KC2 Voyager flights RAF Brize Norton - Las Vegas and back

[aztecghost]

http://imgur.com/BqCFdDm
My apologies if this is in the wrong place but I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on some recently regular flights between RAF Brize Norton and Las Vegas using (at least) two KC2 Voyagers. Unless that information is on a need to know basis ;)

[Rhino power]

Moving personnel/equipment for, Red Flag?

-RP

[Onceapilot]

One of the perks of the job, old boy!;)

OAP

[MSOCS]

Reasons for military movements are not for public unless released by MoD channels.

Seriously, come on guys. Let's help our own, especially in the current climate.

[Capt Scribble]

Aircraft flying routes for TCX, maybe.

[RAFEngO74to09]

It is in the public domain that Typhoons from 41(R) Sqn are at Nellis AFB from time to time other than during Ex RED FLAG. For instance, 3 were there during Aviation Nation 2014 and one was on public static display with both aircrew and groundcrew.

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s553/RAFEngO74to09/Nellis%20AFB/025_zpskcgwmfcu.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/RAFEngO74to09/media/Nellis%20AFB/025_zpskcgwmfcu.jpg.html)

[SpringHeeledJack]

I'd heard that due to the latest craze of Roulette within the services, the RAF had laid on regular shuttles for the addicted to partake in their chosen vice in the welcoming embrace of Las Vegas. Maybe I heard wrong ?

[WE992]

Nice photo. Interesting that there are no barriers around the aircraft unlike at UK events.

[knarfw]

There's usually a painted line on the concrete. Cross it at your own risk iirc.

[RAFEngO74to09]

WE992,

The Aviation Nation airshow at Nellis AFB over the Veterans' Day weekend (November) is always a great show - very well organized - RIAT could learn a thing or too.

Easy access via the Interstate to free parking at the Speedway with zero traffic holdups - 50+ free shuttle coaches - 15 minutes to get through security and transit via coach to be standing in the display area.

Some static aircraft - particularly the high tech ones (F-22A, F-35A) and those with weapons displays on or off the aircraft (F-15E, F-15C, F-16C, A-10) are behind barriers but even these are positioned in such a manner that you can get a good unobstructed photo. Most other static display aircraft, if not also flying, you can walk around unobstructed.

USAFWC has enough aircraft types on strength to mount an excellent show even when funds for visitors are limited and there are always quite a few privately owned, immaculate heritage jets.

Also the barrier parallel to the active taxiway is fairly close so you can get great action shots with just a simple point and shoot non-SLR camera.

A few examples taken by me:

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s553/RAFEngO74to09/Nellis%20AFB/031_zpsq2mt89r5.jpg

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s553/RAFEngO74to09/Nellis%20AFB/029_zps2acmev3l.jpg

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s553/RAFEngO74to09/Nellis%20AFB/F-4E%20-%2012_zps6ogyeybo.jpg

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s553/RAFEngO74to09/Nellis%20AFB/046_zpsbl0qoztg.jpg

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s553/RAFEngO74to09/Nellis%20AFB/060_zpss054w9np.jpg

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s553/RAFEngO74to09/Nellis%20AFB/043_zpse6o83zci.jpg

[Rhino power]

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s553/RAFEngO74to09/Nellis%20AFB/F-4E%20-%2012_zps6ogyeybo.jpg

That's more like it! Not like those first two excuses for combat aircraft... :E

-RP

P.S. The F-86, MiG-15 and T-33 are pretty nice too!

[RAFEngO74to09]

I agree - the Holloman QF-4Es for the 2012 Show Season had immaculate paint jobs and were displayed to their best.



Getting paid to fly your personal F-86 as part of the USAF Heritage Flight and in Korean War reenactments with a Mig-15 is a pretty good gig too !

At Aviation Nation 2012 there were 3 x F-86 and an even nicer SAC "star spangled" scheme T-33.


http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s553/RAFEngO74to09/096_zpsjzjh8fc0.jpg

[Tankertrashnav]

One of the perks of the job, old boy! (OAP)

We took a Jaguar to Nellis in in 1974 for "hot and dry" trials. Took two Victors to get it there and we were very grateful for the Jag's INS when crossing the pond, as we had nothing more than astro. I remember sitting by the pool at our hotel in Las Vegas and remarking to one of the crew - "Do you realise we are getting paid to do this?"

Great pictures RAFEng :ok:

[brakedwell]

Hows about a serious outbreak of Gambling Fever at Brize?

[ORAC]

We took a Jaguar to Nellis in in 1974 for "hot and dry" trials. Took two Victors to get it there and we were very grateful for the Jag's INS when crossing the pond You remind me of when I was controlling a RWR trial between a Jag and an F4 in the same period. The trial required a 200nm 180 intercept with zero displacement.

The intercept was set up about 4 times but the displacement kept drifting out until, at the suggestion of one of ex-Nav(?) controllers, I asked the Jag pilot if he was flying True or Magnetic?

