Agusta A129 at Leeming?

[fatherfaff]

A C-130 brought in a dismantled Agusta A129(?) to Leeming today - anyone know what's going on with that?

[Dave Smith]

To whom did the Herc belong?

[mdobuk21]

Italian Airforce

[SamP]

Italian Air Force C-130J-30 MM62191/46-57 visited today as IAM4668 from Pisa where it has returned this evening.

An Italian Army Do228, MM62156, arrived on the 26th and nightstopped as IEI2803.

Looks like preparation for an exercise if a single Mangusta has been delivered today.

[Graham]

This is all very strange,2 Italian Army aircraft have recently visited Newcastle to,anyone any photo's of today's cargo?
The Mangusta replacement AW249 recently flew,maybe way off the mark here, but could it be that for trials, looks little different to the original Magusta from a distance.?

[Evergreen 44]

Might be for gunnery trials. Plenty of ranges to use which offer various conditions to test mixed weapons loads.
It will be interesting to see where they visit and the loads carried. Hopefully plenty of pic.'s will assist

[fatherfaff]

Or Spadeadam?

[Mike]

The Leeming FB group have confirmed the A129 to be coded E.I.937, which should be MM81407.

[Wariat69]

81407 is confirmed via mk1 eyeball & Swarovski