Tuesday 22th April 2008

French Navy E-2C Hawkeye arrives at
RAF Leeming

A French Navy E-2C Hawkeye from 4 Flottille based at Lorient-Lann-Bihoue arrived just after dinner for a gas and go. it later departed to join the rest of the Joint Warrior aircraft. It was noted by Pete Teather as marked as number 2.

Monday 21th April 2008

New Zealand Air Force P-3K
arrives at RAF Kinloss for Ex Joint Warrior

Sunday 20th April 2008

19 Squadron celebrates 70th Anniversary of being equiped with the Spitfire

2008 marks the 70th anniversary of 19[F] Squadron being the first squadron to be equiped with the Spitfire at Duxford in Cambridgeshire. To help publicise 19 Squadrons on going endeavours for fundraising. They have received special permission and sponsorship to repaint one of their Hawks in the camouflage scheme as worn by the Spitfires during the Battle of Britain. XX184 has been chosen to support the colours as it is one of the newest to the fleet. And has recently returned from service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Requirements and Air Directional Unit. (FRADU). and is currently in the paint shop being sanded down ready to be sprayed. The Squadron have also commissioned prints of the Hawk and a Spitfire over the White Cliffs of Dover. They has also put together a charity calendar for the Special Care Baby Unit at Bangor Hospital, North Wales.

Friday 18th April 2008

Thursday 17th April 2008

It seems that the undercarriage gremlins were busy this week. This time a USAF C-5B Galaxy 87-0035 from the 436th Air Wing took off from RAF Lakenheath, but it's front undercarriage failed to raise. It then made a call in to RAF Mildenhall where it later took off and its undercarriage raised fully.

Wednesday 16th April 2008

Apaches at RAF Leuchars

Arriving at RAF Leuchars were a pair of Apaches, identifed as ZJ219 and ZJ221. Using callsign Radical 1 and Radical 2 they routed from Middle Wallop via RAF Shawbury.

XH558 Departs RAF Cottesmore and returns to Brunters

With XH558 safely down from Mondays flight test, several filaments replaced and a thorough check for fire damage undertaken, of which none was found. Tuesday saw more work undertaken, a few other items replaced and then XH558 was then towed across the airfield for the Compass Swing calibration. Which took five hours to complete due to the weather. Wednesday began with an early start whereby more checks took place including the entire Airbourne Auxilary Powerplant (AAPP) fire system. A rivet was missing from the No4 engine of which caused a small mark on one of the engine blades. At 13:30L XH558 left the VASS and taxied towards the 22 end and took off. Upon raising the undercarriage the starboard undercarriage door didn't close and remained open. Whilst the crew then carried out procedures to close the door. They performed several flypasts of Cottesmore. And then flew out to Bruntingthorpe where several flypasts were then done over Lutterworth to burn off fuel before landing safely and deploying the chute.

Tuesday 15th April 2008

Danish F-16's nightstop at RAF Marham

Noted on the evening, where four Royal Danish Air Force F-16AM's. These were noted as E600, E608, E609 and E611. Thanks to Steve T for the information.

Monday 14th April 2008

XH558 arrives at RAF Cottesmore

Monday saw XH558 conduct its second test flight, and reach another milestone to obtain its certificate from the CAA. At 14:36L, XH558 using the callsign Marshall 1 thundered down Bruntingthorpe runway and took to the skies once more filling the sky with it's distinctive shape. The purpose of this test was to ensure that all airworthy checks were completed and then make it's way to RAF Cottesmore for calibration with the Compass Swing. Many people were at RAF Cottesmore to see XH558 flyover and head to towards Norwich for its planned air testing. However things didn't go quite to plan, and the crew encountered a problem. A warning light appeared on the console panel, indicating a fire. This was then resolved. Then another warning light appeared and after following the standard procedures the crew called a MAYDAY.

With many enthusiasts listening in on the airband radios fearing the worst. The crew reported into Bruntingthorpe to prepare for an emergency landing. RAF Cottesmore returned over the frequency stating that they were better prepared and the descision was made for the Vulcan to land at Cottesmore.

At 16:20L XH558 landed safely at the 04 end of Cottesmore. And stopped centre of the runway where a visual check from the Tower and emergency crews was then taken place. The crew then taxied to the 22 end followed by emergency fire and ambulance crews towards the visitors ramp. Eighty percent of the flight test was completed and the Vulcan was ready to take part of being calibrated by the compass swing.

Thanks to Tom Hill, Gary Parsons, Glenn Beasley and Lee James for the photos

Friday 11th April 2008

New Colours for Display Tucano

Tony Beck went to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to photograph the graduation flypasts, but with Prince William being part of this months graduation, it was moved to RAF Cranwell. However Tony wasn't too disapointed when he managed to capture this Tucano.

Monday 7th April 2008

RAF receive delivery of ZZ175

Arriving at RAF Brize Norton was the first outright Ministry of Defence owned C-17A. UK5 is part of a £130 million order to see the RAF fleet of C-17A's expanded. The first four which entered service in 2001 have been under a lease with Boeing. A sixth C-17A is due to arrive with the RAF in June. ZZ175 first flew in February from the Long Beach California plant to San Antonio in Texas to have various components including the valued aircraft countermeasures from Grumman Northrop installed.

Thursday 3rd April 2008

Russian Participants of OPEN SKIES at Brize Norton

Two Russian Aircraft arrived at RAF Brize Norton as part of the NATO Open Skies Treaty. The Aircraft an Antonov AH-124 RA-82077 and an Antonov AH-30 [87] which was wearing the OPEN SKIES wording.

Open Skies is a NATO Treaty which came into Force on 1st January 2002. Thirty Four countries signed the treaty. Thus allowing overflights of Land, Islands as well as internal and territorial waters. The treaty specifies that the entire territory of a State Party is open to observation. Such flights can only be restricted for reasons of flight safety and not for reasons of National Security.

The Old Crow finally leaves Fairford

Nearly six months since she arrived at RAF Fairford with only three engines, the 'Old Crow Express III', B1-B 86-0113/DY finally left to return to the USA with her new engine, using callsign 'Sabre 21'.

Tuesday 1st April 2008

Happy 90th Birthday to the Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force celebrated it's 90th Birthday with a series of events and flypasts to mark it's 90th Year. Many active RAF Bases around the world took part in ceremony parades and events.

In Afghanistan both bases at Kandahar and Camp Bastian also had ceremonies. Kandahar had a Chinook flypast and a sunset ceremony. Camp Bastian had a different kind of ceremony where a small RAF detachment ran ninety laps of the camp a total of 315 miles all for Charity and were well rewarded afterwards.

Here in the UK, the Red Arrows took off from Scampton along with Four Typhoons from RAF Coningsby to form a flypast over London at 13:00L and then every UK Airbase along with a Fifth Typhoon which was acting as guide and photo aircraft. RAF Hendon became the focus point for a ceremonal parade and evening event.

Last Three Operational Tornado F3'S handover
QRA Status to RAF Coningsby

Also on this day, the last remaining Tornado F3's which were ZE763/FJ, ZE342/FG and ZE961/FO, from 25 Squadron also handed over their Southern QRA status to RAF Coningbsy. As of now the Typhoon will officially be used for Southern QRA tasks. Two Typhoons are being used for this QRA Status. And so far have been identified by their tale codes as QO-T and DB. At present QO-T is in 3 Squadron markings and DB is in 11 Squadron markings.

Added bonuses at RAF Cottesmore