Benson

[IanM]

Further to my post on 18/11 re Tutors G-CGKD & 'KG operating out of Benson, I notice that ADSB also shows 'KN flying around the area today. With the impending loss of some of the Tutors in the near future I wonder whether there is some redistribution of the fleet going on?

Ian

[POL]

The loss has already started, Ian - the first one arrived in Finland recently.

[IanM]

Only 23 more deliveries to go then! I wonder whether we'll retain the G-CG** registered examples as I believe these are the lower houred examples?

Ian

[roger4]

Ian,

Certainly looks like it. G-CGKP has also just arrived in the last few minutes (callsign Cranwell 59). G-BYXY departed this morning to Cranwell (also as Cranwell 59). I assume the callsigns are allocated to the pilot?

G-CGKD, KG and KN have been using a mixture of OAS10 and various "Nickel" callsigns in the last couple of days, which I believe are Oxford UAS's.

With a Wildcat, two Apaches, 2 Squirrels and a Griffin today, as well as the locals, it has been one of the busiest days at Benson I can remember. Five on approach at one point, two of which had to go-around!

Roger

[phantom23]

Does anyone know which one has been delivered to Finland and which ones are allocated to go?

Thanks in advance

[IanM]

Tutor T1s seen operating in the local area (albeit on ADS-B) recently have been:

G-BYXL*
G-CGKD*
G-CGKG*
G-CGKH*
G-CGKN*
G-CGKP

I assume these are based now - can anyone confirm? I guess 'XL may also be replaced at some point.

Those marked * are flying today.

Ian

[IanM]

Does anyone know which one has been delivered to Finland and which ones are allocated to go?

Thanks in advance

According to the WAG updates section G-CGKA is one aircraft that has been sold to Finland.

Ian

[RS2]

G-CGKN did a practice divert into Halfpenny Green today from Benson on a Nickel callsign. HTH

[roger4]

And we can probably add G-CGKT which arrived at Benson today ......

Roger

[roger4]

Further update after a bit of digging on the 'net....

The first two Grob 120TP, G-MFTS and G-MEFT (which are due to become ZM300 and ZM301) were delivered to Cranwell on 15th November. There are a total of 23 due over the next year or so to provide the training fleets at Cranwell and Barkston Heath. This of course releases their G115E fleets.

According to their press release, Babcock have sold 28 G115E to Finland, and indeed G-CGKA was de-registered by the CAA as "sold to Finland" (CAA G-INFO website) on 30th November. There are only 23 aircraft in the G-CGK* series, which I think all have glass cockpits unlike the G-BY** aircraft, so Finland must be getting some of the older batch of aircraft as well. Finland has stated that it will upgrade the cockpits to a more modern standard, so as pure speculation perhaps 'KA is only a pattern aircraft for the upgrade and the other 27 for Finland will be older aircraft? We will probably only find out as and when aircraft are de-registered by the CAA.

But for now, I am happy to see some rotation of aircraft after so many years of the same aircraft at Benson!

Roger

[IanM]

Roger,

I know that long-term resident G-BYXL was flying out of Benson over the weekend. Do you know whether this has departed the unit now?

Interestingly it also appears that some of the G-CG** examples came from Birmingham UAS at Cosford and G-BYWD (at least) departed to Cosford so some straight swapping has occured.

Ian

[roger4]

Ian,

Like you I last noted 'XL on Saturday, but I didn't have ADSB on on Sunday, they didn't fly yesterday and they won't be flying today in the fog.

I think we will just have to note what we observe over the next days and weeks (I am close enough to Benson for Mark 1 eyeball spotting, to confirm ADSB) in order to complete the picture. It would be nice if the rotations now continued reasonably frequently and most of the G-CG** batch were seen here!

Roger

[Wrightc41]

Hi

Grobs GBYXL,GCGKG/N/T are all flying this afternoon from Benson (7/12) if it helps.

Colin

[IanM]

I agree - a regular rotation of Tutors would be good! Bring back the Summer Camps!

I noticed 'XL today on ADSB so it is still based at Benson, 'KD was also around today.

Ian

[roger4]

And 'KH was also flying today, making 6 in total. All six were using "UAO" or "Nickel" call-signs.

I will try to pop over to Benson tomorrow or Friday (assuming they are flying) to see if any are carrying the Oxford UAS badge yet.

Roger

[roger4]

Both G-BYUJ and 'XL flying today with UAO or Nickel callsigns, to go with G-CGKD, KG and KT.

Roger

[IanM]

I also saw 'UJ today. I wonder whether their complement of aircraft has increased or if the current number is only temporary?

Ian

[roger4]

In the last 7 days, the following Grob 115E Tutors have been seen using either "UAO" or "Nickel" call-signs:

G-BYUJ, G-BYXL, G-CGKD, G-CGKG, G-CGKH, G-CGKN And G-CGKT.

Seven aircraft is about Oxford UAS's normal complement, so I don't think there is anything unusual about the number of aircraft here or the amount of flying.

Note that G-CGKP was only observed 30th November and 1st December (both days using Nickel call-signs) and has not been seen since.

I still hope to get to Benson on a flying day to see which if any are carrying Oxford's crest.

Roger

[roger4]

As an update to my speculation last week that Grob 115E G-CGKA may be a pattern aircraft and the other 27 going to Finland may be older aircraft, the December edition of LAAS Aviation News & Review reports that 17 in the G-BY** and 11 from the G-CGK* ranges will be going to Finland.

Roger

[Dick Johnston]

G-BYXL departed to Leuchars yesterday (6 Jan) and was replaced by CGKK