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24/09 - 30/09 - Bit late!

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

24/09 - 30/09 - Bit late!

Post by Flyingmonster » Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:17 pm

This Weeks Highlights
24/09 - 30/09

Aircraft - General Dynamics F-16D-50+-CF x 3
Serial - 07-1017 (C/N NW-3)
07-1024 (C/N NW-10)
07-1026 (C/N NW-12)
Operator - Turkish Air Force (TuAF) (Turkish: Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) Squadron - TAI
Date and Location - 24/09 - RAF Leeming (EGXE)

Further Information

The Turkish Air Force currently have some 240 (196 x F16C and 44 x F16D) of the Type in service in the Fighter Aircraft Role.The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. The F-16C (single seat) and F-16D (two seat) variants entered production in 1984. The first C/D version was the Block 25 with improved cockpit avionics and radar which added all-weather capability with beyond-visual-range (BVR) AIM-7 and AIM-120 air-air missiles. Block 30/32, 40/42, and 50/52 were later C/D versions. The F-16C/D had a unit cost of US $18.8 million and a Operational cost per flight hour has been estimated at $7,000 to $22,470. In 1984 Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) was established and Turkey started to produce fighter aircraft locally under license, including a total of 232 F-16 Fighting Falcon (Block 30/40/50) aircraft for the air force. The air force had previously received 8 F-16s that were purchased directly from the United States, bringing the total number of F-16s received by the air force to 240. TAI is currently building 30 new F-16 Block 50+ aircraft for the TuAF and is applying a CCIP upgrade on the existing fleet of Block 30/40/50 F-16s, which will bring all of them to the Block 50+ standard. Dozens of TAI-built F-16s were also exported to other countries, particularly in the Middle East. A total of 46 TAI-built F-16s have been exported to the Egyptian Air Force under the Peace Vector IV Program (1993–1995), making it TAI's second-largest F-16 customer after the Turkish Air Force. Turkey is one of only five countries in the world which locally produce the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

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Dustybug
Aircraft - Transall C160T x 2
Serial - 69-024 (C/N D24)
69-027 (C/N D27)
Operator - Turkish Air Force (TuAF) (Turkish: Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) Squadron - 221 Filo
Date and Location - 24/09 - RAF Leeming (EGXE)

Further Information

The Turkish air Force have 17 of the type in service in the Cargo role operated from the 12th Air Transportation Main Base, Erkilet in Kayseri. The Transall C-160 (often C.160) is a military transport aircraft developed by a consortium of French and German aircraft manufacturers for the air forces of those two nations and that of South Africa. The C-160 was originally conceived as a replacement for the French Air Force's Nord Noratlas fleet. It is turboprop-powered and of conventional configuration for aircraft of this type, with high wings, and a loading ramp built into the rear of the fuselage. In size it falls between the Aeritalia G.222 and the C-130 Hercules. The C-160 will be replaced in French and German service by the Airbus A400M, now under development. First flying on 25th February 1963, the aircraft was introduced into service in 1967 and production continued until 1972. The aircraft are operated by 221 Filo Esen (Brise) and work alongside 222 Filo Alev (Flame) with their C130B/Es in the Heavy Transport role. Türk Hava Kuvvetleri C160Ts are due to be replaced by the A400, of which they have ordered 10, and will be used in the Tanker role as well as the Transport role. The Turkiash Air Force has its aircraft inventory split between 19 Combat squadrons, 1 Reconnaissance squadron, 6 Training squadrons, 6 Transportation squadrons and 1 Tanker squadron. As of 2012 the Turkish Air Force ranks third in NATO in terms of fleet size behind the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force with some 60,000 military personnel and operates around 800 manned aircraft. The Turkish Air Force can trace its origins back to June 1911 when it was founded by the Ottoman Empire, however, the air force as it is known today did not come into existence until 1923 with the creation of the Republic of Turkey.

