Wow - House shook??

[Openside]

Two military type planes have just flown overhead so low the house shook. Never seen them before they looked like a plane but with helicopter style rotors at the end of each wing??

[JM2K6]

Ospreys innit

[Jock42]

Osprey. USMC use them, bit of a hybrid plane/chopper. The props rotate position to allow VTOL but can then fly like a plane.

I'm sure a aviation geek will correct that though

[JM2K6]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

[duke]

They’ve been on Salisbury Plain over the past few weeks

[Saint]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

We're also trialling them as a potential aerial refueling tanker for the QE class and F-35

[fishfoodie]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

We're also trialling them as a potential aerial refueling tanker for the QE class and F-35

What a marvelous idea; take an aircraft with a reputation as a flying coffin, & fill it full of extra fuel, & fly it in close proximity to other ridiculously expensive fighters.

Is Putin doing the UKs Forces planning too ?

[Openside]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

Thanks Never seen them before they can't have been higher than 500 ft

[Saint]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

We're also trialling them as a potential aerial refueling tanker for the QE class and F-35

What a marvelous idea; take an aircraft with a reputation as a flying coffin, & fill it full of extra fuel, & fly it in close proximity to other ridiculously expensive fighters.

Is Putin doing the UKs Forces planning too ?

The reality is that it's safety record in combat is actually pretty good. It;s record during development, not so much. The USMC tested air to air refueling from a V22 as early as 2013

[Sandstorm]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

We're also trialling them as a potential aerial refueling tanker for the QE class and F-35

What a marvelous idea; take an aircraft with a reputation as a flying coffin, & fill it full of extra fuel, & fly it in close proximity to other ridiculously expensive fighters.

Is Putin doing the UKs Forces planning too ?

Previous reputation. After Boeing upped the power on the engines, it’s now a safe airframe.

[Saint]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

Thanks Never seen them before they can't have been higher than 500 ft

BTW, you should live near RAF Benson. Low flying helicopters are just a fact of life round here

[TB63]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

Thanks Never seen them before they can't have been higher than 500 ft

BTW, you should live near RAF Benson. Low flying helicopters are just a fact of life round here

I used to live in Benson when they had Hercules stationed there... Nuff said...

[Openside]

Thanks Never seen them before they can't have been higher than 500 ft

BTW, you should live near RAF Benson. Low flying helicopters are just a fact of life round here

I used to live in Benson when they had Hercules stationed there... Nuff said...

Thats how I knew it was 500ft

[SaintK]

Thanks Never seen them before they can't have been higher than 500 ft

BTW, you should live near RAF Benson. Low flying helicopters are just a fact of life round here

I used to live in Benson when they had Hercules stationed there... Nuff said...

That's nothing! I lived in the village next to Upper Heyford Oxfordshire in the early 1970's with F111's taking off and landing morning, noon and night and regular Boeing AWAC's comings and goings and the occasional Galaxy transporters (i think?) for good measure!!!!

[laurent]

BTW, you should live near RAF Benson. Low flying helicopters are just a fact of life round here

I used to live in Benson when they had Hercules stationed there... Nuff said...

That's nothing! I lived in the village next to Upper Heyford Oxfordshire in the early 1970's with F111's taking off and landing morning, noon and night and regular Boeing AWAC's comings and goings and the occasional Galaxy transporters (i think?) for good measure!!!!

Sadly the Bretigny CEV base has closed.

This was the testing base for French airforce.
I remember the Mirage Flying at less than 100m above my village a few km out...

[Torquemada 1420]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

Yup. Have always had a mental block on both Mildenhall and Lakenheath being in Suffolk.

They are part of the Special Operations Wing.......... read that whichever way you like in the context of the CV22's design!!!

BTW, CV =
- C for transport (cargo)
- V for VTOL capability where NOT a helicopter which are designated with H e.g. AH-64 = Attack Helicopter

[Torquemada 1420]

That's nothing! I lived in the village next to Upper Heyford Oxfordshire in the early 1970's with F111's taking off and landing morning, noon and night and regular Boeing AWAC's comings and goings and the occasional Galaxy transporters (i think?) for good measure!!!!

