Great Britain | Exercise Dropship

[Jamie]

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Exercise Dropship Private & Encrypted​

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Deployment List​

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[40] No. 10 Squadron, B Flight [2] Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

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Operation Staging Areas​

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Designation	Location	Status
RAF Fairford	RAF Fairford	Active

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Operations​

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Operation	Location	Objective(s)	Status
Exercise Dropship	RAF Fairford	Air Drops	In Progress

Two C-17s from the Royal Air Force, B Flight part of No. 10 Squadron have been re-located to RAF Fairford to engage in low level flying, air drop exercises and generally refine their skills with the intention that they are to replace A Flight as part of the Independent Airlift Wing. With a US complement of C-17's in the UK, the USAF was also invited to offer some aircraft to participate which could lead to RAF/USAF joint formation flying across the UK. @John

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[John]

The US would accept the British invitation to take part in the exercise, offering up three of the C-17s from 4th Airlift Squadron, currently stationed in RAF Brize Norton. The British would be informed that the aircraft would be leaving ASAP and heading to RAF Fairford to take part in the exercise, and at that, the C-17s would be fuelled and would begin a take off, to fly towards Fairford. They would keep in touch with the British all of the way to keep them up to date on time of arrival etc. Inside each aircraft would be eighteen empty 463L master pallets to be used for the exercise.

(sorry for small reply, on phone)

 

[Jamie]

The Royal Air Force C-17 Globemasters had both arrived at RAF Fairford, landing in accordance with air traffic control with both the US and RAF aircraft supported via ground support teams to navigate to their 'parking spot' whilst at the airbase. The crews were given a couple of days to integrate with one another which included generally just spending time together, running through briefings and even some tips each country had noticed whilst operating the aircraft on operations. That was just both time to kill and to ensure maximum communication. The third day would begin by a morning briefing that begun at 0730 where the crews of all C-17's were brought into a briefing room and Captain Dunbar, a flight officer with the RAF begun his briefing;

"Thank you for been here today. A warm welcome to our American counterparts to Exercise Dropship. This will be a combined exercise between the USAF, and the RAF which will cover the following phases:
- Formation Flying
- Low Level Flying
- Supply Drops
I know everyone here has some experience in the operation of the C-17 Globemaster, some more than others, some relatively new to the front-line of air operations. We will first be covering formation flying, whilst something you've likely done amongst your own air forces, we intend to put this into use between both of ours. So today, we'll be setting off at 1000hrs; the combined effort of the five aircraft will be carrying out a fly past over London and up the east coast, cutting to the west as we reach Scotland before going to the north, back down to the East Coast all the way to Lincoln before we make our destination stop at Royal Air Force, Waddington. This base is where we will be picking up cargo to prepare for an air drop for troops that require supplies at a Forward Operating Base. Is there any questions before you go prepare your aircraft and have any internal team briefings?"

None of the Royal Air Force Crew, ground or otherwise, had questions so departed to run through checks of the two C-17s. Ensuring they were fully fuelled, and generally in good condition whilst running through the air frame and running through internal briefings to get an understanding on weather, the route they'd be taking and, once the Americans were ready, to discuss the formation given all 5 aircraft must be flying together at all times. Once briefings had been carried out, and all checks done, they'd be ready to go and give the all clear to command; pending the American green light.

@John

 

[John]

The Americans would shake their heads a little, to being asked if they had any questions. Before leaving the briefing room and talking with their British counterparts on their way to the aircraft, the engineers and technicians would begin working on the aircraft to make sure they are ready to take off to take part in the Exercise. Pilots would be going through the cockpit to make sure everything was set and loadmasters would be checking the manifest for the cargo that they would be picking up at RAF Waddington. The crews would still be mingling with their British counterparts, talking about general things like their homes and their lives in general. American Air Traffic Controllers would also be situated in the tower, the aim of this was to learn how the British deal with things but to also give ways on how the Americans do things.

 

[Jamie]

The weather that morning was fairly clear and by 1000hrs, crews from the British and American C-17 contingents had filed their paths, collected their cargo manifests ready for Waddington and were giving a route to taxi too for the runway. The two RAF C-17s first, followed by the American. The Royal Air Force pilots maintaining a safe distance between, and a routine taxi speed before stopping at the hold point.

"Zulu Charlie Four Niner Requesting clearance for take off, runway 09"

"Zulu Charlie Four Niner, clear for take off." Responded the tower, this process repeated for the five C-17s in total, one at a time. The initial RAF Aircrew pressed down the runway and eventually rotating up from the ground; beginning their climb. Due to the requirement of a formation, all aircraft were advised to set a holding pattern north of the airbase until all aircraft were airborne. Only then would they regroup in closer proximity to one another and begin the formation flight up north. Throughout the trip, the RAF Crews maintained contact with their American counterparts. Advising of any changes to the flight, getting situation reports as it'd be the first time the aircraft from both nations flew together. The trip was a couple of hours, and a similiar process took place for their landing at RAF Waddington except following Air Traffic Controllers from that airbase.

@John

 

[Jamie]

@John

 

[John]

The American aircraft would be scheduled to take off after the British, communicating with their own Air Traffic Controllers in the tower.

"Fairford Tower, Liberty 24, Hanger 9, Boeing C-17 with information kilo, QFE1017, request clearance"

"Liberty 24, Fairford Tower, cleared to RAF Waddington, C3A departure, squawk 2336, slot time 1010"

The Engines on the aircraft would begin to spool up as the C-17s are pulled from the Hangers.

"Fairford Tower, Liberty 24, request taxi"

"Liberty 24, Fairford Tower, taxi holding point Charlie, runway 21 via taxiway alpha"

"Taxi holding point Charlie, runway 21 via taxiway alpha, Liberty 24"

The C-17s would be taxied into line behind one another at the hold point, until it was time to take off.

"Liberty 24, cleared for take-off runway 21"

"Cleared for take-off runway 21, Liberty 24"

The planes, one by one, would begin to take off from the runway, the first ones in the air would keep a holding pattern until all of them are in the air. They would turn onto heading along with the British C-17s, keeping altitude with them and opening up communications with the British Pilots.

@Jamie

 

[Jamie]

⌈ NATIONAL ECONOMICS ⌋ Billed

THREAD HAS BEEN CHARGED​

 

[Jamie]

Five C-17s would eventually be airborne above the skies of Fairford whilst manuevers took place to get all five to be in a steady column, one behind the other at a safe distance, they begun to follow the flight path pre-determined. The trip would take them across the entirety of the United Kingdom and last a few hours. A few hours in and the fleet of aircraft were seeking permission to land at Waddington. One at a time, they were to receive access to land at the airfield. First up was the Royal Air Force, the first aircraft received permission and begun it's descent. This was followed by the 2nd RAF Aircraft and the USAF C-17s were left to go next.

Once grounded, ground crews dictated the parking location for the aircraft, checks took place of the airframe, reviewing footage from the flight, the ramp open and ammunition begun to be loaded. Once the American aircraft had landed and gotten the ammunition loaded, and all aircraft refuel, briefings would begun for a joint airdrop.

@John

 

[Jamie]

@John