There was a prolonged pause until the pilot sheepishly replied, "I'm not sure really, I'm just flying along the line on the INS".

[MSOCS]

One hopes the vertical displacement wasn't zero, else the nav kit saved the day ORAC!

[RAFEngO74to09]

TTN,

I know what you mean. In the 1980s I was the lead Tornado GR1 SEngO for the RED FLAG season (3 x dets over 6 weeks in those days with officers in the Mardi Gras hotel and airmen in Circus Circus casino) and on my first recce trip to Nellis AFB led by an HQ 1 Gp wg cdr who had been before. To keep air transport costs down, we were supposed to use the RAF VC10 shuttle to Washington - Dulles then CIVAIR to Las Vegas and stay there for 5 days for a 2-day conference / recce.

Upon arrival at Dulles, the wg cdr arranged changing all our tickets and hotel bookings to go for a weekend in New Orleans and a day and night in Dallas - at neutral cost - to arrive in Las Vegas the day before the conference.

If it wasn't uncanny enough to be driving around Vegas in shorts and a short sleeved shirt in December, the wg cdr then announced "a few hours until the conference - time for a cocktail". Having collected all the freebies they gave away on the "Old Strip" in those days - souvenir coffee mug, almost free buffet salad coupons etc - we settled down on the chintzy couches and ordered a multi-colored cocktail at 1000 - just because we could.

This Belinda Carlisle video was on a large screen TV - the song became part of the soundtrack of my life and I too thought "I can't believe we're getting paid to do this !" Three trips in a tour and now it's my nearest big city.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOGEyBeoBGM

The whole travel / claims situation was not so flexible by the time I retired in 2009 - just going in a Service vehicle to Germany was a drama.

[Tankertrashnav]

the whole travel / claims situation was not so flexible by the time I retired in 2009

It was usual for the nav radar on a tanker crew to be the imprest holder on overseas trips. Even as early as 1974 payment by credit card was normal in US hotels so checkout usually produced a few comments from receptionists who weren't used to seeing large amounts in cash, as I handed over a bundle of $100 bills to settle our crew's account.

[chopper2004]

RAFEng

Very nice photos, only times I have been to Vegas is being for my annual sojourn to Heli Expo :) convention.

Last one in 2013 the UAE Mirage 2000 crews were staying in our hotel.....

I agree that RIAT or any other airshow (left :E) in the UK could learn the US way of hospitality and ease of letting attendees in either through the gates or by road.

If I am correct, Nellis, Edwards and other air bases, naval air stations, Open Houses / Air shows are free entry??

Fairford is nowhere off a main motorway but like with any other base. Tucked away in windy roads etc etc not designed for en mass thousand of cars/vans/coaches/trucks. Hell it took an hour queuing through to Whelford (and they made it so that there were two lanes of cars going through village ) as I came in via Croughton/Oxford way as it took only an hour or so from my neck of the woods to get to Oxfordshire as did not fancy M25/M4 (didnt matter cos on the second day found out the junction m25 to M4 was closed )

cheers

[mopardave]

Looking at the phantom pic, is it me, or does the pilot look like he's on his own? Would you ever have flown a Phantom alone......is it possible?
Apologies if that is a real spotters question!
MD
(bit of an FOD issue there with the brolly!)

[SASless]

Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flew the Phantom solo all the time during their Air Show Performances....and they did a darn nice job of it too!:ok:

[RAFEngO74to09]

choppe2004,

Certainly all the US military air base shows "near" me are entirely free. In my area, you can divide the distance by the speed limit and that's how long it takes to get there - unlike the UK in general and specifically Fairford !

mopardave,

Actually that Phantom is normally flown without even a pilot in it - it is / was one of the last of the QF-4E targets drones !

[mopardave]

good god.......every day is a school day! I've heard of them.....I just didn't think the pilot was "optional".....I assumed it was just a drone!!

thanks for clearing that up RAFeng.
:ok:

[Rhino power]

Actually that Phantom is normally flown without even a pilot in it - it is / was one of the last of the QF-4E targets drones !

Not quite true, that particular Phantom would be flown 'manned' until scheduled for 'termination' once it was out of airframe hours etc, where it would then gain dayglo orange outer wing panels and tail fin. There are still around 25-30 QF-4E's at Holloman AFB, they should last to the end of the year when the QF-4 programme is finally due to draw to a close, unless the QF-16's are still not up to speed, whereby they may soldier on for a while longer.

-RP

[ShotOne]

Perhaps they'll sell one or two off first. At least I hope they do. Not so far fetched as this probably sounds to UK ppruners; there's a private AV8, and a host of MiGs including at least one MiG29 on the display circuit.

[Rhino power]

Highly unlikely that the DoD will approve the sale of an airworthy F-4 to a private individual in the US, or elsewhere for that matter. It took an act of Congress to get approval for the Collings Foundation to operate their F-4D, and the USAF, among others, have been trying to reverse that decision ever since! They tried to get approval to add a F-105 to their flying collection as well and have been refused this request at every attempt...

-RP