Something for those who are bored with forum politics

[stevestrat]

Years ago one of the guys I worked with, his thing was aircraft. He was on holiday, Yugoslavia or somewhere like that, got nicked taking photos of military aircraft from the perimeter fence of an airfield. Spent two days convincing them he wasn't 007

[MSS]

Originally Posted by trikey

Any update on the Antonov? I’m looking to go down tonight after work if it’s still there.

I've just got back having collected the kid's Corsa.


Will take a drive out to Wattisham about 3:30-4:00 and will put a message on here if the aircraft is still there.



No message, no aircraft!

[trikey]

Originally Posted by mss

I've just got back having collected the kid's Corsa.


Will take a drive out to Wattisham about 3:30-4:00 and will put a message on here if the aircraft is still there.



No message, no aircraft!

Nice one 👍👍

[MSS]

Unfortunately there's no plane there now, just a few Apache's.


I guess it must have gone this morning.

[trikey]

Originally Posted by mss

Unfortunately there's no plane there now, just a few Apache's.


I guess it must have gone this morning.

Bloomin typical, thanks for the update

[stevestrat]

Originally Posted by mss

Unfortunately there's no plane there now,

Maybe they've hidden it

[MSS]

Originally Posted by Ross R75

C-17 is usually the machine of choice for transporting anything from Gazelle to Chinook to where they need to be. AN-124 is prohibitively expensive. The only time I've seen one used was to the Falklands carrying outsize equipment that could only have gone by sea otherwise.

Saif Sareea 3 is about to start in Oman. That has a Challenger 2 Squadron, a Warrior Armoured Infantry Battle Group, a CVRT Squadron, Puma and Chinook. The armoured vehicles go by sea.

The C-17 and An-124 are in a different league as cargo carriers. AN-124 is roughly equivalent to a C5 Galaxy, although the former carries a slightly larger load.

The AN-124 was heavily used by Nato countries during the Afganistan operation to carry multiple helicopters, hence its many visits to various UK airfields.

Do a google search and you will see just how widespread Nato use and visits to Nato countries including the UK have been.

[MSS]

Originally Posted by stevestrat

Maybe they've hidden it

Maybe the Russians have developed stealth?

[Borg Warner]

Perhaps the reason for the Antonov recently spotted at Wattisham:

The Army say Apache gunships have opened fire with rockets and cannons as they prepare for a major exercise in Oman.

The Apache attack helicopters of 664 Squadron, 4 Regiment Army Air Corps will be taking paurt in Exercise Saif Sareea 3, among more than 4,000 British personnel from all three services training alongside the Omani military in October.

“To confirm its readiness 664 Sqn, based at Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk, has been put through its paces this week on Exercise Archers Alastor (28 – 30 Aug). Air crew carried out day and night qualification shoots with CRV7 rockets and 30mm cannon at Holbeach Air Weapons Range in Lincolnshire, with the Apaches replenished at a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point (FARP) – the military equivalent of a Formula 1 pit stop – at Sculthorpe airfield in Norfolk.”

Major David Mills, Officer Commanding 664 Sqn AAC, said:

“Exercise Saif Sareea is a fantastic opportunity which will showcase all of the Squadron’s equipment, capabilities and people. We’re overcoming the logistic challenges of shipping the Apache, including all of the associated equipment and munitions by sea to Oman, and are ready for the complexities of maintaining the Apache in the desert and operating in support of British armoured infantry and our Omani partners.

Before we deploy it’s been great to get the Squadron out on our home turf for a final test of our skills – both on the ground and in the air, and including the first CRV7 rockets fired at Holbeach.”

Oman will be the first overseas exercise for many of 664 Sqn’s junior soldiers, such as aviation groundcrew specialist Airtrooper Ben Bowes-Bellamy.

The 19-year-old from Blackpool said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge. My role is about refuelling and rearming the Apache, and doing that in the desert in Oman will be a different and demanding environment to test my skills.”

[MissMoppet]

I was at the Yeovilton Air Day when Apaches first came there a few years ago and there was of course considerable interest as there was talk of them being made/assembled at Westlands. There was a big radome on the front and as we were wondering what was inside, a US airman came up, opened and swung it open. It was empty apart from . . . his sandwiches.