Red Lion trucker's stop now the most famous place!!!!!!!!!!!

[SaintK]

That's nothing! I lived in the village next to Upper Heyford Oxfordshire in the early 1970's with F111's taking off and landing morning, noon and night and regular Boeing AWAC's comings and goings and the occasional Galaxy transporters (i think?) for good measure!!!!

Red Lion trucker's stop now the most famous place!!!!!!!!!!!

Wrong Upper Heyford. I lived near the Oxfordshire one

[Torquemada 1420]

That's nothing! I lived in the village next to Upper Heyford Oxfordshire in the early 1970's with F111's taking off and landing morning, noon and night and regular Boeing AWAC's comings and goings and the occasional Galaxy transporters (i think?) for good measure!!!!

Red Lion trucker's stop now the most famous place!!!!!!!!!!!

Wrong Upper Heyford. I lived near the Oxfordshire one

[Torquemada 1420]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

We're also trialling them as a potential aerial refueling tanker for the QE class and F-35

That surprises me on many grounds. The operational capabilities of the CV-22
- speed (max)
- ceiling
- load capacity

would make them a very compromised, in flight refueller. Refuelling an F-35 would probably work but what about anything else?

Sounds like usual MOD, f**ked up procurement thinking of the kind that led to the death of the TSR2 and the nonsense that was £billions wasted on Tonka F Mk2. Now, where's that spec for Blue Circle radar?

[Saint]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

We're also trialling them as a potential aerial refueling tanker for the QE class and F-35

That surprises me on many grounds. The operational capabilities of the CV-22
- speed (max)
- ceiling
- load capacity

would make them a very compromised, in flight refueller. Refuelling an F-35 would probably work but what about anything else?

Sounds like usual MOD, f**ked up procurement thinking of the kind that led to the death of the TSR2 and the nonsense that was £billions wasted on Tonka F Mk2. Now, where's that spec for Blue Circle radar?

It;s in late stage testing for the Marine Corps for refueling damn near everything they fly - F-35B, F/A-18, AV8-B, and CH-53.

[Torquemada 1420]

We're also trialling them as a potential aerial refueling tanker for the QE class and F-35

That surprises me on many grounds. The operational capabilities of the CV-22
- speed (max)
- ceiling
- load capacity

would make them a very compromised, in flight refueller. Refuelling an F-35 would probably work but what about anything else?

Sounds like usual MOD, f**ked up procurement thinking of the kind that led to the death of the TSR2 and the nonsense that was £billions wasted on Tonka F Mk2. Now, where's that spec for Blue Circle radar?

It;s in late stage testing for the Marine Corps for refueling damn near everything they fly - F-35B, F/A-18, AV8-B, and CH-53.

Good luck with that. F-35s (like most newer designs) refuel using the boom method whereas Sea Stallions are on drogues. So either the CV-22s will have to carry both systems (like some KC-135s) which I think is unlikely due to its small size or they'll need 2 versions or all the boom fitted planes will have to be converted.

[laurent]

That surprises me on many grounds. The operational capabilities of the CV-22
- speed (max)
- ceiling
- load capacity

would make them a very compromised, in flight refueller. Refuelling an F-35 would probably work but what about anything else?

Sounds like usual MOD, f**ked up procurement thinking of the kind that led to the death of the TSR2 and the nonsense that was £billions wasted on Tonka F Mk2. Now, where's that spec for Blue Circle radar?

It;s in late stage testing for the Marine Corps for refueling damn near everything they fly - F-35B, F/A-18, AV8-B, and CH-53.

Good luck with that. F-35s (like most newer designs) refuel using the boom method whereas Sea Stallions are on drogues. So either the CV-22s will have to carry both systems (like some KC-135s) which I think is unlikely due to its small size or they'll need 2 versions or all the boom fitted planes will have to be converted.

US navy ones and Marines don't the F35 is 3

Spoiler

Show

Shit

planes (A, B, C) in a similar looking outer skin. with Hardly any commonality.

