French Helicopters

[chrisj]

Thanks d555 , I did notice there was a difference with the Tiger serial/codes from what I had read on another site but I got codes off my photos from yesterday . As they flew about for some time I tried to follow and photograph each time they came near but many of my photos are not good enough to read probably due to combination of the zoom being a touch slow but up to around 2000mm with digital being the longest but degraded slightly and haze . There may of been more than just the two but not easy to say so ! So far today I have only seen one AS365 going about by the beach and plotting near to Lundy Island around 1130local . Plot gave only type and no other details . Chrisj

[Mo]

1455L Two French Tiger doing extended circuits of Chivenor

[Mo]

1530L Now 3 French Tigers joined by 2 x Merlin & 2 Wildcats

[Mo]

1550L Low to the North of Barnstaple in trail
2x Wildcat
2x NH-90
2x Merlin
3x Tiger

[chrisj]

Tuesday was quiet for the morning with only one French AS365 seen over Saunton Beach but just after three things got going . Tigers BHM/2011 , BJJ /6010 and BKD / 6030 started their circling Chivenor . Soon Wildcats ZZ524 and ZZ525 joined them with the circling . There was a quick dash from the beach to Chivenor by Merlins coded B & D which I think may be ZJ118 & ZJ120 resp. . There was also a dark coloured NH90 making a dash to Chivenor but no markings noted . From other reports , that leaves one Tiger to be seen . Chrisj

[Mo]

Tuesday was quiet for the morning with only one French AS365 seen over Saunton Beach but just after three things got going . Tigers BHM/2011 , BJJ /6010 and BKD / 6030 started their circling Chivenor . Soon Wildcats ZZ524 and ZZ525 joined them with the circling . There was a quick dash from the beach to Chivenor by Merlins coded B & D which I think may be ZJ118 & ZJ120 resp. . There was also a dark coloured NH90 making a dash to Chivenor but no markings noted . From other reports , that leaves one Tiger to be seen . Chrisj

Hi Chris, cheers for the details.
There's a video on FB showing the pair of NH-90's on Braunton Burrows TA from this afternoon but sadly no visible codes.

[chrisj]

Thanks Mo , Wednesday morning and so far quiet , One Tiger about the beach and at 1038 2 AS365s came out of Chivenor but I was out and about with no optics ! Typical ! May be more action later ? Chrisj

[sschofield]

The French NH-90 that landed at Chivenor around 12.15pm today was coded ‘EBV’.
Cheers!

Serial should be 1456.

[timb]

Is there anywhere at Chivenor where you can see in these days. Back in the 229 OCU day there used to be a railway station nearby where you could see stuff.

[eagle driver]

NH90 F-MECL was plotting northbound along the Cornish coast in the last couple of minutes
it appears to have been down as far as St Ives at one stage before returning , disappeared of screen north of Boscastle

[sschofield]

NH90 F-MECL was plotting northbound along the Cornish coast in the last couple of minutes
it appears to have been down as far as St Ives at one stage before returning , disappeared of screen north of Boscastle

Which, if the ping is correct (I have no idea how accurate the data is for French Army helos) will be serial 1547. They're tied to the airframes so if anyone eyeballs it that would be very useful

[Mo]

1810L 2 x SA.365 on the ground (depart 1815L) and 1 x Tiger flying a wide circuit (still here 1835L)

[chrisj]

My earlier posts seem to have done a runner ! So , 1225L ZZ394 & ZZ525 Wildcats arrived and started their circling . 1233L ZJ118 B Merlin beach to Chivenor . During the afternoon two Tigers circled . Around 1820 two Tigers circled and possibly a NH90 very low level dash from the beach into Chivenor . I only just saw it flash between trees hence 'possible' .
For timb , viewing ? Possibly along the SW Coastal path between Wrafton and Chiv main gate . Try married patch also as aircraft sometimes park down there . I am not sure if any exercise traffic park at Chivenor as they may use the beach or return to ships over night . Chrisj

[chrisj]

My earlier posts seem to have done a runner ! So , 1225L ZZ394 & ZZ525 Wildcats arrived and started their circling . 1233L ZJ118 B Merlin beach to Chivenor . During the afternoon two Tigers circled . Around 1820 two Tigers circled and possibly a NH90 very low level dash from the beach into Chivenor . I only just saw it flash between trees hence 'possible' .
For timb , viewing ? Possibly along the SW Coastal path between Wrafton and Chiv main gate . Try married patch also as aircraft sometimes park down there . I am not sure if any exercise traffic park at Chivenor as they may use the beach or return to ships over night . Chrisj

[timb]

Thanks Chris J , much appreciated. I'll probably give it a miss then.
I like a gamble, but the odds are stacked against for my tastes.

[Mo]

Not sure if it helps anyone planning to visit but the two landing sites on base so far have been the old RWY28 threshold (near the old VGS hangar) which has been used by the SA.365s and NH-90s, and also the southern end of the old disused (not the old 16/34 but the NE/SW runway that was often used as VASS in the 80’s and 90’s)
Both locations aren’t great to see from the old railway line, probably the best choice would be Fremington Quay (and you can get a brew and a bacon sandwich too!)
BBTA would be the best choice though to watch and photograph some helos landing in the sand dunes.

[d555]

Thanks Chris and Mo for all the updates this week. I'm planning a trip up tomorrow to try my luck, would Sandy Lane car park be the best place to park for the Burrows?
MMTA,
Meddy

[JLewis_Aviation]

They’re working in Zones 1 and 2, sandy lane leads into Zone 2 so would be a good place to park, bit of a walk in but nothing hard. Small cafe/posh burger van there when I was last down (June 2023)

[eagle driver]

Looking on the Saunton sands web cam the 2 French LPD s appear to have left Barnstable bay overnight .
Not able to check if they have just re located ., but currently not on view

[timb]

They wern't visible on the webcam when I looked at it on tuesday either.