Shadow question.

[reaper493]

Hi,

How many does the RAF have? Article I found states 6.
Is this correct?

I can only find photos of five zz416, 417, 418, 419 and 504.
Is there a 6th one, and if so what is the reg?
Thanks
Mike

[twinstar]

The 6th is a standard King Air 350 which is operated as a trainer with the civil reg G-LBSB.
Tony

[reaper493]

Thanks Tony, I did wonder if that was the case.

[tm74sqn]

Extract from something I wrote for a private circulation newsletter last year:-

.... it has recently been revealed that the RAF’s fleet of Shadow R.1 signals intelligence aircraft will be expanded from five to a new total of eight operational aircraft. The three additional Shadows will include the conversion of the example currently configured as a trainer, plus two new-builds. The aircraft used in the training role is Super King Air 350C G-LBSB, at present operated by Gama Aviation. At the end of 2015 a contract had yet to be signed with Raytheon Systems, but this was expected to happen early in 2016. It is believed that the first of the three King Air 350CER-derived aircraft to be converted will be trainer aircraft G-LBSB, with the conversion work to be carried out at the company’s Broughton site in north Wales. The modifications will include integration with a roll-on, roll-off mission system, potentially allowing that Shadow to be employed in the training role. It is hoped that the additional Shadows will be in service from 2019 and it is expected that the fleet will remain in service until at least 2030.

Hope of interest,
TM74