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Aggressor/Decoy and BDR GB Gallery

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tc2324
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Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:02 pm

Aggressor/Decoy and BDR GB Gallery

Post by tc2324 » Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:06 pm

Post your finished builds here, 5 pictures max per model. :cool:
74 `Tiger` Sqn Association Webmaster

Tiger, Tiger!

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tc2324
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Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:02 pm

Re: Aggressor/Decoy and BDR GB Gallery

Post by tc2324 » Thu Jul 18, 2013 8:54 pm

From 1982 onwards, 100 Squadron had operated the Canberra at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire as a target facilities unit which it had operated as since 1972. By late 1987 the MOD announced the out of service date for the Canberra T Mk.17 fleet and shortly after started to look for a replacement aircraft that was cheap to operate and had better handling qualities. (An extra requirement for the new type would be Dissimilar Air Combat Training).

Attention was soon drawn to Europe and the abilities of the export version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon now serving with many NATO members. At the same time and purely by chance, the first two of an intended complement of eighteen F-16Cs arrived at RAF Bentwaters on 14 June 1988 as the 527th Aggressor Squadron started to upgrade their aging F-5 Tiger fleet.

After three visits to the base to assess the new aircraft in the Aggressor role, Washington was approached for the procurement of seven F-16A fighters to eventually equip 100 Sqn by early 1991.

However, with the collapse of the Warsaw Pact in 1989 and a reduction of defense spending by the US, the decision was made to terminate the entire USAF aggressor program. This had a knock on effect with the UK`s F-16 order in that the US now offered to downgrade seven of the 527th F-16C`s to A standard instead of offering seven new build `A`s. With defense cost implications now coming into effect due to the Soviet collapse, the MOD accepted the revised offer.

Pilot conversion training started shortly after at Bentwaters and within the year all 100 Sqn aircrew were now current on the F-16. One unique aspect of the conversion training was the practice of in flight refueling using the US boom type. While today’s main mission parameters include the use of under wing fuel tanks, 100 Sqn aircrew are the only RAF aircrew that regularly practice this type of Air to Air Refueling with the US KC-135`s from Mildenhall.

In June 1990, 100 squadron took delivery of it`s `new` F-16`s and operate from RAF Leeming. The serial numbers allocated to the airframes are VX401 through to VX407. (Note that airframe VX406 was heavily damaged on a landing mishap in 2011 and is at present stored at St Athan awaiting repair).


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74 `Tiger` Sqn Association Webmaster

Tiger, Tiger!

peejay75
Posts: 136
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:33 pm
Location: Camborne .Cornwall

Re: Aggressor/Decoy and BDR GB Gallery

Post by peejay75 » Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:48 am

And here is another F 16C
USAFE AGGRESSOR SQUADRON RAF BENTWATERS
F-16Cs arrived at RAF Bentwaters on 14 June 1988 as the 527th Aggressor Squadron started to upgrade their aging F-5 Tiger fleet.
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atech
Posts: 210
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 4:44 pm
Location: Worcester

Re: Aggressor/Decoy and BDR GB Gallery

Post by atech » Fri Aug 16, 2013 7:16 am

Heres my entry finished

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waghorn41
Posts: 469
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Location: Northampton, England

Re: Aggressor/Decoy and BDR GB Gallery

Post by waghorn41 » Sat Aug 31, 2013 3:51 pm

Here's my Whif.
In the early 1970's at the height of the Cold War the MOD decided that a squadron was required to facilitate the training of pilots and other combat elements in the strategy and tactics of the forces they would be facing. Formed in secret and based at RAF Macrihanish 1999 Squadron was tasked with providing the air element required. Formed of two flights, A and B, they would provide fascimile aggression against UK forces. It was decided not to include other NATO units as there was concern over the secrecy being breached; this being due to the fact the 'A' flight comprised actual Soviet Bloc aircraft which had been 'aquired' through capture in foreign countires, purchase via third parties or appropriated by other means. The aircraft of 'B' flight were RAF aircraft which resembled in some form, usually with minor cosmetic alteration, various Soviet types in service.

