Weekend activity at Benson

[IMarsh]

Posted on RAF Bensons facebook page:

A notice to our neighbours.
Following a short notice request, from Friday 28th April – Monday 1st May, RAF Benson will be supporting a detachment of 6 x Apache helicopters from 662 Squadron Army Air Corps (AAC) and 2 x Wildcat helicopters from 659 Squadron AAC. The British Army helicopters will be working alongside RAF Chinook helicopters from 28 Squadron based at RAF Benson as they participate in Exercise WESSEX STORM taking place on Salisbury Plain Training Area over the weekend.

[D1scafellpike]

The RAF Benson flying programme still lists 21 civil aircraft "TBC" to arrive tomorrow too (no idea what that's about). Same programme says no Chinook flying booked for tomorrow or Saturday, though an early start on Sunday. Perhaps it will be amended.

[roger4]

I wonder if this is simply relocation of the helis from Abingdon for the long weekend, or an additional deployment.

I read something somewhere about the civies - here for a day learning about military flying ops or something.

I doubt the flying programme will be reissued this late in the week - it doesn't always appear every week anyway.

[Northsky]

Its possible that the helos may stay for a week to take part in the Coronation the following weekend.

[IanM]

Abingdon has a car boot sale every Sunday. Possibly a reason for the relocation?
Ian

[IMarsh]

NOTAM just published for the weekend at Benson (Note that times are GMT so add an hour for local)

U2820/23 - AD OPENING HOURS
FRI 0800-1630
SAT 0800-1630
SUN 0500-1400
BENSON ATZ REMAINS ACTIVE AT ALL TIMES FOR BENSON FLYING CLUB,
POLICE HELICOPTER, AIR AMBULANCE AND MIL NATIONAL STANDBY ACFT. 28 APR 11:11
2023 UNTIL 30 APR 23:59 2023. CREATED: 28 APR 11:11 2023

[roger4]

Four Apaches (ZM711, ZM720, ZM725 and ZM726) relocated to here late afternoon from Abingdon, along with two Wildcats (ZZ512 ands ZZ523). All are outside on the apron.

If there are to be six Apaches here over the weekend, as per the RAF Benson facebook post, perhaps another two will arrive tomorrow?

[IMarsh]

Four Apaches (ZM711, ZM720, ZM725 and ZM726) relocated to here late afternoon from Abingdon, along with two Wildcats (ZZ512 ands ZZ523). All are outside on the apron.

If there are to be six Apaches here over the weekend, as per the RAF Benson facebook post, perhaps another two will arrive tomorrow?

The RAF Benson page is now saying 6 x AAC, which I guess means 2 Wildcats and 4 x Apaches, so maybe no more, but we can hope.

[roger4]

Benson ATIS says that ATC will open at 12:00z (13:00L) today, so there may be flying this afternoon by the Apaches/Wildcats.

The Police, Air Ambulance and Flying Club aircraft do not need ATC to be open in order to fly in/out of here.

[fiann21]

https://www.forces.net/services/army/ca ... ssex-storm

[JB87]

A single Wildcat departed to the west a few minutes ago.

12:22 - now showing in and out of Abingdon as Nighthawk 59 ZZ512

[Bensaviation]

Landed at keevil

[Bensaviation]

Nighthawk59 up from Keevil 13:45 routing to Abingdon then onto benson

[StuBie]

Abingdon has a car boot sale every Sunday. Possibly a reason for the relocation?
Ian

There is bike racing advertised for tomorrow, not sure if the regular car boot is also going on.

Stu

Found on Facebook, posted a few days ago:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS WEEKENDS EVENT!!!!
We have had an unexpected MOD training exercise deployed on Abingdon from another air base making it a live base. This was dropped on us 10 days ago and effectively cancelling our event but after constant work with the MOD a plan has been put in place to allow us to run.
We are so grateful for they hard work they have put in to save this event as without a doubt the easiest and most viable thing to do would be to call it off which would have been devastating.
After a final meeting with the base today we had many conditions put in place most of which involved lots more work from the club with extra safety measures but some do also effect riders and public please read below.
. No arrival before midday Saturday
. No entry after 11pm Saturday
. No overnight camping Sunday
. Stay within the perimeter rope
We apologise if any of this is an inconvenience but the alternative was the cancel. To be clear if we do not adhere to the simple rules the racing will be stopped.
The track is in great shape and we as a club are extremely excited to welcome you all this weekend.

[roger4]

The Apaches departed at 04:40(L) this morning and the Wildcats at 05:00(L) all towards Salisbury Plain.

[IMarsh]

All 4 Apaches; "Gunship 1 & 2" and "Hangman 1 & 2", with the Wildcats "Nighthawk flt" and preceded by two Chinooks, visually confirmed as ZA671 & ZA704, returned to Benson around Mid-day, (all on the ground at 12:15(L))

The Wildcats hot refueled before departing around 12:30 (L) to Yeovilton, serials confirmed visually as ZZ512 and ZZ 523

[T0RNAD0-GR4]

One Apache departed Benson around about 2:15 yesterday, and did not return.

The other 3 are all still on the ground with activity around them this morning.

[roger4]

The one that departed Monday was ZM726 (as "AAC311, all according to ADSB) which hopped over to Abingdon.

The three still at Benson this morning should therefore be ZM711, ZM720 and ZM725 although I have not read these off by Mk 1 eyeball.

[roger4]

The three here are just getting airborne and confirmed from ADSB as being ZM711 ("Gunship 1"), ZM720 ("Gunship 2") and ZM725 ("Hangman 1"). They are returning to Abingdon but I didn't catch if it was direct, or after a task.

[T0RNAD0-GR4]

Visual with all 3, with Hangman 1 taking a tighter circuit than the other 2 and coming right over the house. Just mentioned 'Wheels down at Abingdon'.