Lee-on-Solent Air Day's 1980 & 1981

[neil t]

Hi All,

Does anyone have a list of participants for the above air shows please.

I have looked on the Scramble air display site but 1980 is incomplete and nothing available for 1981.

MTIA

Neil

[Cessna954]

British Aviation Review AU283-284 has the following comprehensive report.

RNAS LEE-ON-SOLENT AIR DAY 19.7.80
Static Display: A2526/WV911 'C/115 1 Sea Hawk FGA.4 in 801 Sqdn markings, A2654/XN302 Whirlwind HAS.7 AES Lee-on-Solent, A2669/XP149 'CU/574' Wessex HAS.1, A2670/XS128 'P0/427' Wessex HAS.1 and A2685/XS886 'CU/527' Wessex HAS.I in ex-771 Sqdn marks, all belonging to AES Lee- on- Solent, M- 439 Alouette 111 Esk 722 RDN and two interesting aircraft from MFG-5, 59+24 Do28D- 2 c/n 4799 accompanied by 89+52 Sea King Mk.41 c/n WA . 756.

Flying Display: Conditions were far from ideal and several items on the programme were subsequently cancelled. The f ol lowing , however, did appear and starting with the helicopter contingent XS749 'P0/661' Wessex HAS.3 737 Sqdn, four Wessex HU.S's from 781 Sqdn XT487 'Navair 8 75', XT772 'Navair 877 ' , XS523 ' LS/810' and XS496 ' - /813', the last two being used by the local SAR Flt. 846 Sqdn mustered a single Sea King HC.4 ZA290 'B/VC', plus a quartet of Wessex HU.S's XT473 uncoded, XS493 ' B/ VE', XS5 13 '-/VP' and XT467 'B/VR'. Sea King HAS.2A XV647 'N/360' i s certainly proving a popular show member for 820 Sqdn, as is Wasp HAS.1 XT421 'EU/433' of Euryalis Flt 829 Sqdn. HQ Flt 702 Sqdn sent Lynx HAS.2 XZ696 '-/744' (ex-'-/751 ' ) with the modi fi ed Sea Skua nose profile, and the helicopter participants were rounded off by the 'Sharks ' from 705 Sqdn using XW860 ' CU/(5)44 •, XW890 ' CU/(5)53' XW857 ' CU/(5)55' and XX391 'CU/(5)56' all Gazel l e HT.2's . The HN display ai r c r aft were compl eted by Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ455 'VL/1 02 ' of 899 Sqdn , XR445 'Navair 825' Heron C.1 from 781 Sqdn and the CU/HFlt Sea Hawk FGA.6 WV908 'A / 188' . The BofB Memorial Flt supplied LF363/GN - F Hurricane 2 C in 249 Sqdn markings, PS853 Spitfire PR.19 and PA474/AJ-G Lancaster B.1 in the marks o f 677 Sqdn . CFS brought along their Vintage Pair, Meteor T.7 WF791 and Va mpire T.11 XH304, and the really heavy metal arrived in the delta shape of XL360 Vulcan B.2 of 35 Sqdn, the A- 26C 322612/B 'Double Trouble ' and B-17G 485784 'Sally B'. The 'Red Arrows' found the low cloud not to their liking, but FRADU's 'Blue Herons' coped with the poor weath e r conditions, believed with WT804 'VL/831', WW6 54 '83 3 ' , I/T806 ' 838 ' and XF368 '863' all Hunter GA. 11 's .

AES Hangar Display: NF389 'SB' Swordfish 2, XS888 '-/521' Wessex HAS.1 g iving the usual SAR display, and two Drones from the FTG, Shelduck D.1 XZ760 and a Chukar D.2 ZA911. Arranged outside this hangar were three Whirlwind HAS.7's, all of the resident AES, A2605/XN308 'P0/51 0 ', A2625/ XL846 ' - /(6)85' and A2626/XL847 '-/(6 )83 '.

' Overlord' NATU Hangar: A2629/XM667 Whirlwind HAS.? AES, XS127 Wessex HAS . 3, two Wessex HU.S's XS483 and XT757 and a brace of Sea King HAS.2A's XV696 possibly coded 1 65 1 and XV713 'B/-67'. Lynx HAS.2 XZ720 (ex - NASU Yeovil ton) was also present.