The Hunter depicted of 'B' flight had a new nose and the drop tanks were modified to resemble underwing engines and were fitted with smoke generators at the rear which would be activated during an 'attack run' to simulate full power being used. This Hunter was 'officially' sent to BAe for update but was in fact redirected to its new base.

The squadron was, however, shortlived after an incident involving the Hunter off the Scottish coast. Briefed to carry out a missile attack on the assault ship HMS Fearless which was carrying out an amphibious landing exercise on a remote island the pilot descended through cloud to find himself approaching the warship from astern. Banking sharply he swept past and headed out to sea for 2nm before turning to commence a beam attack. Illuminating the ship with his missile radar he noticed the guns flashing as he approached but assumed it was blank rounds - until the Hunter received a number of strikes on the starboard wing as he passed over. He recovered to base and was debriefed.

It transpired that he was only told of a ship in the general area of the island and had not been given the details of Fearless' identification or position. A US Navy destroyer was transiting south on the other side of the island and this is the ship he 'attacked'. Radio intercepts were carefully eamined and revealed the following:

From Captain Hogan, USS Monterey bay to COMATFOR
Radar tracked aircraft approaching above cloud from north. Aircraft desecended and appeared astern before passing portside at 100ft at approximately 400knots. The unidentified aircraft turned out to sea and then turned back to make a beam attack and we were targeted by missile ranging radar. I ordered all hands to general quarters and the anti-airaft guns were ordered to fire, a number of hits being made. The aircraft passed over without firing its missiles and departed north. Studies of known Soviet aircraft were made but the shape cpould not be identified although a passing resemblence was noted to the Yakolev 28, the aircraft was in standar silver finish and bore the red star emblems on wings and fuselage. No known bases are available to the Soviets in this area and this was clearly a land based aircraft.

Sir, in view of this new threat do you wish me to head north and try to identify any possible source of this threat.

Jack Hogan
Commanding


In view of this incident offshore activities were ceased and after a few further trials with the aircraft of 'A' flight the squadron was disbanded.

Modified Hunter FGA9 of 1999 (Aggressor) Squadron RAF
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ex-RAF Hunter, Harrier and Wessex mechanic

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steve149c
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Location: Near RAF Valley, Anglesey, N.Wales

Re: Aggressor/Decoy and BDR GB Gallery

Post by steve149c » Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:50 am

Hi All!

Story in the Gallery here viewtopic.php?f=294&t=86792

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Thanks for looking all and look forward to the comments

Steve
Amateur modeller
Canon 7D2, 100-400mm IS L lense, Icom R6 and alot of luck!

ArabJazzie
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Joined: Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:11 am

Re: Aggressor/Decoy and BDR GB Gallery

Post by ArabJazzie » Sat Sep 21, 2013 1:18 pm

Hello all,
Having spent most of its life as F/AF of 43 sqn, XV582 spent the last months of its life as "M" with 111 sqn in a scheme that lead to the name, Black Mike! Since its last flight during 1992, it then became a Weapons Loading Trainer, Decoy, Mascot and Air Show exhibit. So when this GB was finalized, having been a regular at the fence during the Leuchars Phantom era, there was only one candidate in my stash that qualified!

Only one pic just now as i wasnt happy on how the others turned out!

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Arabest,
Geoff.

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Typhoon2
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Airfix 1/72 Tucano AT1

Post by Typhoon2 » Sat Sep 21, 2013 5:51 pm

Hi all,
here she is, finished within in hours of this GB closing! :halo:
full details can be found in the gallery!
Back story:
2014:
With the RAF having Constant yearly cuts, they had to find a cheap alternative to the aging tornado without spending billions on new aggressor aircraft. The same year the RAF had gone on an exercise with the Brazilian air force and seeing the huge capabilities of the Tucano in attack form, development started at MoD Boscombe Down with a single Tucano undergoing missile and bomb launches.
2016:
30 Tucanos were selected for conversion, and within two years, all of them had been modified to Aggressor standard.


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Thanks very much for organizing this GB TC, and I look forward to the next one!

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