Russia SFS Il-96-300 RA-96019 #157713 as RSD704 departed Moscow VKO, landed Tashkent. On board, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. @vcdgf555.bsky.social

A Turkish Navy ATR 72-600 TMPA TCB-756 #4B82E3 is patrolling the Mediterranean W of Cyprus as USN P-8A (using hex #B1E7A1) tracks toward the Syrian coast.

One arriving, 1 departing: Russian AF IL-76MD activity at Khmeimim Air Base, Latakia, Syria today: RA-78830 #1533EE as RFF8072 (arrived ~0245z) RA-78840 #1533F8 as RFF8069 @vcdgf555.bsky.social

USAF U-2S 80-1094 #AE0968 as DRAGN86 out of Beale AFB, tracking north.

US DOJ/FBI B757-223 N119NA #A04ECF as JENA2 tracking west from KOKC. Aircraft arrived from KRIC 1730Z; ~1 hr on ground.

US DOJ ATR-42-300 N313CG #A3522F departed KFLL, landed Providenciales (PLS) via Nassau (NAS). ~40 min on ground at NAS.

Uzbekistan Govt. B787-8 UK001 #507C4F as UZB1 preparing to depart Tashkent for UAE. Pres. Shavkat Mirziyoyev is aboard for a 3-day state visit to UAE.

Uganda Govt. G550 5X-UGF #06804E departed Entebbe for UAE to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit.

Russia 224th Flight Unit State Airline IL-76MD RA-78835 #1533F3 as RFF8839 likely en route to Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia, Syria.

Russia Special Flight Squadron IL-96-300PU x2 out of Moscow (VKO), tracking east: RA-96020 #157714 RSD622 RA-96024 #157718 RSD540 PM Mikhail Mishustin on board RSD622. Unknown if Putin is on the other. Probable destination Hanoi.

Russia Special Flight Squadron Il-96-300 RA-96014 #15770E as RSD812 departed Moscow (VKO), descending to Hanoi.

US Navy MQ-4C Triton 169538 #AE625D as XXXXXXXX out of Kadena AFB Okinawa, patrolling over the South China Sea near the Philippines.

US Navy MQ-4C Triton reg. 169661 #AE7814 as BLKCAT6 departed NAS Sigonella & will be operating around Libya.

USAF (WY ANG) C-130H 92-1538 #ADFE75 as MAFFS03 en route from Cheyenne to (likely) NAS Point Mugu. It will be working at the LA fires.

US CBP Dash 8-300 MPA N807MR #AAFD01 as MAZE509 departed Willemstad for a day of patrolling over the Caribbean.

US Navy MQ-4C Triton 169659 #AE7812 as XXXXXXXX operating around the Strait of Hormuz.

Ukraine AF An-26 01-BLUE #50FFD8 as 66971 out of Lviv, tracking west across Germany.

US Navy P-8A Poseidon #AE67BD out of Reykjavik, patrolling over the Baltic Sea.

Russian AF IL-76MD RA-78835 #1533F3 as RFF8844 departed Khmeimim AB, Latakia, tracking north. Aircraft arrived at Al Khadim AB, Libya 07 Jan from RUS, returned to Syria & made another trip from Syria to Libya on 08 Jan. @thereccelizard.bsky.social

Syrian Air Force IL-76T YK-ATD #778684 as SYR8147 departed Benghazi, tracking SW. First movement of this aircraft since its arrival on 04 Dec '24.

Iran Govt. A321-231 EP-IGD #7324E4 as IRAN02 en route from Tehran to Chabahar Konarak (ZBR). Per callsign, President Masoud Pezeshkian is aboard the flight.

US Navy MQ-4C Triton 169659 #AE7812 as XXXXXXXX monitoring the Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman.

Russia Special Flight Squadron IL-96-300 RA-96023 #157717 as RSD104 en route from Moscow (VKO) to Algiers.

US Navy P-8A Poseidon #AE685D out of NAS Sigonella, arriving in the E Mediterranean to monitor the area & the Russian Ro-Ro vessel Sparta, which continues to bide its time off the coast of Tartus.

Los Angeles overnight wildfire update: Three major fires continue to rage across LA County. Zero containment for any of them. #PalisadesFire nearly 3000 acres #HurstFire near Sylmar, 500+ acres #EatonFire near Pasadena, 1000+ acres

A Dassault Falcon 900 w/hex #30098B as ITWOW departed Tehran for Naples. On board, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was jailed by Iranian police on December 19th.

