Lee on Solent - Stored ex AAC Defenders

[Dr Yan]

Thank you for the reply

I will call in next week to see what I can get

Regards

[acsmith117]

Popped in here today 15th and through the rain saw 8 islanders all outside.
7 including the Astor between the hangars and one on its own to the south of the hangars.
Identifying them is a nightmare but am I right in thinking that’s all of the ex Army ones they have here or is there a ninth throwing a spanner in the works?

Cheers

[ph2210]

Did the same as you but we noticed at the last minute a 9th over the other side of the runway parked in the line with some GA plus a Trilander. We could not possibly ID it but it was in the same colour scheme as the others, so who knows?

Cheers
PH

[Steve Spence]

From photos taken in the rain on Tuesday morning, six west of the Belmont(?) hangars (including G-DLRA the Astor), there was then one south of these and one northside outside H5. Can't identify any from photos.

As an aside, on the way off Gosport noted a Merlin heading for Fleetland or HMS Sultan, (ZH832?) if I remember correctly.

Regards

[tommc]

As an aside, on the way off Gosport noted a Merlin heading for Fleetland or HMS Sultan, (ZH832?) if I remember correctly.

Regards

Was this Merlin flying or being road transported, as you don't make that at all clear?

[davebasing47]

We also saw the Merlin on a truck but heading north on Gosport Road at the junction with the A27. We were unable to read it as it passed but Is ZH832 confirmed? I ask because ZH852 was/is at Sultan

[Arty]

We had to drive up onto the pavement as the Merlin on its low-loader passed us (starboard sponson about 2ft from the car!), heading south on Military Road towards the Caledonia Gate at HMS Sultan. I'm unsure as to whether it was entering or departing Sultan. It was definitely ZH852.

Robin

[davebasing47]

Many thanks Robin.

[Aerovision]

I live here and they are a nightmare! but can offer the following BWPO is outside H6, BWPV is outside Belman 3 on its own, BWPR, BWPX, CEIO, CEIP, CEIR plus 1 other ex AAC between B3/4 1 more is inside B3 alongside 254 Irish Garda.

Hi Lee / all,

Called in Wednesday 16th, following a boat trip round Stokes Bay. Lots of other spotters there.

Confirming one ex Army Islander on the east side, close to G-RLON Trislander. One on its own outside B3 and 7 between B3 & B4, 6 grey and G-DLRA in a different scheme and with a different shaped tail.

If they are still the same as Lee’s report on 3 November (bottom of page 2 on this thread) - a 64 million dollar assumption, but they all seem in exactly the sam locations as described by Lee - then the final unidentified one between B3 & B4 must be either G-CGVB / ZH005 or G-SURV / ZG995, with the final one assumed to be hangared.

Comments / suggestions please?

Assuming nothing has moved since Lee’s report

[acsmith117]

I live here and they are a nightmare! but can offer the following BWPO is outside H6, BWPV is outside Belman 3 on its own, BWPR, BWPX, CEIO, CEIP, CEIR plus 1 other ex AAC between B3/4 1 more is inside B3 alongside 254 Irish Garda.

Hi Lee / all,

Called in Wednesday 16th, following a boat trip round Stokes Bay. Lots of other spotters there.

Confirming one ex Army Islander on the east side, close to G-RLON Trislander. One on its own outside B3 and 7 between B3 & B4, 6 grey and G-DLRA in a different scheme and with a different shaped tail.

If they are still the same as Lee’s report on 3 November (bottom of page 2 on this thread) - a 64 million dollar assumption, but they all seem in exactly the sam locations as described by Lee - then the final unidentified one between B3 & B4 must be either G-CGVB / ZH005 or G-SURV / ZG995, with the final one assumed to be hangared.

Comments / suggestions please?

Assuming nothing has moved since Lee’s report

Having visited Tuesday and seeing how many tie downs are on each one and how tightly parked they are I'm tending to agree nothing has moved, at least between the hangars, since November 3rd and Lee's report.
I positively identified the Astor and G-CEIP (ZH002) and the only other I need is G-CEIO (ZH001) which was apparently also amongst the group of seven.

Hopefully Lee can confirm they all "appear" to be in the same place?

Cheers

Andy

[jpickers56]

We had to drive up onto the pavement as the Merlin on its low-loader passed us (starboard sponson about 2ft from the car!), heading south on Military Road towards the Caledonia Gate at HMS Sultan. I'm unsure as to whether it was entering or departing Sultan. It was definitely ZH852.

Robin

On heading back up the M3 yesterday morning we noted another roadunner Merlin heading south west towards Gosport area, have seen suggested this was ZH863 but cannot confirm as it past us in a flash and no chance to see the serial. Confirmation would be welcome if anyone else had seen. ZH863 was stored Boscombe I believe.

[SuperPole]

We had to drive up onto the pavement as the Merlin on its low-loader passed us (starboard sponson about 2ft from the car!), heading south on Military Road towards the Caledonia Gate at HMS Sultan. I'm unsure as to whether it was entering or departing Sultan. It was definitely ZH852.

Robin

On heading back up the M3 yesterday morning we noted another roadunner Merlin heading south west towards Gosport area, have seen suggested this was ZH863 but cannot confirm as it past us in a flash and no chance to see the serial. Confirmation would be welcome if anyone else had seen. ZH863 was stored Boscombe I believe.

We passed ZH863 on the Fareham Road at approx 11.30 yesterday in Gosport heading towards HMS Sultan. We had a good view of it as we were stationary at the time and it was travelling at about 20 mph on a low loader in the opposite direction.

[jpickers56]

We had to drive up onto the pavement as the Merlin on its low-loader passed us (starboard sponson about 2ft from the car!), heading south on Military Road towards the Caledonia Gate at HMS Sultan. I'm unsure as to whether it was entering or departing Sultan. It was definitely ZH852.

