Thread by @TDPattillo

It’s going to be a busy night in Kabul. Radar is showing a Qatar Air Force C-17 about to land, another 3 USAF C-17s in route with an RAF C-130 in line with them, and another USAF AC-130 bringing up the rear. Don’t tell me we’re not doing everything possible to get folks out.

Qatar AF LHOB247 Boeing C-17A Globemaster III has landed in Kabul.

Meanwhile PYTHN52, a US Air Force RC135W reconnaissance aircraft has been flying in circles over Kabul for several hours.

A USAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker just popped up on radar heading east from Qatar, no doubt en route to Kabul.

And there’s another one behind him.

SHELL25, another USAF KC-135R Stratotanker is about to leave Afghanistan airspace, heading south. Likely going to Qatar to refuel before returning.

Another USAF KC-135R just popped up entering Gulf of Oman heading east, toward Kabul.

And there’s a Royal Netherlands AF KDC-10 tanker in front of it.

Behind the KDC-10 is a RAF Airbus A400M transport plane.

I think I saw another transport plane flying close to the RAF plane but it’s no longer visible. It’ll probably pop back on the screen when it gets closer to Pakistan.

A US Navy KC-130J Hercules tanker left Bahrain about 30 minutes ago, also heading east. Call sign is CREEP58.

There is another one behind him. No callsign.

Looks like there is another USAF C-17A Globemaster III heading toward Kabul. Callsign is MOOSE71. It just popped up over the Gulf of Oman and may have originated in Abu Dhabi.

MOOSE71 is being followed by MOOSE69, another USAF C-17A Globemaster III.

Qatar AF LHOB247, which landed in Kabul this morning, has just taken off and is heading south.

LHOB247 just took off from Kabul and is flying southwest toward freedom.

Yet another USAF KC-135T tanker (no callsign) is heading toward Kabul. It left Abu Dhabi about 30 minutes ago.

It’s being followed by a KC-135R tanker. No callsign.

There is a Royal Netherlands AF C130H Hercules (callsign NAF31) flying east into the Gulf of Oman now. It’s out of Amman, Jordan.

BARTK04, a Hungarian Air Force C17A Globemaster is flying northwest out of Kabul.

RCH802, a USAF C-17A Globemaster III is now flying east over the Gulf of Oman toward Kabul.

There are 2 more USAF KC-135R Stratotankers not far behind him. All 3 appear to have come out of Abu Dhabi.

NAG11XT, a Royal AF C-17A that left Kabul this morning has landed at Minhab Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

RCH809, another USAF C-17A Globemaster III has left Abu Dhabi and is flying toward Kabul.

RCH850, a USAF C-17A is now visible in the Gulf of Oman heading west. It likely left Kabul earlier today and is carrying people to safety.

NAG93XT, an RAF Airbus A400M transport plane can now be seen heading toward Kabul out of Fujairah in the UAE.

There is also another USAF KC-135R tanker out of Abu Dhabi flying in the same direction.

MOOSE79, a USAF C-17A transport plane is flying behind them, heading east toward Kabul.

A Qatar Air Force C-17A transport plane (callsign LHOB247) that left Kabul earlier today has just landed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

GRIMM32, a USAF B-52 Stratofortress has just flown into the Gulf of Oman from the west, for reasons unknown.

A USAF KC-135T tanker has entered the Gulf behind it.

A USAF C-17A Globemaster III transport plane (callsign MOOSE72) can now be seen in the western end of the Gulf of Oman heading west, most likely carrying people to safety from Kabul.

A USAF KC-135R tanker (no callsign) can now be seen in the Persian Gulf flying west toward Qatar. It most likely will refuel and head back to Kabul.

There is an RAF Airbus KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRTT) tanker heading east over the Persian Gulf, toward Dubai. Callsign is RRR2898. It has flown from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England.

Another USAF Boeing KC-135T tanker is now visible heading west in the Gulf of Oman, likely returning from Kabul to fill up.

RRR2898 (see prior tweet) has landed at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE.

A USAF McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender tanker aircraft (callsign MOJO89) is now visible in the western end of the Gulf of Oman, heading west. It is following behind a USAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (no callsign).

An RAF Lockheed C-130J Hercules transport plane (callsign NAG14XT) has crossed into the Gulf of Oman from Pakistan, flying southwest away from Kabul.

A Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed C130J Hercules transport plane (callsign MAMBO30) has just left Afghanistan airspace flying southwest away from Kabul.

