Omega tanker to Alice springs

[Jaryd stock]

Does anyone know the range of F-18's A/B+F models while carrying the 2 wing pylong and one center-line fuel tanks ? Could they get from east to west coast ?

[Brock Little]

On descent into Amberley now, might be bringing a couple of Supers over?

Jaryd the RAAF website states that both the Fs and A/Bs have a ferrying range of 2700km without refuelling, does not give specifics into the amount of fuel tanks though. So in this case, the Supers would need to refuel if flying from Amberley to Pearce, and the same goes for the A/Bs from Williamtown.

[Jethro H]

Super Hornet "Ferry" mode (nil ordnance and additional 3* 480 gallon tanks attached), 3300 km.

F/A-18C: "Ferry" mode (nil ordnance and additional 3* 330 gallon tanks attached), 3000 km.

(c/- some PR stuff from MD)

[Jayden Laing]

Here is the B707 arriving into Perth.

[A McLaughlin]

Ferry range is only achievable if there are suitable diversion alternates en route and near the destination. If you're flying over long stretches of water or desert, then your ferry range is substantially reduced as you need to carry sufficient fuel to get to an alternate or diversion airfield which could be hours away.

At a cost of tens of thousands of dollars per hours, I doubt the tanker is here to just support jets going over to Pearce...these jets could stop at ASP, EDI or other places half way across to refuel if needed, and have done so the past for west coast deployments.

[Micheil Keegan]

A friend sent me these. First class and economy cabins on N707MQ and some views through the windows.

[Jethro H]

Very nice pics.

[Mick.B]

The 707 did drag the Rhinos from Amberley. Not sure about the classics.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Checkinh the logs, the Omega Tanker N707MQ came up on my ADS-B at 1507 Saturday.