Ex. Maple Flag 2018

[Bingofuel]

Slated for June 11-22, 2018. Some pretty exotic stuff listed to participate for MF51. If they come to fruition I'll be out there for sure!

Participating RCAF aircraft (as of March 23, 2018)
CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft
CC-130J Hercules transport aircraft
CC-130T Hercules air-to-air refuelling aircraft
CC-150T Polaris air-to-air refuelling aircraft

Participating international aircraft (as of March 20, 2018)
United States Navy (USN) F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft
United States Navy (USN) F/A-18G Super Hornet electronic warfare aircraft
United States Air Force (USAF) B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber aircraft
United States Air Force (USAF) F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft
French Air Force (FAF) E-3F Sentry AWACS
Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) IDS Tornado fighter aircraft
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18A Hornet fighter aircraft
Belgian Air Component (BAC) F-16AM Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft
Discovery Air Defence (DADS) Services Dornier Alpha Jet advanced trainer aircraft
Brazilian Air Force (FAB) C-130H Hercules transport aircraft
Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) C-130J Hercules transport aircraft
Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) C-17A Globemaster transport aircraft

[Bokimon]

This is very very tempting. Does CFB Cold Lake allow Nellis like tours and escorted access airside to get the action?
I'm not sure if regular roads around the perimeter is accessible or allowed.

[Bingofuel]

This is very very tempting. Does CFB Cold Lake allow Nellis like tours and escorted access airside to get the action?
I'm not sure if regular roads around the perimeter is accessible or allowed.

I know they used to allow media/photographer access. See W. Gilson's website http://www.aerophotointernational.com/

You can always email the base Public Affairs Officer to see if they'll allow airside access this year. Unless you have media credentials I'm guessing the answer will be no.

As far as the perimeter roads for spotting the Cold Lake AFB crew is very gracious to have a spectator area on the east side of the runways. I was there couple years ago and there were 50-100 people out there taking photos, including a bleacher set-up so photographers could shoot over the fence. It's not super close to the runway though so unless you have a telephoto lens your photos will be of fast moving dots.

[Chuter]

Participating RCAF aircraft (as of March 23, 2018)
CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft
CC-130J Hercules transport aircraft
CC-130T Hercules air-to-air refuelling aircraft
CC-150T Polaris air-to-air refuelling aircraft
Participating international aircraft (as of March 20, 2018)
United States Navy (USN) F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft
United States Navy (USN) F/A-18G Super Hornet electronic warfare aircraft
United States Air Force (USAF) B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber aircraft
United States Air Force (USAF) F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft
NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&C) E-3A Sentry AWACS
French Air Force (FAF) E-3F Sentry AWACS
Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) IDS Tornado fighter aircraft
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18A Hornet fighter aircraft
Belgian Air Component (BAC) F-16AM Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft
Peruvian Air Force (FAP) M-2000P Mirage fighter aircraft
Discovery Air Defence (DADS) Services Dornier Alpha Jet advanced trainer aircraft
Brazilian Air Force (FAB) C-130H Hercules transport aircraft
Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) C-130J Hercules transport aircraft
Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) C-17A Globemaster transport aircraft

*Information isn't mine. This is from a Facebook post / Colin Kunkel*

[Bokimon]

Question now is for countries like Aus and Peru, how would the flight plan work in flying the jets from those locations to YOD?
Would there be tech stops along the way in the US or other parts of Alberta like YYC or will refuelers accompany them to keep them up in the air as long as possible?
It would be amazing if any of the goods did stop by in YYC or YEG along the way, even YQL I would consider driving down to see.

[Bingofuel]

Question now is for countries like Aus and Peru, how would the flight plan work in flying the jets from those locations to YOD?
Would there be tech stops along the way in the US or other parts of Alberta like YYC or will refuelers accompany them to keep them up in the air as long as possible?