A USAF Lockheed Martin AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft (no callsign) is now flying east over the Gulf of Oman, toward Afghanistan. The AC-130J Ghostrider's primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance.

A Spanish Air Force Airbus A400M-180 transport plane (callsign AME3165) is flying east over the Persian Gulf, presumably toward Kabul.

Another USAF C-17A Globemaster III transport plane (callsign MOOSE78) can be seen over the western end of the Gulf of Oman flying west, most likely carrying people to safety from Kabul.

The USAF Lockheed Martin AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft seen earlier flying east has been flying west for a while now. Not sure what it is doing or where it is going.

An RAF Airbus A400M transport plane (callsign NAG13XT) is now visible over the Gulf of Oman flying west, away from Kabul.

Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed C130J Hercules transport plane (callsign MAMBO30) has just left Pakistani airspace. It is flying southwest away from Kabul.

A USAF C-17A Globemaster III transport plane (callsign RCH861) is flying east toward Kabul. It about to exit the Persian Gulf and cross over the UAE into the Gulf of Oman.

A USAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (no callsign) is leaving Afghanistan airspace flying southwest, presumably to refuel before returning to Kabul.

Another USAF C-17A Globemaster III transport plane (callsign MOOSE71) is flying west over the Gulf of Oman, most likely carrying people to safety from Kabul.

And there is ANOTHER C-17A Globemaster III transport plane (callsign MOOSE23) following behind MOOSE71. The US (and other western nations) are pulling out all stops to evacuate as many people as possible from Kabul.

Meanwhile, yet another USAF C-17A Globemaster III transport plane (callsign RCH842) is flying east toward Kabul. It is about to exit the Persian Gulf and cross over the UAE into the Gulf of Oman.

The RAF appears to be adding additional resources to the #KabulAirlift. An RAF C-17A GlobeMaster III out of Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England is now over the Persian Gulf, flying toward Dubai. The callsign is RRR6522.

RCH802, a USAF C-17A Globemaster III transport plane last seen about 6 hours ago flying east over the Gulf of Oman toward Kabul is now flying west over the Gulf of Oman, apparently returning from Kabul.

A USAF McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender tanker aircraft (callsign MOJO86) has just exited the western end of the Gulf of Oman.

The US Air Force has a KC-135R Stratotanker (no callsign) operating over Jalalabad, east of Kabul.

Another US Air Force C-17A Globemaster III transport plane (callsign RCH849) is flying toward Kabul. It is heading east out of Abu Dhabi.

A US Air Force C-17A Globemaster III transport plane (callsign RCH809) is about to cross over the UAE on its return trip from Kabul.

USAF aerial tanker heading back to base from Kabul to refuel.

MOOSE69 was last seen about 9 hours ago heading toward Kabul. It is now returning, hopefully filled with evacuees.

A USAF aerial tanker leaving Afghan air space.

Another American transport plane flying toward Kabul (callsign RCH885).

An RAF transport plane returning from Kabul, heading toward United Arab Emirates.

US Air Force aerial tanker starting the long flight to Kabul in support of the #KabulAirlift.

USAF Special Ops use the MC-130W aircraft for the following roles: insertion, extraction and re supply of special operations forces; air-to-air refueling of helicopters and CV-22 Osprey aircraft; specialized ordnance delivery; psychological operations (leaflet drops)

This is actually TWO KC-130J tankers flying so close together they look like a single airplane, with a KC-135R Stratotanker flying in front of them. All are returning from Kabul to refuel.

We last saw MOOSE79, a USAF C-17A transport plane, about 8 hours ago flying east toward Kabul. It just popped up again on the tracker, almost home.

Another USAF transport plane heading back to Kabul to pick up evacuees.

Two USAF aerial tankers, one behind the other, flying toward Kabul to assist the #KabulAirlift.

Royal Air Force transport plane just left Afghanistan, flying southwest.

A NATO Airbus A330 en route to Kabul.

Looks like there is a commercial flight inbound to Kabul. If the airport has reopened to commercial flights it will significantly expedite the evacuation.

Pakistan Intl Airways flight 6249 has landed in Kabul.

Another US aerial tanker on its way to Kabul.

USAF transport plane (callsign MOOSE83) returning from Kabul.

This is the first Italian Air Force plane I’ve seen in the #KabulAirlift, but probably not the last.

Yet another USAF tanker, following behind the Italians.

And here come the Brits.

RAF transport plane returning from Kabul. Callsign NAG29XT.

