As part of the Open golf, Portrush will be seeing some night time air displays on the 18th July

9.45pm - 10.15pm. Calidus Autogyro followed by the Airborne Pyrotechnics Display Team.

From NI International airshow FB Page

A nationwide air traffic control strike in France is scheduled for July 3-4, 2025, potentially causing significant disruptions to air travel during the busy summer holiday season.

Strike Details

Dates: The strike will run from 6 a.m. on July 3 to 6 a.m. on July 5. This timing coincides with the start of the summer holidays in France, making it particularly impactful as many travelers are expected to be flying during this period.

Belfast City Airport pick-up and drop-off charges are to increase by £1.

Doubtless BFS will do the same before long.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8733q53j9qo

Note that these are instead of and not in addition to a portion of the next purchase of 35Bs.

The 'nuclear capability' extends to being able to deliver US weapons drawn from the pool assigned to NATO. They're PAL equipped and 100% dependent upon US permission for use. 

I suspect cost cutting masked with bluster and a little inter-service rivalry, but then I'm a terrible cynic.

The RAF's Voyagers are only capable of probe-and-drogue refuelling, they are unable to refuel current or future RAF aircraft that are fitted solely for flying boom refuelling, including the Boeing RC-135, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Boeing 737 AEW&C and Boeing P-8 Poseidon.
In April 2016, the RAF stated its interest in fitting a boom to some Voyagers, bringing its fleet into line with other MRTT operators.
Fitting a boom would add flexibility to the RAF Voyagers, allowing refuelling of RAF aircraft not fitted for probe and drogue, and also by other air forces that operate boom-refuelled aircraft.

So, I guess they will have to use  USAF KC-135s?

Quote from: angry turnip on Jun 25, 2025, 13:09They won't be able to take them very far without tanker support.
Strange that with all the tech being poured into attack aircraft,nobody has yet built a stealth tanker.

Apparently the F-35A is designed to be refuelled using the boom system, as opposed the F-35B which can refuel using the drogue setup.

Guess which setup the RAF Voyagers use? 

They won't be able to take them very far without tanker support.
Strange that with all the tech being poured into attack aircraft,nobody has yet built a stealth tanker.

The  UK government tonight has announced it will buy 12  F-35A

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-purchase-f-35as-and-join-nato-nuclear-mission-as-government-steps-up-national-security-and-delivers-defence-dividend

There was talk last week they would buy them for their nuclear load capabilities.

1838 Cavok Air Antononv AN-12BP UR-CKM landed BFS as CVK7002 from Ankara.

2024 Cavok Air Antononv AN-12BP UR-CKM departed BFS as CVK7002 to Ostend.

2034 Cavok Air Antononv AN-12BK UR-CKL landed BFS as CVK7005 from Ankara.

2220 Cavok Air Antononv AN-12BK UR-CKL departed BFS as CVK7005 to SE