Exercise Ample Strike

[boff180]

Running from 30th August 2016 to 20th September 2016 in the Czech Republic.

The exercise includes B-52 and B-1B operating from the UK.

Fairford is going to get busy

Andy

[Russ]

#Win

[cg_341]

1 and 2, respectively, is the numbers given.

Being that the exercise is taking place in the Czech Republic, I can't see Fairford being overly busy, rather much the same as Saber Strike - unless you mean outside the fence!

[CJS]

Two U-2s also on their way to FFD apparently - don't know if it's related?

[Adie1980]

Never been to Fairford outside of usual RIAT visits, are there regular "viewing spots" where people can park up (legally!) and watch the comings/goings? Any tips/hints if I were to consider booking a late day off work and make the 2 hour trip from Bournemouth?
Cheers!

[boff180]

Whelford end is fairly simple, park sensibly down the side of Washpool Lane (right hand side of lane when facing the base) then walk back up to the Whelford Road with your gear.

[Adie1980]

Whelford end is fairly simple, park sensibly down the side of Washpool Lane (right hand side of lane when facing the base) then walk back up to the Whelford Road with your gear.

Thanks Andy, I've had a look on Google maps and looks fairly easy

Presumably (as on most days) 27 will be used for landing and therefore Whelford would seem to be great for approach photos etc.
Are there any viewing places at the 09 end for take offs? (obviously assuming the wind is favouring take offs from 27)

Thanks again

[parsley]

Two U-2s also on their way to FFD apparently - don't know if it's related?

Both landed before 10am...presumably the normal Middle East swap over

[boff180]

Support aircraft due Sunday morning, the airfield is open 0800 to 1200

[Xm657]

Chance to see a B1 in the UK is great news, I was beginning to look at visiting the US as its been too long. Thanks so much for the heads up and please do keep us posted if you hear when they'll arrive.

[st24]

So did anything rock up??

[boff180]

Yes, a C-17 with B-52 ground support equipment. No B-1B ground equipment... Yet

[Brevet Cable]

Depends on which rumours you hear & believe......
There's one concerning the first deployment arrivals which has been around for several weeks ( and which I see has finally been mentioned on FC )
There's also another rumour that the Fairford deployment'll be B-52s only , with the B-1 participation coming direct from CONUS.

Either way , rather than rely on rumours it would be better for people to keep an eye out for Fairford NOTAMs ( none up yet )

[Xm657]

I'm desperate to see a B1 - what's the best way to see Fairford NOTAMS. I'm monitoring ffdmovements.blogspot.co.uk and the bzz spotters Google group, where else could I check?

[Brevet Cable]

The NATS website : http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=166&Itemid=4.html
To access the NOTAMs you need to register ( all it needs is a user name & password )
Then go to 'Aerodrome Brief' , select which dates you want to check between ( if you do more than a few days , you'll get a message saying "User input warnings occurred. Please confirm your input by re-submitting the form. Details are listed below" .....just hit 'Submit' again & it'll work )
Put the ICAO code in the 'Aerodromes' box ( you can search more than one at a time ) , so EGVA for Fairford.
Depending on what sort of deployment , NOTAMs could be posted anywhere from several days in advance to as little as a couple of hours or less.....if it follows the pattern of previous exercises , you'll often find the NOTAMs posted about 07:00-08:00hrs.
( And remember that the NOTAMs are GMT , so add an hour to any times )


Edited to add...
As with previous deployments , I'll post any NOTAMs if I spot them in time.

[Xm657]

Thanks that's very helpful.

It seems that Sept 9th is a good bet for B1 movements assuming they do operate from Fairford. There's a B1 appearance at Sanicole evening airshow http://www.sanicole.com/index.php/en/pr ... ram-friday which looks roughly like a straight line between Fairford and Czech Republic.

[Brevet Cable]

As promised....
NOTAM up ( times adjusted to show BST ) :

FROM: 16/08/30 12:00
TO: 16/08/30 13:30
AD AND RWY 09/27 OPEN. AVAILABLE FOR SCHEDULED MOVEMENTS ONLY.

[Brevet Cable]

Times on NOTAM have changed slightly.
IT's now for 11:00hrs to 13:30hrs BST ( so open one hour earlier )

[Brevet Cable]

And the first arrival is there.

[st24]

And the first arrival is there.

The BUFF from Slovakia I take it??

[Brevet Cable]

Correct.
Arrived using callsign 'SCALP 99'

And if rumours ( including on FC ) are correct , that's going to be it for the Exercise deployment at Fairford -- one B-52.
As previously mentioned , the rumours ( not on FC that I've seen ) are that any B-1 deployment will be from CONUS not Fairford.

[Black Projects]

You mite want to tell the B-1 Ground crews a friend has been drinking with in a local pub at Fairford then

[Brevet Cable]

Presumably this is the same friend who didn't tell you when the B-1s were deploying , hence your need to start a topic on here asking about it ??

Oh , and a 'mite' is a small arachnid or the nickname for a child ..... the word you're looking for is 'might' or 'may'.

[Black Projects]

If you are trying to insult me you need to try Harder as you are showing how immature you are.

It just shows how immature some people really are


As for the Word MAY STICK IT

I found out about the exercise months ago on the Page below

http://www.scramble.nl/sis-summary

Exercise Ample Strike 2016



05-09/16-09 Namest nad Oslavou, CZ JAS39 CzechAF
L-159 CzechAF
Mi-35 CzechAF
Mi-171S CzechAF
Tornado GAF
JAS39 HungAF
L-39 LithAF
Su-22 PolAF
IAR300 RomAF cancelled?
MiG-21 RomAF cancelled?
PC9 SlovenAF
Fairford, UK 2x B-1B USAF
2x B-52H USAF
unknown 2x KC-135R USAF
AH-64D USAr

[Brevet Cable]

Not bothered , then , no siree , not one little bit.....


You started a topic asking when the B-1s are arriving , then claimed to have been unable to find the topic about the Exercise which already existed.

You ignore the fact that I'd already said in an earlier post :

Either way , rather than rely on rumours it would be better for people to keep an eye out for Fairford NOTAMs

You overlook the fact that just because a list of aircraft is posted on a website/forum doesn't mean that it's accurate or that details may change.

You may also wish to read #2 in the list of 'Forum Rules' regarding spelling ( although there's no mention regarding random scatterings of Capital Letters or the omission of letters which should be Capitalised , nor of punctuation or the lack of)