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Scramble 467
Having been there since the end of October 2017, the F-16s
came straight in from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and
left Spangdahlem at the beginning of March. The following
77th FS/ 20th FW F-16Cs were noted: 90-0806, 94-0047 and
00-0220. The latter is marked as 20OG.
On 6 and 7 March 2018, nine OH coded Ohio Air National
Guard Fighting Falcon aircraft came to Spangdahlem. They
were part of the USAF Theater Security Package (TSP) of
twelve F-16Cs aircraft from the 112th FS/ 180th FW that
arrived at Ämari Air Base in Estonia during mid-January. The
unit is normally based at Toledo Air National Guard Base,
adjoining Express Airport (OH). The Ohio F-16s stayed for
several weeks at Spangdahlem before they departed back
home to the Continental Unites States (CONUS) on 19 March
- The following F-16s were involved: 89-2045, 89-2082,
89-2085, 89-2109, 89-2114, 89-2129, 89-2151, 90-0700, 90-0701,
90-0702, 90-0704 and 90-0706.
Besides Spangdahlem, Morón Air Base in the south of Spain,
also saw a few transiting CONUS based F-16s. During mid-
February, the following SW coded 77th FS/20th FW F-16Cs
were seen, believed to be heading back from Bagram Air Base
in Afghanistan, to Shaw AFB (SC): 94-0043, 94-0047, 91-0345
and 91-0364.
Seen trailing over the United Kingdom and the Netherlands
were three C-130H Hercules transport aircraft on Friday
2 March 2018. The C-130Hs, and approximately seventy
airmen, from the Illinois Air National Guard’s 169th Airlift
Squadron/ 182nd Airlift Wing, were flying to Powidz Air Base
in Poland to support the transport operations of Operation
Atlantic Resolve. It was stated that during the deployment,
the USAF, and Polish Air Force units, would practice various
flight schedules together with the focus on maintaining joint
readiness. The following C-130Hs with orange tail stripe and
Peoria markings were noted: 92-1452, 94-6701 and 94-6702.
On 7 and 8 March 2018, thirteen 492nd Fighter Squadron
F-15E Strike Eagles departed RAF Lakenheath, to participate
in the exercise Iniochos 2018. The exercise was held at the
Hellenic Air Base Andravida from 12 March until 23 March.
Besides the Hellenic Air Force and USAFE participation, also
Mirage-2000s from the United Arab Emirates, RAF Typhoons,
Italian Air Force Tornado’s and Israel Defence Force F-16s
participated. The following LN coded F-15Es from the 492nd
FS/ 48th FW were present at Andravida: 91-0302, 91-0308,
91-0315, 91-0331, 91-0605, 97-0219, 97-0220, 97-0221, 97-0222,
98-0131, 98-0133, 98-0134 and 98-0135.
On Thursday 15 March 2018, for the fourth year in a row,
Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands became a host during
the beginning of an USAF Air National Guard (ANG) F-15 Eagle
Theater Security Package (TSP) deployment to Europe. The
timeframe for the TSP deployment had been chosen because
the deployment started almost simultaneous with the Frisian
Flag 2018 exercise. Initially, only six F-15s arrived, and a few
days later, on 19 March, another six arrived at Leeuwarden.
Just like previous years, the deployment consisted of two
ANG units and it is expected that they would stay some
three and half months in Europe. After their Frisian Flag
2018 exercise participation it is expected that the F-15s will
go to various European countries. This time the ANG main
unit is made out of the 123rd FS/ 142nd FW from the Oregon
ANG, supplemented by MA coded Eagles and personnel from
Massachusetts’s ANG 131st FS/ 104th FW unit. The following
Eagles were noted at Leeuwarden: 83-0018/MA, 84-0002,
84-0003, 84-0005, 84-0021, 84-0028/MA, 85-0094, 85-0106,
85-0111/MA, 85-0118/MA, 86-0158/MA and dual aircraft
85-0134/MA.
The USAF recently, narrowed the competition for the new
OA-X light attack aircraft, down to the AT-6 Wolverine and
the Super Tucano. It became known, through various media
statements, that support is growing within the top ranks
of the USAF for the rapid purchase of a light attack aircraft
that is ready to use for, mainly, counterinsurgency (COIN)
operations anywhere on the globe.
Three unknowns remain: Firstly, what is the timeline for the
USAF’s eventual procurement? Secondly, how many aircraft
will the USAF eventually plan to procure? And lastly, what
will the USAF give up in terms of aircraft that will retire?
Every weekend, many US Navy trainer aircraft fly across the continent on so called navigation trips. Therefore it’s no surprise to find these all
around, also at smaller airports. This T-45C 167082 with its new code B-210 was found between some civilian aircraft at Tucson Intl, AZ on 18
March.
