MILITARY AVIATION REVIEW NOVEMBER 2014 ISSUE No. 324 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 19 RADFORD MEADOW, CASTLE DONINGTON, DERBY DE74 2NZ 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 2015) 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ABBREVIATIONS USED * OVERSHOOT f/n FIRST NOTED l/n LAST NOTED n/n NOT NOTED u/m UNMARKED w/o WRITTEN OFF wfu WITHDRAWN FROM USE n/s NIGHTSTOPPED INFORMATION MAY BE REPRODUCED FROM “MAR” WITH DUE CREDIT EDITORIAL Thank you for the continuing subscription arrivals - no one has said they are not renewing for 2015 yet and we have had some new subscriptions, some from previous lapsed members and others who are completely new! Another 64 page magazine with about 15 pages from the US and Foreign sections which have been held over for the December issue due to lack of space. It is a nice feeling to know that there is so much news and information around. The October issue of @MAR featured the latest USAF ORBAT from Tom Kaminski - essential if you have an interest in the largest Air Force in the World. If you do not already subscribe to @MAR please send me an email to “[email protected]” and I will send you a sample copy. MAR PDF and @MAR Files for 2014 will be deleted from the MAR web site in January to make way for the new 2015 issues, they will be removed on the following dates so please ensure you have downloaded all the files by then - MAR PDF Files will be removed on Jnaury 10th @MAR Files will be removed on January 25th COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Michigan ANG A-10C 81-0998/MI arriving at Spangdahlem AB, Germany on October 26th -one of 4 107 FS A-10Cs to arrive from Lajes to take part in Exercise Combined Resolve III (Edward Kleiser) Closing date for the December issue is 08.12.14 Brian Pickering 15.11.14 598 BRITISH REVIEW The Ministry of Defence has announced that there will be a lot of new changes being made over the next few years with the RAF Training aircraft. They have appointed a consortium called Affinity as the preferred bidders to supply the new Military Flying Training System which will result in three new types of aircraft being acquired. They are the Grob G-120TP operated from Barkston Heath to replace the Grob Tutors, Beechcraft T-6C operated from Valley to replace the Tucano T.1s and Embraer Phenom 100 operated from Cranwell to replace the King Air 200. This does not look good for RAF Linton-on-Ouse’s future, but time will tell. Another announcement was made which stated the proposed withdrawal of Sentinel R.1 during 2015 has been postponed and the aircraft will be converted for maritime operations. Finally the last Tornado GR.4s operated by 31 Sqn at Kandahar, Afghanistan has departed on 11.11.2014. The withdrawal from Kandahar marked the end of five years of fast jet support for the NATO Operations…...Mick Boulanger (Military movements is history, now and for our future) ALDERGROVE 665 Sqn Gazelle AH.1 ZB679 has been transferred from 658 Sqn Credenhill to 655 Sqn Aldergrove