While I slept: Iran Govt. RJ85 EP-IGE #7324E5 as IRAN07 departed Tehran, landed at Baku. Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was aboard.

Ukraine Air Force An-26 01-BLUE #50FFD8 as 66971 departed Lviv, tracking west over Poland.

Russia 223rd Flight Unit State Airline Tu-154M RA-85042 #154C32 as RFF505 out of Moscow CKL, tracking across Türkiye to an as-yet-unknown destination.

Russian AF IL-76MD RA-78835 #1533F3 as RFF403 departed Khmeimim AB in Latakia & briefly appeared as it approached Al Khadim AB in Libya.

Los Angeles City FD A139 x4 operating at the 10+ acre Palisades Fire along with ground units. N301FD #A3238A FIRE1 N302FD #A32741 FIRE2 N303FD #A32AF8 FIRE3 N304FD #A32EAF FIRE4

USAF VC-25A 92-9000 #ADFDF9 departed Dobbins Air Reserve Base, GA. It is transporting former President Carter's casket to Joint Base Andrews.

After leaving Latakia earlier, this Russian AF IL-76MD didn't travel far into Russia. It's now returning to Khmeimim Air Base. RA-78835 #1533F3 as RFF8841 @thereccelizard.bsky.social

Russia Special Flight Squadron Il-96-300 RA-96014 #15770E as RSD126 out of Moscow VKO, landing at Hanoi. @thereccelizard.bsky.social

Private B757-2J4 N757AF #AA3410 out of W Palm Beach (KPBI), descending to Nuuk, Greenland (GOH). Donald Trump Jr. is on this aircraft.

China: PLAAF assets x3 active around Taiwan this evening: B-78032 #780328, possibly a Y-8 EW or ASW aircraft. 82015 #7A432D as 45F5I768 Y-8 ASW Miscoded hex #654321 AB123456 unknown

US Navy P-8A Poseidon #AE6883 out of NAS Sigonella arriving over the E. Mediterranean to monitor the area & the Russian Ro-Ro vessel Sparta. She is still holding off the coast of Tartus.

USAF RC-135S Cobra Ball 61-2662 #AE01D8 as COBRA62 is over the Philippine Sea. It is arriving from Offutt AFB via Honolulu.

Russian AF IL-76MD RA-78835 #1533F3 as RFF8842 departed Khmeimim AB, Latakia, tracking north. @thereccelizard.bsky.social

USAF RC-135V Rivet Joint 64-14846 #AE01C8 out of Kadena AFB, Okinawa, tracking north toward the Korean Peninsula.

For those whose faith tradition follows the Julian Calendar, I wish you happiness & peace of mind this Christmas & beyond.

I was distracted/AFK & neglected to post this. 1721z: US Navy P-8A Poseidon w/hex #AE6839 monitoring the E. Mediterranean near Syria & Lebanon, along with the Russian Ro-Ro vessel Sparta (#9268710 | #273389870), which is holding near Tartus.

While I was AFK: Russian AF IL-76MD RA-78835 #1533F3 as RFF401 departed Khmeimim AB in Latakia, Syria, en route to Al Khadim AB in Libya. @thereccelizard.bsky.social

USAF C-40B 02-0042 #AE11F8 as SAM735 on the ground at Delhi (DEL). Aircraft arrived 05 Jan w/US NatSec Advisor Jake Sullivan aboard.

Philippines Navy BN-2A Islander #758718 as NV312 out of Cavite City (SGL), returning after patrolling in area of Scarborough Shoal.

US Navy MQ-4C Triton reg. 169660 #AE7813 as BLKCAT5 out of NAS Sigonella, monitoring Libya.

USAF Special Operations Command C-146A Wolfhound 16-3020 #AE68BF out of Cartagena, landing at Guayaquil.

US Navy P-8A Poseidon #AE67BA is tracking across Saudi Arabia & will likely operate over the Red Sea & Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

USAF RC-135V Rivet Joint 64-14848 #AE01C3 out of Al Udeid Air Base, operating along the Iraq-Syria border.

Russian AF IL-76MD RA-78835 #1533F3 as RFF8839 out of Moscow (CKL), likely en route to Khmeimim AB, Latakia.