809 NAS reformed

[Finty]

Thought this was breaking news as it had only appeared an hour ago on forces TV on Youtube, but actually it was 3 days ago. Makes a change seeing an F-35 with coloured markings, looking forward to seeing it in LFA7!

The UK has stood up its second frontline squadron to operate the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II: the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) 809 NAS.

Formally established on 8 December at the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) Marham base in Norfolk, the unit follows the RAF’s 617 Sqn in fielding the short take-off and vertical landing type.

Royal Navy’s 809 NAS is the UK’s second frontline unit now flying the F-35B

Nicknamed ‘The Immortals’, the Fleet Air Arm’s 809 NAS returns after a gap of more than 40 years, having been disbanded in late 1982, following its participation in the Falklands War. It was at that time equipped with British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS1 carrier-borne fighters, and before that the Blackburn Buccaneer.

“The latest re-incarnation of ‘Phoenix Squadron’ will see this joint service approach deliver a world-leading fifth-generation combat air capability, deployable from both land and sea,” says 809 NAS commanding officer Commander Nick Smith.

“When the RAF and RN operate together, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” notes the RAF’s Air & Space Commander, Air Marshal Harvey Smyth. “When equipped with the Lightning, it makes for an unbeatable combination for the Combat Air Force.”

F-35Bs are also employed by the RAF’s 207 Sqn operational conversion unit and 17 Test and Evaluation Sqn. Cirium fleets data shows that the UK has 32 of the type in active service, with another two on order and a lone example having been written off in an accident at sea. It also has options on up to another 103 F-35s.

Fleet Air Arm unit is nicknamed ‘The Immortals’

“Whether operating from its main base at RAF Marham, deployed operating bases, or embarked on the [RN’s] Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, the F-35 continues to deliver a cutting-edge 21st Century expeditionary capability for the UK and its allies from both land and sea,” Lockheed says.

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/uk ... 56.article

[FlyingFairy]

Already discussed here: viewtopic.php?f=51&t=239113

MODs you may wish to merge threads?

[The wrong stuff]

Wow thats different from the standard recent 35s .perhaps most of the squadron will have a more subdued version…. Yes hope to see them in mach land

[POL]

Wow thats different from the standard recent 35s .perhaps most of the squadron will have a more subdued version…. Yes hope to see them in mach land

They won't. They'll have the same lightning as the rest of the fleet, that's the point of a single pooled fleet.

[Mike]

Already discussed here: viewtopic.php?f=51&t=239113

MODs you may wish to merge threads?

And here :- viewtopic.php?f=51&t=228047&p=1559582#p1559582

[F3]

Interesting. I remember them when they operated the Buccaneer. Also were the subject of a great book by Rowland White; 'Phoenix Squadron' which I can thoroughly recommend.

[Blackcat1]

Ok here we go. Who remembers callsigns used by 809 Squadron? I guess Immortal is one if them?

[roughcutter]

Ok here we go. Who remembers callsigns used by 809 Squadron? I guess Immortal is one if them?

Just a wild guess;
If you have a copy of the video 'Sailor' from the 1970's, you might be able to glean a few callsigns from the flying footage? Image comes to mind of a Bucc 'bolting' many times on the Ark.

[Blackcat1]

Ok here we go. Who remembers callsigns used by 809 Squadron? I guess Immortal is one if them?

Just a wild guess;
If you have a copy of the video 'Sailor' from the 1970's, you might be able to glean a few callsigns from the flying footage? Image comes to mind of a Bucc 'bolting' many times on the Ark.

Sadly no. Maybe it's on YouTube? Thanks for that, will take a look.

[RubyRoo]

Ok here we go. Who remembers callsigns used by 809 Squadron? I guess Immortal is one if them?

Just a wild guess;
If you have a copy of the video 'Sailor' from the 1970's, you might be able to glean a few callsigns from the flying footage? Image comes to mind of a Bucc 'bolting' many times on the Ark.

Sadly no. Maybe it's on YouTube? Thanks for that, will take a look.

It most definitely is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv8prm4mGEQ&t=370s

[Blackcat1]

Brilliant! Thanks! Will take a look later

[elderforest]

Think 809 used Black, Trident and Pheonix.