Mid-Atlantic (and beyond) MilAir 2026

[mdmonitor]

0803- Blackjack 3 (CG MH-65E # 6502) w/Potomac (125.65) requesting patterns at ADW. About same time Mussel 13 (UH-1) w/Potomac requesting patterns at ADW as well.

 

[mdmonitor]

2035- E-6B AF788D, one of the Skymaster Exercise participants, is over Richmond at FL1170 & looks to be heading back to PX.

 

[Mark]

Turns out it was VT ANG F-35s x3 callsign was RETRO 91 landed in KBTV around 1325 EST. Presumably RTB from Puerto Rico ?

Seems they have just started trickling crews back for a few days now.Gonna take a while to bring all those planes and gear back home to Vermont. I'm sure we will hear more small groups to pass thru
Green Mountain Boys Touch Down: 158th Fighter Wing Completes Historic Return from Caribbean Deployment

Aircraft Ferrying: The return of the 20 F-35A jets began after January 6. These flights are conducted in small groups to manage air traffic and the need for aerial refueling tankers during the 1,600-mile trip from Puerto Rico.
A VTANG spokesperson told Compass Vermont that they would not be releasing any information until the mission is completed and all participants have returned to the base.
I don't think they sent 20 planes down there so local news article error.

 

[paradiver]

Crew 11 splashdown this AM off San Diego. RAP721 (N561AC) lifted from Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Ca. Looks like the sick crew member went directly to the hospital over going to one in Houston.

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live - aircraft flight history

globe.adsbexchange.com

 

[Hbright]

Crew 11 splashdown this AM off San Diego. RAP721 (N561AC) lifted from Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Ca. Looks like the sick crew member went directly to the hospital over going to one in Houston.

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live - aircraft flight history

globe.adsbexchange.com

Space Hipsters | NASA / SpaceX Astro Choppers sit at LGB Airport awaiting the safe return of the Crew-11 astronauts one of whom is sick & in need of treatment here on ... | Facebook

NASA / SpaceX Astro Choppers sit at LGB Airport awaiting the safe return of the Crew-11 astronauts one of whom is sick & in need of treatment here on earth. N561AC & N554AC 01-13-26

www.facebook.com

 

[mdmonitor]

0850- Couple of CG MH-65Es (Blackjack 1 & 4) w/Huntress (139.7) setting up for intercept training.

0915- Salty Dog 201 (T-45 VX-23) working patterns at DOV (279.625)

0917- Scotch flt (3 X T-38s) w/ZDC Cape Charles (236.825) for entry into W386. A2A is 238.825

 

[Tech792]

0902L- 2 CH-53 out of McGuire just passed by my QTH going north towards the Hudson River A/A 250.8

 

[mdmonitor]

0925- Team 61 flt (2 X KC-46s) on 378.85 as they head south. At 0930 flt splits up with Team 63 turning and heading out to W386 and Team 61 continuing south.

 

[Tech792]

0902L- 2 CH-53 out of McGuire just passed by my QTH going north towards the Hudson River A/A 250.8

Looks like those 2 CH-53 landed at Sikorski in CT

 

[john8436]

0925- Team 61 flt (2 X KC-46s) on 378.85 as they head south. At 0930 flt splits up with Team 63 turning and heading out to W386 and Team 61 continuing south.

Team61 (15-46070) is paired with Team62 (19-46007) operating in AR636. Team63 (21-46088) is paired with Team64 (21-46093) working AR777.

Pudgy94 (11-46060) tracking south to Seymour Johnson.

 

[mdmonitor]

1030- Some DCANG F-16s on 238.175

 

[mdmonitor]

1100- NAS JAX P-8 up in PAX area working tight orbits (135.625) at FL100.

 

[Dutchmil]

Bit of a late head's-up, sorry ....

Two SW F-16s 150 miles East from ACK inbound to Shaw AFB as TREND 25/26.
Supporting tankers are ROMA 61 and ROMA 62 on Coronet East 009.

 

[mdmonitor]

1255- Langley T-38 (Fulcrum 02) w/Giantkiller (238.1) clearing out of W386 and advises will recover at Patrick Henry Airport.

 

[Maryland_avgeek]

RRR4196 A400M just departed lajes possibly dragging jets?

 

[john8436]

1316 hrs Local: CH-53K 170296 AED55D, new aircraft looks to being delivered it looks like. Just north of KWRI.

