Strange formation over SF last week.
 

An interesting photo came up on a local nextdoor app taken last week shows an Airbus A-340-300 in formation with 2 F-15’s.

Photo was taken from Marin county and the Airbus has no registration displayed underside.

It looks real to me but does anybody know why a 340 would be hanging out with a pair of fast jets?

cheers

Or, why were two Eagles following an A340?

Can you share the photo?

For some reason I’m picturing a grainy super zoomed in photo and a KC-135 being confused as an A-340.

Sure it wasn’t an A330 Tanker?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A330_MRTT

A340 has four motors.

The motor upgrade on the 135's would make that plausible, not your grand-dad's turbojets any more...

https://media.defense.gov/2020/Jun/2...QI712-0001.JPG

https://cdn.businesstraveller.com/wp...74-916x515.jpg

Might have been some overseas charter operation had some comms issues coming across the pond and earned themselves an honor guard at the ADIZ.

Well, some more info has come to light.

The person who posted the picture on the nextdoor app has clarified that the picture he posted was "for reference only", it was NOT taken recently or in the bay area and is a stock image downloaded from the web.

So disregard the Airbus, I suspect it was taken many years ago.

So I assume these folks saw a 135 from Travis however in the 9 years I have lived in the area I have never seen a refueller down low, especially with several fast jets in tow?

Cheers for now.

So I actually have an answer to your original question.

It was a KC-135 and a two ship of Eagles from the Guard unit in Fresno. A dude I was at an assignment with a few years ago was in the Eagle two ship and posted the photos on his Facebook 4 days ago. Looked like they were getting some shots over the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. I haven't talked to him since that assignment but I can ask him if the photos are shareable.

Public Affairs photo shoots over national landmarks are pretty common honestly and tankers are the best way to take them.

Thanks for the info. That clears it up. the paranoids around these parts are convinced they were "refuelling dangerously low" and it could have been an "attack".........arrggghh.

I will pass this on with thanks for the clarification.

And it would be awesome to see the pics!

cheers