As mentioned on the Dutch Scramble Message Board, the twelve A-10Cs from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany, are on their way back home. Today, they arrived at Lajes Field, Azores, for stopover.
According to Warthog News contributor Fábio Pinheiro from Portugal, they arrived at 18:00 O-clock local time. According to other Scramble spotters, they could depart Lajes for Spang April 2 and 3, 2010.
Update 1:
Good morning! It's 04:59 German local time, and I can't sleep. Just after midnight, in an e-mail Warthog News contributor João Toste from Portugal told me:
Today [April 1, 2010 - edited by me] arrived at Lajes 12 A-10s (SP). The 1st group at 17h50 and the second at 18h15, local time.
Arriving order:
81-0654, 81-0976, 82-0656, 81-0991, 80-0275, 81-0983
Supporting tanker: KC-10A 79-1946 (from Travis)
81-0960, 81-0988, 81-0945, 82-0650, 81-0985, 81-0980
Supporting tankers: KC-10As 84-0185 (from Travis) and 86-0027 (from McGuire)
Special thanks to João for his first-hand spotter info.
Update 2:
Later today (April 2, 2010), João e-mailed me the following pictures, taken at Lajes Field April 1, 2010:
A-10Cs 80-0275 (foreground) and 81-0991 taxiing after arrival. Two others already parking. (Photo by João Toste) Full size
A-10C 81-0945 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by João Toste) Full size
A-10C 81-0980 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by João Toste) Full size
In his e-mail, João told me: They will depart tomorow morning. The whether was dark (as usual)...
Special thanks for your exclusive photo support, João!
Update 3 (April 3, 2010):
Also on April 2, Warthog News contributor André Inácio from Portugal exclusive e-mailed me the following arrival shots (Sorry for the delay, but I had to do with renaming his files:
AC-10 80-0275 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
AC-10 81-0976 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
A-10C 82-0656 taxiing after arrival. Note the rare Panther head on the left fin-cap. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
AC-10 81-0960 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
A-10C 81-0988 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
AC-10C 81-0983 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
A-10C 82-0654 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
A-10C 81-0980 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
A-10C 82-0650 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
A-10C 81-0991 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
A-10C 81-0985 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
A-10C 81-0945 taxiing after arrival. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size
Special thanks for your exclusive photo support, André!
Update 4 (April 4, 2010):
Today, João e-mailed me the following exclusive departure shots, taken at Lajes April 3, 2010:
A-10C 81-0960. (Photo by João Toste) Full size
A-10C 81-0960. Note the American flag behind the windshield. (Photo by João Toste) Full size
A-10C 82-0650. (Photo by João Toste) Full size
A-10Cs 82-0650 and 81-0945. (Photo by João Toste) Full size
A-10Cs 82-0650 and 81-0945. (Photo by João Toste) Full size
A-10C 81-0945. (Photo by João Toste) Full size
Thank you again for providing these additional exclusive shots, João.
Update 5 (April 4, 2010):
Later today, João e-mailed me the following exclusive departure shots, taken at Lajes April 3, 2010:
A-10C 81-0985. (Photo by João Toste) Hi-res
A-10C 81-0960. (Photo by João Toste) Hi-res
A-10C 81-0960. (Photo by João Toste) Hi-res
Also, João told me:
They departed on rwy 15. The 1st group of 6 more KC-10 at 0930AM and the 2nd group of 4 more KC-10 at 1000AM (local time) Also departed one more KC-10 at 1200. Since the apron (I think is Echo) to the rwy 15 they used twy Papa (parallel with the runways) and Mike as usual for departures on 15.
The first group, only 4 made the line up on 15 initialy, two side by side ahead and the other two side by side behind. When the 1st took off one of the group behind took her position and one of the 2 A-10 that was awaiting on Mike get to the position of the one that moved on. The same movement after the 2nd takeoff.
The second group of 4 aircraft made the line up 2 ahead side by side and the others 2 behind also side by side.
Behind in some photos appears a C-130, is a KC-130T (U.S. Marines) reg. 165000.
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