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Dustybug
Aircraft - Airbus A310-304
Serial - F-RADC (C/N 418)
Operator - French Air Force (Armée de l'Air (ALA)) Squadron - ET03.060 'Esterel'
Date and Location - Newcastle International Airport (EGNT

Further Information

The aircraft is one of 3 the Armée de l'Air have in service in the Strategic Airliner/Transport role. The aircraft are operated by ET 03.060 'Esterel' based at Paris - Roissy (Charles de Gaulle airport) but the official base of ET 03.060 is Creil-Senlis (BA110). The unit is also responsible for operating the Services 2 A340 aircraft used in the same role. The French Air force operates a large number of Cargo aircraft with the backbone of its cargo fleet being the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160. They will start to be replaced by the Airbus A400M once it becomes available.
The Airbus A310 is a medium- to long-range twin-engined widebody jet airliner. Launched in July 1978, it was the second aircraft to enter production by Airbus Industrie, the consortium of European aerospace companies which is now owned by EADS. The A310 is a shortened derivative of the A300, the first twin-engined widebody airliner. The A310 was a development of the A300; the aircraft was initially designated the A300B10. Essentially a "baby" A300, the main differences in the two aircraft include a shortened fuselage, although the same cross section providing capacity of about 200 passengers, Smaller horizontal tail surface and common pylons that are able to support all types of engines offered for the aircraft. The aircraft, certified on the 5th June 1991, is powered by 2 General Electric CF6-80C2A2 and has a range on some 5,200 nm. The aircraft has a MTOW of 164,000 kg and has a top speed of 0.84 (901 km/h.) and a Ceiling height of 41,000ft.

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MRG2507
Aircraft - Britten-Norman 2T-4S AL2 Defender
Serial - ZG997 (C/N 2195)
Operator - Army Air Corps (British Army)
Date and Location - 27/09 Prestwick International Airport (EGPK)

Further Information -

The AAC currently have 9 of the type (Defender) in service in the Reconnaissance Role, however the type has a limited capability in the Transport role. The Britten-Norman Defender is a multi-role utility transport aircraft, manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. It is the military version of the Britten-Norman Islander, developed for roles such as utility transport, casualty evacuation, counter-insurgency and light attack, forward air control, patrol and reconnaissance. First flown in May 1970, the Defender was based on the civilian Islander, and has a larger airframe with four underwing hardpoints for pylons to attach 1134-kg (2,500-lb) of fuel tanks, bombs, missiles, 7.62-mm (0.3-inch) machine-gun pods, rocket pods, flares, sensors and other stores. The BN-2T-4S Defender 4000 is an enhanced version of the BN-2T Defender intended for the aerial surveillance role. Compared to earlier Defenders, it has a stretched fuselage, the enlarged wing from the Trislander, a new nose structure capable of accommodating a FLIR turret or radar, and an increased payload. The prototype Defender 4000 first flew in 1994. Operated by 651 Squadron under the command of 5 Regiment. The AAC operate 7 of the type in the Surveillance Role and very occasionally in the light transport role. 651 are an Army Air Corps Squadron that is believed to have joined the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing in 2006. Not much is publicly known about the current role of 651 Sqn. The Aircraft are typically fitted with an array of sophisticated equipment including a low light level television camera fitted in a turret mounted under the nose ,a number of cabin-mounted cameras and a COMINT (COMmunications INTelligence) system.

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Watson
Aircraft - Antonov AN30B (NATO reporting name: Clank)
Serial - 01 BLACK (C/N - 1307)
Operator - Russian Air Force (Russian: Военно-воздушные cилы России, tr. Voyenno-vozdushnye sily Rossii) Squadron - Open Skies
Date and Location - 28/09 - RAF Brize Norton (EGVN)

