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26/03 - 01/04

A weekly feature bringing you the highlights of any interesting or unusual photos/movements from the week just gone.
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Flyingmonster
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Posts: 13588
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Skipton, North Yorkshire

26/03 - 01/04

Post by Flyingmonster » Mon Apr 02, 2012 7:03 pm

This Weeks Highlights
26/03 - 01/04

Aircraft - Gates Learjet C-21A (35A)
Serial - 84-0087 (C/N 35A-533)
Operator - United States Air Force Europe (USAFE)
Date and Location - 01/04 Edinburgh International Airport

Further Information -

Operated by the 76th AS based at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The aircraft is one of 55 of the type in service, used in the VIP/Passenger role. The 76th AS provides operational support and distinguished visitor airlift throughout the theater and comes under the command of the 86th Airlift Wing, also stationed at Ramstein. This particular aircraft was built in 1984 and has been on the 76th AS strength since its introduction into USAF service. The aircraft is flown by a crew of 2 and is powered by two Garrett TFE731-2 turbofan engines. The cabin can be arranged for 6-8 passengers and has been designed for longer-range mission capabilities.

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Chrismelais
Aircraft - Lockheed C130J-30 Hercules
Serial - 08-3178 (C/N 382-5673)
Operator - United States Air Force (USAF)
Date and Location - 01/04 RAF Mildenhall (Downwind Runway 29)

Further Information -

Operated by the 40th Airlift Squadron 'Screaming Eagles' based at Dyess Air Force Base. The aircraft is one of 91 of this version is service with the USAF in the Cargo Aircraft Role. The unit currently flies the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, but is transitioning to new Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, with the first 2 of 14 delivered. The USAF have a fleet of some 440 operational C130s of different versions in the Cargo role and are expected to operate 129 of the J version. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the venerable Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems. The Hercules family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. The Super Hercules has been used extensively by the USAF and USMC in Iraq.

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Stigorige
Aircraft - Boeing C40C Clipper
Serial - 02-0202 (C/N 30753/481)
Operator - United States Air Force (USAF)
Date and Location - 31/03 Malta International Airport

Further Information -

Operated by the 201st Airlift Squadron, under the command of Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command based at Andrews Air Force Base, the unit also Operate the C-38 Courier. The USAF currently operated 10 (4 x B and 6 x C versions) of the type in the Passenger aircraft role. The Boeing C-40 Clipper is a military version of the Boeing 737-700C airline transport. It is used by both the United States Navy and the United States Air Force. The 201st Airlift Squadron provides short notice worldwide transportation for the Executive Branch, Congressional Members, Department of Defense officials and high-ranking U.S. and foreign dignitaries in support of the 89th Airlift Wing. The 201st AS provides air transportation support for the Air Force unit deployments, and inspection teams. Additionally, the C-38A aircraft can be equipped as an air ambulance when the need arises.

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AM-016
Aircraft - Panavia Tornado GR4 'Shiny Two II'
Serial - ZA398 (C/N 199/DSo65/3097)
Operator - Royal Air Force (RAF)
Date and Location - 29/03 Dunmail

Further Information -

Operated by 2 Squadron based at RAF Marham in the Reconnaissance Role. The aircraft is part of the 108 strong fleet of GR4s in service in the Strike Aircraft Role. The RAF operate the GR4 with 2,9,12,15,31 and 617 Squadrons between RAF Marham and Lossiemouth. GR4s have been used extensively in operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. The 19 March saw the GR4 Force start working with Coalition forces as part of Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, which has been officially ended by NATO. The Tornado GR4 Force (16 in all) involved with the Operations completed over 8,000 hours of flying and almost 1,500 sorties with a success rate of 97%. This aircraft, nicknamed 'Shiny II' has been painted in the stunning scheme to commemorate the unites 100th Anniversary on the 1st May. No. II Squadron holds claim to being "the oldest heavier-than-air flying machine squadron in the world".

