Happened to pass by this morning, in the midst of a rain storm (the good for ducks type!). Got this photo through the car window (whilst parked, obvs!)

https://i.ibb.co/SBYHDYz/IMG-20210927-072405.jpg

Wooooosh! Blimey, Emirates A380 just whizzed over here and sounded like it was really shifting - apparently around 400kts <10000'.

A 32 kts tailwind component helps. :O

During the turn just after takeoff Mode S was showing 9° of drift.

Oh yes, it is quite breezy isn't it - hasn't blown the smell of emulsion out of my bedroom however... :hmm:

Visibility; where once there was darkness
 

I have only ever seen 'heavies' operating out of Mildenhall on ADS-B and nothing out of Mildenhall, recently (and I have not changed or updated anything) I have F15's visible. Any clues or have the USAF opted to turn on their transponders?

ISTM most military aircraft are now on FR24, including B-52s, but a Hungarian Falcon visiting Gatwick yesterday was not visible at all.

Any operator can request FR24 to suppress its aircraft. I can't say I'm surprised that Orbán's government is one.

The HUAF FA7X that visited Gatwick on Sunday was certainly visible on Mode S receivers.

Bolar 11 airborne from Lakenheath showing as a FY63 T-38! Me thinks something is erroneous in the land of Uncle Sam. It's actually in formation with an F-15 also calling Bolar 11...

That's a little unfair to our colonial cousins, given that the aircraft won't actually have been transmitting either identity or type.

Put it down to how up-to-date (or not) is the database behind whichever tracker you're using.

I'm only jealous because I don't think I've ever seen a Talon. :O

Tend to agree that it was almost certainly another F15E, annoyingly manouvering just over the hill towards Rothbury so could hear but not see …..

Yeah tongue was mildly in cheek... it was ADSB Exchange.

Was trying to remember if I'd ever seen a Talon (I presume they are somewhat different to the F-5Bs operated by the Dutch and Norwegians?) - mil log confirms I saw a single USAF example at Patrick AFB on both occasions I visited - second time was during a Shuttle Launch. Just checked the note pads from my 1984 which I recently found in the loft - one NASA example present too and - I had completely forgotten! - one of the Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft was also there. Don't have the books from my 1988 visit but pretty sure there were a couple of NASA T-38s on that occasion too. A departing U-2 I recall as the highlight, plus you know what lifting off from Pad 39B 25 miles up the coast. I see the 1984 visit was between two Challenger Launches just two months apart.

IIRC, the T-38 and F-5 (at least the 2-seaters) are two aircraft that at first sight appear confusingly similar (and same manufacturer, obviously) but on close examination differ in almost every respect. :O

F-5s of course used to be a common sight in Europe with the Dutch, Canadian, Swiss, Norwegian, Spanish and others all operating the type.

Don't recall ever seeing a Canadian F-5 in Europe, were they based over here? CF-104s, CT-33s and CF-18s were my lot. Never saw any Spanish ones either, they never seemed to send very much at all to the IAT or the other mil shows I went to. The Aggressor F-5Es at Alconbury seemed to pitch up at nearly every major event!

Canadian F5s in Europe
 

Treadigraph

On Sunday 4th of April 1978 l was fortunate enough to see eight CC116s pass through Prestwick along with a CC137 tanker. I am not sure if they were based or on exercise but nice to see all the same.

Yes, the Canadian F-5s were never formally based in Europe, but could be seen visiting from time to time.

Useless fact: the Canadair designation for the single-seat CF-5 (aka CF-116) was the CL-219-1A10, and the two-seat CF-5D (CF-116D) was the CL-219-1A17

Memories of a four-engined vapour trail passing Midhurst on an easterly track with perhaps four smaller trails in loose formation alleviating the boredom of a fourth year French lesson circa 1978... Assumed a KC-135 and F-4s TDYing to Germany but could have been anything really. Saw a B-52 heading up the route around the same time (not during a lesson!) - before the days when I was able to find out what these over flyers were!

Anyone hear the AN-26 pass eastwards over London after 10pm last night? First Ant I'd heard in ages...

I saw a squadron of said RCAF F-5's at Lahr in southern Germany sometime in the 80's. The USAF aggressors were, as said, everywhere on the airshow circuit as well as Alconbury. I loved their different coloured camouflage schemes. I seem to recall seeing both USAF and NASA T-38's at airshows back in the day when they were overflowing with wonders.

Did the B1's arrive in the UK as promised in the last days ?

Not yet but all the ground crews and support equipment has arrived, maybe later today or early Saturday.

Thanks! That sounds pretty imminent doesn't it. As you seem to be in the know, could you give 'us' a heads up please ?

Will do, that's if I remember!