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208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Please post movements and activities to do with RAF Valley here.
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TS010
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208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by TS010 » Tue Apr 05, 2016 12:04 pm


MRTT
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by MRTT » Tue Apr 05, 2016 3:23 pm

Great shame if true! :(

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Blackcat1
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by Blackcat1 » Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:14 am

Yep true it's on BBC news, to go by the summer even though replacement aircraft are not due for another year!!!
Gareth

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Oculi exercitus
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welshandy
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by welshandy » Mon Apr 11, 2016 8:00 am

"Plans to replace the Hawk T1 by using more T2 hawks have been in the pipeline for a number of years and have now been confirmed - but there is no stop gap plan" MOD buying more T2's or making more use of the one's we've got??

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steve149c
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by steve149c » Mon Apr 11, 2016 11:40 am

That Andy is the $100 Million dollar question

I think they will realise that they need more T2s
Amateur modeller
Canon 7D2, 100-400mm IS L lense, Icom R6 and alot of luck!

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Surfrdan
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by Surfrdan » Mon Apr 11, 2016 11:51 am

I count 25 different T2 airframes in use over the past month. That does not leave many more to use!

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Reptile 1
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by Reptile 1 » Mon Apr 11, 2016 12:27 pm

Can't see any increase in T2 numbers anytime soon, with the course lasting about 11 months to complete by the time one course finishes a new one starts and with each course only having about 10 Students? or less 28 Jets seems enough.

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tonkatom
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by tonkatom » Mon Apr 11, 2016 9:01 pm

I agree with Reptile 1,there's not the same number of frontline fighters or squadrons like there used to be either.
May the skies be clear and blue and the wind fair with a guiding star to steer by.

F3
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by F3 » Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:29 pm

When visiting Leeming on Ex JW 2 yrs ago the then OC 100 Sqn told me that he expected 208 to shortly be disbanded whereupon all the Hawk T1s would be concentrated @ Leeming except for those of the Reds. For some reason this was postponed but clearly the writing has been on the wall for some time!

F3

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Surfrdan
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by Surfrdan » Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:31 pm

Final flight 1330 tomorrow. Sounds like it'll visit a number of locations.

TS010
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by TS010 » Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:39 pm

Last flight due to depart Valley at 13.30 local tomorrow (13th).

From 208's Facebook page: - With all training courses complete, the RAF's final Hawk T1 Advanced Flying Training Squadron will pay homage to previous Hawk T1 units and iconic landmarks in and around Wales, the Nation that 208(R) Sqn instructors and students alike have grown to love over the last 22 years.

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Blackcat1
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by Blackcat1 » Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:40 pm

Any idea on routing?
Gareth

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TS010
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Location: Eastern End of the Dee Valley LFA7/9

Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by TS010 » Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:21 am

No route details yet or how many jets will be involved, but I would expect a few laps of the loop and a final blast through the Ogwen (A5 pass).

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Thunder
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by Thunder » Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:56 am

22 years since they operated the Buccaneer :O where does the time go?

TS010
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by TS010 » Wed Apr 13, 2016 12:44 pm

Mustang flight (x3 T1's) airborne at 13.30. Due in the Loop at 14.45.

welshandy
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by welshandy » Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:24 pm

Flew over my garden on way to Loop 3 T1's line astern :Wow:

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mhm
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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by mhm » Thu Apr 14, 2016 3:02 pm

Regards
Mike

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Re: 208 Sqn to cease flying by April 13th?

Post by Nnthusiast » Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:19 pm

Was up Cad East for them and they came blatting through and then there was none.
Quite sad really but the event did lead to 19 airframes through there from 12.30 till 5pm whihc was nice in the sun.

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