Photos & Video: RAF Aircraft Land In Bermuda
[Updated with video] Five Royal Air Force aircraft landed in cloudy and rainy conditions at the L.F.Wade International Airport at approximately 3pm this afternoon [Jan 6], with the four Typhoons and one A330-200 Voyager tanker having traveled from Lajes, Azores.
The RAF website said, “This week 1 [Fighter] Squadron from RAF Lossiemouth are headed for Nellis Air Force Base in the western United States to participate in Red Flag, the largest and most complex air warfighting exercise in the world.
“Known as a ‘trail’, during the course of the 6000 mile journey each Typhoon will take on fuel in mid-air from a Voyager aircraft on 13 occasions in a carefully coordinated plan prepared by the Air-Air Refuelling Cell.”
.
The RAF site cites a spokesperson as saying, “We start planning the trail four weeks in advance and whilst we’ve been conducting trails for many years each one is different. When we get tasked we plan the route and determine where each air-air refuelling will take place.
“This then gives us the information we require to obtain diplomatic clearances and to book airspace, not only to deconflict with other air traffic but also to enable the Voyager and Typhoon formation to climb or descend in the event of poor weather.”
“When trailing fast jets over long distances we need to remain within 90 minutes of a diversion airfield lest we have any problem with one of the aircraft. We also have to factor in the sea temperature to ensure that in the unlikely event of a pilot having to eject that they are able to survive in the water for as long as possible.
“This means we are unable to fly directly across the Atlantic in one go and instead stage through the Azores, Bermuda and the east coast of the USA.”
Click to enlarge photos:
Read More About
Category: Airport/Planes, All, Photos, Videos
And what are Mickie mouse army was talking two weeks ago!
Do you speak English as a first language?
Be careful and research your weather ,it has been quite harsh in U.S. as of late.Don’t take anny wooden buckles…
The war machines in action……..sign of the times….
Truly a sign of the times that it is now newsworthy to see military activity in a place that was for centuries a key strategic military base.
We live in the safest, most peaceful time in human history despite what you may say in the news.
*they say in the news.
How long are they here for?
Thank you BERNEWS for keeping us and the world informed on current and local events.
Always the first.
Shalom.
Thanks for taking the time to film the visiting squadron. I look forward to you filming their “loud, afterburner” departures.
@bernews – when do they leave??
They just left…they departed just before noon today, but we believe another set of them may be coming in later this afternoon!