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Usaf BBJ Spotted At HLA?

gerritcar747 From South Africa, joined Mar 2011, 10 posts, RR: 0
Posted (1 year 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3318 times:

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Hi all,

My wife and I were on a MN flight from HLA to CPT this afternoon. While we were waiting to board, we spotted a USAF BBJ landing at HLA (05-0932).

I find it very interesting that the USAF would send a plane to South Africa, and HLA of all places! Does anyone perhaps know why it would be here?

Just curious.

Thanks

5 replies: All unread, jump to last

rfields5421 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 6150 posts, RR: 25
Reply 1, posted (1 year 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 3265 times:

Those aircraft do most of their work supporting the US State Department and other top officials of the US government. Very little to no support of USAF operations.

Is there any reason for government officials to be in that area? How close is it to the embassy, to South African government offices, etc?

Would security for an aircraft be easier at that airport than at any others in the area? Often such visitors try to avoid big civilian airports like JNB.

Back in the late 70s and early 80s - the USAF flew a C-141 to Johannesburg twice weekly. It was part of a logistics flight bring mainly food items to Antigua, Ascension and Johannesburg. I was stationed on Antigua at the time. The flight did not land at JNB but at another airport close by where it would RON and fly back to the US the next day.

KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52
Reply 2, posted (1 year 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3232 times:

Sometimes the C-40Bs do fly senior generals around too, not just SOS flunkies. Is there a military base near there? The SAAF might still be looking for a C-130B replacement after the feasco about the A-400M a few years back.

Humanitarian From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 83 posts, RR: 0
Reply 3, posted (1 year 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 3190 times:

AFRICOM was supposed to receive its own C-40. I believe it was funded in FY09.

KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52
Reply 4, posted (1 year 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2958 times:

Quoting Humanitarian (Reply 3):
AFRICOM was supposed to receive its own C-40. I believe it was funded in FY09.

Then perhaps this was it?

rfields5421 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 6150 posts, RR: 25
Reply 5, posted (1 year 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2897 times:

This was an older aircraft seen at World Economic Forums and such government gatherings.