Pre Libya no-fly-zone buildup

[Arjan]

The Bataan battlegroup will depart the US the 23rd, ahead of her schedule to relief the Kearsarge battlegroup currently deployed in the Med.

[wamovements]

According to a picture on BBC, at least two Growlers arrived at Aviano

[toppiero]

According to this picture, at least four Growlers landed @ Aviano today.

http://srnnews.townhall.com/photos/view ... 182382155/

[Eric van Lisdonk]

Also 25 Mirage 2000's/Rafales are standing by on there way to the scene.
Currently when i'm writing 3 French C-135FR's are above Italy. I don't know that they bring the French fighters to the scene.
Also the Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle depart monday to Libya.

Eric

[Rockville]

According to French media (TF1) French Rafales are flying over Libyan territory.

[Rockville]

Also the Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle depart monday to Libya.
Eric

According to French media now, CDG will depart Toulon on Sunday.

[Arjan]

According to media French combat planes have allready overflown the city of Benghazi and are on scene now. Would indeed explain the C-135's.

[michel N]

Yep, Al-Jazeera also reports French jets over Benghazi. Although they call them reconnaisance-planes. So the French are indeed taking the lead over this operation, it seems.

[Le Addeur noir]

According to this picture, at least four Growlers landed @ Aviano today.

http://srnnews.townhall.com/photos/view ... 182382155/

Il Corpo Carabineri will be busy dealing with spotters at LIPA in the coming weeks!.

[Arjan]

Could be reconnaisance planes offcourse. You'll have to sort out the mess on the ground first. Would be nice if the Mirage F-1CR plays a role so close to end of their career.
On the other hand, the type was also restricted during the Gulf War because of the use of it by the Iraqi airforce, wouldn't be surprised if it is not going to be used above Libya as well.

[AK01]

FAF4051 was just returning to LFMI, flight of 3. So 1 tanker and 2 fighters i guess.
FAF4063/4074/4075/4076 are now overhead the Mid all via LPD etc. and then going tactical.
You can listen to this live action via ATC net.
Pieter

[Eric van Lisdonk]

Currently 6 French AF C-135FR are above the critical scene.

FAF4062 474
FAF4063 736
FAF4051 525
FAF4074 475
FAF4075 472
Marcotte36 497

Cheers,
Eric

[GIPS]

Lakenheath and Coningsby took off this afternoon

[Nielis]

FAF was just on ATC.NET by pressing Luqa Malta

[AK01]

FAF6789 just released from Cyrano tactical, routing Bonar then Rasno with destination Souda Bay
Most likely a C-160G as FAF6783 was C-160G F216 earlier this afternoon which wnet back to LFKS/ Solenzara.
for a MAP of the Malta FIR see :
http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic ... -11-18.pdf