Planes and stuff

 Looks like yesterday, the KC-10 Extender made its last flight with USAF. As far as I know, we only had one of those at Madeira, 84-0186, back in August 2005 Check some more pics, HERE A print from FlightRadar24 Facebook:

Remember the USAF KC-10 ( 84-0186) from a couple of entries ago (check HERE )? Here's a few more details on this big bird... Looks like the refueller also can get refuelled... A nice detail...it's almost like looking at a model with an open cut, so we can se the inside... This one was configured with some passenger seats, besides the cargo and fuel areas A close-up on guidance lights for the refueling systems As far as I know it was the only time we got one of these around here...(here with 2005, a C-130J from USCG)

Was reading some online news today, when I remembered that North-Americans celebrate its independence today... Congrats! It's a nice reason to share some pics of US Military Planes around here...(not usual visitors...) USCG C-130J 2005 together with an USAF KC-10 Extender ( 84-0186) 05-0730, a beautifull USAF C-40 (737) 40087, small Learjet from (C-21) from USAFE(urope), with TF-BBE, from Bluebird Cargo entering the apron and yet another pic of the KC-10 Stratotanker.... As far as I know it was the only time we got one of these around here... 2006, another C-130J from USCG that was here the same time the KC-10 and the 2005

Like I promissed on the last post, Here are some pics of a really great day, were we had at Madeira a couple of C-130J from US Coast Guard a a KC-10 Stratotanker , from US Air Force . Definitely a unique day at Madeira... The Coast Guard C-130 were here to to a personel replacing on one if its ships that was scaling Funchal. As far as I can remember, it was the only time I saw C-130 around here that weren't from PoAF. They were also the first C-130J I saw live, on a time that there was much talking about the possible purchase of this model, to the PoAF... For now, I'll just share the pics of one of the C-130's...the 2005...and Wow, they look great on the Coast Guard livery!!! This Week's Photo  

These last days we've had some unsuall night-stoppers at Madeira, due to weather conditions not only in Madeira but also in the rest of Europe. Last Sunday, Primera had to divert to Porto Santo and then it came a few hours later to Madeira but, probably due to flight limits of the crew it stayed for the night, departing Monday morning. Monday, Luxair arrived about 3 hours later and stayed also for the night, departing this morning. Unfortunately didn't get any night shots of these birds so, decided to share a couple of very unusual night-stoppers... The first and only time we had a KC-10 around here and it ended up staying a few more days than expected due to a technical problem. The C-130 was one of the new J versions for the US Coast Guard. As far as I know it was also the first and only time we had these around here. We had the regs. 2005 and 2006 from USCG, scales related to the presence of a USCG ship that was in Funchal port. US military traffic is more the Laj...