RNAS Yeovilton - Friday 21 January

[Cessna954]

On Friday I made my first trip out to an airfield in 2022 with a visit to the fence at 'my local' Yeovilton. Being a Friday airfield hours were reduced with a 10am start and 3pm finish, and it appears that manpower and serviceability remain an issue for the Royal Navy - no ILS and no visiting aircraft refuelling.

10am sharp and Merlins and Wildcats started up and shortly afterwards Kraken42 & 45 dropped in for some circuit work. With just a matter of weeks left in service, it's a case of get them whilst you can.
Kraken45

Royal Navy 736NAS British Aerospace Hawk T1 XX324 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

Royal Navy 736NAS British Aerospace Hawk T1 XX324 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

Kraken42
Royal Navy 736NAS British Aerospace Hawk T1 XX280 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

Royal Navy 736NAS British Aerospace Hawk T1 XX280 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

Commando28 spend the day ferrying personnel out to HMS Prince of Wales ahead of the Merlin deployment next week.
Royal Navy 846NAS Agusta-Westland EH101 Merlin HC4A ZJ994 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

Other Merlins were busy, six were out on the flight line, maybe preparing for 8 or 9 to deploy away next week (Norway, Kent & HMSPWLS)

Junglie31
Royal Navy 845NAS Agusta-Westland EH101 Merlin HC4 ZJ122 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

Junglie50
Royal Navy 845NAS Agusta-Westland EH101 Merlin HC4 ZJ137 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

Junglie90
Royal Navy 846NAS Agusta-Westland EH101 Merlin HC4 ZJ137 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

At about lunchtime Panther21 Flight were scheduled to drop low level at Yeovilton for LFA2 and on the invitation of ATC performed some very spirited fly throughs.
United States Air Force 48FW McDonnell-Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle 91-0329 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

United States Air Force 48FW McDonnell-Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle 00-3002 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

United States Air Force 48FW McDonnell-Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle 01-2002 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

United States Air Force 48FW McDonnell-Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle 01-2002 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

United States Air Force 48FW McDonnell-Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle 01-2002 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

815NAS & 825NAS were very quiet and only a single Wildcat HMA2 flew. However, a few AAC & RM Wildcats AH1s ventured out.

Valiant62
Army Air Corps 659Sqn Agusta-Westland AW.159 Wildcat AH1 ZZ521 by Neil Brant, on Flickr

I hope that they are of interest and for anybody wishing to see more from HMS Heron, my Yeovilton FLICKR album can be viewed at - https://www.flickr.com/photos/25034864@ ... 3864154954

Neil

[macbear26]

Hi Neil,
Very nice sharp images, looks like you had a good few hours there. I think i will try my luck sometime in Feb.

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these, very interesting and the weather looked good as well. Let's hope there's an Air Day at some time.

[Mike Dodd]

Nice set, thanks for posting.

[Kevin Brewer]

Excellent images, pin sharp and some unusual angles. I particularly like the Hawk shots, thanks for posting.

[XWP29]

Great set particularly like the Eagles.

[Seacat192]

An excellent few hours for you!

Shame work prevented me from joining you.

Great selection of piccies, but I do like the underside view of the F-15.


Roger

[Richard E]

An excellent collection backed up by interesting and informative comments.

Can't believe that the Hawks are almost at the end of their service life: the Royal Navy's examples still have that "new out the box" look !

[SeaFuryFan]

Wow, what a great set ! Especially the 736 cabs

[josh sykes]

A excellent set , mint

[paddyboy]

Top set, Neil

Some cracking F15 shots in the mix

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[lmgaylard]

Lovely shots Neil. Hope all is well with you mate.