[Saint]

That surprises me on many grounds. The operational capabilities of the CV-22
- speed (max)
- ceiling
- load capacity

would make them a very compromised, in flight refueller. Refuelling an F-35 would probably work but what about anything else?

Sounds like usual MOD, f**ked up procurement thinking of the kind that led to the death of the TSR2 and the nonsense that was £billions wasted on Tonka F Mk2. Now, where's that spec for Blue Circle radar?

It;s in late stage testing for the Marine Corps for refueling damn near everything they fly - F-35B, F/A-18, AV8-B, and CH-53.

Good luck with that. F-35s (like most newer designs) refuel using the boom method whereas Sea Stallions are on drogues. So either the CV-22s will have to carry both systems (like some KC-135s) which I think is unlikely due to its small size or they'll need 2 versions or all the boom fitted planes will have to be converted.

It's not a conversion per-se. The refuelling module is effectively designed be wheeled into the cargo hold as needed, so they'll set it up as needed for the mission. No CV-22s wil ever be "converted" for refuelling, they'll just add/remove the refuelling module as needed on a mission by mission basis. One day a CV22 could be on refueling duties, the next day it could be carrying troops into battle

[tc27]

They fly semi-regularly over where I live in London, and there were rumours the UK had acquired some for special forces needs, so it's probably just training flights and that.

Google sez the Yank unit is in Suffolk, RAF Mildenhall

We're also trialling them as a potential aerial refueling tanker for the QE class and F-35

That surprises me on many grounds. The operational capabilities of the CV-22
- speed (max)
- ceiling
- load capacity

would make them a very compromised, in flight refueller. Refuelling an F-35 would probably work but what about anything else?

Sounds like usual MOD, f**ked up procurement thinking of the kind that led to the death of the TSR2 and the nonsense that was £billions wasted on Tonka F Mk2. Now, where's that spec for Blue Circle radar?

There's absolutely no chance the MOD will be buying Osprey or using it as a refueler for F35s - the RN carriers will probably host them from time to time when the USMC deploys airgroups on them though. Despite cash rises in defence spending the MOD is still struggling to fund current procurement plans

The F35B in most configs actually has a reasonable strike range (more than the harrier and only slightly less than the F18) - the steps to improve it will be SRV landings to increase carry back weight and probably buddy tanks from other F35s.

[Poshprop]

I remember when the NATO conference was in Newport a few years back it looked like an Osprey was coming out of Cardiff Castle which was pretty cool

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... ff-7702982

Been at my dads a lot over lockdown in rural North Herefordshire, not too far from Shobdon, which has a small airfield and we get loads of military stuff flying over here probably due to SAS being pretty close by in Hereford

[Torquemada 1420]

US navy ones and Marines don't the F35 is 3

Spoiler

Show

Shit

planes (A, B, C) in a similar looking outer skin. with Hardly any commonality.

That's interesting. Never understood why the US navy sticks/prefers drogue or why the Yanks would allow their armed forces to operate incompatible systems.

[Torquemada 1420]

It's not a conversion per-se. The refuelling module is effectively designed be wheeled into the cargo hold as needed, so they'll set it up as needed for the mission. No CV-22s wil ever be "converted" for refuelling, they'll just add/remove the refuelling module as needed on a mission by mission basis. One day a CV22 could be on refueling duties, the next day it could be carrying troops into battle

Thx. That does make much more sense. Thunderbird 2!

[Saint]

US navy ones and Marines don't the F35 is 3

Spoiler

Show

Shit

planes (A, B, C) in a similar looking outer skin. with Hardly any commonality.

That's interesting. Never understood why the US navy sticks/prefers drogue or why the Yanks would allow their armed forces to operate incompatible systems.

USN prefers drogues as it's a more flexible system - that can be readily adapted to lots of aircraft types and doesn't need an operator - for instance they've used an FA18 as a refuelling tanker on occasion.