Further Information

The Treaty on Open Skies entered into force on January 1, 2002, and currently has 34 States Parties. It establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. The treaty is designed to enhance mutual understanding and confidence by giving all participants, regardless of size, a direct role in gathering information about military forces and activities of concern to them. Open Skies is one of the most wide-ranging international efforts to date promoting openness and transparency of military forces and activities. The concept of "mutual aerial observation" was initially proposed to Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin at the Geneva Conference of 1955 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower; however, the Soviets promptly rejected the concept and it lay dormant for several years.[citation needed] The treaty was eventually signed as an initiative of US president (and former Director of Central Intelligence) George H. W. Bush in 1989. Negotiated by the then-members of NATO and the Warsaw Pact, the agreement was signed in Helsinki, Finland, on March 24, 1992. This treaty is not related to civil-aviation open skies agreements. The 34 State Parties to the Open Skies Treaty are: Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States. Kyrgyzstan has signed but not yet ratified. Canada and Hungary are the depositories of the treaty in recognition of their special contribution to the Open Skies process. "Depository" countries maintain treaty documents and provide administrative support. Observation aircraft may be provided by either the observing Party or (the "taxi option") by the observed Party, at the latter's choice. All Open Skies aircraft and sensors must pass specific certification and pre-flight inspection procedures to ensure that they are compliant with treaty standards. The AN30 is a development of the An-24 designed for aerial cartography and first flew on 21 August 1967. The Aircraft was introduced into service in July 1968 and 123 had been built between 1971-1980. Flown by a crew of 7, the B variant was designed for the Soviet Air Force. 26 built. Main differences from An-30A was the avionics fit. Most An-30Bs were retro-fitted with chaff/flare dispensers. As well as its principal use as a survey aircraft, it has also been used by Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia and Ukraine to carry out surveillance under the Open Skies Treaty.

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Wezgulf3
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Wezgulf3
Aircraft - Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Serial - LC-010 (C/N R-010)
Operator - Libyan Air Force /Free Libyan Air Force (Arabic: القوات الجوية الليبية الحرة‎‎) Squadron - Unknown
Date and Location - 29/09 - Malta International Airport (LMML)

Further Information

Libya bought 20 CH-47Cs in 1976, with six going to the Libyan Army and 14 going to the Libyan Air Force (Arabic: القوات الجوية الليبية‎). The aircarft, which were delivered from Italy, were used in the Heavy Transport Helicopter Platform. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. With a top speed of 170 knots it is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s. The CH-47 is one of the few aircraft of that era that is still in production and front line service, with over 1,179 built to date. Its primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield resupply. It has a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks. The CH-47C featured more powerful engines and transmissions. The Libyan Air Force is the aviation branch of the Libyan National Army following the Libyan civil war and replacing the Libyan People's Air Force, which was mostly destroyed during the war. Some of its aircraft came from the Jamahiriya's army and air forces that were captured by opposition fighters, or were taken by defected personnel. It was formed on the basis of the Free Libyan Air Force section of the armed opposition. On 20 June 2012 the Air Force Chief of Staff, Saqr Geroushi, announced plans for the rebuilding of the Libyan Air Force. The plans included proposals for the purchase of two squadrons of French Rafale fighter aircraft, a number of British Eurofighter Typhoons; and additional new French F1-Mirage jets, American C-130H Hercules cargo planes and CH-47 Chinook helicopters – as the post–2011 air force inherited some intact Mirages, C-130Hs and CH-47s following the civil war.

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Mbo570
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Squadron Prints
Aircraft - McDonnell Douglas C-9B 'Skytrain II'
Serial - 161530/530 (C/N 48166/1084)
Operator - United States Navy (USN) Squadron - VR-61 'Islanders'
Date and Location - 27/09 - Glasgow International Airport (EGPF)

Further Information

The USN currently have 15 C-9Bs in service in the VIP/Transport Role. The aircraft is one of four operated by VR-61 'Islanders' is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. VR-61 was established in October 1982 and have the ability of carrying 100 passengers or 20,000 pounds of cargo, or several combinations of both. VR-61's mission is to provide worldwide, around-the-clock air transport of Naval personnel and cargo, moving people and cargo in support of the fleet, year round, around the world. VR-61 provides worldwide logistics support to Navy, other Department of Defense and State Department activities around the world. They have permanent detachment sites in Sigonella, Sicily, and Atsugi, Japan, where they provide air logistics to forces in the Mediterranean and European theaters, as well as to East Asia and the Pacific Rim. VR-61 is under the operational control of Commander, Fleet Logistics Support Wing and is scheduled by the Joint Operational Support Airlift Center and the Naval Air Logistics Office. Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 61(VR-61) is one of four Navy Reserve C-9B squadrons. The C9B's were delivered from 1973 to 1976 with an additional five C-9s being converted from passenger configured DC-9s. The Aircraft are due to be replaced by the C40 Clipper.