Robin

On heading back up the M3 yesterday morning we noted another roadunner Merlin heading south west towards Gosport area, have seen suggested this was ZH863 but cannot confirm as it past us in a flash and no chance to see the serial. Confirmation would be welcome if anyone else had seen. ZH863 was stored Boscombe I believe.

We passed ZH863 on the Fareham Road at approx 11.30 yesterday in Gosport heading towards HMS Sultan. We had a good view of it as we were stationary at the time and it was travelling at about 20 mph on a low loader in the opposite direction.

Many thanks for confirming

[twinstar]

Does anyone have decent photos of the Defenders outside at Lee on Solent this week? All the aircraft have slightly different presentations of the Zxxxx - ARMY on the fuselage, I've done a bit of research and beieve they are all identifiable from decent pics of the starboard side.

[Aerovision]

Does anyone have decent photos of the Defenders outside at Lee on Solent this week? All the aircraft have slightly different presentations of the Zxxxx - ARMY on the fuselage, I've done a bit of research and beieve they are all identifiable from decent pics of the starboard side.

My own photos at Lee were useless, as somehow selected a "special effect" on the camera. Not happy, but the majority of the earlier USN photos were fine, so that is the main thing. Sorry can't help!

[twinstar]

After analysing photos of the ones outside this week I have identified the following.

Running clockwise :-


G-DLRA ASTOR (marked with reg)

ZH001 - serial to left of roundel and rearmost tie down marking consists anchor and yellow dot.

ZG998 - serial to left of roundel, tie down marking consists of just anchor.

ZH005 - serial to right of roundel, the panel line of access panel / door disects the roundel, xH00x was readable under the paint. (ZG995 is only other one with roundel in same place.)

ZH002 - serial to right of roundel, panel line disects the AR and the MY, full serial read under paint and '2' showing on nose.

ZG997 - serial to right of ARMY lettering is almost fully on door panel, rescue markings on fuselage in bright red, painted out number on nose has flat top.

Zxxx - no clear picture of serial on furthest one so remains unidentified, either ZH003 or ZG995.

Ont the other side of the hangar the one that is on its own is ZG996, the panel lines directly disects the Y of ARMY, tie down markings consits of dot and anchor.

Hope this helps everyone,if anyone gets a look at the serial area of the unidentified one if the panel line disects the roundel it is ZG995, if it disects the ARM and the Y its ZH003!

Regards
Ton

[skippyscage]

After analysing photos of the ones outside this week I have identified the following.

Running clockwise :-


G-DLRA ASTOR (marked with reg)

ZH001 - serial to left of roundel and rearmost tie down marking consists anchor and yellow dot.

ZG998 - serial to left of roundel, tie down marking consists of just anchor.

ZH005 - serial to right of roundel, the panel line of access panel / door disects the roundel, xH00x was readable under the paint. (ZG995 is only other one with roundel in same place.)

ZH002 - serial to right of roundel, panel line disects the AR and the MY, full serial read under paint and '2' showing on nose.

ZG997 - serial to right of ARMY lettering is almost fully on door panel, rescue markings on fuselage in bright red, painted out number on nose has flat top.

Zxxx - no clear picture of serial on furthest one so remains unidentified, either ZH003 or ZG995.

Ont the other side of the hangar the one that is on its own is ZG996, the panel lines directly disects the Y of ARMY, tie down markings consits of dot and anchor.

Hope this helps everyone,if anyone gets a look at the serial area of the unidentified one if the panel line disects the roundel it is ZG995, if it disects the ARM and the Y its ZH003!

Regards
Ton

that is proper sleuthing - the only way

[jrmrsdal]

After analysing photos of the ones outside this week I have identified the following.

Running clockwise :-


G-DLRA ASTOR (marked with reg)

ZH001 - serial to left of roundel and rearmost tie down marking consists anchor and yellow dot.

ZG998 - serial to left of roundel, tie down marking consists of just anchor.

ZH005 - serial to right of roundel, the panel line of access panel / door disects the roundel, xH00x was readable under the paint. (ZG995 is only other one with roundel in same place.)

ZH002 - serial to right of roundel, panel line disects the AR and the MY, full serial read under paint and '2' showing on nose.

ZG997 - serial to right of ARMY lettering is almost fully on door panel, rescue markings on fuselage in bright red, painted out number on nose has flat top.

Zxxx - no clear picture of serial on furthest one so remains unidentified, either ZH003 or ZG995.

Ont the other side of the hangar the one that is on its own is ZG996, the panel lines directly disects the Y of ARMY, tie down markings consits of dot and anchor.

Hope this helps everyone,if anyone gets a look at the serial area of the unidentified one if the panel line disects the roundel it is ZG995, if it disects the ARM and the Y its ZH003!

Regards
Ton

Uhmmm, that's counter clockwise

[Aerovision]

jrmrsdal I think that it is clockwise if you were by the block of garages, or you walked down the left side of the green to the fence. If viewed from the road past the control tower it would then be counter clockwise.

twinstar this is really helpful, but one is missing from your list. I think that this is the one outside on the other side of the airfield, next to G-RLON Trislander, outside of hangars 5/6. This one had been quoted elsewhere as ZG997, which you place as one of the six between Belman 3 & 4. However, I note that you make no mention of ZH004 in your post?

Can anyone confirm which one was across the airfield from the other 7 (8 if inc G-DLRA) please?

[acsmith117]

I haven't seen the one one the other side quoted as ZG997?

It was reported on MSF as ZH004 and should be easily identified as its a different version and does not, as far as I am aware, have the RWR suite scabbed on. Or a FLIR turret?