Ukraine

[Kevin Farnell]

Anyone noticed 3 AN124’s have joined in over the last few days? Not sure where they had been previously but I only noticed the first one on Thursday.

I saw one a couple of days ago, but didn't follow where it was going. I've also seen a Ukrainian registered An-12 operating over Europe (again, not sure where it was going), along with an Il-76 that seemed to be doing a routine freight flight.

Kevin

[Kevin Farnell]

There is currently a Tu-204-300 (RA64058 and listed as 'Rossiya Special Flight Squadron') -

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10366690

descending into Brest airport (BQT), Belarus. This is close to the border of both Ukraine and Poland. More talks perhaps?

Kevin

[cstorey]

Even more curiously, right now ( Monday 1158 UTC) there is a Rivet Joint and 2 B52s circling over SE Romania. The B52s crossed Czech airspace earlier . I surmise that the Tankers follow the Polish route because they are accompanied by fighters and the airspace is rather more congested than further south

The AN124s by the way seem to have been shuttling between Italy or Spain and Constanze on the Romanian Black Sea coast

[Kevin Farnell]

Thanks, I managed to find both B52's on FR24 (one having the callsign 'Gorgon12', the other 'No callsign'). Gorgon12, is shown to originate from Kemble, but I would think that RAF Fairford is most likely. Both B52 flight paths show them to have transited Czechian air space. As to why the B52's are there, I guess it's just a show of force.

Kevin

[Paul K]

A moment of levity in these grim days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsLsjh_jDLo

[FlyTexas]

A moment of levity in these grim days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsLsjh_jDLo

Wonderful! We could use more videos like this. Thanks Paul.

Brian

[Airspeed]

My doctor alerted me to this yesterday, surprised that I hadn't told him.
In short, the World's largest aircraft destroyed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Antonov_Airport

[Kevin Farnell]

A moment of levity in these grim days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsLsjh_jDLo

Delightful! I hope they can have a very long and happy future together.

Kevin

[cstorey]

Is that what's known as a shotgun wedding ?

[Kevin Farnell]

FR24 is showing an RAF E3 Sentry airborne and flying circles over East Anglia. I thought they had been retired. Maybe it's been brought out of storage as the E7 Wedgetails aren't ready yet.

Kevin