'Unknown' aircraft at Akrotiri

[radar101]

I most certainly didn't see one in Akrotiri or Alconbury and I've never seen a SR71 in Okinawa.

I didn't see them both in a hangar on the W coast of the USA

[mikemmb]

Originally Posted by Herod

That's the aircraft that wasn't there in 1975, and still wasn't there when I went back in 2004.

Thats definitely the one that also wasn’t there in c1969-72!

[Dougie M]

I believe that ATC in Akrotiri had a close encounter once.

[Tashengurt]

Originally Posted by Dougie M

I believe that ATC in Akrotiri had a close encounter once.

They didn't see that one coming.

[Treble one]

An ATC cadet on my squadron was at Akrotiri for a Summer camp in the late 80's. He mentioned that there was an interesting type of aircraft that he'd never seen before.

[lightbluefootprint]

Originally Posted by Treble one

An ATC cadet on my squadron was at Akrotiri for a Summer camp in the late 80's. He mentioned that there was an interesting type of aircraft that he'd never seen before.

I was there on camp around that time. I remember some VRT type come rushing out of the camp office shouting at all in earshot not to take any pictures of that aeroplane that isn't there as it didn't roar away on take off

[golfbananajam]

I too remember not seeing it there several times and not hearing it and not being given access to the hangar it wasn't kept in

[Tashengurt]

I know everyone likes to thonk they've seen something secret but would anyone really get worked up about a few photos of a U2?
ISTR one doing curcuits at Sculthorpe when I was visiting in the early 90s.

[MATELO]

Originally Posted by chevvron

a 'strange' aircraft lined up on 28.

Originally Posted by chevvron

Don't know how long it will be there

Just as long as it completes it's take off run and rotates gently into the sky at 15k fpm.

[HaveQuick2]

Something, somewhere.....

[obnoxio f*ckwit]

One definitely did not come and do a couple of circuits at Swinderby in 92, oh no...

[oldmansquipper]

Hmmm.

Looks a bit like the 'unknown' that was parked just behind ATC in the early 70s.

I think the other 'unknown' parked to the south of the runway is a covert explorative stealth super nondescript aircraft. Scary stuff. 😱

[Tashengurt]

Originally Posted by MG

Much more interesting, I happened to just be going down a Google Maps wormhole and was looking at NAS North Island, San Diego. Someone’s had an unplanned end to their sortie on runway 36.

Indeed, the port wingtips missing!!
Actually, looking closely you can see he's taken the cable too.

Google shows its probably an aircraft that was involved in a collision in Nov 2016.
The other F18 involved crashed but the pilot is reported as being rescued.

[brakedwell]

It wasn't there when I wasn't there for the last time in 1974.

[cargosales]

Didn't see it on any of my several visits to Akrotiri. There were often 'weather balloons' to be seen there but nothing like a U2. And I never heard anything like the following either

"AKT Approach this is Weather Balloon 123. 80 miles out with engine failure"

"WB 123, ok, we'll launch the rescue boats"

"No need Akt, I'll just glide in"

[Airbubba]

Those OLIVE missions in the Med have been going on for at least four decades I would say.

Nice U-2 flyover at last night's NCAA College Football Championship Game:

A U-2 Spy Plane Just Did The Flyover For The College Football National Championship Game - The Drive

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by lightbluefootprint

I was there on camp around that time. I remember some VRT type come rushing out of the camp office shouting at all in earshot not to take any pictures of that aeroplane that isn't there as it didn't roar away on take off

We were on the beach at the east end of the SBA near the harbour when one came in to land; far from being a VRT type (like us) who tried to stop us photographing it, the Deputy ACLO was running round shouting 'you can't take a picture of that'.
He also tried it when a decidedly non standard looking Nimrod came in to land later.
As for noise, they generally took off as we were walking across to the mess for brekky about 7am noisy buggers.

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by Tashengurt

I know everyone likes to thonk they've seen something secret but would anyone really get worked up about a few photos of a U2?
ISTR one doing curcuits at Sculthorpe when I was visiting in the early 90s.

Southbound on the A1 in a coach in '87, someone said 'ooh look, big gliders'. It was 3 of them in the circuit at Alconbury.

[KPax]

Google is your friend.

1. 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing Detachment 3, RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus (U-2)

Initially Central Intelligence Agency Detachment "G" (August 1970) after Egypt/Israel Suez Canal fighting and cease fire. Later permanent monitoring of Middle East Ceasefire after 1973 Yom Kippur War. Became 100th SRW OL "Olive Harvest" (1974). Turned over to 9th SRW September 1976, the U-2 operation at RAF Akrotiri continued to be called Operating Location OH until September 1980, then it became Detachment 3 of the 9th SRW, although the name OLIVE HARVEST continues. Two U-2's are stationed at RAF Akrotiri and they are still monitoring the ceasefire agreement between the Egypt and Israel although the present operations in Central Command requires further missions. U-2's also transit through RAF Akrotiri either on going into USAFCENT theater or returning to Beale AFB.

[ACW599]

Originally Posted by obnoxio f*ckwit

One definitely did not come and do a couple of circuits at Swinderby in 92, oh no...

And it couldn't possibly have been the same one that did two rollers at Shawbury -- of all places -- about the same time.