Helicopter Exercise starting 29 April

[Duke 83]

Identifies from a mixture of sightings and SBS the following arrived Monday 29th and are operating from/around Leeming.

Wildcats ZZ384, ZZ389, ZZ527
Pumas XW231/N, ZJ954/W
Chinooks ZA720, ZH902
Merlins ZJ990/AA, ZK001/AF

11 (eleven) helos are reported to have arrived on Monday, so this list is missing two!

and I don't know how long they are there for!

[Vulcanone]

29th April in the title perhaps

[Duke 83]

Would help. Edit made! Thank you.

[Graham]

Stopped at Leeming Thursday on the way back from Lakenheath confirmed the Merlins and Chinooks and Wildcat ZZ389, also noted 3 Puma's.Can anyone confirm this exercise is still on as they have been there 2 weeks and have not seen any reports of them departing. I only need ZZ527 so may get another chance this week!

[David Thompson]

Yes still on this week and a NOTAM here for some activity in the Catterick area ;

H1604/19: Exercises will take place
Q) EGTT/QWELW/IV/BO/W/000/040/5423N00147W003AIR EXER. MULTIPLE HEL WILL CONDUCT HIGH ENERGY MANOEUVRES IN
SUPPORT OF GROUND OPS WI 2.5NM RADIUS 542238N 0014710W (CATTERICK
BARRACKS, NORTH YORKSHIRE). PROFILES MAY INVOLVE DYNAMIC LATERAL AND
VERTICAL MANOEUVRING OF AIRCRAFT AT HIGH SPEED. ACFT MAY BE UNABLE TO
COMPLY WITH RAC. FOR FURTHER INFO AIC Y056/2017 REFERS. OPS CTC
0149182 7722. 2019-05-0029/AS3
LOWER: Surface, UPPER: 4,000 Feet AMSL
FROM: 14 May 2019 08:00 GMT (09:00 BST) TO: 19 May 2019 20:00 GMT (21:00 BST)
SCHEDULE: 0800-2000

[Graham]

Many thanks David

[wildcat1]

I think the Wildcats went home on Friday Graham as Marine 11-13

[David Thompson]

Chinook ZH892 SHF410
Puma XW213 SHF365
Wildcat ZZ393 VALIANT61
Wildcat ZZ385 VALIANT62 showing north passing Linton but three above are all at Leeming .

I also noted Chinook ZA714 SHF264 north near Leeds at 15:30 .

Two Ospreys KNIFE71 and 72 NW currently passing Linton but probably unrelated ?

[mattsutt]

Currently (Monday 17:45) there are the following at Leeming:-

Wildcats ZZ393 + ZZ385 (both poled off)
Pumas - XW213 (from David's post) & ZJ954 (poled off)
Chinooks ZA720, ZH902 (both only ID'd from SBS), ZH892 just arrived (from David's post) plus there are two parked on the visitors ramp (presumably ZA714 + 1 other) in front of the 100 sq hangar but no codes visible
Merlins ZJ990/AA + 1 (presumably ZK001/AF)

Two of the Chinooks (ZA720 + ZH892) the 2nd Merlin (presumed ZK001) the Puma and Wildcat ZZ393 all arrived in close company about 5 minutes ago - unfortunately I was at the wrong end so could only pole off the Wildcat

Single Wildcat ZZ385 arrived at 1730 & poled off

Single Puma ZJ954 arrived at 1745 & poled off

Chinook ZD981 arrived from Catterick as Airwolf 2 as well at 1750 and poled off - Chinook city!

Hopefully somebody else can tie up the other Chinook later?

Matt

[Evergreen 44]

One possible contender for another Chinook is ZH902 was operating out of Newcastle as Vortex 442 (displays as SHF442) around 5:30pm then went North near borders East coast around 6pm

[ARFA2]

Another Wildcat seen heading North over Wetherby recently...

[David Thompson]

Leeming busy tonight with Osprey and Merlin in circuit but limited Ops after 23:00 . Locals must have complained about the noise !

[David Thompson]

One possible contender for another Chinook is ZH902 was operating out of Newcastle as Vortex 442 (displays as SHF442) around 5:30pm then went North near borders East coast around 6pm

ZH902 up from Leeming tonight in Newcastle area as ONSLO1 .

[Graham]

I spent 8 hours at Leeming today hoping to see Wildcat ZZ527 not realising it had gone home Friday....very frustrating and being down by 9am wished I had checked this forum during the day to read they left Friday.
5 Chinooks noted today ZA677,ZD981 (from adsb),ZA720,ZH902,ZA714.
,

[Ross Forsyth]

1 of those chinooks about took the tiles of the roof of my house in the early hours up here in Edinburgh! Sounded like he may have landed at EDI,either continued or took a different route back south as never heard it again

[Evergreen 44]

Tuesday 19:00
Three Chinooks out on main ramp tonight plus two more on the disused
Two Merlins coded /AA + /AF (green c/s) and one Puma
ZJ954 Puma went South abeam Ripon around 5:30pm so this may be the other, XW213 (active Catterick Garrison 20:50)

[Evergreen 44]

Wednesday 19:00
5 Chinooks, ZH902 dep 19:10 to the West as SHF402
ZA720 over Patterdale as Onslaught 1 around 21:15 heading SW then South to Windermere
Both Merlins there /AA and /AF,
Two Wildcats one of which ZZ393 from earlier adsb plots, later op. North York's Moors 22:00 onwards a Pallas1
Second Wildcat ZZ384 from others photo
Puma ZJ957 (SHF302) came came North from London area as far as Leeds by late afternoon then South again. XW213 looked to be operating in the NW (Lancashire)

[mazdarod]

Viewing Enclosure.
Drove past the viewing enclosure at RAF Leeming at approx 1400hrs today on way back from Lakenheath.
Gates of viewing enclosure were shut with a car and motorcycle parked in the entrance from the main road.
Can any person give a reason for this?

[Evergreen 44]

Thursday 19:00
3x Chinook on the main ramp + 2x on the disused.
Both Merlins as previous, No Wildcats.

Possibly related to the Ex. another Chinook was operating from Catterick Garrison ZH892 Vortex 434 which headed West to the high ground around 19:24
This a/c has been noted at Leeming earlier in the week but not seen six reported on the deck together yet.

[hurri0000]

Noted this morning at 07.30 3 x Chinooks on 100 sq ramp and 3x Chinooks on the disused with 2 Merlins by the HAS's.

Regards

Mike