781 Sqdn Hangar: WK635 'LS / -' Chipmunk T.10 with a 781 Sqdn badge painted on it's fin, which in light of this month's Editorial remarks concerning the reformation of the HNR Air Branch is a welcome development. Sea Devon C. 20 's XJ350 'Navair 820' and XJ348 'Navair 828 1 resided, whilst ou t side stood XJ324 'Navair 824', XJ347 'Navair 827', XJ322 'Nava ir 829' and a trio of Heron C.1 ' s XR442 'Navair 822 ', XR443 'Navair 823' and XR445 'Navair 825 '.

On the airfield was SH .N6 Mk6 (P238) devoid of serial XV859 but still coded EX. BH? \·lellington (P235) devoid of old code RW and serial XW255 was seen outside the
NHTU hangars.

Gazelle HT.2 XW886 ' CU/(5)48• was the 'spare' aircraft for the ' Sharks '.


British Aviation Review S366 has the following report for 1981.

RNAS LEE-ON-SOLENT Air-day 18.7.81
(A2669)/XP149 'CU/574', (A2670)/XS128 'P0/437', (A2680)/XP157, (A2683)/XS878, (A2684)/XP151 'R/047', (A2685)/XS886 'CU/527', (A2686)/XS873 'CU/525', (A2692)/XH917 'CU/528', (A2693)/XH843 'CU/527', (A2695)/ XS876 '-/523', (A2696l/XS882 'CU/524' and (A2697l/XS870 'PO/-' all Wessex HAS.1s outside due to hangar repainting. (7891Ml/XH693 Gnat T.1 RAF Exhibitior, Flt.

Static: A2646/XK988 'D' Whirlwind HAR.10, A2615/XT256 1-/essex HAS.3, (A2694l/XS865'CU/529' Wessex HAS.1 and (A2699)/XS570 '-P/-' Wasp HAS.1 all of the SAH. NF389 '5B' Swordfish III and WV911 'C/115' Sea Hawk FGA.6 of Lee-on-Solent Stn. Flt. XZ451 'VL/100' Sea Harrier FRS.1 899 Sqdn; 30 Alize Aeronavale/4F. Flight Lines/Static: XZ494 'VL/106' Sea Harrier FRS.1 899 Sqdn; ZA292 '-/VH' S.King
HC.4 846 Sqdn; XT767 'LS/811' and XS496 'LS/813' \lessex HU.5's Solent SAR Flt; XS518 '-/616' Wessex HU.5 772 Sqdn • .E.!.Y.!.!:!s.: XV177 Hercules C.1 LTW; WF791 Meteor T.7 and XH304 Vampire T.11 both from the "Vintage Pair"; XH837 'GL/400' Wessex HAS.3 Glamorgan Flt; XT784 1 600' Wasp HAS.1 829 Sqdn HQ Flt; LF363 'GN-F' Hurricane, P7350 Spitfire and PA474 'AJ-G' Lancaster all of BoB Flt; X\1864 'CU/(5)54', XW891 'CU/(5)49', X\-1868 'CU/(5)50', XW907 'CU/(5)40' and XW857 'CU/(5)55' Gazelle HT.2's 705 Sqdn "Sharks"; XZ723 '-/753' Lynx HAS.2 815 Sqdn; XL425 Vulcan B.2 617 Sqdn (all over came) and the RNHF who brought WV908 'A/188• Sea Hawk FGA.6, LS326 '5A' Swordfish II, \-1B271 'R/204' Firefly and the Sea Fury FB.11 TF956 'T/123'. NHTU P-234 VT.2, P-235 BH.7 mk 4, and P-238 SRN.6 mk 6.

[Mike]

Thanks for posting the BAR reports, Cessna954, such a shame about some of the typos amongst the serials though.

[Cessna954]

such a shame about some of the typos amongst the serials though

It was a straight cut and paste I'm afraid, so 'original' typos included.

All the best

[Mike]

I know it's not your fault, I'm just surprised that no-one at BAR has ever corrected them!

[JAWS]

I know it's not your fault, I'm just surprised that no-one at BAR has ever corrected them!

They are mostly correct in BAR/BARG, the issue arises with the copying and pasting, some characters get corrupted and replaced with other characters. If you are going to copy and paste from Pdf's of old magazines you have to check that everything carried across correctly, it is not an exact science.

[Mike]

That explains it nicely Jaws, what do Wessex serials XS749, XH917 & XH843 show as on the BARG Pdf's?

[Yammer]

I'd suggest that X"H"917 and X"H"843 are in reality Wessex XM917 and XM843 both with AES at L.o.S.

[JAWS]

XS149
XM917
XM843

[JAWS]

Here's everything tidied up and hopefully all mistakes corrected

British Aviation Review AU283-284 has the following comprehensive report.