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TYS1977

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Tom177
Aircraft - Shorts Tucano T1
Serial - ZF269 (C/N 5070/T53)
Operator - Royal Air Force (RAF)
Date and Location - 29/03 Linton-On-Ouse

Further Information -

Operated by 72(R) Squadron based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, home of the 1 FTS. The RAF have some 90 Shorts Tucano T1’s on strength in the Training from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, situated near York. This is one of the RAF’s busiest Bases and is home to No 1 Flying Training School and the Royal Air Forces Tucano’s. Linton-on-Ouse is used to provide fast jet pilot training before they move onto the BAE Hawk T.1 aircraft at No 4 FTS, RAF Valley in Wales. Weapon Systems Operators receive part of their training here also. Student pilots fly around 130 hours during their training course and are instructed on Navigation, Night Flying and Formation Flying amongst other things. The aircraft has been painted in this splendid scheme for the 2012 Tucano Display aircraft flown by Flt Lt Jon Bond.

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Spearhead

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JP17

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6mm_Roadkill
Aircraft - Boeing E3A Sentry
Serial - LXN-90443 (C/N 22855)
Operator - NATO
Date and Location - 29/03 RAF Mildenhall

Further Information -

Operated by a NATO element based at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen. The E-3A program is made up from 17 of NATO's nations and is one of two operational elements of the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force. The second component is made up by the E3Ds at RAF Waddington. The E3A component operates 17 E3A that are normally operating from Forward operating bases in Greece, Italy, Turkey and Norway aswell as Geilenkirchen. A similar program has been set up with the C17 Globemaster III's operated by NATO. he E-3A Component is NATO's first integrated, multi-national flying unit, providing rapid deployability, airborne surveillance, command, control and communication for NATO operations. The Aircraft was painted in this stunning scheme to Celebrate 25 Years of the E3A Component in NATO (1982-2007).

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Kieran
Aircraft - Hawker Hunter F58 x 2 and T8 x 1
Serial - ZZ190 (C/N 4H/697433) ZZ191 (C/N 41H/697425) XF995 (C/N HABL003150)
Operator - Hawker Hunter Aviation (Scampton)
Date and Location - 29/03 RNAS Yeovilton

Further Information -

All 3 airframes are operated by HHA based at RAF Scampton. The Aircraft are operated by HHA on various Trials and Defence simulation work on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd (HHA) is a CAA and MoD approved and regulated fast jet contractor with a proven track record of offering private sector outsourcing of realistic, high speed Aerial Threat Simulation, Mission Support Training and Trials Support Services to Armed Forces and Defence Contractors. HHA have been awarded AvP67 status to undertake this kind of work on behalf of the MoD and currently operate a fleet of some 17 Aircraft based at RAF Scampton. ZZ190 (Ex Swiss Air Force J-4066) was retired in 1995 to a museum in France before being restored to Military status. ZZ191 (Ex Swiss Air Force J-4058) was acquired by OFMC before taking a similar route to ZZ190 to gain a Military status. XF995 was built as a Hunter F4 at Blackpool (the 51st F4 of the sixth production batch of 57 aircraft). was first flown July 1956 and delivered to the RAF at No. 33 MU, RAF Lyneham on 20th July 1956. She was aqquired by HHA in early 2007.

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The Phantom

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Imgaylard
Aircraft - Panavia Tornado ECR x 3
Serial - 46+38 (C/N 856/GS271/4338) 46+54 (C/N 898/GS287/4354) 46+56 (C/N 903/GS289/4356)
Operator - German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Date and Location - 28/03 RAF Leuchars

Further Information -

All 3 aircraft are operated by JBG32 based at Lechfield Air Base. JG32 operate 32 Tornado ECR's in the Electronic Warfare Role. The ECR variant is devoted to Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions. The German ECR's do not carry a cannon unlike other versions of the Tornado. The ECR (Electronic combat and reconnaissance) version of the Tornado was selected by the German AF to supplement existing in-service tactical reconnaissance aircraft such as Wild Weasel F-4G Phantom. JG32 was established in July 1958 at Lechfeld and has operated a number of different aircraft including the F84 and F104 before converting onto the Tornado ECR in 1991. The unit has been involved in Operations over the Balkans and Kosovo and have employed a BuddyBuddy tanker configuration to provide longer times on station.