BELFAST CITY AIRPORT - Military visitors noted during September:- 06 ZE396 BAe 125 CC.3 32(TR) Sqn “RRR1799” 24 87-24583 UH-60A(C) SHAPE “Shape4” n/s 07 XZ180 Lynx AH.7 671 Sqn 28 ZE396 BAe 125 CC.3 32(TR) Sqn “RRR1023” 24 87-24584 UH-60A(C) SHAPE “Shape3” n/s BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - Military visitors noted during September:- 05 XZ180 Lynx AH.7 671 Sqn 20 ZH865/865 Hercules C.4 24/30/47 Sqn “Zorro1” ZK455/O King Air 200 45(R) Sqn “CWL72” 26 ZZ338 Voyager KC.3 10/101 Sqn “RRR2890/1” 19 ZD741/089 Tornado GR.4 15(R) Sqn “LOS15”* 30 ZH888/888 Hercules C.5 24/30/47 Sqn “RRR5747/8” RAF BENSON - Residents noted during October: 28 Sqn/846NAS Merlin HC.3/3A ZJ119/C ZJ120/D ZJ122/F ZJ124/H ZJ128/M ZJ129/N ZJ131/P ZJ134/S ZJ135/T ZJ136/U ZJ137/W ZJ990/AA ZJ995/AD ZK001/AF 33/230 Sqn Puma HC.2 XW204 XW213 XW214 XW219 ZA936 ZA939 P2MF Puma HC.2 XW209 XW216 XW217 XW231 XW235 Oxford UAS Tutor G-BYUJ G-BYVB G-BYWX G-BYWY G-BYXA G-BYXC G-BYXL Residents notes during October 28 Sqn/846NAS Merlin HC.3/3A ZJ120/D and ZJ134/S have departed 28 Sqn/846NAS Benson for training at El Centro, California ZJ126/K has departed 28 Sqn/846NAS Benson on 23.10 to Ag-WHL Yeovil for an upgrade as “VTX316” ZJ130/O has returned to 28 Sqn 846NAS Benson from MDMF Culdrose on 23.10 as VTX301” ZJ137/W has departed 28 Sqn/846NAS Benson on 05.11 as VTX295” to MDMF Culdrose 33/230 Sqn Puma HC.2 XW204 has returned from Airbus Helicopter, Kidlington and is now operated by 33/230 Sqn Benson XW212 has arrived from Airbus, Romania to P2MF Benson following conversion to HC.2 standard XW213 has transferred from P2MF Benson to 33/230 Sqn Benson XW217 has transferred from P2MF Benson to 33/230 Sqn Benson (see below) ZA935 has transferred from P2MF Benson to 33/230 Sqn Benson ZJ954 has departed 33/230 Sqn Benson on 29.10 as “VTX333” to Airbus, Kidlington ZJ955/P has transferred from 33/230 Sqn Benson to P2MF Benson ZJ956 has returned from Airbus Helicopter, Kidlington and is now with the P2MF Benson ZJ957 has departed 33/230 Sqn Benson on 29.10 to Airbus, Kidlington Three Puma HC.2s from 33/230 Sqn Benson have deployed to Jordan, the aircraft are: XW217, XW237 and ZA935 BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT - Military visitors noted during October:- 06 ZE396 BAe 125 CC.3 32(TR) Sqn “RRF42” ZH004 Defender T.3 651 Sqn “AAC535” 29 ZZ337 Voyager KC.3 10/101 Sqn “RRR2702” n/s BLACKPOOL AIRPORT - Military visitors noted during August: - 01 XW847 Gazelle AH.1 665 Sqn + ZB674 “AAC565” ZJ782 AS.365N3 658 Sqn “1WT18” 04 ZF485/485 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “LOP07” 05 ZK032/W Hawk T.2 4(R) Sqn * 599 06 ZF291/291 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “LOP42”* 14 ZF317/317 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Galleon2” 08 ZK308/TV-P Typhoon FGR4 29(R) Sqn”Typhoon22” ZK015/F Hawk T.2 4(R) Sqn “VYT57”* 09 ZF295/295 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “LOP48/Tucano” ZJ120/D Merlin HC.3 28/78 Sqn “Rapier1” ZF172/172 