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Duran212
Aircraft - Beechcraft C-12C 'Huron'
Serial - 73-1208 (C/N BD-4)
Operator - United States Air Force (USAF) Squadron - USE Saudi/Riyadh Base Flight
Date and Location - 24/09 - Prestwick International Airport (EGPK)

Further Information

The USAF currently have some 65 (C-12C x 16, C-12D x 6, C-12F x 2, C-12J x 7 and MC-12W x 37)C12's in service in the Special Utility Aircraft role.The C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. These aircraft are used for various duties, including embassy support, medical evacuation, as well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some aircraft are modified with surveillance systems for various missions, including the Cefly Lancer, Guardrail and Project Liberty programs. The C12C is a standard version of the aircarft (Based on the King Air A200) with upgraded Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42 turboprop engines. Introduced into US Military service with the US Army in 1974 and was essentially an "off-the-shelf" Super King Air 200, powered by the type's standard Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 engines. A variant of the plane for surveillance roles primarily over Afghanistan and Iraq is the MC-12 Liberty. For that variant, Beechcraft builds the basic plane and then sends it to Greenville, Texas where sophisticated Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance equipment is installed by L-3 Communications Missions Integration.

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Watson
Aircraft - Boeing C40B Clipper
Serial - 02-0042 (C/N 33500/1223)
Operator - United States Air Force (USAF) Squadron - 86th AW/76th AS
Date and Location - 28/09 - RAF Mildenhall (EGUN)

Further Information

The Aircraft is one of 10 the USAF have in service (4 x B Versions and 6 x C Versions) in the VIP/Passenger Aircraft. 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 76th Airlift Squadron (76 AS) is part of the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It operates C-20, C-21, C-37, C-40 Clipper aircraft providing executive airlfit in Europe. The C40B has been in service with the 76th AS since 2008, comeing under direct command of United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and have been based at Ramstein since 1993. The United States Air Force selected the C-40B to replace the aging fleet of C-137 aircraft for U.S. combatant commanders. The Air Force awarded the medium lift contract in August 2000 and the first was delivered to the 89th Airlift Wing in December 2002. The cabin area is equipped with a crew rest area, distinguished visitor compartment with sleep accommodations, two galleys and business class seating with worktables and is operated by a crew of 5 (two pilots, one crew chief, one loadmaster and one transport safety specialist). The aircraft has 3 different transport capacites ( Passenger configuration: 121 passengers, Cargo configuration: 8 pallets of cargo and the Combination configuration: 3 pallets of cargo, 70 passengers) over a range of 3,000 nm.

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Urkles
Aircraft - Lockheed C130E Hercules
Serial - 1504 (C/N 4435)
Operator - Polish Air Force (Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) Squadron - 14.ELTR
Date and Location - 29/09 RAF Leeming (EGXE)

Further Information

The aircraft is one of 5 C130E's in service with the Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej in the Tactical transport Role. The aircraft, based at 33 Baza Lotnicza (Powidz AB), has been in use by the unit since 2008 along with the units PZL M28B Bryza ( 7 on strength in the Utility Aircraft Role). The squadron began operations on 1 June 2007 and is tasked with transporting troops and equipment in medium and long-distance flight to take the brunt of the tasks for the Polish military contingents abroad and at home. Originally ordered by the US Air Force in 1970, Poland's aircraft were refurbished by L-3 Communications Integrated Systems in Waco, Texas. Including the installation of replacement centre wing boxes sourced from aircraft ordered between 1958 and 1961, this work will allow the fleet to remain in use for another 20 years. Further modifications included the addition of a self-protection suite including missile approach warners and radar warning receivers, plus additional armour plating and a new weather radar. The Polish expect each Aircraft to fly around 600 Hours per year and will eventually have 15 air crews totalling 75 personnel available to operate its C-130Es. The Crews have received some extensive training in the USA as part of the modernization deal. Poland is also among the 12 nations involved in the NATO-led program involving pooled fleet of three Boeing C-17 strategic transports based at Papi AB in Hungary. The extended range C-130E model first entered service in 1962 after it was developed as an interim long-range transport, after the installation of 1,360 US gal Sargent Fletcher external fuel tanks under each wing's mid-section and more powerful Allison T56-A-7A turboprops.