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Fmansam
Aircraft - Hawker Hurricane MkIIc
Serial - LF636 (C/N 41H/469290)
Operator - Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (RAF)
Date and Location - 26/03 RAF Coningsby

Further Information -

Operated by the BBMF based at RAF Coningsby. The Aircraft first flew in January 1944 and is believed to be the last Hurricane to enter service with the RAF. The aircraft served operationally during the War with No 63 Squadron at Turnhouse, No 309 (Polish) Squadron at Drem, where it was used on shipping protection patrols off the east coast of Scotland, and No 26 Squadron with whom it flew naval artillery spotting and reconnaissance sorties before the end of the War. After a major re-fit at Hawkers, LF363 became a founding aircraft of the Historic Aircraft Flight, the forerunner of the BBMF, when it was formed in 1957. LF363 currently wears the colours of Hurricane Mk 1 P3878 ‘YB-W’, the aircraft of Flying Officer Harold ‘Birdy’ Bird-Wilson of No 17 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. Birdy became a Wing Leader and survived the war, retiring as an Air Vice Marshal having been awarded the CBE, DSO, DFC and bar and the AFC and bar. He died in August 2000, aged 80.

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Flyingslug_01
Aircraft - Supermarine Spitfire MkVb
Serial - AB910 (C/N CBAF.1061)
Operator - Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (RAF)
Date and Location - 26/03 RAF Coningsby

Further Information -

Operated by the BBMF based at RAF Coningsby. Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 flew 143 operational missions in a remarkable wartime ‘career’ that spanned almost 3 years on ‘ops’. The Aircraft was Initially allocated to 222 (Natal) Squadron at North Weald in August 1941. One pilot, Flight Sergeant ‘Dixie’ Alexander, was credited with destroying a Dornier 217 bomber in AB910 during combat over Dieppe on 19th August 1942.On 14 February 1945, whilst at Hibaldstow, ‘AB’ famously flew with a girl on the tail! LACW Margaret Horton, a WAAF ground-crew fitter, was sitting on the tail whilst the aircraft taxied out to the take-off point (as was standard practice in rough weather) without the pilot, Flt Lt Neil Cox DFC*, realising her presence. He then took off with Margaret still there. The combination of her weight on the tail and her grip on the elevator very nearly had disastrous results but fortunately Neil was able to maintain control and one circuit later he landed with a considerably shaken WAAF still wrapped around the tail! Post-war ‘AB’ was ‘demobbed’ and flew as an air racer for 6 years before being returned to Vickers- Armstrong for refurbishment in 1953. After this it was displayed regularly by the renowned Spitfire test pilot Jeffrey Quill until being donated by the company to the BBMF in 1965. For the 2012 display season AB910 will appear in the colour scheme that it actually wore whilst serving with No 133 (Eagle) Squadron in 1942, with its ‘MD-E’ code letters.

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Flyingslug_01
Aircraft - General Dynamics (SABCA) F-16A Fighting Falcon AM
Serial - FA-87 (C/N 6H87)
Operator - Belgian Air Force
Date and Location - 27/03 Beauvechain Air Base

Further Information -

Opearated by 31 Squadron based at Kleine Brogel. The Belgian Air Force currently have some 60 F16s (50xAM and 10xBM) on strength in the Multirole Fighter Role. The Aircraft is operated by OCU under the command of the 10th Wing at Kleine Brogel. In March 2011, Belgium deployed 6 F-16 Fighters to Araxos in Greece, in support of operation: Odyssey Dawn, to support the NATO operations over Libya. the aircraft were already at the base as part of a joint exercise and were transferred to NATO command. as of June 2011, the aircraft have flown over 1000 hours over Libya and attacked various military instalations and targets, without causing any collateral damage to the civilian population. This particular aircraft is adorned in this stunning Tiger scheme as 31 Squadron are part of the NATO Tiger Association. The NTA is a gathering of units sharing a Tiger or big cat emblem, or heraldry in Europe and was founded back in 1961. Squadrons included in the Association include 19 full members, 10 honorary members and 3 probationary members, all of which have a tiger as part of its squadron crest. As well as being opportunities for NATO air forces to share ideas and experiences, the ‘Tiger Meets’ are also public relations exercises for NATO. Participating aircraft are normally painted in some kind of Tiger scheme.

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Keltos
Aircraft - Lockheed Martin CC-130J-30 Hercules
Serial - 130605 (C/N 382-5637)
Operator - Canadian Air Force (Aviation royale canadienne (ARC))
Date and Location - 27/03 RAF Brize Norton

Further Information -

Operated by 436th Transport Squadron (Elephant) based at CFB Trenton in Ontario. The RCAF currently has 9 CC-130J-30s in service, with a further 17 due to be delivered within the next few months. The J version of the Hercules has been augmented into service along with the remaining E (8 Airframes), H (6 Airframes), H30 (2 Airframes) and T (5 Airframes) version of the aircraft. The CC130J-30 is in the process of replacing the remaining E version of the aircraft. The RCAF currently operated the older generation Hercules between 8 Wing Trenton, 14 Wing Greenwood and 17 Wing Winnipeg. The First CC130J-30 was delivered 04 June 2010 and is used in the Tactical Lift role. All 17 CC-130J Super Hercules aircraft will be operated by 436 Squadron by April 2012 as Canada retires its fleet of 19 E model Hercules. 13 of the new aircraft have already entered service.