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “LOP23” 18 ZK029/T Hawk T.2 4(R) Sqn “VYT03”* PA474/KC-A Lancaster B.1 BoBMF “Lancaster91” 19 ZJ254/54 Squirrel HT.2 670 Sqn “AAC700” ZK343/BX/Spl Typhoon FGR4 29(R) Sqn “Typhoon40” ZK456/P King Air 200 45(R) Sqn “CWL66”* ZJ939/DXI Typhoon FGR4 29(R) Sqn “Typhoon49” ZH880/880 Hercules C.4 24/30/47 Sqn “RRR5504”* XX219 Hawk T.1A RAFAT + XX242, XX244, 20 ZJ254/54 Squirrel HT.2 670 Sqn “AAC00” XX245, XX310 , XX311, XX319, XX322 & XX325 26 ZJ781 AS365N3 658 Sqn “1AW12” 10 XX323 Hawk T.1A RAFAT “Red11” ZJ245/45 Squirrel HT.2 670 Sqn “AAC705” 12 ZH001 Defender AL.2 651 Sqn “AAC535” 27 ZF204/204 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Charcoal1” 13 ZF338/338 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Theakston2” ZF295/295 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Charcoal2” ZK001/AF Merlin HC.3A 28/78 Sqn “SHF759” 30 ZF291/291 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “LOP48/Tucano” 14 ZK013/D Hawk T.2 4(R) Sqn “VYT59”* P7350/EB-G Spitfire IIA BoBMF “Fighter1” ZF204/204 Tucano T.1 1 FTS “Galleon1” PZ865/EG-S Hurricane IIC BoBMF “Fighter2” Note: The aircraft that arrived on 09.08 were participants for Blackpool Airshow on 09 and 10.08. The aircraft that arrived on 30.08 were participants for Rhyl Airshow. BRISTOL AIRPORT – Military visitors noted during September 01 ZA939 Puma HC.2 33.230 Sqn “SHF340”* XZ692/641 Lynx HMA.8SRU 815NAS “Skua34” 02 ZA600/EB-G Tornado GR.4 41(R)TES “Rebel87”* ZB686 Gazelle AH.1 AAC recruitment (pod) Bristol Airport Families Day took place on 27.10, participating (J-1542) Venom FB.10 Private G-DHVM aircraft were: RAF BRIZE NORTON – Military visitors noted during October:- 01- ZR322 A109E 32(TR) Sqn 17 58-0100/D KC-135R 100 ARW 351 ARS “Quid74” ZK451/K King Air 200 45(R) Sqn 18 ZH004 Defender T.3 651 Sqn “AAC535” 02 ZR322 A109E 32(TR) Sqn ZJ239/R Griffin HT.2 60(R) Sqn 03 A41-209 C-17A RAAF 36 Sqn “ASY715” n/s 20 ZK337/FP Typhoon FGR4 1/6 Sqn “Psycho31”* 05 168073/QH-073 KC-130J VMGR-234 “Ranger61”dep7th 21 B-538 C-130J-30 RDAF Esk 721 “DAF6283” 07 ZH103/03 Sentry AEW.1 8/54 Sqn 23 G-275 C-130H-30 KLu 336 Sqn “NAF25” 08 ZA935 Puma HC.2 33/230 Sqn (QQ102) RJ70-ER QinetiQ “GAU80” G-BVRJ ZE700 BAe 146 CC.2 32(TR) Sqn “RRR1895” XW213 Puma HC.2 33/230 Sqn 09 G-988 C-130H KLu 336 Sqn 24 B-538 C-130J-30 RDAF Esk721 “DAF6299” ZJ808/DW Typhoon T3 29(R) Sqn ZD709/078 Tornado GR.4 Marham Wg “MRH25”* 10 KAF-342 C-17A Kuwait AF 41 Sqn 26 0455 C-295M Czech AF 242.tsl “CEF6040” “KAF3219” dep 12th 27 B-536 C-130J-30 RDAF Esk 721 “DAF6291” ZH904/(HS) Chinook HC.3 Odiham Wg “Gambit01” 28 3085 A319-115X Czech AF 241.tsl “CEF5010” ZH897/(HL) Chinook HC.3 Odiham Wg “Gambit01” (QQ102) RJ70-ER QinetiQ “GAU80” G-BVRJ 13 ZZ415 Wildcat HMA.2 Ag-WHL 29 ZJ127/L Merlin HC.3 28 Sqn/846NAS “SHF299” ZA670/AA Chinook HC.4 Odiham Wg “Lifter02” 30 XX346/CH Hawk T.1A 100 Sqn 15 ZJ231 Apache AH.1 4 Regt MAB C-17A Qatar AF 12 Sqn 16 KAF-342 C-17A Kuwait AF 41 Sqn “LHOB241” n/s “KAF3220” dep 18th ZH102/02 Sentry