Obama Visit-Heads up

[Ascot 1960]

Just a few notes on the Obama visit. As we now know the C-5s, CH-47s and so on are here (Ireland). The Flight of 4 CH-47s (90143,80101,90163 and 90072) were seen over Clacton–on-sea (UK) ex Germany on 17th May next stop was Lakenheath after that inbound to Dublin at FL2500 via North Wales working London/Valley/Dublin.
Funny I have never known the support to come so far in advance any way….
 The following is what I have gleaned about the forthcoming President Obama State Visit to the UK after Ireland which may be of interest. It is not complete or verified. Furthermore details may be changed at the last minute due to security issues. Here's what I have for now;
VC-25A "*AIR FORCE ONE*" (Military Boeing 747) and a VC-32A (Military Boeing
757) will go into Stansted on 24th May. They will arrive from Dublin where
The US President is due to arrive from the USA on May 23rd. President
Obama's State Visit to the UK begins on the 24th May and runs through to the
26th May.

At least six Obama visit dedicated C-17A Globemaster III flights should go
into RAF Mildenhall Also Dublin with the VH-60N's X 2, bringing in presidential visit support equipment, i.e.
vehicles, helicopters communications equipment. These could start flying in
up to five days before the visit actually begins, well it did for Ireland. There may be a case were a
C-17A is replaced by a C-5A/B Galaxy. It would appear that on this occasion
The presidential helicopters will be flown into Mildenhall initially and not
as during a previous visit, into RAF Northolt.
Some supplementary US Army helicopters from US bases in Germany may be
involved.
One aircraft definitely destined for Mildenhall will be the very secretive
C-20C Gulfstream III, which will stand 24 hour alert at '*The Hall*' while
The US President is in Ireland and the UK.
My understanding is that as things stand at the moment the 1 ACCS/55th Wing
E-4B National Airborne Operations Centre (NAOC) will not be in the UK while
the  president is here. Whether it will come to the UK while the President is in
Ireland remains to be seen. I don't know where the E-4B is going while
President Obama is in the UK any way, Here is the complete listing of all the helicopters being used in Ireland and the UK for his visit, including the secondary codes of the Sea Knights.


RAF Mildenhall (UK)
159352 VH-3D HMX-1
159355 VH-3D HMX-1
157680 '18' CH-46E HMX-1 Secondary code '3'
157682 '20' CH-46E HMX-1 Secondary code '4'
157683 '21' CH-46E HMX-1 Secondary code '10'
153362 '22' CH-46E HMX-1 Secondary code '8'

NOTE: The secondary codes are carried on an interchangeable panel on the left side of the fuselage of each Sea Knight in large white numbering. The actual code (18, 20, 21 & 22) is carried on the rear rotor housing just below the serial in small white numbering.

Dublin
163263 VH-60N HMX-1
163266 VH-60N HMX-1
87-0072 CH-47D 'B' Co, 5th Btn, 158th Avn Regt.
88-0101 CH-47D 'B' Co, 5th Btn, 158th Avn Regt.
89-0143 CH-47D 'B' Co, 5th Btn, 158th Avn Regt.
89-0163 CH-47D 'B' Co, 5th Btn, 158th Avn Regt.


Just a last word on that visit! The Chello Bae 146  (c/s over the few days 'Chello 252' Arr RAF Northolt 08:28 ex Luton (aircrafts first visit to RAF Northolt) Dept at 10:47 for Bal as 'Chello 523'. Dept Bal as 'Chello 254' 12:45 for Cork and later back to RAF Northolt as 'Chello 255'.

[Machlooper]

Just back from the ill fated "Saxon Warrior" so have been relativly out of touch the past few days but, there was also a CH-46 here in Ireland during the visit. I was surprised to see a photo of it flying around moneygal on the Friday before the visit as I had seen the initial formation over Dublin and on the ground at EIDW and it wasn't there (??)

[Irish251]

Where did you see that photo?  First I have heard of a CH-46 being here and there have been no reports of one staging through any UK airfield on the way to Ireland.

[Machlooper]

Here ye go Short Finals, I must appologise, it was taken over west Dublin on the evening of May 20th not Moneygal. The CH-46's were in Mildenhall last Monday when I was there

Courtesy of Terry Healy:

[Irish251]

Very interesting!  Looks like it is at very low level here so was it flying from/to an Irish airfield, I wonder?

[Ascot 1960]

Is this 157682 (4)? So did this chopper hop over from Mildenhall? Funny, with the net work of spotters around Ireland and the UK, how did this chopper pass us by? Are we sure this photo was even  taken in Ireland it’s all a bit odd? Was this to replace the CH-47 which went u/s at Dublin Airport. I think this will run and run! Short Finals is right, you can’t ‘fart’ in the U.K. or Ireland and someone will spot it

[Ascot 1960]

 It is now summer time! Have a look at the trees in the photo, no leafs! The plot thickens (a bit of leg pulling going on here one thinks!)

[Machlooper]

(a bit of leg pulling going on here one thinks!)

I'll be talking to the guy who took it tonight/tomorrow so I'll find out what the story is then.
On looking at the date it was actually Saturday the 21st , my bad!!

[Machlooper]

Have spoken to the guy who shot the photo of the CH-46 and it is genuine. It was taken over Blanchardstown.
I have worked with this guy for 20 years so I can vouch for it's autenticity !
 

[Irish251]

All four VH-46s were photographed leaving Mildenhall on the 21st and returning there before 2 p.m.  Aircraft "4" is shown in the images at the link below.  One report from that day on another forum says that "All choppers were hangared on return today but they have been every day."

Therefore it must have have left Mildenhall for Ireland some time later in the afternoon.

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33346