B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

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Tommy
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B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Tommy »

The usual BTF sounds imminent. Usual caveats to take all news with a pinch of salt. I remember people mentioned about the B-1s here, so thought I’d put a thread down.

Too many sources to quote, but seems to be agreed that x4 B-52s from Minot AFB will be at Fairford as part of the routine bomber deployments.

General consensus is that they will arrive Thursday - allowing a usual rest day (and perhaps the weekend), flying will probably start in earnest next week.

As always - if anyone wants more in depth detail, forumites are pointed to Fighter Control which has great info on daily movements and general info every time one of these BTFs takes place: https://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/ ... .php?f=440

(You may need a login to view, so if anyone doesn’t have an account, I’m sure if they ask any Qu’s in this thread, someone will be able to answer)





Happy hunting to those who are going to get them!

FarnboroJohn
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by FarnboroJohn »

Thanks particularly much Tommy: as a new retiree I can finally commit suitable weekday time to this!

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Rick
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Rick »

Kalitta 747 due into FFD 0600 tomorrow connected I presume.
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Tomorrow.

GeeRam
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by GeeRam »

Rick wrote:
Mon 07 Feb 2022, 10:13 pm
Kalitta 747 due into FFD 0600 tomorrow connected I presume.
C-17 and an Omni 777 went in there yesterday morning I believe.

scudpilot
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by scudpilot »

Heard this morning that it's going to be 8 airframes.

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Tommy
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Tommy »

That’ll be a sight!

It was pretty cool seeing six of them on the ground during 2020’s deployment.

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Cole
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Cole »

Ive heard 4..6.. and 8 airframes coming. Either someone can't count or has bad info.. both are a possibility.
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Well Um..

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Tommy
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Tommy »

Very true! Until wheels touch down, who knows.

Small, possible, update:


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Tommy
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Tommy »

There we go - x4, on the way. Due to arrive at around 12:30.


melcragg
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by melcragg »

Very exciting. Flightradar showing one south of Iceland

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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Domvickery »

Cole wrote:
Tue 08 Feb 2022, 7:01 pm
Ive heard 4..6.. and 8 airframes coming. Either someone can't count or has bad info.. both are a possibility.
Or people making stuff up to make themselves look/feel important
Free straws available to clutch at - PM me. Inventor of the baguette scale

Spiny Norman
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Spiny Norman »

HATE14 approaching the north of Ireland. Pity not coming further east as have a very clear sky!

Andy'll do
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Andy'll do »

Hate14 just passed over Worksop at 21000 ft,in nice,clear skies !!

Andy'll do
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Andy'll do »

Correction,in my excitement,I put the wrong callsign; it was HATE12, not HATE14 !!

Zoom
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Zoom »

I think that was HATE12, it's now circling the Wash. HATE11 doing a tour of Scotland

Spiny Norman
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Spiny Norman »

Was that a flypast or practice bombing raid over Lossiemouth?!

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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Spiny Norman »

Am sure we'll see better images but glad to have seen one of them, albeit at a distance.


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Roger_Over
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Roger_Over »

"Was that a flypast or practice bombing raid over Lossiemouth?!"

HATE11 booked onto Tain AWR probably, while 12 getting some training in at Holbeach. Nice

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Tommy
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Tommy »




Zoom
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Zoom »

no idea what Bomber Task Force rotation means

Will they be flying regular missions while here? still got a Jersey Air Display programme with one as the centrefold, it didn't attend

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Tommy
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Tommy »

Every 4-6 months the USAF temporarily deploy a handful of bombers, B-1s, B-2s or B-52s (or a combination) to Fairford for three to four weeks. They fly pretty regularly on local sorties and training missions, and usually go on a bit of a publicity tour flying formation with other NATO aircraft etc. sometimes it combines with a NATO exercise like BALTOPS or Sabre Strike.

They’re called “Bomber task forces” - so, idk, BTF 2022-1 or something as the first BTF of 2022.

cg_341
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by cg_341 »

This is BTF 22-2, BTF 22-1 was last October. (Fiscal calendar begins in September!)

Zoom
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Zoom »

Tommy wrote:
Thu 10 Feb 2022, 7:35 pm
Every 4-6 months the USAF temporarily deploy a handful of bombers, B-1s, B-2s or B-52s (or a combination) to Fairford for three to four weeks. They fly pretty regularly on local sorties and training missions, and usually go on a bit of a publicity tour flying formation with other NATO aircraft etc. sometimes it combines with a NATO exercise like BALTOPS or Sabre Strike.

They’re called “Bomber task forces” - so, idk, BTF 2022-1 or something as the first BTF of 2022.
ok thanks! would be great to know when they are scheduled if that's in the public domain

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Tommy
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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by Tommy »

cg_341 wrote:
Thu 10 Feb 2022, 9:14 pm
This is BTF 22-2, BTF 22-1 was last October. (Fiscal calendar begins in September!)
Much obliged, mate! 👍🏻
Zoom wrote:
Thu 10 Feb 2022, 9:19 pm

ok thanks! would be great to know when they are scheduled if that's in the public domain
Anyone’s guess, tbh. Info can sometimes appear on the day or the evening before but seldom much more in advance than that unless it’s some sort of special event.

Usual rules re planning military spotting - weekends are likely to be quiet, weekdays are best. See how the first week goes and maybe you’ll see a rough pattern emerge (such as flying every other day, or flying during certain hours).

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Re: B-52 BTF Deployment RAF Fairford Feb/March 2022

Post by harkins »

scudpilot wrote:
Tue 08 Feb 2022, 12:37 pm
Heard this morning that it's going to be 8 airframes.
Are the other four coming today?

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