French Helicopters

[WIGGIP]

Thanks Mo, very helpful.

[chrisj]

Thanks Mo , the other AS365 ( AS565 ?) is definitely 466 msn 6466 as it is the one I always managed to photograph as it came by also have notes from various sites of the AS365s traveling about but when they have plotted I only got a hex code which so far I have not been able to tie to one of the two . One went into Bristol so a report stated but Sevenside have no report , 810 went into Exeter where it was reported . I just need to tie when the Italian came Chivenor way as I have a photo from Friday 30th at 2200 which is as expected very dark so can not determine if Italian or RN . Thanks to All for info over the week . Chrisj

[timb]

And a big thankyou to youself chrisj for all of your reports.
Super job

[chrisj]

Well 'timb' with the lack of use of Chivenor very little goes on here abouts so it is a pleasure to have traffic and a chance to pay back to fellow enthusiasts because they have helped me on many occasions . It is a pity that there are very few enthusiasts down this way and even fewer post sightings . Let us hope for another exercise soon ! Thanks to All . Chrisj

[chrisj]

A small bit from notes gleaned from various posts which may help someone ,
466 AS565 Panther of 36F used F-XHUH on some plots
810 AS565 Panther used F-XHUC and hex 3B9B29
Widcats noted during the week ZZ394 ZZ524 & ZZ525
Merlins noted ZJ118 B & ZJ120 D , I have a feeling there was one other but can not find my note , Sorry .
No definite date/time for the Italian in Chivenor area although I think it was over the beach on Thursday afternoon .
Chrisj

[Malcolm]

466 AS565 Panther of 36F used F-XHUH on some plots
810 AS565 Panther used F-XHUC and hex 3B9B29

Point of order...

Neither Panther used any F-XH__ at any stage. They emitted a hex code - 3B9B29 in the case of the second one. A spotters database somewhere translated that hex code into the F-XH__ registration. That translation is only as good as the data in the database. It may be correct, but unless the tie up is recent, personally, I wouldn't rely on it.

[chrisj]

From what info was about at the time and what I noted from SBS-B , F-XHUC was on the plot as it went into Exeter on 05/06/25 and read off on the ground as 810 , F-XHUC with c/s GUEPE and hex 3B9B29 was noted by me on 06/06/25 as it travelled off the coast from beach area towards Newquay . How the information gets onto the VR sites either from the aircraft or some person applying it , is always up for question and I can only report what is shown . F-XHUH was noted by me on several occasions and by others . Chrisj

[JLewis_Aviation]

A small bit from notes gleaned from various posts which may help someone ,
466 AS565 Panther of 36F used F-XHUH on some plots
810 AS565 Panther used F-XHUC and hex 3B9B29
Widcats noted during the week ZZ394 ZZ524 & ZZ525
Merlins noted ZJ118 B & ZJ120 D , I have a feeling there was one other but can not find my note , Sorry .
No definite date/time for the Italian in Chivenor area although I think it was over the beach on Thursday afternoon .
Chrisj

The Merlin was working the beach and burrows from 1730-1830L on the Thursday calling as shark 30 I believe. Another French NH90 was EBL/1428

[Malcolm]

From what info was about at the time and what I noted from SBS-B , F-XHUC was on the plot as it went into Exeter on 05/06/25 and read off on the ground as 810 , F-XHUC with c/s GUEPE and hex 3B9B29 was noted by me on 06/06/25 as it travelled off the coast from beach area towards Newquay . How the information gets onto the VR sites either from the aircraft or some person applying it , is always up for question and I can only report what is shown . F-XHUH was noted by me on several occasions and by others . Chrisj

My point is, no-one read F-XHUC (or F-XHUH) from the actual airframe, and no-one reported hearing "F-XHUC" used as a callsign. That registration tie-up comes only from VR sites, and VR sites are only as accurate as the underlying database which looks up the registration/serial from the ICAO code. The markings on the airframe are "810", and it was using "3B9B29" as it's hex. However, unlike the FrAF, FrN aircraft virtually never carry external codes so even the "UC" part wasn't on the aircraft.

I know it was showing/plotting as F-XHUC, I'm just pointing out that some of us would be cautions of such info unless the registration or code are actually read off the airframe.

[JLewis_Aviation]

Given it was reported as 810 and that ties up what was seen on vr sites I'm not sure what the problem is?

[chrisj]

One helicopter still unidentified is the Chinook on Monday 02/06/25 . Can anyone please help with this one ?
I am with JLewis on the grumble from Malcolm . As I had said , I only posted what was available on other groups so take it or leave it as you wish ! From my photos only the three figure serial was carried by AS565 s and the Tigers had the three letter code on the forward sides . French Navy aircraft certainly used to carry codes but that may well of changed now . Chrisj

[AlexLee05]

ZA670 SHF470 was the only Chinook in the SW on Monday https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... 0#3a9c7574

[Yammer]

ZA670 SHF470 was the only Chinook in the SW on Monday https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airc ... 0#3a9c7574

Do they always ping.

[AlexLee05]

Usually somewhere along the route, unless they are flying crazy low which isn't often. ADSBexchange has a better replay but can't link it easily

[chrisj]

Thanks again to all who have replied . For some reason very few 'ping' in this area . Usually military helicopters can be 'seen' about thirty or so miles away and suddenly the plot goes . Not always I add . I put it down to the fact that these VRs require local feeds and there would seem to be none or few in the area of North Devon . Also the terrain is far from flat so that could be another factor . Chrisj

[AlexLee05]

You are absolutely correct, all UK military helis (except Apache E) don't transmit a location so at least 3 ground receivers are required to be within line of sight to triangulate its position. A challenge for all the tracking sites in hilly and sparsely populated areas