USAF B-1 Lancer diverts into RAF Fairford

With Sweden in the final stages of joining NATO, a flypast was planned overhead Swedens' capital, Stockholm, on Wednesday, March 6th to mark the occasion. The aircraft involved in the flypast was a Boeing B-52H Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, a B-1B Lancer from Ellsworth Air Force Base, and a pair of Swedish Air Force SAAB Jas 39 Gripens. This flight also coincided with the exercise that was taking place in the region at the time, Exercise Nordic Response 24.

A more in-depth description of the plan can be viewed here: https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Press-Releases/Display/Article/3693924/us-air-force-strategic-bombers-to-join-swedish-fighter-jets-in-flyover-event-in/

Following the flypast, the aircraft was planned to refuel with a USAF Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker in Swedish Airspace before heading back home alongside the BUFF. The tanker planned to refuel the B-1 unfortunately broke, forcing a divert. Surprisingly, it did call into Fairford Tower as an emergency, suggesting there was more to it than just a lack of fuel.  

Following 3 weeks on the ground, and reportedly one already canceled departure, the first confirmed departure day was March 27th at around 09:00. The aircraft started its engines at around 7:30, and requested an earlier departure time if possible. Unfortunately, by 09:30, the aircraft had shut down. The flight was then scrubbed due to poor weather, with strong winds planned for the whole day. This put an end to its attempted departure.

It appeared to be replanned for March 30th, as, on March 29th, a refueling notam duplicating the original had been posted. This once again suggested a 09:00 departure. With good weather planned, and it being a Saturday, there was no chance that I was going to miss it! I arrived at Fairford at around 07:45 to beautiful blue skies and the aircraft glistening in the sun. By the time I'd arrived, the aircraft had already started up. Shortly after making my way down to the Marston Meysey crash gate, TENOR12 was given an earliest take-off time of 08:45. At around 08:35, the aircraft requested permission to taxi to runway 27, and by almost 08:45 it was on the runway. TENOR12 was cleared to take off at 08:45 and blasted out of Fairford, waking up most of Gloucestershire on its way out! 

The aircraft headed South West to Air to Air Refuelling Area 10, just off of Cornwall, where it met one of RAF Mildenhall Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers for fuel to get it across the Atlantic and back home.