Mid-Air Refueling over Nova Scotia

[darrylcn]

All I heard was a few words. Was in the car in Sackville. Enough to know it was them though.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

ahh, bummer, I think he was making a sexual innuendo of some sort lol, or maybe some flirting, he got shot down tho

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

AR-20 is active right now, get your ears on! at least 2 bombers of some sort, and 1 Ethel, and tons of chatter, danm this weather....

 

[darrylcn]

Ok, this is awesome... I just heard (11:44 Atlantic) a loud jet take off from Bangor Intl, Ethyl -something- and declare he was headed direct Yankee Quebec India I don't think I was hearing things, and when I looked up YQI to see what ICAO it was that confirmed things for me... The hotel we're at is just about at the end of one of the runways, how cool is that!?

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

thats kick ass! too bad it was nightime, you could have gotten a visual confirmation I hope you stay a couple days, maybe you will see something in the day.

I heard them chatting back and forth around 00:30-01:00, so that sounds about right to me for timing, might have even been a bit later, I was on the couch half passed out, but I did hear.Ethyl and Reach, which took on 80k lbs of fuel. So theres your confirmation I guess. Sweet catch

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

Anyone know what waypoint they would be refering to when they say "request direct to Stool" ? I've heard it called a few times, and can't find it in the list of waypoints I found for google earth.

 

[jetcrafter]

Anyone know what waypoint they would be refering to when they say "request direct to Stool" ? I've heard it called a few times, and can't find it in the list of waypoints I found for google earth.

Yes. It's a fix off Cap Cod where the tankers sometimes wait and hold until their receivers get close. Then they head up to AR-20 from there.

Here's the info from Airnav.com

Information on fix STOOL
Identifier: STOOL
Name: STOOL
Location: 42-08-34.080N 068-44-59.180W
Navaid radial/DME: ACKr062.59/77.19
BOSr112.60/100.63
Fix use: Reporting point
Published: yes
Charts: ENROUTE HIGH

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

Nice! Thx Ed, not sure why its not in the file I got for Google earth, maybe its there just not named.

Another question Ed, do they work from one AR to another without stopping the fueling? Like AR80 into 20 ?

Heads up guys, 8 possible passes tonight/tomorrow


AR20(NE) 07/22/2010 01:40 07/22/2010 02:25 ZBW 230 250

AR20(NE) 07/22/2010 06:30 07/22/2010 07:15 ZBW 190 210

AR20(NE) 07/22/2010 13:00 07/22/2010 13:45 ZBW 190 210

AR20(NE) 07/22/2010 19:45 07/22/2010 21:30 ZBW 210 230

AR20(NE) 07/22/2010 22:00 07/22/2010 22:45 ZBW 190 210

AR20(SW) 07/22/2010 14:30 07/22/2010 15:15 ZBW 240 260

AR20(SW) 07/22/2010 15:00 07/22/2010 15:45 ZBW 200 220

AR20(SW) 07/22/2010 22:05 07/22/2010 22:50 ZBW 240 260

 

[anthonyx2]

Spotting refuelers in action

I've seen one of these refuelers in action over Halifax a year or so ago, fueling one plane and another tagging along behind, and just found this forum, so I'll have to program the frequencies into my scanner to keep up on this.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

Hey guys, I got a pic of Reach881 just now, looks like a c-17 or similar, but its pretty hard to tell, even with the PS work I did to enlarge it. I heard the tail end of them refueling, and he checked in with Moncton to decend down to 20000ft.

I was trying out a new camera I won at work, its only a 3X zoom or something tho, not bad for free I guess.

 

[darrylcn]

Cool! 100% sure that's a C-17 BTW. No question. Now, since this is the internet, stand by for it to be IDd as everything from an F-22 to a B-52. Great shot, the only cool thing I've ever shot overhead was a C-17 too.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

hehe, gotta love the internet. C17's certainly are much easier to spot than a KC, or smaller birds

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

I've seen one of these refuelers in action over Halifax a year or so ago, fueling one plane and another tagging along behind, and just found this forum, so I'll have to program the frequencies into my scanner to keep up on this.

Hello Anthony, welcome, and nice to have you with us. Feel free to IM me or post back if you need any help, or have questions.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

heads up, just heard Ethelxxx talking to Moncton, for AR-20 SW. They should be starting their run soon. 15:23 local.

edit 15:30 Ethel801 reporting ready to refuel, on SW track 17000ft, awaiting second craft(flight 68201, didnt get a name yet), so should be good for pics

 

[jetcrafter]

Heads Up! Two B-1s heading over now!!

Monday 1857z (257pm EDT)

Two tankers and three B-1s are heading over AR-20 now. Flights are

ETHYL B1 & B2 (Tankers)
RAMA 71, 72, 73 (B-1)

RAMA 73 is a spare jet and will return to US when the other two are along ok.

Here's radio info from my area that I heard:


1816z 125.050 ETHYL B1 & B2 wkg Pease departure heading 090.
1823z 341.750 ETHYL B1 & RAMA 71 coordinating AR on AR-20NE Primary
1823z 128.200 ETHYL B1 wkg ZBW look for block 200-220 for random AR up to AR-20NE with RAMA 71 flight.
1835z 290.300 RAMA 71 flight of three wkg ZBW for hook up with ETHYL B1 flight.
1827z 133.450 ETHYL B1 check in w/ZBW, MARSA with RAMA 71 flight direct YQI 249/92. (AR20 CP)


No B1 a-a found here yet.

 

[jetcrafter]

Hey guys, I got a pic of Reach881 just now, looks like a c-17 or similar, but its pretty hard to tell, even with the PS work I did to enlarge it. I heard the tail end of them refueling, and he checked in with Moncton to decend down to 20000ft.

I was trying out a new camera I won at work, its only a 3X zoom or something tho, not bad for free I guess.

Not bad for free is right! Good shot. Sure can tell that it is a C-17 Thanks for posting it and I am jealous!!

 

[jetcrafter]

Another question Ed, do they work from one AR to another without stopping the fueling? Like AR80 into 20 ?

Yes. Today, the ETHYL/ RAMA flight did random refueling on their way to AR20. They pretty much flew the same route as AR80 but called it random.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

Dang it, I was on a conference call when they went overhead...I even heard the scanner going, but couldnt sneak outside for a look/picture. Stupid work!

Yes. Today, the ETHYL/ RAMA flight did random refueling on their way to AR20. They pretty much flew the same route as AR80 but called it random.

I thought that was the case, and I heard them mention "Random refueling" to Moncton before, plus it seems lately they have been finishing up long before they are over my place, which is only about half the way up AR-20. Thanks yet again Ed

 

[darrylcn]

Small heads up - there's a C-17 over Halifax as of 9:02 ADT. he's headed SW. Didn't hear them but I spotted them. I have crappy photographic proof if requested

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

have you been listening for the last hour or so darryl?? I saw something small and fast pulling away from what looked to be a KC, but I was in the car, and didnt hear anything to identify it.

It was moving fast or seemed to be, there was a contrail about 4 KM long over the city, that just stopped like the plane disapeared, I was gonna post to Ed, and see if he knows any details

I've heard at least 2 Cactusxxx's check in with Moncton, so one of them was probally the one your seeing, I must have missed it, or its on a different flight line then AR-20.