FighterControl

For 01 December 2017 to 28th February 2018.

Friday 1st Dec 2017
Out on a bluebird but very chilly ramp at 08:45 were:

(ZZ104/0270) Merlin Mk612 for Norway
ZH962 Lynx Mk 21B for Brazil

The Norwegian is painted and looks ready for flight. No UK serial on the rear fuselage (yet), and the Noggie serial has its individual numbers taped over rather than the whole serial being taped over. The second digit looked like a '7' though. Parked tail on so couldn't see if there was a number over the cockpit. If they wreck this one before I can get it confirmed then I'm havin' ZZ104 anyway

Cheers
Malcolm

Was the Merlin using "AE17C8" or "G-17-002"? as any sort of code?

That was a Lakenheath F-15 callsign "HOSS11". Possibly 91-0306.

See also viewtopic.php?f=8&t=155654

Comet102 wrote:Was the Merlin using "AE17C8" or "G-17-002"? as any sort of code?

Unlikely that it flew today. They apply the UK serial to the rear fuselage before first flight, so unless they stuck it on today it won't have flown.

Currently on the ground here at Yeovilton are 3 Apaches plus a Saudi Hawk, the latter apparently preparing to depart. No serials as yet.
HTH
Kecin

The Hawk has just departed, read off with bins as ZB118 / 7909. One of the Apaches now crewing up.

Brazilian Super Ly x ZH962 airborne from Yeovil at 11.58 local

Sighting Friday 1st Dec
Malcolm,
From a NIF. He saw the Norwegian as you described with 4 separate patches covering the Norw. serial and spent some time viewing it from various points around the eastern end of the field,social club car park.
Sorry to disappoint but he read it off as ZZ 102 - now sporting a black UK serial against a white part of the body - no longer a white serial on red back ground.
Regards,
razzer56

Friday 8th Dec 2017
Out on a clear but positively Baltic ramp at 08:30 wax:

0270(/ZZ104) Merlin Mk612 for Norway

After last weeks apparent false alarm, the Norwegian is deffo 0270. Fully painted with Noggie serial on display both sides of the rear fusealge but no UK serial yet. Looks ready for flight but unlikely to do so today till they put the UK serial on. So no more fudging required :-)

Cheers
Malcolm

Friday 5th Jan 2018
Out on a clear but chilly ramp at 08:35 was:

ZZ102 Merlin Mk612 for Norway - individual numbers of the noggie serial taped over
ZJ121/E Merlin HC4 for RN in the new light grey colour scheme

I think they were also towing another Norwegian about as I arrived, but it was gone into the hangar before I got into a position to read it.

Cheers
Malcolm

ZZ104 flying, WHE01. First flight?

Thursday 18th January at 1315
ZZ100 (primer) just arrived
ZZ104 just airborne

ZZ391 Wildcat parked on the apron

Regards

Update two minutes later!
Lynx ZH962 has just arrived.
Regards

G-MCGV has just been towed out (1425)
Regards

0910L AW101 ID NORW5001 just taken off heading NE, guess delivery flight ex ZZ102???

Judwin71 wrote:0910L AW101 ID NORW5001 just taken off heading NE, guess delivery flight ex ZZ102???

0265 AW101 Norwegian, no UK serial displayed on the ramp at 08:45, rotors turning.

ZZ391 Wildcat "Army" mkgs also out.

Thanks guys for post re Norweigan Aw101 this came over the Midlands area & was struggling to tie-up

Rgds Karl

At 1510 on 19.1.2018 Norwegian Merlin ZZ104 / Mode S 43C7DF / c/s WHE 01 did an app at Exeter,from and to Yeovil..

Thursday 25th Jan 2018
Out on a clear but soggy ramp at 13:45 was:

ZZ100 Merlin Mk612 for Norway - Still in primer, and with an orange instrumentation probe
ZZ104 Merlin Mk612 for Norway - individual numbers of the noggie serial taped over
ZJ121/E Merlin HC4 for RN in the new light grey colour scheme
ZZ391 Wildcat AH1 "Army" mkgs

A quick look at a nearly submerged Yeovilton amongst the residents revealed :
ZM506 Juno HT1 - parked opposite Pyle Lane, nose on.

Cheers
Malcolm