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Phoenixjfc
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Freyaollie
Aircraft - EADS CASA C295M
Serial - 011 (C/N 009)
Operator - Polish Air Force (Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) Squadron - 13.ELTR
Date and Location - 28/09 RAF Leeming (EGXE)

Further Information

The EADS CASA C-295 is a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft manufactured by Airbus Military in Spain. The Polish Air Force operates 11 of the type in service in the Tactical Transport role with 13th Airlift Squadron based at 8th Air Base at Kraków-Balice Air Base. The unit also operated the PZL M-28B Bryza in the Small Transport requirement role of which they have 17 on strength. The aircraft has Capacity for 73 troops, 48 paratroops, 27 stretchers, five 2.24 × 2.74 m (88 × 108 inches) pallets or three light vehicles. The aircraft were procured to replace Polands ageing AN26's which had been in operational service from 1972–2009. The C-295 is a further development of the commercially successful Spanish transport aircraft CASA CN-235, but with a stretched fuselage, 50% more payload capability and new PW127G turboprop engines. The C-295 made its maiden flight in 1998. 13.ELTR was redesignated from 13.PLT on 3 October 2000 with the CASA C-295s starting to arrive from 2005 with the remaining An-26 being retired in January 2008 due to the final deliveries of the CN295Ms. The C-295 is in service with the Armed Forces of 14 countries, with 85 contracted and 75 are in service.

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Phoenixjfc
Aircraft - Lockheed Martin F-16C-52CF 'Jastrzab'
Serial -
4070 (C) (C/N JC-31)
4074 (C) (C/N JC-35
Operator - Polish Air Force (Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) Squadron - 10.ELT
Date and Location - 29/09 RAF Leeming (EGXE)

Further Information

The Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej currently have 48 (38 x C and 12 x D) of the type in service in the Multirole aircraft role. The Polish Air Force have three squadrons of F-16s: two stationed (3rd Tactical Squadron and the 6th Tactical Squadron) at the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznań and one (10th Tactical Squadron) at the 32nd Air Base near Łask and pool the aircraft between the units and bases. The F-16C/D Block 52+ was selected as as a new multirole fighter in 2002 and took the first deliveries in November 2006, continuing until 2008 under Peace Sky program. The Polish Block 52+ F-16s are equipped with the latest Pratt and Whitney F-100-229 afterburning turbofan engines, and the avionics suite includes the APG-68(V)9 terrain mapping radar system and the ALQ-211(V)4 electronic warfare suite. All Polish F-16s will be fully equipped to carry the latest in US precision ordinance, ranging from the JDAM/JSOW to the latest in export-certificate-authorized air-to-air weaponry such as the AIM-120C-5 and AIM-9X. Poland is the first member of this version of the F16 and was supplied with conformal fuel tanks and delivered 18 sets with each squadron receiving six sets. In 2010 it consisted of roughly 16,000 military personnel and about 320 aircraft, distributed among 12 bases throughout Poland. The Polish Air Force is currently operating the most advanced F16 in NATO and became the first former WarPac member to operate the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

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Flyingmonster
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Dustybug
Aircraft - Dassualt Falcon 900B
Serial - T.18-4/45-43 (C/N 74)
Operator - Spanish Air Force (SPAF) (Spanish: Ejército del Aire) Squadron - Group 45 (Royal,Government & VIP Transport)/451 Esc
Date and Location - 26/09 - Malta International Airport (LMML)

