Sentry Aviation News-AAR flight with B707 20010627

AAR mission with a Boeing 707T/T

Planned

On Thursday June 27th 2001, Boeing 707T/T (MM62148, coded 14-01, 14° Stormo, 8° Gruppo, Practica di Mare) was planned for an Air-to-Air-Refeuling mission during the exercise Clean Hunter from Geilenkirchen, Germany. 4 Tornado's and 2 Harrier's were planned to be refeuled in Air Refeuling Area 9, for the east coast of the United Kingdom.

With a crew of 2 pilots, 2 mechanic, 2 visual checkers and some additional crewmembers.

Mission

The flightplan stated a 1430z departure from Geilenkirchen with the following waypoints.

Take off from Geilenkirchen
Via Maastricht Control [123.97] to Thorn (THN)
Overflying Eindhoven Air Base
Via DutchMil [242.15] to Valkenburg (VBG/EHVB) and MC16
Via LondonMil [232.02] to ARA9 (above the North Sea, near Coltishall)
Tanker control in ARA9 was LondonMil [299.97]
The used boom frequency was [376.95]
The flight home went from MC16 via AmsterdamRadar [125.750] to Valkenburg (VBG/EHVB)
And DutchMil [128.35] guided the plane to Bruggen
Where Geilenkirchen Approach took over for landing around 1600z.

See the map of the flight (Credit: www.fallingrain.com) or
the map of the flight (Credit: http://www.aeroplanner.com/)

Bad luck was that only 1 aircraft, Tornado ZA463/FK from 12sqn Lossiemouth, came along for some fuel. During this exercise 12 to 15 aircraft was normal during a mission. Unfortunately not that day :-(

All photo's:
G.J.A. van Boven
Place: Geilenkirchen, Germany
Date: 20010627
© Sentry Aviation News


	Crew The cockpit 2 men of the crew do the visual checking during the refeuling After the flight, a crew-shot in front of the plane Eindhoven AFB from above Tornado ZA463 from 12sqn Lossiemouth Credits Thanks to Italian Air Force: Uffico Stampa: Gagliano 14 Stormo: Montefusco, Del Giudice, Fiori, Samaria, Pelagalli Thanks to Geilenkirchen: PAO: Riley, Tibideau Thanks to www.dutchmil.com: Jos Frielink for this audioclip.