Seafleet From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 110 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2233 times:
Hi guys
I am very curious because given the amount of civil movements above where I live this was a rare sight.
Between 9 and 10am Pacific Time in a totally clear blue sky I saw a Tanker [assumed] plus 5 chicks heading northward.
I live in Capitola on the northern end of Monterey Bay CA I was out walking so didnt have binoculars handy and they where high but I am sure there where only twin trails from mother hen but really couldnt make out the fighter aircraft concerned.
I guess they where at 38000 or higher.
Anyone give me clue???
Thanks
Roger
Romeokc10fe From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 216 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 2132 times:
Well if was a tanker doing a fighter drag they were not at 38000ft, we don't refuel that high.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52 Reply 2, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2051 times:
Correct, depending on the fighters, the refueling and drag ops were between FL-250 and FL-310. Was the tanker a KC-135 or a KC-10?
Seafleet From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 110 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2040 times:
KC135TopBoom wrote
Correct, depending on the fighters, the refueling and drag ops were between FL-250 and FL-310. Was the tanker a KC-135 or a KC-10?
Ok I understand about the height levels it was very much a guess on my part as to the tanker I could only see 2 vapour trails. Clearly one engine per wing so I expected to see a third engine on that basis as suspected a KC10 but couldnt see one and no third vapour trail either. This is what prompted me to post more than anything as I was wondering was it another nations aicraft and not US
Thanks for your reply
Roger
Skysurfer From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 1134 posts, RR: 14 Reply 4, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1877 times:
Could it be that it was in fact a KC-10 but the vapour trail from the #2 engine was being masked by one of the other contrails? I've seen it many a time whilst watching the overflights, and only upon closer inspection through a 'scope have a seen a 3 holer when i thought it was a twin! It could've been on just the right angle when viewed from your perspective to make it look like a twin.
Cheers
Stu
In the dark you can't see ugly, but you can feel fat
Seafleet From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 110 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1623 times:
Thanks Skysurfer
You could well be right as I didnt have my glasses and or binoculars handy so a bit impaired
I also posted the question in the Civil forum hoping I might get some form of a hint from anyone in ATC but the moderators removed it sadly so I guess I will never know.
Roger
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