RNAS LEE-ON-SOLENT AIR DAY 19.7.80

Static Display:

A2526/WV911 'C/115 Sea Hawk FGA.4 801 Sqdn markings
A2654/XN302 Whirlwind HAS.7 AES Lee-on-Solent
A2669/XP149 'CU/574' Wessex HAS.1
A2670/XS128 'P0/427' Wessex HAS.1
A2685/XS886 'CU/527' Wessex HAS.I in ex-771 Sqdn marks all belonging to AES Lee- on- Solent
M-439 Alouette 111 Esk 722 RDN
59+24 Do28D- 2 c/n 4799
89+52 Sea King Mk.41 c/n WA .756

Flying Display:

XS149 'P0/661' Wessex HAS.3 737 Sqdn
XT487 'Navair 8 75' Wessex HU.5. 781 Sqdn
XT772 'Navair 877 ' Wessex HU.5. 781 Sqdn
XS523 ' LS/810' Wessex HU.5. 781 Sqdn SAR Flt
XS496 ' - /813' Wessex HU.5. 781 Sqdn SAR Flt
ZA290 'B/VC' Sea King HC.4 846 Sqdn
XT473 uncoded Wessex HU.5 846 Sqdn
XS493 ' B/VE' Wessex HU.5 846 Sqdn
XS513 '-/VP' Wessex HU.5 846 Sqdn
XT467 'B/VR' Wessex HU.5 846 Sqdn
XV647 'N/360' Sea King HAS.2A 820 Sqdn
XT421 'EU/433' Wasp HAS.1 Euryalis Flt 829 Sqdn
XZ696 '-/744' (ex-'-/751') Lynx HAS.2 HQ Flt 702 Sqdn modified Sea Skua nose profile
XW860 ' CU/(5)44 Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqdn 'The Sharks'
XW890 ' CU/(5)53' Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqdn 'The Sharks'
XW857 ' CU/(5)55' Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqdn 'The Sharks'
XX391 'CU/(5)56' Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqdn 'The Sharks'
XZ455 'VL/102 ' Sea Harrier FRS.1 899 Sqdn
XR445 'Navair 825' Heron C.1 781 Sqdn
WV908 'A /188' Sea Hawk FGA.6 CU/HFlt
LF363/GN-F Hurricane 2C BobMF 249 Sqdn markings
PS853 Spitfire PR.19 BobMF 617 Sqdn markings
PA474/AJ-G Lancaster B.1 BobMF 617 Sqdn markings
WF791 Meteor T.7 CFS Vintage Pair
XH304 Vampire T.11 CFS Vintage Pair
XL360 Vulcan B.2 of 35 Sqdn
N3710G/322612/B A- 26C 'Double Trouble '
G-BEDF/485784 B-17G'Sally B'
WT804 'VL/831' Hunter GA.11 FRADU 'Blue Herons'
WW654 '833 ' Hunter GA.11 FRADU 'Blue Herons'
WT806 ' 838 ' Hunter GA.11 FRADU 'Blue Herons'
XF368 '863' Hunter GA.11 FRADU 'Blue Herons'

AES Hangar Display:

NF389 '5B' Swordfish 2
XS888 '-/521' Wessex HAS.1 giving the usual SAR display
XZ760 Shelduck D.1 FTG
ZA911 Chukar D.2 FTG

Outside AES Hangar

A2605/XN308 'P0/510 ' Whirlwind HAS.7 AES
A2625/XL846' - /(6)85' Whirlwind HAS.7 AES
A2626/XL847 '-/(6 )83 ' Whirlwind HAS.7 AES

' Overlord' NATU Hangar:

A2629/XM667 Whirlwind HAS.7 AES
XS127 Wessex HAS.3
XS483 Wessex HU.5
XT757 Wessex HU.5
XV696 Sea King HAS.2A
XV713 'B/-67' Sea King HAS.2A
XZ720 Lynx HAS.2 (ex - NASU Yeovilton)

781 Sqdn Hangar:

WK635 'LS/ -' Chipmunk T.10 781 Sqdn
XJ350 'Navair 820' Sea Devon C. 20 781 Sqdn
XJ348 'Navair 828' Sea Devon C. 20 781 Sqdn

Outside 781 Sqdn Hangar

XJ324 'Navair 824' Sea Devon C. 20 781 Sqdn
XJ347 'Navair 827' Sea Devon C. 20 781 Sqdn
XJ322 'Navair 829' Sea Devon C. 20 781 Sqdn
XR442 'Navair 822 ' Heron C.1 781 Sqdn
XR443 'Navair 823' Heron C.1 781 Sqdn
XR445 'Navair 825 ' Heron C.1 781 Sqdn

On the airfield

SR.N6 Mk6 (P238) devoid of serial XV859 but still coded EX.
BH7 Wellington (P235) devoid of old code RW and serial XW255 was seen outside the NHTU hangars
XW886 'CU/(5)48 Gazelle HT.2 was the 'spare' aircraft for the ' Sharks '


British Aviation Review S366 has the following report for 1981.

