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WAVE rumour this week was Tuesday 12 is the day planned for the new shinny jet to arrive.
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Jet In Vitro, correct.
09:30 arrival scheduled for 12th so let's hope it's not raining too much that day or perhaps a visit to East Midlands will be required!!!!! |
You Are Correct - approximately.
I talked with one of the UK air attachés this week at our Washington Branch meeting of the RAeS. The first RC is due to Waddington sometime this week. It will then move to Mildenhall when the runway work begins.
The concerns about the different board discussions are being addressed and there should be no delay with putting the Airseeker into service by the IOC date next October. |
Rivetman, or a hint of any cross wind!
Good luck. I hope they have a good day and are allowed to fly the aircraft as intended soon. JIV |
JIV,
Fortunately no crosswind forecast-only a damp runway expected later today. Believe the 51Sqn 'toy' is now on a refuelling stop Bangor with an arrival time still circa 09:30 today. Thereafter the interesting issue will be next flight, under UK MAA regulations with a UK crew and to a UK TAA authorised RTS. Don't believe this will be as easy as many knowledgeable RAF Officers at Waddington expect. It is one thing (and relatively easy) for MOD/ Defence Equipment to deliver an aircraft to a US Design; Certification and Qualification standard and 'off the shelf' however under current MAA Regulations in the UK it is something else getting someone within the DH chain to take ownership of the risk. This will now be the challenge and will be the key issue is getting 664 into the air again over the coming months - though my guess is it is highly unlikely to fly again in '13 and perhaps well into '14. To all those involved in the programme obtaining the relevant legacy certification evidence and deriving a UK compliant certification strategy for 664 I wish you well - the day of reckoning has now arrived!! |
ZZ664 has arrived, callsign Vulcan51...
-RP |
Think I saw it on whilst I was on the school run* this morning.
*no, I don't run per se. |
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Flight Magazine
The first of the 3 Rivet Joint / Airseekers for the RAF touched down at RAF Waddington at about 0940 this morning.
Quite important UK Military Aviation News I would have thought. But nothing yet on the UK’s Premier Aviation magazine’s web site. BD PS Don't worry. Doesn't matter, Flight has mentioned the second A400M for the Armee de l’Air. |
0940CET maybe, 0848Z by my watch when it landed.
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[quoteThis will now be the challenge and will be the key issue is getting 664 into the air again over the coming months - though my guess is it is highly unlikely to fly again in '13 and perhaps well into '14.
][/quote] Sod's Law will ensure it'll now be broken during Anti-Det maintenance, or some component unobtainable from the supply chain will go out of life during the time the PT and the MAA will take putting all the paperwork for RAF flights in place. ;) |
The first of the 3 Rivet Joint / Airseekers for the RAF touched down at RAF Waddington at about 0940 this morning |
the 51Sqn 'toy' is now on a refuelling stop Bangor with an arrival time still circa 0
Is it too much to ask for others not to post accurate flight timings and details on a public forum? Blimey.
Or did I miss the memo where OPSEC was discarded? Has it really just gone away now? Bead...frickin'...window! :ugh: If, however, OPSEC doesn't apply to you, (your missus, her tennis partners and their friends, etc)....kindly disregard and keep posting other people's detailed business to your hearts content. :D But it would be greatly appreciated if you didn't...! TM |
Nice to see the goose flying again :ok:
Regards, Den. |
Flight International might not mention it but.........
U.K. Takes Delivery Of First RC-135 Rivet Joint |
Hurray, is there a slot next to the Vulcan to park it.:ok:
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Good to see the journos getting it right
First British rivet joint aircraft delivered to RAF Waddington | This is Lincolnshire |
RAF Press Release here ...
Air Vice-Marshal Phil Osborn, Director of Capability at Joint Forces Command said ... “The delivery of the first of 3 Rivet Joint aircraft to the UK is a critical step in the re-establishment of a world class UK airborne signals intelligence capability. I know that the RAF and Defence are looking forward to operating this key capability and building on the unique history of 51 Squadron. We plan to have our AIRSEEKER programme comprising all 3 Rivet Joint aircraft, with their highly skilled aircrew, groundcrew and analysts, fully operational by mid-2017.” http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...9833D2D0F9.jpg http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...57F47C9DED.jpg http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...874DFA2B7E.jpg Image Credit : MOD RAF |
Mid 2017 - is that correct?
Surely by then all the currently qualified aircrew will be tourex/posted? |
Who ferried it - An RAF crew, a USAF crew or a L3 crew
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