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Pikey_01
Aircraft - Westland Super Lynx Mk90B
Serial - S191 (C/N 191)
Operator - RDAF on behalf of the Royal Danish Navy (RDN) (Kongelige Danske Marine)
Date and Location - 28/03 Norwich International Airport

Further Information -

Operated by 723rd Squadron of the Helicopter Wing Karup based at Karup Air base. The Aircraft are provided by the RDAF for the Navy's ships. The Service currently has 7 of the type in service in the Naval Helicopter Role. The aircraft were previously operated by the Navy until 2010 before they were handed to the RDAF to be operated on Thetis-class in operations in Greenland and Faroe Islands, but also on Absalon-class in international operations and Knud Rasmussen-class on Greenland as well as participating in exercises. Operationally it is directly under command of the Danish Naval Command, but maintenance of the eight Westland Lynx helicopters and training of personnel was in cooperation with the air force. The helicopters were used primarily for fishery patrol, shipboard support and coastal Search & Rescue (SAR) missions. The Lynx aircraft used by the service are modified from embargoed Argentine Mk.87s. The Lynx Mk.90A is the upgraded version, while the Lynx Mk.90 and Mk.90A were upgraded to Super Lynx standard and designated Mk.90B.

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Flying Ant
Aircraft - Airbus A310 MRTT
Serial - 10+23 (C/N 503)
Operator - German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Date and Location - 26/03 RAF Lakenheath

Further Information -

Operated by the Special Wing Command (Flugbereitschaft BMVg) and is based at Köln-Bonn. The aircraft is one of 6 Airbus A310: 1x A310 VIP (10+21), 1x A310 MRT (10+23) and 4x A310 MRTT (10+24 - 10+27), this airframe is used in the Stategic Transport/VIP Transport role. The unit also operate the A319, A340, CL-601 and the Global 5000. The Squadron was formed on 1 April 1957 and various aircraft in its history including the Tu-154M, Lockheed L-1329 Jetstar and the Piaggio P149D. The Luftwaffe has the main assets of its VIP fleet based at Köln-Bonn.

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Stigorige
Thats all for this week!

Comments Welcome!

:thumb:
Cheers

Boo boo (aka Jamie)

'The first time I ever saw a jet, I shot it down!' - Yeager

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TYS1977
Posts: 442
Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 11:24 am
Location: Barrow-in-Furness CUMBRIA
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Re: 26/03 - 01/04

Post by TYS1977 » Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:09 pm

Great work compiling Jamie,Some great info there as well.
Thanks very much for including one of my shots mate,appreciated :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Kindest regards
Mark

GOOSE

Re: 26/03 - 01/04

Post by GOOSE » Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:50 pm

Excellent work as always Jamie. :clap:

Flyingmonster
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Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Skipton, North Yorkshire

Re: 26/03 - 01/04

Post by Flyingmonster » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:23 pm

Thanks Chaps!! :thumb:
Cheers

Boo boo (aka Jamie)

'The first time I ever saw a jet, I shot it down!' - Yeager

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mrmagoo_uk
Posts: 126
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 9:43 pm

Re: 26/03 - 01/04

Post by mrmagoo_uk » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:34 pm

What a great set of pictures.

Well done for compiling these great shots.

Andy
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F6MAN
Posts: 199
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Location: Newcastle-under-Lyme. Staffordshire.

Re: 26/03 - 01/04

Post by F6MAN » Fri Apr 06, 2012 12:54 pm

Quality aviation work which must take considerable to time to compile.

PeteW

Flyingmonster
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Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Skipton, North Yorkshire

Re: 26/03 - 01/04

Post by Flyingmonster » Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:18 pm

I thank you for the very kind words!! :thumb:

Although I compile the Highlights its you the members that provide the subjects so me and the Team, Thank you for all your continued support on FC! :thumb:
Cheers

Boo boo (aka Jamie)

'The first time I ever saw a jet, I shot it down!' - Yeager

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