USAF use the Boom because it's capable of much higher rates of transfer - not an issue for fighters, but when it came into being SAC needed to get huge amounts of fuel into bombers

[laurent]

Yes French Navy also use buddy buddy (since Etendard ...) not a chance to get a boom operator in there


This is an Etendard IVP Refuelling a Super Etendard

[mat the expat]

Drogues are much easier to hit with a probe if the plane carrying it is small

[Torquemada 1420]

Drogues are much easier to hit with a probe if the plane carrying it is small

That's the point. Refuellers are not meant to be small because then they can't carry much fuel.

[Yeeb]

Two military type planes have just flown overhead so low the house shook. Never seen them before they looked like a plane but with helicopter style rotors at the end of each wing??

Para in not recognising aircraft shocker

[mat the expat]

Drogues are much easier to hit with a probe if the plane carrying it is small

That's the point. Refuellers are not meant to be small because then they can't carry much fuel.

What is the size limit for a carrier-borne tanker?

[laurent]

Drogues are much easier to hit with a probe if the plane carrying it is small

That's the point. Refuellers are not meant to be small because then they can't carry much fuel.

What is the size limit for a carrier-borne tanker?

Real Carrier a C2 greyhound but not actually used for refuelling (US use F/A18)
US is planning to use Drones in future.

French Don't have C2 but get some to visit and resupply the Charles De Gaulle.

here is an E2C (same airframe)



weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Angry bees

[Jock42]

We're also trialling them as a potential aerial refueling tanker for the QE class and F-35

That surprises me on many grounds. The operational capabilities of the CV-22
- speed (max)
- ceiling
- load capacity

would make them a very compromised, in flight refueller. Refuelling an F-35 would probably work but what about anything else?

Sounds like usual MOD, f**ked up procurement thinking of the kind that led to the death of the TSR2 and the nonsense that was £billions wasted on Tonka F Mk2. Now, where's that spec for Blue Circle radar?

There's absolutely no chance the MOD will be buying Osprey or using it as a refueler for F35s - the RN carriers will probably host them from time to time when the USMC deploys airgroups on them though. Despite cash rises in defence spending the MOD is still struggling to fund current procurement plans

The F35B in most configs actually has a reasonable strike range (more than the harrier and only slightly less than the F18) - the steps to improve it will be SRV landings to increase carry back weight and probably buddy tanks from other F35s.

Was reading something the other day they're hoping to have a fleet of UAVs for refuelling from the carriers in the next couple of years.

[fishfoodie]

That surprises me on many grounds. The operational capabilities of the CV-22
- speed (max)
- ceiling
- load capacity

would make them a very compromised, in flight refueller. Refuelling an F-35 would probably work but what about anything else?

Sounds like usual MOD, f**ked up procurement thinking of the kind that led to the death of the TSR2 and the nonsense that was £billions wasted on Tonka F Mk2. Now, where's that spec for Blue Circle radar?

There's absolutely no chance the MOD will be buying Osprey or using it as a refueler for F35s - the RN carriers will probably host them from time to time when the USMC deploys airgroups on them though. Despite cash rises in defence spending the MOD is still struggling to fund current procurement plans

The F35B in most configs actually has a reasonable strike range (more than the harrier and only slightly less than the F18) - the steps to improve it will be SRV landings to increase carry back weight and probably buddy tanks from other F35s.

Was reading something the other day they're hoping to have a fleet of UAVs for refuelling from the carriers in the next couple of years.

All the best Military Strategy is founded on, "Hope" !

[laurent]

There's absolutely no chance the MOD will be buying Osprey or using it as a refueler for F35s - the RN carriers will probably host them from time to time when the USMC deploys airgroups on them though. Despite cash rises in defence spending the MOD is still struggling to fund current procurement plans

The F35B in most configs actually has a reasonable strike range (more than the harrier and only slightly less than the F18) - the steps to improve it will be SRV landings to increase carry back weight and probably buddy tanks from other F35s.

Was reading something the other day they're hoping to have a fleet of UAVs for refuelling from the carriers in the next couple of years.

All the best Military Strategy is founded on, "Hope" !

And adding a catapult to the carriers ...