Further Information

The Spanish have 5 of the type in service in the VIP Transport Role and are operated by the 451 Esc of Grupo 45 based at Madrid/Torrejon Air Base. The Squadron also operate 2 Airbus 310 in the Long Range VIP Role. The Falcon 900 is a development of the Falcon 50, itself a development of the earlier Falcon 20. The Falcon 900 design incorporates composite materials. The Aircraft is often recognised by its S-duct central engine and sweapt wings. First flown in 21 September 1984 as the 900A, the B version was introduced into service in 1991 powered by 2 TFE731-5BR-1C engines. With a capacity for 19 Passengers and a crew of 2, the aircarft is used throughout the world by various Military forces including the Japanease, Syrian and Nambia. The unit is also responisble for the Operation of the Spanish Air Forces 2 Airbus A310's (Used in the Long Range VIP Transport Role) also based at Torrejon Air Base. Founded on 7 October 1939, the Ejército del Aire currently has some 25,000 Personell and 470 odd aircraft on strength. Torrejón Air Base (IATA: TOJ, ICAO: LETO) is a major Spanish Air Force base and a secondary civilian airport for Madrid Madrid-Torrejón Airport, built in 1953. The base is also home to the 12 Unit(121 Squadron (EF-18A/B) and122 Squadron (EF-18A/B)), Group 43 UME (Military Emergencies Unit - SAR & Forest Fires Unit) (431 Squadron (CL-215T) and 432 Squadron (CL-215T)) and the Group 47 (Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare, Transport, Inflight Refuelling) (471 Squadron (Boeing 707 Tanker) and 472 Squadron (C-212, Dassault Falcon 20).

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Mbo570
Aircraft - Boeing P8A Poseidon
Serial - 167952/952 (C/N 40594/3324)
Operator - United States Navy (USN) Squadron - VX-1 Pioneers
Date and Location - 29/09 RAF Leuchars (EGQL)

Further Information

Taking part in Exercise Joint Warrior 121 the aircraft is based with VX-1 'Air Test and Evaluation Squadron' at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. The aircraft first flew on the 25 April 2009 and is expected to meet its Initial operating capability in 2013. The P-8 is being developed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, modified from the civilian 737-800 for use in the Maritime Patrol Role. The USN are planned to receive 117 of the type and have the first production P-8 handed over to them on 4 March 2012. It flew to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, where it is currently being used for aircrew training. In February 2012, the aircraft made it's mission debut during Bold Alligator 2012, an annual littoral warfare exercise. The P-8 has a strengthened fuselage and 767-400ER-style raked wingtips, instead of the blended winglets available on 737NG variants. The airframes has five operator stations (two Naval Flight Officers plus three enlisted Aviation Warfare Operators/Naval Aircrewman) mounted in a sideways row, along the port side of the cabin. None of these crew stations have windows. One observer window is located on each side of the forward cabin. The Aircraft can carry a range of mines and Torpedoes and incorporates a Raytheon APY-10 multi-mission surface search radar.

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Minibus
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Minibus
Aircraft - Lockheed Tp84 Hercules (C-130H)
Serial - 84006/846 (C/N 382-4885)
Operator - Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) Squadron - TSFE
Date and Location - 28/09 RAF Lossiemouth (EGQS)

Further Information

The Swedish have 8 of the the on strength with a mixture of both E and H versions used in the Transport/Air to Air Refueling Role. This Aircraft comes from TSFE HOB Såtenäs based at Såtenäs Air Base. The crew of the Tp84 usually consist of six persons - two pilots, navigator, flight engineer and two cargo masters. The TP 84 is able to load 20 tons of cargo alt. 90 passengers or 56 fully equipped paratroopers. As an ambulance aircraft, the type can take 72 stretchers. The Swedish Air Force hired a C-130E for evaluation in March of 1965. It still carried its USAF serial (40546) together with the Swedish roundels. As early as in September the same year, the aircraft was bought and was given the designation TP 84 and the individual SwAF/n 84001. Later further one C-130E and six C-130H were acquired. All eight aircraft are now modified to C-130H standard. All aircraft are today equipped with ECM/VMS. The Swedish TP 84s are not only used for military transports but have also participated a large number of humanitarian missions in many countries. Its rugged construction and STOL performances makes it possible to land at the most primitive airfields.The Hercules once formed the standard for the modern transport aircraft - a high-set wing and a large, rectangular cargo space with integrated ramp/door under the upswept tail. The aircraft has sturdy, multi-wheeled landing gears, in flight retracted in the external engine fairings.

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NP1991
That all for this week! Sorry there a bit late but its taken awhile to get all the info gathered :blush: :blush:
Cheers

Boo boo (aka Jamie)

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

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