Spangdahlem (ETAD/SPM) - 2008

[joost]

Soon, flying activity began in the shape of two A-10s, and although 05 was the runway direction of the day, we managed to identify almost all flying aircraft. A nice surprise were three additional A-10s all equipped with one external fuel-tank and two travel-pods performing a joined test-flight (701, 207 and 954), probably indicating their departure back to Alaska within the next couple of days.

Retro 51-53 Currently over The Netherlands Westbound.
Must be them

Grtz
Joost

[Bram]

At Richard,

Why do you think the A-10's will go back to Alaska.
As the A-10 squadron which was based with the USAF Pacific in Alaska was disbanded last year.
And their A-10's where transfered to other USAF A-10 squadrons.

Could you maybe confirm if they had there tailcode removed ?.
As i heard that the 701 was noted without tailcode some weeks back.

Best regards

Bram

[falcon]

Saturday 20th. 17.30h till 17.45h

C-17's
92-3292 437th AW
95-0105 437th AW
C-5
86-0016 60th AMW

[Oscar01]

Bram,

They were *completely* unmarked: no unit batch, no tailband, no code.

Oscar

At Richard,

Why do you think the A-10's will go back to Alaska.
As the A-10 squadron which was based with the USAF Pacific in Alaska was disbanded last year.
And their A-10's where transfered to other USAF A-10 squadrons.

Could you maybe confirm if they had there tailcode removed ?.
As i heard that the 701 was noted without tailcode some weeks back.

Best regards

Bram

[Oscar01]

Hi Joost,

All three have been confirmed on their AR with the KC-10 (Blue01 = 86-0031).

Oscar

Soon, flying activity began in the shape of two A-10s, and although 05 was the runway direction of the day, we managed to identify almost all flying aircraft. A nice surprise were three additional A-10s all equipped with one external fuel-tank and two travel-pods performing a joined test-flight (701, 207 and 954), probably indicating their departure back to Alaska within the next couple of days.

Retro 51-53 Currently over The Netherlands Westbound.
Must be them

Grtz
Joost

[Bram]

Hi Oscar,

Thanks for confirming this much appreciated.
Im wondering what theire destination is ?.

Best regards

Bram

[falcon]

Bram,

They were *completely* unmarked: no unit batch, no tailband, no code.

Oscar

Only the "701" is unmarked. we have all 3 on pic last friday............

[Joris Heeren]

Hi,

Just a wild guess, but maybe these are the first examples of the 81st FS to be modified to A-10C standard. Destination would likely be Hill or Davis-Monthan where also mods are carried out.

HTH,
Joris

[Arjan]

By the way, why hide in the bushes. We have been told several times by police and other military personnel that it is okay to stand near the fence and to take pictures as long as you do not take pictures of the base.

Only one soldier who happened to walk with his german shepherd in side the fence gave us some abuse because I was leaning with my monoculair against the fence. A few step back and it was okay with him.

I experienced the whole security situation as mutual understanding and quite relaxed.

Cheers,

Arjan

[Oscar01]

Oh, oke, at least that was told by a german colleague....

My mistake then.

Oscar

Bram,

They were *completely* unmarked: no unit batch, no tailband, no code.

Oscar

Only the "701" is unmarked. we have all 3 on pic last friday............

[Bram]

@ Oscar and Falcon,

Thanks for the help with the A-10's.



From what i heard was that already a few A-10's from the 52 FW are undergoing modifications at the moment.

And why should they remove all squadron and wing markings if the aircraft will return to the 52 FW.

I recieved some pictures from Maryland ANG and Moody AFB A-10's which also underwend A-10C modifications.
And they still wear wearing their tailcode and unit markings.

Maybe the A-10's will be tranfered to an other USAF A-10 wing.

Time will tel any info about it is more than welkom.


p.s. are the three ex CT ANG A-10's which where delivered a while back
Already seen active with the 52 FW ?.

Best regards

Bram

[Richard de Florennes]

At Richard,

Why do you think the A-10's will go back to Alaska.
As the A-10 squadron which was based with the USAF Pacific in Alaska was disbanded last year.
And their A-10's where transfered to other USAF A-10 squadrons.

Could you maybe confirm if they had there tailcode removed ?.
As i heard that the 701 was noted without tailcode some weeks back.

Best regards

Bram

Correction: I think they will go back to CONUS
because two of them had lost their tailcode:
701: no fin tip colour, no tail-code
207: no tail-code

I corrected my log accordingly; there was a copy-and-paste-mistake!

[Richard de Florennes]

Bram,

They were *completely* unmarked: no unit batch, no tailband, no code.

Oscar

Only the "701" is unmarked. we have all 3 on pic last friday............

where are those pictures then? 207 had also lost its tail-code at least on the left side!

[Richard de Florennes]

By the way, why hide in the bushes. We have been told several times by police and other military personnel that it is okay to stand near the fence and to take pictures as long as you do not take pictures of the base.

Only one soldier who happened to walk with his german shepherd in side the fence gave us some abuse because I was leaning with my monoculair against the fence. A few step back and it was okay with him.

I experienced the whole security situation as mutual understanding and quite relaxed.

Cheers,

Arjan

Well, I think I am mature enough to decide for myself if staying a little bit not too obvious is a better option then provoking any unnecessary attention of potentially over-reacting security forces. And even if they stay polite, there was too much flying business last Friday that we just did not want to spent any time for discussions and identity checks.
There are very different experiences at Spangdahlem since 9-11 and I just do not want it to leave it to the mood of the police guy of the day wether I am allowed to continue spotting or not.
Mutual understanding is only possible if the "other" side cooperates, and that's beyond my influence and especially often lacking American security forces according to my experiences (inspite of myself behaving absolutely polity and cooperative). However, I had only good experiences with the German police so far.

Good luck then for continuing your business in the more obvious way. Hope you have some pleasant talks with our american allies then

[Arjan]

Hi Sascha,

Well it was not an attack on you or something, I just tried to clear some air on those security activities. Something a lot of people always wonder about on this forum.

Cheers,

Arjan