A Qatar Air Force transport plane (callsign LHOB245) heading to Kabul. Qatar gets in and out more quickly than anyone else because they can fly straight through Iranian airspace. Western nations have to go around.

Two RAF transport planes, one flying a ways behind the other, entering the Gulf of Oman heading east to go around Iran before turning north to Kabul.

A Spanish Air Force transport plane heading the opposite direction bringing evacuees out of Kabul. That’s a USAF tanker just ahead and to his right.

It looks like a UTair (commercial) flight just took off from Kabul airport.

A USAF aerial tanker leaving Afghanistan. No doubt it will refuel and return to support the #KabulAirlift

Another USAF transport plane (callsign RCH814) on the final leg of its return flight from Kabul.

The USAF transport is being followed by an RAF transport (callsign NAG24XT).

LHOB245 has landed in Kabul.

Another US tanker on its way to Kabul.

USAF flying fuel truck leaving Afghanistan to top off the tanks.

Turkish Air Force transport plane flying west out of Islamabad toward Kabul.

MOOSE92 is heading back to Kabul. Behind him is a Romanian Air Force C-130B transport plane and behind that is a USAF KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Due south of MOOSE92 is another US tanker returning from Kabul.

US Air Force transport RCH806 heading back to Kabul.

Royal Air Force transport NAG84XT is flying to Kabul right behind it.

MOOSE59 is returning from Kabul with a load of evacuees. And that’s a USAF KC-135T Stratotanker flying right in front of it.

A USAF B-52H Stratofortress is flying into the Gulf of Oman, for reasons unknown.

The Turkish Air Force transport plane that landed in Kabul earlier today has departed, after spending just over 2 hours on the ground.

Another USAF aerial tanker aircraft flying toward Kabul.

I missed my chance to get a screenshot of it and they have now turned off their transponder so they are no longer visible on the tracker I'm using, but there is another USAF C-17A Globemaster III transport plane (callsign X) on its way to Kabul.

RCH870, a USAF C-17A capable of carrying 134 American soldiers comfortably (or 640 Afghan citizens crammed in cheek to jowl) is on its way back to Kabul.

RAF transport plane (callsign NAG20XT) returning from Kabul.

Another RAF transport plane returning from Kabul.

An Italian Air Force transport plane returning from Kabul.

RCH895 transport plane starting the long flight to Kabul.

RAF transport plane returning with evacuees from Kabul.

Another RAF transport plane in line behind it.

A transport plane from the Luxembourg Armed Forces is now over the Gulf of Oman, flying east and likely en route to Kabul.

MOOSE92, a US transport plane, was seen about 7 hours ago flying east into the Gulf of Oman. Now it can be seen flying west out of the Gulf, having completed a trip to Kabul and back.

Italian Air Force transport plane (callsign IAM4644) returning from Kabul.

This Italian transport plane (IAM4644) was last seen 12 and a half hours ago flying the opposite direction, toward Kabul.

Another USAF aerial tanker flying east into the Gulf of Oman and on to Afghanistan to support the #KabulAirlift

Following behind the tanker is MOOSE98, another US Air Force C-17A transport plane. It should take about 8 hours for it to reach Kabul, load up and return.

A Qatar Air Force C-17A departed Kabul about 15 minutes ago. Its flight is shorter than most because Qatar aircraft can cut across Iranian airspace, a route not available to most aircraft participating in the #KabulAirlift

RCH432, a USAF transport aircraft, just turned on its transponder and is now visible over the western end of the Gulf of Oman. It is returning from Kabul with a load of evacuees.

RAF transport (callsign NAG33XT) has just left Afghanistan airspace and is flying south over Pakistan before turning west toward UAE.

MOOSE98, a USAF C-17A transport plane, is nearing the end of its long flight carrying evacuees from Kabul. The aircraft right behind it is a USAF aerial tanker returning from a Kabul to refuel.

Another US Air Force C-17A transport flying to Kabul. Callsign is RCH800. And that’s a USAF KC-135R Stratotanker in his 2 o’clock position.

RCH1026 is a multi mission transport and special ops tanker that can refuel helicopters and tilt rotor aircraft in the air. It’s on it way to Afghanistan to support the #KabulAirlift

Yet another USAF transport plane (callsign RCH810) flying to Kabul. This one just took off from Qatar and is about to cross over the UAE before entering the Gulf of Oman. It will arrive in Kabul a few hours from now.

I can only imagine the number of transport planes, aerial tankers, and support aircraft involved in the #KabulAirlift that I’m NOT seeing!