Friday, January 13, 2017

USAF Reach flights

On a clear day I often see 'reach' flights crossing the UK, usually on a well used route either travelling east or west through southern Wales (sometimes further south using reporting point 'gitus' approx 15 miles north of Lands End) across to RAF Marham in Norfolk (and then on to 'navpi' in the north sea east of Great Yarmouth).

Aircraft using these callsigns typically include C130 Hercules, C5 Galaxy, C17 Globemaster and KC10 and KC135 Tanker aircraft and occasionally other types.

These flights usually cross 10-15 miles south of my location but are clearly visible from here in Leicester on a clear day. Occasionally their routing is slightly different such as 'reach 707' (C130J) early this morning that went straight across eastbound from central Wales (usually but not always heading to Ramstein) and passed almost overhead my location.

These flights are almost always working Swanwick military on 252.875 and usually a few miles east of here get transferred to Swanwick Military 'East' on either 259.6 UHF or 133.325 VHF.

Another common route for 'reach' flights is from the Northwest (Lake District or further North) across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and then across the North Sea off the North Norfolk coast and from the Yorkshire area these usually work Swanwick civil control on 126.780 until passed to Maastricht when Eastbound.

I'd be interested in knowing the frequencies they usually work further North if anyone can help?