Warton 19, 26 & 27 October 2022

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19 October - the second flight of ZR502. Returned with the in-flight refuelling probe extended.

ZR502 QA401 Typhoon by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

26 October - ZR509 had been up for its fifth test flight, while ZR502 was being prepared for its third flight:

L-R ZR502 QA401 & ZR509 QA408 Typhoon by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

ZR502 did a performance take-off.

ZR502 QA401 Typhoon by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

ZR502 QA401 Typhoon by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

ZR502 QA401 Typhoon by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

ZR502 QA401 Typhoon by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

27 October - the RSAF KC-130J that had arrived on the 25th (from Heraklion) returned to Tabuk. This is one of only two J versions in the Saudi C-130 fleet. It was scheduled to leave at 9.00am but didn't get away until 2.50pm. Fuel was leaking from one of the wings as it taxied down the runway; a minor clean-up operation was necessary after it had gone.

3208 KC-130J by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

3208 KC-130J by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

3208 KC-130J by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

3208 KC-130J by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

3208 KC-130J by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

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Interesting that it carries two wing tanks on each side. Haven't seen that on a C-130 before. With those fitted, I imagine it can do Tabuk non-stop.

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Oct 30, 2022 10:30:53 GMT 1 @garstonboy said:

Interesting that it carries two wing tanks on each side. Haven't seen that on a C-130 before. With those fitted, I imagine it can do Tabuk non-stop.

Yes I was surprised it returned non-stop. I expected it to refuel at Chania or Heraklion. As far as I'm aware the outboard pods contain only the air-to-air refuelling gear i.e. drogue and hose reel, and the labels on the big door underneath the pod refer to an accumulator and anti-surge equipment. The refuelling pods are made by Cobham - a British company until it was sold to the Americans in 2021. I wonder if it's a challenge for a fighter pilot to refuel at relatively low C-130 speeds? I read somewhere that a USMC F-35 hit a C-130 while refuelling and crashed recently - over the Nevada desert I think. The F-35 pilot ejected successfully and the C-130 landed OK, but was extensively damaged.