AUGUST 2013 ISSUE No
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MILITARY AVIATION REVIEW AUGUST 2013 ISSUE No. 309 EDITORIAL TEAM COORDINATING EDITOR - BRIAN PICKERING WESTFIELD LODGE, ASLACKBY, SLEAFORD, LINCS NG34 0HG TEL NO. 01778 440760 E-MAIL”[email protected]” BRITISH REVIEW - MICK BOULANGER 27 Tudor Road, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV10 0LT TEL NO. 0770 1070537 EMail "[email protected]" FOREIGN FORCES - BRIAN PICKERING (see Co-ordinating Editor above for address details) US FORCES - BRIAN PICKERING (COORDINATING) (see above for address details) STATESIDE: MORAY PICKERING 18 MILLPIT FURLONG, LITTLEPORT, ELY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE, CB6 1HT E Mail “[email protected]” EUROPE: BRIAN PICKERING OUTSIDE USA: BRIAN PICKERING See address details above OUT OF SERVICE - ANDY MARDEN 6 CAISTOR DRIVE, BRACEBRIDGE HEATH, LINCOLN LN4 2TA E-MAIL "[email protected]" MEMBERSHIP/DISTRIBUTION - BRIAN PICKERING MAP, WESTFIELD LODGE, ASLACKBY, SLEAFORD, LINCS NG34 0HG TEL NO. 01778 440760 E-MAIL.”[email protected]” ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION (Jan-Dec 2013) UK £40 EUROPE £55 ELSEWHERE £60 @MAR £20 (EMail/Internet Only) MAR PDF £20 (EMail/Internet Only) Cheques payable to “MAP” - ALL CARDS ACCEPTED - Subscribe via “www.mar.co.uk” ABBREVIATIONS USED * OVERSHOOT f/n FIRST NOTED l/n LAST NOTED n/n NOT NOTED u/m UNMARKED w/o WRITTEN OFF wfu WITHDRAWN FROM USE n/s NIGHTSTOPPED INFORMATION MAY BE REPRODUCED FROM “MAR” WITH DUE CREDIT EDITORIAL Another bumper issue and my apologies again for the reduced size of the Foreign Section (another 10 pages held over until the next issue of MAR) and the lack of the Credits. The credits are all adding up each month and will be quite a large selection of names when we finally find the space to include them. A number of UK Air Show reports this month which is very heartening - hopefully 2014 will see the return of US Air Shows to our pages! The lack of shows in the USA has meant a drastic reduction in visits by enthusiasts to the USA this year and, consequently, a dearth of reports for the US Section, So, if anyone has been or is going to the USA, please send in your reports - no matter how small, to Moray to help fill out the section. Again we have had an excellent response to the request for more pictures to illustrate MAR - although the readers of the paper version of MAR will only see 4 photos there are many more included in the PDF version. On the subject of the magazine, it is expected that there will be no change in subscription rates for the 2014 issues and the magazine will be staying as it is. However, 2013 saw the first year in which the PDF version, at only £20, took more subscriptions than the paper version. When you add all those people taking the paper version who also take the PDF version free we have to consider the unthinkable for 2015 ? Finally, late news of an upcoming Coningsby deployment - 4 Saudi AF Typhoons and 4 Tornados are due on August 27th and will be flying missions until mid September from the 29(R)Sqn line and the Northern ASP! COVER PHOTOGRAPH: I know it featured on the back cover last month, but here is WTD61 F-4F 38+13 climbing out of Manching on July 4th taken from one of the unit’s Transalls (Dietmar Fenners ) Closing date for the