Thread by @space_osint

ACARS data shows that six USAF (🇺🇸) C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft are scheduled to fly to Naval Station Rota, southern Spain (🇪🇸) today.

All six flights have four-digit RCH callsigns, which are used for high-priority missions.

The first C-17 is already on its way after taking off from Al Udeid AB, Qatar (🇶🇦).

RCH4583 // 07-7185 // #AE20C6

Two C-17s just departed Ramstein AB, Germany (🇩🇪) and should be on their way to Naval Station Rota.

RCH4155 // 89-1190 // #AE07CE
RCH4533 // 00-0175 // #AE0811

The fourth C-17 (RCH4615) is on its way to Naval Station Rota. The first one (RCH4583) is temporarily not visible as it is flying out of coverage.

RCH4615 // 07-7175 // #AE146D

The last two C-17s took off from Ramstein AB. All six C-17 transport aircraft are now on their way to Naval Station Rota, southern Spain.

RCH4569 // 04-4136 // #AE1241
RCH3259 // 03-3126 // #AE1237

I don't know why, but RCH3259 is heading northwest. The other five appear to be continuing to Naval Station Rota.

RCH3259 // 03-3126 // #AE1237

I did not mention this in the tweet above (apologies for that!), but four-digit RCH call signs are also used for diplomatic missions (fe support for VP, POTUS or other high-ranking officials).

I wanted to wait to check, but it indeed looks like RCH3259 is avoiding French airspace.

This suggests that the C-17s are delivering something as avoiding French airspace was probably to save time/effort on the required paperwork for specific (doesn't have to be special) cargo.

To avoid confusion: there is a regular flight from Erbil, Iraq (🇮🇶) heading to Naval Station Rota as well. This flight is a regular mission and unlikely to be related to the six C-17s with four-digit RCH callsigns.

RCH223 // 06-6164 // #AE1462

As expected, RCH3259 landed at Naval Station Rota tonight as well.

RCH3259 // 03-3126 // #AE1237

RCH4583 took off from Naval Station Rota a few hours ago and is heading to Charleston AFB, South Carolina.

This C-17 was the only one flying from Ul Udeid AB, Qatar to southern Spain yesterday, so this flight might be unrelated to the other five.

RCH4583 // 07-7185 // #AE20C6

Earlier today, an additional six C-17s arrived at Naval Station Rota with four-digit RCH callsigns. This brings the total to 12 flights.

(list of callsign // registration // hex. code below)

Now that we've listed the arrivals, let's take a look at the departures: four C-17s left and were/are heading to Kotoka Airport, Ghana (🇬🇭).

ACARS data shows that another two are also scheduled to fly to Ghana.

While I am not sure if this flight is related to the others, RCH3278 is currently on its way to Dakar, Senegal (🇸🇳).

RCH3278 // 07-7180 // #AE1472

RCH4155 // 89-1190 // #AE07CE
RCH4615 // 07-7175 // #AE146D
RCH4560 // 04-4136 // #AE1241
RCH4533 // 00-0175 // #AE0811

Scheduled:
RCH3259 // 03-3126 // #AE1237
RCH3247 // 08-8193 // #AE2FA5

RCH4590 // 07-7179 // #AE1471
RCH4576 // 06-6162 // #AE1460
RCH3247 // 08-8193 // #AE2FA5
RCH4589 // 10-0215 // #AE4D68
RCH4166 // 06-6161 // #AE145F
RCH3288 // 02-1110 // #AE117C

More C-17s than I expected for a visit like this one, but these flights are likely to support this visit:

“Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will travel to Accra, Ghana; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Lusaka, Zambia from March 25 to April 2.”

Today, more four-digit RCH flights arrived in southern Spain. Six C-17s were/are on their way to Ghana, which are likely support flights for Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff.

More in the thread below the tweet above, and in the quoted tweet 👇