“Diplomatic Clearance Number.” LOL!
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I bet you know who has already seen this:
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I don’t keep up with aviation news like I used to - doesn’t interest me as it once did, with much less diversity around - however I was very disappointed to see this story on our local news:
The C-130 Hercules will pass over RAF Waddington and RAF College Cranwell as part of a flypast to mark the forthcoming retirement of the Hercules from RAF service. It will take place across all four nations of the United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 14, starting at 10am and finishing at 5.05pm.
The first Hercules arrived at Marshall’s of Cambridge in December 1966 and entered the RAF service originally with 242 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Thorney Island. It has operated across the globe in support of UK military and humanitarian relief operations.
C-130 Hercules is set to pass over RAF Waddington at 2.35pm and then RAF College Cranwell at 2.38pm. The flypast locations are places of significance to the Hercules’ service and 47 Squadron.
Some of C-130 Hercules’ planned route and timings:
12.51pm: RAF Lossiemouth (with Typhoon escort)
2.08pm: RAF Leeming
2.10pm: RAF Topcliffe
2.23pm: Beverley
2.35pm: RAF Waddington
2.38pm: RAF College Cranwell
2.58pm: Cambridge Airport
3.04pm: RAF Mildenhall
3.15pm: Colchester Garrison
4.22pm: MOD Boscombe Down
The C-130 Hercules will also flypast eight other places after MOD Boscombe Down, including Royal Wootton Bassett, RAF Halton and finishing at RAF Brize Norton at 5.05pm. 47 Squadron and the Hercules will continue to deliver on operations supporting UK defence objectives until Friday, June 30, 2023.
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Flew directly over my house on the downwind leg.
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What is the replacement for the C-130?
EDIT: Looked it up…A400. WAY too big.
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Indeed - I was really surprised when I read that, not least because they said exactly that when the A400M went into service.
Seems they had a change of heart (or the politicians had a change of policy, morelike). Seems to me like a decision made out of financial rather than operational reasoning.
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Scary stuff… Two F-5’s from Patrouille Suisse collided. Nobody got hurt in the air or by the debris that hit the ground.
(Yes I know Switzerland is not in NATO, but seemed appropiate since these are F-5’s)
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As a friend of mine once said (regarding the Thunderbirds), “Just a little bumpin’”. Of course, glad they’re OK. No.3 did a very hard push. Then burner and a pull. G’s, adrenaline and living to tell about it. Must have been quite a day for him or her.
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Glad everything worked out in the end, read somewhere else one lost part of its nose? A great example of how even an older generation of fighter can move its nose around FAST.
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NATO in the Pacific. I really like this person’s work. Best watched in 4K.
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Nice, but they should really paint that monstrosity orange.
…to warn everyone about how ugly it is. Stay away! 
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I had never seen that electronic warfare model before. It sure is interesting looking. I’m going to have to read up on that. I’m sure with China next door those models are getting a lot of work.
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Looks like it should be in Flash Gordon! 
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Ooof, that would get your sphincter tightened!
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Lol, I thought that the landing between all those aircraft was harry but the taxi to his parking space was even more sporty.
Wheels
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Yeah. I hadn’t seen much GoPro footage from the carrier deck post landing - lots of traps and takeoffs but it was really interesting to see the handovers etc.
You’d want to bring your A game every day on the boat, huh!
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Interesting just how bumpy that deck is and how assertive the pilot is on the rudder pedals 
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The US throws Sweden a Bone…
Article in Swedish, but USAF B-1 bombers landed in Sweden for the first time ever, at F21 Wing, Kallax Airbase, in Luleå.
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I can’t read Swedish and TBH didn’t even look at the article, but… Sweden becomes a NATO member. Strategic bombers ‘visit’ for the first time.
As a message, it is about as subtle as a gift wrapped brick and that is why I love Americans 
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