U-2 Movements 24/07/09

Admin Location : Bristol, UK

Spirit of Kitty Hawk wrote:: Hey Mike, will be up at Fairford tomorrow to catch my first Dragons, can you advise the best time to get there for? Im thinking of being up there for around 05:30 - 06:00 for an early morning departure? Is this the right thing to do?

I'm afraid I don't actually know any departure times for tomorrow so I can't really advise what a good time to arrive would be. However, yes, if you arrived at that time then chances are you would catch them depart.

There will be a NOTAM posted which will hopefully help us gage what time they'll depart. The problem is, the NOTAM could be posted in the early hours of the morning. I imagine they'll depart somewhere between 06:00 - 09:00L - But they've been known to go earlier, so who knows.

Mike

Admin Location : Birmingham B17

So far there is no Notam for tomorrow for Fairford.

Subject: Re: U-2 Movements 24/07/09 2009-07-24, 15:03

Hmm, not sure I can really be bothered leaving here at 0430 to catch them at 0600!

Location : cirencester Spotter Watch Member : no

think i will be there around 05.30am tomorrow any one else going. see ya there

Location : Faringdon, OXON Spotter Watch Member : No

If the dragon's will be departing tomorrow morning...
What would be the best place to watch them?

I'm very new at this and it will be my first time at Fairford (except from the yearly Air Tattoo)....

Raoul

Admin Location : Bristol, UK

rvaneynd wrote:: If the dragon's will be departing tomorrow morning...

Good disclaimer; Just because they normally depart the day after, it doesn't mean they will depart tomorrow...

Best place to view from is point 1 - http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/guides/fairford.asp

Mike

Admin Location : Bristol, UK

It appears the guys at FFD are having a well earned break this weekend.

Location : Faringdon, OXON Spotter Watch Member : No

Nothing on NOTAM yet. Looks like they might have Monday off as well....

Moderator Location : In a layby

rvaneynd wrote:: Nothing on NOTAM yet. Looks like they might have Monday off as well....

I had it on good authority they were due to leave this morning, not sure if its happened or not though

Location : Hemel Hempstead, UK Spotter Watch Member : No

Q) EGTT/QFAAH/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5141N00147W005
FROM: 09/07/27 07:00 TO: 09/07/27 11:00

E) AD HR. AD AVBL FOR SKED MOVEMENTS ONLY.

Looks like they are up today... small window though?

Location : Faringdon, OXON Spotter Watch Member : No

Thanks Dem0n.

So do we know if they have left?

Admin Location : Bristol, UK

Two NOTAM's posted this morning (I was sleeping though! Whistle

)

Quote :: U1583/09 - AD HR. AD AVBL FOR SKED MOVEMENTS ONLY. 27 JUL 07:00 2009 UNTIL
27 JUL 11:00 2009. CREATED: 27 JUL 05:40 2009

Open Between - 08:00 - 12:00

Quote :: U1585/09 - AD AND RWY 09/27 OPEN. AVBL FOR SKED MOVEMENTS ONLY. 27 JUL 09:27 2009 UNTIL
27 JUL 12:30 2009. CREATED: 27 JUL 09:29 2009

Open Between - 10:30 - 13:30

One U-2 (Dragon 31) has already departed and it seems the others must have problems for them to have to re-NOTAM.

Location : Rwy08

68-10329 Dragon 31 Dept 09:15

80-1086 Dragon 21 went tech, all blanked up and had a tow bar on it when I left at 11:00.

HTH
Paul....

Admin Location : Bristol, UK

paulk wrote:: 68-10329 Dragon 31 Dept 09:15

80-1086 Dragon 21 went tech, all blanked up and had a tow bar on it when I left at 11:00.

HTH
Paul....

Was the left hand hangar open? (With Dragon 53 inside)

Mike

Moderator Location : In a layby

Suspect the second notam was for the f16 left from Riat, as Dave picked up its comms this lunchtime. I saw a fast jet heading towards Fairford way but couldnt I.D it.

Admin Location : Bristol, UK

pikey01 wrote:: Suspect the second notam was for the f16 left from Riat, as Dave picked iup its comms this lunchtime. I saw a fast jet heading towards Fairford way but couldnt I.D it.

Yup, just landed at Fairford callsign Buzzard.

Mike

Location : Rwy08

MikeB wrote:

paulk wrote:: 68-10329 Dragon 31 Dept 09:15

80-1086 Dragon 21 went tech, all blanked up and had a tow bar on it when I left at 11:00.

HTH
Paul....

Was the left hand hangar open? (With Dragon 53 inside)

Mike

The left hand hangar doors were slighty open with only the fuselage, tail on being seen when I was there (07:30-11:00)

Location : Hemel Hempstead, UK Spotter Watch Member : No

pikey01 wrote:: Suspect the second notam was for the f16 left from Riat, as Dave picked up its comms this lunchtime. I saw a fast jet heading towards Fairford way but couldnt I.D it.

Callsign was Buzzard 51, flight of two AV F16's

Subject: Re: U-2 Movements 24/07/09