It's hard to say. For the Australian contingent I assume they would go through Alaska as they usually do for Red Flag Exercises. Unlikely they would make an appearance at either YEG or YYC if they're coming from the North. The Peruvians are a possibility, I believe the last couple south-american groups to attend made their way through Mountain Home AFB in Idaho as their last fuel stop before YOD. Although Mirage 2000's don't have very long range and I'm not sure if they're allowed to tank from USAF or RCAF tankers...so they might have to stop on the way up through YYC.

Who knows! Plus they're pretty good about keeping military movements quiet these days. If they do appear at YEG or YYC we probably won't know until they're already on the ground.

[Chuter]

Question now is for countries like Aus and Peru, how would the flight plan work in flying the jets from those locations to YOD?
Would there be tech stops along the way in the US or other parts of Alberta like YYC or will refuelers accompany them to keep them up in the air as long as possible?

It's hard to say. For the Australian contingent I assume they would go through Alaska as they usually do for Red Flag Exercises. Unlikely they would make an appearance at either YEG or YYC if they're coming from the North. The Peruvians are a possibility, I believe the last couple south-american groups to attend made their way through Mountain Home AFB in Idaho as their last fuel stop before YOD. Although Mirage 2000's don't have very long range and I'm not sure if they're allowed to tank from USAF or RCAF tankers...so they might have to stop on the way up through YYC.

Who knows! Plus they're pretty good about keeping military movements quiet these days. If they do appear at YEG or YYC we probably won't know until they're already on the ground.

In terms of movements from the east, both CFB Bagotville & CFB Trenton are possibilities for stopovers. We'll be keeping an eye out. Never know what will happen.

[VIMY21]

Question now is for countries like Aus and Peru, how would the flight plan work in flying the jets from those locations to YOD?
Would there be tech stops along the way in the US or other parts of Alberta like YYC or will refuelers accompany them to keep them up in the air as long as possible?

It's hard to say. For the Australian contingent I assume they would go through Alaska as they usually do for Red Flag Exercises. Unlikely they would make an appearance at either YEG or YYC if they're coming from the North. The Peruvians are a possibility, I believe the last couple south-american groups to attend made their way through Mountain Home AFB in Idaho as their last fuel stop before YOD. Although Mirage 2000's don't have very long range and I'm not sure if they're allowed to tank from USAF or RCAF tankers...so they might have to stop on the way up through YYC.

Who knows! Plus they're pretty good about keeping military movements quiet these days. If they do appear at YEG or YYC we probably won't know until they're already on the ground.

Australia will come up through Guam and Hawaii. Then they will head north via CYQQ.

Peru will likely come via Kelly Field Annex and Mountain Home.

Stuff from the east will more then likely go to CYYR and then will then tank to CYOD from there. The likelihood of CYTR getting anything is moderately low but that said it's not impossible.

I can't wait to shoot it. It's going to be a lot of fun.

[Chuter]

Question now is for countries like Aus and Peru, how would the flight plan work in flying the jets from those locations to YOD?
Would there be tech stops along the way in the US or other parts of Alberta like YYC or will refuelers accompany them to keep them up in the air as long as possible?

It's hard to say. For the Australian contingent I assume they would go through Alaska as they usually do for Red Flag Exercises. Unlikely they would make an appearance at either YEG or YYC if they're coming from the North. The Peruvians are a possibility, I believe the last couple south-american groups to attend made their way through Mountain Home AFB in Idaho as their last fuel stop before YOD. Although Mirage 2000's don't have very long range and I'm not sure if they're allowed to tank from USAF or RCAF tankers...so they might have to stop on the way up through YYC.

Who knows! Plus they're pretty good about keeping military movements quiet these days. If they do appear at YEG or YYC we probably won't know until they're already on the ground.

Australia will come up through Guam and Hawaii. Then they will head north via CYQQ.

Peru will likely come via Kelly Field Annex and Mountain Home.

Stuff from the east will more then likely go to CYYR and then will then tank to CYOD from there. The likelihood of CYTR getting anything is moderately low but that said it's not impossible.



I can't wait to shoot it. It's going to be a lot of fun.

True true. We'll be keeping an eye on the movements, hopefully something comes our way here in Ontario.

[Speedbird2706]

any way that people can spot a Maple Flag like red flag or is it almost impossible?