XXV (F) Sqn. F3 Display jets & Anniversary schemes

[F3]

The reformation of a squadron is always good news especially so when it is one with which one has a connection. Having been a spotter @ Leeming for many years during the nineties and noughties I feel a special affinity with all three squadrons that comprised the F3 wing but particularly XXV (F) Sqn. which was the last of the trio to disband in '08. Therefore to celebrate the recent announcement of its reformation on the Hawk T2 @ Valley later this year here is a collection of images of its Anniversary & Display F3s. It had the distinction of being the only squadron, apart from the OCU (65/56 Reserve Sqns.) to be given the honour of displaying the type during two periods (91/92 & 97/98), one particular jet ZE737/FF featuring in each of them.

XXV - ZE838 75 Ann mks '90 (1) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE210 FB '91 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE737 FF '91 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE339 '91 display ship by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE167 '91 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE907 FM '97 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE737 FF Dirty pass '97 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE737 Burners in '97 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE737 FF Fast + Low '97 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE737 FF '97 Display ship by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE162 FK '97 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZK '97 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZE165 ZK '98 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

XXV - ZG780 90 Ann sch Ex Wycombe Warrior 06 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

[nightwatch]

Thanks for posting !! It's not the Tonka people are familiar with today. Excellent.We didn't have digital. ... The Phantoms were good before.

[Punkrunner62]

Once again, another very fine post.
Cheers.

[Unknown74]

Pardon me for asking but where was the picture of ZE167 in the DIsplay Scheme taken? Just wondering wether it was Duxford or somewhere as the only places I saw it was Duxford and Fairford in 1991. Although I know it was at more shows than those. Would also like to know wether it displayed at Leuchars that year? I was there also but can't remember seeing it.

[jaybee]

Good work Mick, keeping the past present is the way forward , in showing the now thin blue line and its machines of yore. If I find any 25 Sqn., slides /stuff
do you mind me tagging them on..

[paddyboy]

Hi Michael

Yet more great memories there

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[steved]

Great to see these pictures of a squadron I don't have any pictures of. Thanks.

[F3]

Pardon me for asking but where was the picture of ZE167 in the DIsplay Scheme taken? Just wondering wether it was Duxford or somewhere as the only places I saw it was Duxford and Fairford in 1991. Although I know it was at more shows than those. Would also like to know wether it displayed at Leuchars that year? I was there also but can't remember seeing it.

Duxford. Did nt bother with serials back there, so never actually twigged that there were two painted display jets until years later. Sorry, but can't answer re - Leuchars, but am sure someone out there will know the answer.

[F3]

Good work Mick, keeping the past present is the way forward , in showing the now thin blue line and its machines of yore. If I find any 25 Sqn., slides /stuff
do you mind me tagging them on..

Be my guest John. The more the merrier. Good days @ Leeming back then.

[jaybee]

Cheers Mick, will have a look through my highly sophisticated filing system(Shoebox with a pile of slides ,chucked in!)...JB

[slogen51]

Great stuff

Wish i had taken more photos back in the day.

I think I saw all but four of the F3 'Land Sharks'. One I missed was ZH558 which very sadly crashed.

[reheat module]

Certainly a very slick beast !

[F3]

Cheers Mick, will have a look through my highly sophisticated filing system(Shoebox with a pile of slides ,cucked in!)...JB

That's real Hi- tech John. I keep mine in a hole in the road!

[jaybee]

Cheers Mick, will have a look through my highly sophisticated filing system(Shoebox with a pile of slides ,cucked in!)...JB

That's real Hi- tech John. I keep mine in a hole in the road!

Ee by gum, we used the cardboard for sandwiches Mick, wen it were nur gud!!(Touch of the old Monty Pythons, creepin in there Mick )

[Unknown74]

Cheers for that F3.

[jaybee]

Hi Mick ...Three shots for now. The pair were seen at one of the Church Fenton shows and, the other two from Leeming.One from the old guard house near the Londonderry crash-gate and the other on a
site visit...

135 by John Bilcliffe, on Flickr

133 by John Bilcliffe, on Flickr

134 by John Bilcliffe, on Flickr

[F3]

Loving that last one. Stands out well against that dark sky. Strangely don't recall seeing ever seeing that display ship @ Fenton. Will have to check my old progs. Re - yr questions on the other thread. There was an attempt to resurrect the Yorks Airshow @ Fenton 3 yrs ago but organisation was chaotic - no traffic management, not enough toilets or catering facilities. One of the Vulcan's last appearances + no military participants so that was the end of it. Shame because well attended and showed that there is a ready market for a show in God's own! Last Elvington show in '07 was a bit if a washout and I think the organisers caught a cold.

[jaybee]

Hi Mick...I checked out the dates and programmes and got this for 1994(re F3 pair at C/Fenton|)... http://www.rafchurchfenton.org.uk/flyin ... %20WEB.pdf

[F3]

Hi Mick...I checked out the dates and programmes and got this for 1994(re F3 pair at C/Fenton|)... http://www.rafchurchfenton.org.uk/flyin ... %20WEB.pdf

Something wrong there John as XXV did nt provide the F3 display in '94. They did in '91 + '92 but there was no F3 in the flying programme for those yrs. Whilst there may have been in '94 it would definitely have been a 56 Sqn. jet. Can only suggest that the pic was taken somewhere else. Altho' there is v. little background on which to go, I must say that it does nt look like Fenton to me.

[jaybee]

Yes, I think my memory of this slide seems to have lapsed, and am now uncertain myself .I know I have got another pair of F3s from a show at Fenton or somewhere else, and I think this will
confirm the location. So will knock it up ASAP, after a search party is sent out to look for it...watch this space as they say Mick...

148 by John Bilcliffe, on Flickr

ZE941 25 sqn...Check the next page to reveal the exact location, given away in the Wessex shot!