Maybe something, maybe nothing.

[simon ess]

My neighbour and I spotted 5 large 4 and 2 engined jets on exactly the same course, north to south, in about 10 minutes. Half an hour later, 5 more. Through my poor binoculars I was able to see that most were a light pale blue and a few were light pale blue but with a dark blue belly.

Any thoughts?

 

[Keith W]

On route to air display somewhere?

 

[nilagin]

On route to air display somewhere?

The only air display i can find this weekend is in Hampshire but it's for helicopters.

 

[neil_g]

sounds a bit like the new 787? but afaik they're only in test

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=B...gZXTAhUGD8AKHXhAADwQ_AUICSgC&biw=1278&bih=930

 

[huffy]

This may be a another sighting of the same aircraft at RAF Midenhall (USAF base)

http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/for...&sid=2565dfa526fb9493c4e466f5ca623370#p889458

KC135 tankers are 4 engined and the KC10 are 3 engined but may appear as 2 engine as the 3rd is in the tail.

 

[simon ess]

Yes, I think that's them.

Interestingly, my neighbour commented that some appear to have 3 vapour trails.

 

[Llamaman]

Ah, I remember going on a Tristar once. Was strangely exciting for a small boy. [/wistful]

 

[OldCarlos]

The only air display i can find this weekend is in Hampshire........

Or Syria.

 

[huffy]

Or Syria.

I suspect you may be correct, they may not be going to Syria but I think they are in place for refuelling aircraft from the states that may well be heading into that zone.

 

[OldCarlos]

I suspect you may be correct, they may not be going to Syria but I think they are in place for refuelling aircraft from the states that may well be heading into that zone.

Cyprus?

 

[Keith W]

Cyprus?

Turkey I would think

 

[OldCarlos]

Turkey I would think

You could well be correct.

Didn't the RAF also establish an air transport and refuelling hub in the UAE?

 

[Keith W]

No idea, a cursory search didn't throw anything up

 

[OldCarlos]

I might have been dreaming.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Cyprus?

Possible.. strung along the line over Europe

Akrotiri used for VC10, Tristar etc

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=t..._AUICCgC&biw=360&bih=524#imgrc=D-v6GVC0TF3oGM:

 

[OldCarlos]

Looking on goggle, it might have been the hub @ Al Minhad in the UAE that I was thinking about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_stations

 

[Dangermouse]

There are a few F15 returning from Syria for service at the moment they will be tankered all the way home to Lakenheath, then back to the states

 

[gerry s]

RAF retired their Tristars in 2014... went on one once and it seemed massive at the time. Lovely aircraft.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

RAF retired their Tristars in 2014... went on one once and it seemed massive at the time. Lovely aircraft.

They were fun

The VC10 long gone too. When I was with BAe om the MRCA project I got out to Akrotiri on a VC10 on a 'jolly' and later to Washington for a meeting.

 

[DorsetDude]

I once had to stand under a VC10's engines without ear defenders, pretty sure thats the cause of my tinnitus now. Also had a jolly to Berilin on one in the 80's. Cant remember if the wall was still up then and I never left the airfield in Berlin anyway, just bought a load of beer.

 

[BBR]

I once had to stand under a VC10's engines without ear defenders, pretty sure thats the cause of my tinnitus now. Also had a jolly to Berilin on one in the 80's. Cant remember if the wall was still up then and I never left the airfield in Berlin anyway, just bought a load of beer.

Wall came down in Nov 1989, remember it well, happened to be in Berlin at the time.

 

[viv1969]

Wall came down in Nov 1989, remember it well, happened to be in Berlin at the time.

I was in Berlin four weeks earlier.
Queued for ages to go through the Brandenburg gate.
Bit peed off four weeks later.

I do remember seeing graffiti on the wall that said "Don't panic, Baldrick's got a cunning plan" on the wall.
Made me chuckle.