early '90s, which included major systems relacement and
upgrade, so at least from that standpoint they are relatively 'new'.

heres the proof of the CFM's This one will be ZZ664.

Captain Canada · February 06, 2013, 04:44:35 PM

Nice ! I was caught in the middle of thinking how good they'd look if they kept their colours or if they were made to look more 'RAF' or Nimrod, I should say.....

PR19_Kit · February 07, 2013, 03:52:43 AM

That doesn't look at all bad, apart from the fact that is IS a Rivet Joint of course, but it does tend to re-inforce the point that it's 'borrowed' from the USAF. How long before they repaint them in Hemp or overall Barley Grey once they get to Waddington?

PR19_Kit · February 07, 2013, 03:53:59 AM

In passing, do those side cheek thingies have any connection with the IDF Phalcon pods on their 707s? They look very similar.....

Rheged · February 07, 2013, 04:07:54 AM

Apart from the Air Ambulance (4 or 5 times a week, most weeks) only a pair of very smoky Hercules (Herculi?) to report. They seemed to be heading for either the Spadeadam or Otterburn ranges.

We get regular visits by RAF and RN Sea Kings on casevac jobs. A neighbour who works in the local infirmary A & E department tells me that the Air Ambulance and RAF crews usually take in thermal mugs to have filled with coffee but the Navy crews are tea drinkers ; Earl Grey with lemon if available.