gary1701

As the saying goes, I'm going to tell a story, which will almost certainly get confusing. Here goes... The USAF need to deploy 18 F-15s to the Middle East from the East coast of the US to replace an existing squadron as it has come to the end of it's rotation and wants to come home. It plans to send them across in 3 cells of 6, accompanied by the usual 2 to 3 KC-10's and KC-135's. These 3 cells are planned to be spread over 2 days, 2 cells the first and the following day for the third. The initial leg will be to the UK, say Lakenheath before a rest stop and then carrying on. First cell of 6 departs on time with tankers, but has a F-15 go uns

Being local to the main UK operating base for the Apache I keep a interest in developments in the force and I was alerted to a news report a couple of days ago that has not only escaped the attention of the main stream media, but also appears to have been missed by aviation and defence commentators. I found the timing rather ironic considering in the last day or so the Conservative party here in the UK has been championing it's defence credentials in the run up to the UK general election. What was the news report? It has been stated for several years now that the UK's unique WAH-64D Apaches would be replaced - or rebuilt - to the new current

Dear visitors, I know the F-35 is not regarded as being amongst the most photogenic of aircraft, and now, having finally seen them up close, I understand why. That said, it's been a interesting couple of weeks since the first overseas deployment of USAF F-35A's arrived from the 388th Fighter Wings 34th Fighter Squadron at Lakenheath. Like when the F-22's deployed last year, the fence and viewing spots around the base have been full of photographers, although to give credit to the 48th FW at Lakenheath, they've taken it well and not overreacted. I suspect that the USAF and US Government knew full well how public this deployment would become if