Diego Garcia
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Diego Garcia
Hi all,
In the middle of researching a ferry flight. Diego Garcia (south of the Maldives) is a proposed stopping point. Has anyone landed there that can offer advice on streamlining spending a couple of days there and also is AVGAS readily available there, or will I have to ship the drums in?
Thanks in advance
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Keeping Strong
In the middle of researching a ferry flight. Diego Garcia (south of the Maldives) is a proposed stopping point. Has anyone landed there that can offer advice on streamlining spending a couple of days there and also is AVGAS readily available there, or will I have to ship the drums in?
Thanks in advance
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_ ________________________________ _
Keeping Strong
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You'll need to contact the British Indian Ocean Territories administrative office in London. The British Representative runs Diego Garcia's day-to-day administration - he is a Royal Navy officer. The island has no indigenous population and there is a large US presence there - as well as Cable and Wireless.
I can't recall having seen any piston engined aircraft there.
[This message has been edited by BEagle (edited 05 July 2001).]
I can't recall having seen any piston engined aircraft there.
[This message has been edited by BEagle (edited 05 July 2001).]
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"large US presence"
it's a staging area for B52G/H [in Gulf for example] - don't come much larger
I think CVBGs stop in too unless I'm mistaken. Essentially US controlled on lease from UK. Big story in papers a while back on natives expelled by HMG to make way for Uncle Sam.
it's a staging area for B52G/H [in Gulf for example] - don't come much larger
I think CVBGs stop in too unless I'm mistaken. Essentially US controlled on lease from UK. Big story in papers a while back on natives expelled by HMG to make way for Uncle Sam.
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There are times, however, when the U.S. military considers this seventeen-square-mile atoll of coral and sand in the middle of the Indian Ocean —with no indigenous inhabitants or natural resources to speak of—one of the most valuable places on Earth. With the December 1997 bombings of Iraq, the island once again became a strategic hot spot.
Diego Garcia was developed as a joint U.S.-U.K. air and naval refueling and support station during the cold war. Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean and out of cyclone range, it was ideal for keeping an eye on the Soviet Union. During the current U.S. bombing of Iraq, Diego Garcia is the base of B-52 bombers, which on December 17 launched nearly 100 long-range cruise missiles aimed at Iraq.
Diego Garcia had proved to be critically important during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and was crucial during 1997's Operation Desert Fox: since Saudi Arabia does not permit the U.S. to launch attacks from its territory, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Diego Garcia* are the closest locations from which U.S. forces can launch their campaigns.
The Portuguese explored Diego Garcia in the 1500s; between 1814 and 1965 it was a dependency of Mauritius. It then became part of the Chagos Archipelago, which belonged to the newly created British Indian Ocean Territory. The island remains a British dependency today.
Although Diego Garcia once had a small indigenous population, the inhabitants, known as the Ilois, were moved to Mauritius in the 1970s so that the island could be turned into a military base—over the strong protestations of other Indian Ocean islands, who objected to having cruise missiles as neighbors.
Diego Garcia was developed as a joint U.S.-U.K. air and naval refueling and support station during the cold war. Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean and out of cyclone range, it was ideal for keeping an eye on the Soviet Union. During the current U.S. bombing of Iraq, Diego Garcia is the base of B-52 bombers, which on December 17 launched nearly 100 long-range cruise missiles aimed at Iraq.
Diego Garcia had proved to be critically important during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and was crucial during 1997's Operation Desert Fox: since Saudi Arabia does not permit the U.S. to launch attacks from its territory, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Diego Garcia* are the closest locations from which U.S. forces can launch their campaigns.
The Portuguese explored Diego Garcia in the 1500s; between 1814 and 1965 it was a dependency of Mauritius. It then became part of the Chagos Archipelago, which belonged to the newly created British Indian Ocean Territory. The island remains a British dependency today.
Although Diego Garcia once had a small indigenous population, the inhabitants, known as the Ilois, were moved to Mauritius in the 1970s so that the island could be turned into a military base—over the strong protestations of other Indian Ocean islands, who objected to having cruise missiles as neighbors.
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I would check out your proposed transit VERY carefully with both the US and UK authorities. I was involved with staging RAAF military flights through Diego Garcia periodically, and I am sure that (at times) the US had a strict embargo against ANY civilians being carried through Diego Garcia.
A very interesting place though - a company of British Marines, a bunch of American servicemen and all facilities run on US dollars.
A very interesting place though - a company of British Marines, a bunch of American servicemen and all facilities run on US dollars.
And a very picturesque one as well. I doubt they will have Avgas there, not many piston AC fly to DG, although there is a wrecked Catalina in the trees on the other side of the lagoon from the airfield. I have the info at work and will post it here when I find out in a few days. If there isn't, I wouldn't try to ship some out there. The Royal Marine det often have to wait op to one year for some supplies they demand!
Although it is a US Mil base, the British Governer has the say so on all events on the Island. It is through the 'Brit Rep' as he is known that you will have to put your request. E mail me for contact numbers.
Although it is a US Mil base, the British Governer has the say so on all events on the Island. It is through the 'Brit Rep' as he is known that you will have to put your request. E mail me for contact numbers.
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