September issue is 08.09.13 Brian Pickering 14.08.13 408 BRITISH REVIEW Hercules C.4 ZH866 continues to receive its mid-life upgrade (MLU) at the Lockheed Martin facility at Marietta, Georgia, USA When the aircraft is due to return (October 2013) it will be designated as a Hercules C.6 standard, this will be applicable to all C.4 models that undertake the MLU process. When the Hercules C.5 are sent for their MLU (all future MLUs are thought to be at Marshall Aerospace, Cambridge) they will return to the RAF as C.7 standard. A King Air 350C G-LBSB (c/n FM-55) flew into Waddington on 30.07 as “Snooper01”. It is owned by GAMA Support, Farnborough and is to be used by 14 Sqn Waddington as a training aircraft. It has so far not got a UK Military serial issued. As the final days for the VC-10 come over the horizon, it will be sad to see the end of such a fine looking and sounding aircraft. As we go to press unconfirmed reports suggest that the final day will be around the 25th September 2013, this is when the last two flying examples will depart from Brize Norton for a final flight to Bruntingthorpe. The two aircraft should be ZA147 and ZA150 as ZA148 is due to depart to Bruntingthorpe at the end of this month. The first RC-135 for the RAF made its first flight in RAF Colours on 30.07, it is now due for delivery to Waddington during October 2013........Mick Boulanger (Military movements is history, now and for our future) ALDERGROVE - Residents noted during July 665 Sqn Gazelle AH.1 XW847 XZ334 ZB669 ZB674 ZB678 ZB683 Residents notes 665 Sqn Gazelle AH.1 XZ320 has departed 665 Sqn Aldergrove to MPSU Middle Wallop ZB667 has departed 665 Sqn Aldergrove to MPSU Middle Wallop ZB679 previously with 8 Flt Credenhill is now transferred to 665 Sqn Aldergrove BELFAST CITY AIRPORT- Military visitors noted during June: - 07 07-0793 U-28A 27SOW/318SOS “Trojan02” 14 87-24647 UH-60A 1-214 AVN“Nighthawk1” 14 ZD621 BAe 125 CC.3 32(TR) Sqn “RRR1676” 88-26019 UH-60A 1-214 AVN“Nighthawk1” 82-23757 UH-60A 1-214 AVN“Nighthawk1” 89-26142 UH-60A 6-52 AVN “Nighthawk1” 86-24538 UH-60A 6-52 AVN “Nighthawk1” 17 163262 VH-60N HMX-1 “Marine1” 87-24643 UH-60A 6-52 AVN “Nighthawk1” 163266 VH-60N HMX-1 “Marine1” RAF BENSON - The RAF Benson Families Day took place on 25.07, the following aircraft participated: XS507 Wessex HU.5 606(Chiltern) Sqn ZJ219 Apache AH.1 673 Sqn ZG821/G Sea King HC.4 848NAS ZJ236/X Griffin HT.1 60(R) Sqn ZH126/TM Vigilant T.1 612 VGS ZJ954 Puma HC.2 33 Sqn ZH268/SA Vigilant T.1 612 VGS ZJ992/AB Merlin HC.3A 28/78 Sqn ZH543 Sea King HAR.3A 22 Sqn B Flt ZJ994/AC Merlin HC.3A 28/78 Sqn ZH868/868 Hercules C.4 24/30 Sqn ZJ995/AD Merlin HC.3A 28/78 Sqn ZJ118/B Merlin HC.3 28/78 Sqn ZK343/EA Typhoon FGR4 6 Sqn ZJ123/G Merlin HC.3 28/78 Sqn G-BYXA Tutor Oxford UAS ZJ130/O Merlin HC.3 28/78 Sqn Residents notes 28/78 Sqn Merlin HC.3/3A ZJ137/W departed on 09.07 from 28/78 Sqn Benson as “Westland01” for MDMF Culdrose ZJ994/AC has returned from Ag-WHL Yeovil to 28/78 Sqn Benson following modifications An unidentified Merlin HC.3A departed on 19.07 from 28/78 Sqn Benson as “VTX301” to MDMF Culdrose PDSH Puma HC.2 So far four Puma HC.2’s have returned to PDSH Benson from Eurocopter, Brasov, Romania, they are: XW204, XW235, ZA935 and ZJ954. (See Road Runners below for more on XW204) BIGGIN HILL - Military