Southeast Asia/PACAF Tour 2009

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 2:42 am

Does anyone have any inside intel on where in SE Asia the TB's are likely to perform this year?

With 6 weeks to go their website is telling me nothing, nor are they answering my enquiries. I have to put a bid for my roster in by this time next week and it would be helpful to have some sort of clue about where they may be.

I have Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Manila, and Jakarta covered. I just need some dates. Anyone? Is it maybe likely to be cancelled?

Post by **Lawndart** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:14 am

(Re-)posted your question on ASB here.

Rhino · Post by **Rhino** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:56 pm

9/26 Townsville, Australia
9/30 Anderson AFB, Guam
10/3 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
10/10 Bangkok, Thailand
10/14 Chitose AB, Japan
10/17 Kamatsu AB, Japan
10/18 Misawa AB, Japan
10/21 Osan AB, Korea
10/23-25 Seoul, Korea

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:59 pm

Thanks Rhino... where did you get this from BTW?

Rhino · Post by **Rhino** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:25 pm

Cobra wrote:Thanks Rhino... where did you get this from BTW?

Dave Schultz from SchultzAirshows posted this on the ASB thread LD linked above.

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:32 pm

Copied... thanks for that. Townsville here I come!!

Rhino · Post by **Rhino** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:54 am

No problemo. Must be nice to be able to see them without having to use your thumbs up hitchhiking buddy pass to get to Vegas!

Post by **Lawndart** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:51 am

Weather no match for Thunderbirds

takeone · Post by **takeone** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:44 pm

I think it's great they decided to swing back to Guam to perform!

Bravo!!!

So really really really...dumb question...

When flying any fighter jet...any distance...like to AUSTRALIA...how do you deal with calls to go to the head? Just don't eat and drink the day before?

Also, can you put the plane on autopilot to keep altitude, speed and course...and then take a nap? Would there be an audio tone or something if you deviated from course or alt etc?

Kinda feel like the guy asking how astronauts go to the bathroom...

But I know that answer.

Post by **Panther** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:47 pm

takeone wrote:...how do you deal with calls to go to the head? Just don't eat and drink the day before?

They have piddle packs.

takeone · Post by **takeone** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:55 pm

Thanks Panther!

But what if something MORE important has to happen???!!!

Ouch...huh?!

Beaker · Post by **Beaker** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:53 pm

Plan ahead. No Thai food.

Luse · Post by **Luse** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:27 pm

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:20 pm

I was flying to Shanghai last week and heard "Reach 051" with 5 F-16's in company on the frequency. I got the KC-10 captain on the guard frequency and managed to pass my regards on to the team.

I wasn't aware that they had been delayed up till then. A quick look at the weather synoptic and all became clear. There is a lot of typhoon activity in the northern Pacific at the moment and at the altitudes that the aircraft must fly to make refueling feasible, around 22,000 feet, well let's just say that is not a good altitude to be at in a typhoon trying to refuel. There were two large typhoons near Guam on the day they were supposed to leave Townsville.

When the Tbirds arrived at Townsville after a 10 hour flight from Hawaii, each of them had tanked 19 times enroute. When you see the large stretches of empty ocean they were flying over, it is no wonder they would want to have their tanks as full as possible, particularly when you consider that they were not carrying drop tanks.

Piddle packs... the bottom photo says it all.

Post by **Teej** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:33 pm

I guess a "stadium pal" would be baaaaad mojo under a G suit.