127 Air Refuellers have been busy lately. Of course They've flown directly overhead twice in the last week, but I wasn't ready. Then the US Customs/ Homeland Security boys have been out chopping up the air.

Quote from: Mossie on April 17, 2024, 08:00:25 AMLooked it up on Flightradar, it was listed as RAF and had a call name rather than a G- serial. Maybe we're still operating them...

Perhaps the BBMF have moved into the jet era?
We can only dream... 

It was probably one of these combat trainers flying out of RAF Leeming https://hunterteam.com/

Yes, I do mean 'seen out of your train'................ 

While travelling from Holyhead towards Euston a couple of days ago we passed RAF Valley on the Anglesey coast and while I was expecting to see a Hawk or three, I only managed to see one, and that was departing rapidly!



There were a couple of Jupiter helicopters stooging around too, and while I originally thought they must have come from Shawbury, it turns out that they are based at Valley for SAR work. I thought the MoD had contracted all SAR stuff out, but apparently not, thank goodness. At least I think they were Jupiters, telling a Juno from a Jupiter at those angles and distances isn't that easy.





But a few miles further on, as we passed the Airbus factory at Hawarden in Cheshire, came a REAL surprise! Parked right alongside the railway line were a couple of pretty derelict looking Su-17s, one single seater and one two seater! NOT what you expect to see in that part of the world,  and one can only ask 'Why?'





Not the best quality pics in the world, but not bad taken with a small digi-cam through the tinted, double glazed window of a train doing about 85 mph at the time!

The SAR Training Unit used to be at Valley - does it still exist?  That may explain the Jupiters.

Or maybe they were there simply because rattling through the valleys is part of the training syllabus.

Quote from: Nick on April 19, 2024, 05:39:51 PM

Quote from: Mossie on April 17, 2024, 08:00:25 AMLooked it up on Flightradar, it was listed as RAF and had a call name rather than a G- serial. Maybe we're still operating them...

Perhaps the BBMF have moved into the jet era?
We can only dream... 

It was probably one of these combat trainers flying out of RAF Leeming https://hunterteam.com/

I only saw it very briefly between houses so I couldn't make out the scheme, although I'm pretty sure it was a single seater.  The blurb said T2, which obviously isn't a Hunter mark and I'm almost certain it wasn't a trainer.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on April 19, 2024, 11:09:04 PMBut a few miles further on, as we passed the Airbus factory at Hawarden in Cheshire, came a REAL surprise! Parked right alongside the railway line were a couple of pretty derelict looking Su-17s, one single seater and one two seater! NOT what you expect to see in that part of the world,  and one can only ask 'Why?'

That's really something !

KC-10A Overhead yesterday.

Quote from: Mossie on April 20, 2024, 03:39:24 AM

Quote from: Nick on April 19, 2024, 05:39:51 PM

Quote from: Mossie on April 17, 2024, 08:00:25 AMLooked it up on Flightradar, it was listed as RAF and had a call name rather than a G- serial. Maybe we're still operating them...

Perhaps the BBMF have moved into the jet era?
We can only dream... 

It was probably one of these combat trainers flying out of RAF Leeming https://hunterteam.com/

I only saw it very briefly between houses so I couldn't make out the scheme, although I'm pretty sure it was a single seater.  The blurb said T2, which obviously isn't a Hunter mark and I'm almost certain it wasn't a trainer.

ADS-B Exchange says it was ZZ190 (callsign LEE92) which is a Hunter F.58. Ex Swiss Air Force. It was flagged as military because it was playing with a pair of RAF Embraer Phenom out of RAF Cranwell. They could have been learning how to meet up midair for refuelling ops etc

Sounds right.  It was LEE92 and I was pretty sure it was standard camouflage from the quick look I got.

Quote from: kitbasher on April 20, 2024, 02:54:41 AMThe SAR Training Unit used to be at Valley - does it still exist?  That may explain the Jupiters.

Or maybe they were there simply because rattling through the valleys is part of the training syllabus.

The official RAF Valley site says they are from 202 Sqdn and are based right there.

KC-46 overhead tonite.

Two British AH-64E Apache helicopters near my home yesterday. I also heard the same sound at our club shooting range on Saturday and Sunday. They are participating in one or more exercises in this part of Finland.
https://maavoimat.fi/en/-/1951206/british-ah-64e-apache-attack-helicopters-to-operate-from-pirkkala-air-base

Quote from: Captain Canada on April 24, 2024, 03:54:20 PMKC-46 overhead tonite.

See them over the house several times per year,
P-8 Poseidons as well. Of course living just a few
miles north of Paine Field has a lot to do with it.

Seen above, below and level with my recent holiday:
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A nice, eclectic mix!