visitors noted during June: 13 1505 C-130E Polish AF 14. eltr “PLF252 27 025 C-295M Polish AF 13. eltr BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT- Military visitors noted during July: - 03 ZJ171 Apache AH.1 4 Regt “Gunship02”* 14 ZF573 Islander CC.2 Northolt St Flt “RRR7955” 04 ZK456/P King Air 200 45(R) Sqn “CWL67”* 16 ZE706 Tristar C.2A 216 Sqn “RRR3247” 05 ZF573 Islander CC.2 Northolt St Flt ZH885/885 Hercules C.5 24/30 Sqn “RRR7950” n/s 25 ZZ173 Globemaster II 99 Sqn “ISF19FJ/RRR6986” 10 ZH873/873 Hercules C.4 24/30 Sqn * 27 ZH881/881 Hercules C.5 243/30 Sqn “RRR5991” 13 ZF573 Islander CC.2 Northolt St Flt “RRR7955” 409 BLACKPOOL AIRPORT- Military visitors noted during May: - 02 XW847 Gazelle AH.1 665 Sqn “AAC552” 21 ZF489/489 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Charcoal2” 07 ZK455/O King Air 200 45(R) Sqn “CWL68”* 22 ZF379/379 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Charcoal1” 10 XX315/315 Hawk T.1A 208(R) Sqn “VYT55”* ZF491/491 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Charcoal2” 16 ZF140/140 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Charcoal1” XZ678 Lynx AH.7 9 Regt “AAC985” ZF269/269 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Charcoal2” 25 PM631 Spitfire PRXIX BoBMF 17 ZK027/R Hawk T.2 4(R) Sqn “VYT72”* LF363/YB-W Hurricane IIC BoBMF 20 XX218/218 Hawk T.1A 208(R) Sqn “Mustang” 28 XX246/95-Y Hawk T.1A 100 Sqn “Pirate19”* XX315/315 Hawk T.1A 208(R) Sqn “Mustang” 29 ZK036/AA Hawk T.2 4(R) Sqn “VYT79”* ZF295/295 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Charcoal2” 30 XZ645 Lynx AH.7 9 Regt “Vanguard1” 21 ZK021/L Hawk T.2 4(R) Sqn “VYT90”* XZ670 Lynx AH.7 9 Regt “Vanguard2” ZF417/417 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Charcoal1” ZG777/EB-Q Tornado GR.4 41(R)TES “Rebel87”* BOSCOMBE DOWN - Two stored aircraft have been saved here. Phantom FGR.2 XV401/I was removed from Boscombe Down by road during early August and has been transported to Everett Aero, Bentwaters. Tornado GR.1 ZA326 has been sold and is due to be transported to the Cold War Jets, Bruntingthorpe soon for restoration BOURNEMOUTH HURN AIRPORT - Military visitors noted during July: - (With thanks to BAEG) 04 ZJ203 Apache AH.1 3 Regt “AAC301”* 17 ZH898 Chinook HC.3 Odiham Wg “SHF548”* 05 ZA681 Chinook HC.2 Odiham Wg “SHF572”* ZF510 Tucano T.1 EPS “Tester81”* ZD955/AD Merlin HC.3A 28/78 Sqn “SHF782”* ZF622 PA.31-350 QinetiQ “Gauntlet89”* 08 ZF124/L Sea King HC.4 848NAS “Avenger926”* ZJ782 AS.365N3 8 Flt “1AA57”* ZH873/873 Hercules C.4 24/30 Sqn “RRR089” XV188/188 Hercules C.3A 47 Sqn “RRR751”* ZA718/BN Chinook HC.4 Odiham Wg “SHF482”* ZJ118/B Merlin HC.3 28/78 Sqn “SHF300”* 09 ZE416 A-109E ETPS “Gauntlet26”* 18 ZA298/Y Sea King HC.4 845NAS “Yankee453”* ZD574/DB Chinook HC.4 Odiham Wg “SHF482”* ZH900 Chinook HC.3 Odiham Wg “SHF572”* ZA680/AH Chinook HC.2 Odiham Wg “SHF424”* ZH898 Chinook HC.3 Odiham Wg “SHF575”* 10 ZA681 Chinook HC.2 Odiham Wg “SHF424”* ZJ120/D Merlin HC.3 28/78 Sqn* 11 ZH873/873 Hercules C.4 24/30 Sqn “RRR122” ZJ207 Apache AH.1 3 Regt “AAC320”* ZK001/AF Merlin HC.3A 28/78 Sqn “SHF782”* 19 ZA298/Y Sea King HC.4 845NAS* ZE116/116 Tornado GR.4 Marham Wg “MRH49”* 22 ZH541/V Sea King HAR.3A 22 Sqn A Flt “SRG170”* 12 XX219 Hawk T.1A RAFAT + XX227, XX242, ZJ995/AD Merlin HC.3A 28/78 Sqn * XX245, XX264, XX311,