Unusual visitor to ACY MC-130J 22-5989 193rd SOS

 

[Mark]

Getting A/A coms on 228.800 talking about fuel and if we may have to stop at Seymour Johnson.
I think those Shaw F-16's inbound posted above by Dutchmil
1454 local Came up on ZDC Snow Hill 236.825 and req direct to Shaw.
Next push 370.925 Norfolk.

 

[morfis]

RRR4196 A400M just departed lajes possibly dragging jets?

Transport not tanker

The only tankers the UK have are the mixed role spamtankers (civilian charter/freight/passenger/tanker)...and the idiocy of the procurement process here means that the RC-135s (which, in reality are just US ones whith a badge of convenience) rely on the USAF for tanker support.

 

[paradiver]

Red Flag 26-1

Red Flag and other Air Exercises in the NTTR

https://www.dreamlandresort.com/info/red_flag26-1_aircraft.html

Red Flag 26-1: 01/19/2026 - 01/30/2026​

• 
  
• 
  

  Role	Aircraft	Unit & Home Base
  Red Team
  Blue Team Air	Typhoon	RAF Lossiemouth and Coningsby, UK
  Interdiction
  Command & Control
  Reconnaissance
  Electronic Warfare
  Refueling	Voyager KC3	10/101sq, RAF Brize Norton, UK
  CSAR

  Red Flag 26-1	Close Allies only			Day mission : Start of launch: (??) - End of recovery: (??) local
  							Night mission: Start of launch: (??) - End of recovery: (??) local
  	Verified Aircraft	Listed in the order they were verified		No night mission on Friday
  	Mode-S	Registration	Callsign	Aircraft Type	Unit	Role	Notes
  	43C171	ZZ171	RRR6112	C-17A	24/99sq, RAF Brize Norton, UK	Transport	Thu 01/08/26: Arrived at Nellis AFB from RAF Brize Norton; likely bringing personnel or material for the upcoming Red Flag; departed Nellis the same day
  	43C5E1	ZM407	RRR4122	A-400M	24/30/70sq, RAF Brize Norton, UK	Transport	Thu 01/08/26: Arrived at Nellis AFB from RAF Brize Norton; likely bringing personnel or material for the upcoming Red Flag; departed Nellis the next day
  	43C6F8	ZZ335	RRR9102	Voyager KC3	10/101sq, RAF Brize Norton, UK	Refueling	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  	43C6FA	ZZ337	RRR9104	Voyager KC3	10/101sq, RAF Brize Norton, UK	Refueling	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  			RRR9511	Typhoon		Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  	43C7AA	ZK433	RRR9512	Typhoon	1(F)sq, RAF Lossiemouth, UK	Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  	43C6DB	ZK328	RRR9513	Typhoon	1(F)sq, RAF Lossiemouth, UK	Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  	43C708	ZK346	RRR9514	Typhoon	1(F)sq, RAF Lossiemouth, UK	Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  			RRR9515	Typhoon		Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  	43C77C	ZK353	RRR9516	Typhoon	12(B)sq, RAF Coningsby, UK	Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  			RRR9521	Typhoon		Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  			RRR9522	Typhoon		Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  			RRR9533	Typhoon		Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  	43C70B	ZK349	RRR9524	Typhoon	XI(F)sq, RAF Coningsby, UK	Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  	43C7AE	ZK437	RRR9526	Typhoon	12(B)sq, RAF Coningsby, UK	Blue Air	Mon 01/12/26: Enroute to Nellis AFB
  	43C6DA	ZK327	LOSSIE30	Typhoon	1(F)sq, RAF Lossiemouth, UK	Blue Air	Wed 01/14/26: Landed at Nellis AFB
  	43CAEF	ZK341	ZK341	Typhoon	XI(F)sq, RAF Coningsby, UK	Blue Air	Wed 01/14/26: Landed at Nellis AFB
  		ZZ177	RRR6114	C-17A	24/99sq, RAF Brize Norton, UK	Transport	Tue 01/13/26: Arrived at Nellis AFB from RAF Brize Norton; likely bringing personnel or material for the upcoming Red Flag
  					Confirmed Red Flag
  					Unconfirmed
  					Support or likely NOT a Red Flag player
  					Lead unit
  	Verified Units
  			# of aircraft	Aircraft Type	Unit	Role
  			2	Voyager KC3	10/101sq, RAF Brize Norton, UK	Refueling
  			12	Typhoon	RAF Lossiemouth and Coningsby, UK	Blue Air
  	Total identified:	14
  	Official # of aircraft:	?

 

[Tech792]

1535L- Just had two CH-53 assume same ones from earlier just passed by going south, only 1 TIS-B showing, A/A 250.8, prob back to KWRI