RNAS LEE-ON-SOLENT Air-day 18.7.81

Outside Hangar (Being Repainted)

(A2669)/XP149 'CU/574' Wessex HAS.1
(A2670)/XS128 'PO/437' Wessex HAS.1
(A2680)/XP157 Wessex HAS.1
(A2683)/XS878 Wessex HAS.1
(A2684)/XP151 'R/047' Wessex HAS.1
(A2685)/XS886 'CU/527' Wessex HAS.1
(A2686)/XS873 'CU/525' Wessex HAS.1
(A2692)/XM917 'CU/528' Wessex HAS.1
(A2693)/XM843 'CU/527' Wessex HAS.1
(A2695)/XS876 '-/523' Wessex HAS.1
(A2696)/XS882 'CU/524' Wessex HAS.1
(A2697)/XS870 'PO/-' Wessex HAS.1

(7891M)/XM693 Gnat T.1 RAF Exhibition Flt

Static:

A2646/XK988 'D' Whirlwind HAR.10 SAH
A2615/XT256 Wessex HAS.3 SAH
(A2694)/XS865 'CU/529' Wessex HAS.1 SAH
(A2699)/XS570 '-P/-' Wasp HAS.1 SAH
NF389 '5B' Swordfish III
WV911 'C/115' Sea Hawk FGA.6 Lee-on-Solent Stn. Flt
XZ451 'VL/100' Sea Harrier FRS.1 899 Sqdn
30 Alize Aeronavale/4F

Flight Lines/Static:

XZ494 'VL/106' Sea Harrier FRS.1 899 Sqdn
ZA292 '-/VH' Sea King HC.4 846 Sqdn
XT767 'LS/811' Wessex HU.5 Solent SAR Flt
XS496 'LS/813' Wessex HU.5 Solent SAR Flt
XS518 '-/616' Wessex HU.5 772 Sqdn

Flying;

XV177 Hercules C.1 LTW
WF791 Meteor T.7 CFS "Vintage Pair"
XH304 Vampire T.11 CFS "Vintage Pair"
XM837 'GL/400' Wessex HAS.3 Glamorgan Flt
XT784 '600' Wasp HAS.1 829 Sqdn HQ Flt
LF363 'GN-F' Hurricane BoB Flt
P7350 Spitfire BoB Flt
PA474 'AJ-G' Lancaster BoB Flt
XW864 'CU/(5)54' Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqdn "Sharks"
XW891 'CU/(5)49' Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqdn "Sharks"
XW868 'CU/(5)50' Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqdn "Sharks"
XW907 'CU/(5)40' Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqdn "Sharks"
XW857 'CU/(5)55' Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqdn "Sharks"
XZ723 '-/753' Lynx HAS.2 815 Sqdn
XL425 Vulcan B.2 617 Sqdn (all over camo)
WV908 'A/188 Sea Hawk FGA.6 RNHF
LS326 '5A' Swordfish II RNHF
WB271 'R/204' Firefly RNHF
TF956 'T/123' Sea Fury FB.11 RNHF

NHTU

P-234 VT.2
P-235 BH.7 mk 4
P-238 SRN.6 mk 6

[neil t]

Many Thanks JAWS.

I can finally update my logs after all those years!!

Neil

[Cessna954]

If you are going to copy and paste from Pdf's of old magazines you have to check that everything carried across correctly, it is not an exact science

Thanks for that explanation, it must be something to do with the old typewriter font used and subsequently converted to PDF.

All the best

[JAWS]

SEAR August 1980 have the following addition

Hangar J

XS491 LS-12 Wessex HU.5 781 Sqdn SAR Flt

and SEAR August 1981 has the following additions

Static:

XS150/CU03 Wessex HAS.1
XS865/529 Wessex HAS.1
XT487/LS815 Wessex HU.5 L-on-S SAR Fit
XK943/57 Whirlwind HAS.7
XN261/61 Whirlwind HAS.7
XP331/T Whirlwind HAR.10 (ex Upavon)
XR457 Whirlwind HAR.10 (ex Upavon)
XW859/CU55 Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqn

Hangar:

XS888/521 Wessex HAS.1