NEWSLETTER 01/10

31 January 2010

A new year has begun with plenty of news and changes, much will occur over the next few months with 4Sqn due to go by 31 March along with the Nimrod MR.2 fleet leaving just two R.1’s and the handful of MRA4’s to grace the skies.

Typhoons have begun to receive 6Sqn codes however the unit technically doesn’t yet exist I believe that is due 1 April.

Our Government in their latest Defence Review have come up with some outstanding ideas much of which has been debated by many elsewhere I’m not going to add anything apart from the fact that at the end of the day the numbers don’t add up and chances are they will be gone in May and we will start yet another round of penny pinching from our pockets to pay for the mistakes of the present lot, where have I heard that before?

Till next month.

HAMMERS

Royal Air Force

A-109

ZE416	E	11173		To G-ESLH
ZK185	E	11131	QinetiQ	Ex B-7770, D-HARY (3), EI-TWO, G-CVFB

Chinook

ZH777/HE

HC.2

M4453

18/27Sqn

Noted at Odiham 13/1 ex Ag-WHL.

Harrier

ZD347/14	GR.9A	P.14	1Sqn	Ex 4Sqn.
ZD375/23	GR.9	P.23	1Sqn	Ex 4Sqn.
ZD380/28A	GR.9A	P.28	1Sqn	Ex 4Sqn.
ZD401/30	GR.9	P.30	4Sqn	EX 1Sqn/STF.
ZD431/43A	GR.7A	P.43	4Sqn	Ex NSW.
ZD435/47	GR.9	P.47	NSW	Ex 1Sqn.
ZD436	GR.9	P.48		Following conversion to GR.9 not GR.9A is currently in paint.
ZD461/51A	GR.9A	P.51	4Sqn	Ex NSW.
ZD470/60	GR.9	P.60	4Sqn	Ex NSW.
ZG500/71	GR.9	P.71	4Sqn	Ex 20(R)Sqn.
ZG506/77	GR.9A	P.77	1Sqn	Ex 4Sqn.
ZG510/81A	GR.9	P.81	SAM	Ex 41(R)Sqn.
ZH657/105	T.12	TX.5	20(R)Sqn	Ex JUMP Flt and conversion.
ZH663/111	T.12	TX.11	NSW	Ex 1Sqn.

4Sqn are currently deployed to Nellis on Red Flag, they took with them the following jets:

ZD346/13

ZD401/30

ZD402/31

ZD403/32

ZD461/51A

ZD470/60

ZG480/70

ZG500/71

Hawk

XX236/236	T.1W		19(R)Sqn	Ex HSF.
XX256/256	T.1A		19(R)Sqn	Suffered major birdstrike on 30/11, having recovered to Valley aircraft is believed to be beyond economic repair and declared CAT.5.
ZK015	T.2	RT016	BAE	Not noted at Shawbury 29/1 assumed roaded back to Brough.
ZK023	T.2	RT014	BAE	Believed to have been returned to Brough confirmation required?
ZK026	T.2	RT017	19(R)Sq	D/d 28/1 ex BAE Warton requires confirmation.
ZK027	T.2	RT018	BAE	Believed to have been returned to Brough confirmation required?
ZK028	T.2	RT019	19(R)Sqn	D/d 21/1 ex BAE Warton ‘Stampede’.
ZK029	T.2	RT020	19(R)Sqn	D/d 11/1 ex BAE Warton.
ZK031	T.2	RT022	19(R)Sqn	D/d 21/1 ex BAE Warton ‘Stampede’.
ZK032	T.2	RT022	19(R)Sqn	D/d 11/1 ex BAE Warton.

Merlin

ZJ122/F

HC.3

50113

MDMF

D/d 17/12 ex 28/78Sqn ‘Vortex297’.

Nimrod

ZJ514/A

MRA.4

PA-4

BAE

D/d 22/1 to Warton ex BAE Woodford.

Puma

XW199	HC.1	1042	Kenya Det.	D/d BZN 9/12 ex 230Sqn but believed not to have left for Kenya until 12/1!
XW209	HC.1	1096	PASF	D/d BZN 17/12 ex Kenya Det left for Benson 13/1!
XW212	HC.1	1111	Kenya Det	D/d BZN 13/1.
ZA939	HC.1	1653	33/230Sqn	Ex PASF.
XW223	HC.1	1161	PASF	Ex 230Sqn.
XW235	HC.1	1212	PASF	Ex 33Sqn.

It is probable that the active fleet is now pooled so for the time being I will list these as 33/230Sqn unless it becomes totally clear which squadron owns the aircraft.

Tornado

ZA395/009	GR.4A	BS062	31Sqn	Ex 13Sqn.
ZA404/013	GR.4A	BS071	Lossie Wing	Ex 9Sqn.
ZA446/018	GR.$	BS076	2Sqn	This aircraft currently CAT.3 at Leuchars following an inflight fire is to be roaded to Shawbury for storage during 2/10.
ZA452/021	GR.4	BS082	2Sqn	Ex CMU.
ZA453/022	GR.4	BS083	Lossie Wing	Ex QinetiQ mod work.
ZA463/028	GR.4	BS093	2Sqn	Ex 12Sqn.
ZA551/043	GR.4	BT018	13Sqn	Ex CMU.
ZA556/047	GR.4	BS020	31Sqn	Ex 9Sqn.
ZA557/048	GR.4	BS021	2Sqn	Ex 13Sqn.
ZA562/051	GR.4	BT021	13Sqn	Ex 9Sqn.
ZA588/056	GR.4	BS031	Lossie Wing	Ex CMU.
ZA597/063	GR.4	BS038	13Sqn	Ex 9Sqn.
ZA598/064	GR.4	BT024	Lossie Wing	Ex CMU.
ZA606/067	GR.4	BS043	13Sqn	Ex 9Sqn.
ZA612/IV	GR.4	BT028	CMU	Ex Marham WLT expected to go to Warton.
ZA614/076	GR.4	BS050	13Sqn	Ex 9Sqn.
ZD707/077	GR.4	BS111	Lossie Wing	Ex 13Sqn via QinetiQ?
ZD709/078	GR.4	BS113	Lossie Wing	Ex QinetiQ mod work.
ZD712/080	GR.4	BT038	CMU	Ex QinetiQ mod work.
ZD719/085	GR.4	BS120	2Sqn	Ex 15(R)Sqn.
ZD746/094	GR.4	BS127	2Sqn	Ex 13Sqn.
ZD790/099	GR.4	BS133	2Sqn	Ex 31Sqn.
ZD811/103	GR.4	BS140	13Sqn	Ex 9Sqn.
ZD812/104	GR.4	BT043	Marham Wing	D/d 13/1 ex BAE Warton maintenance, currently in paint shop.
ZD843/106	GR.4	BS141	QinetiQ	Ex 14Sqn for mod work.
ZD844/107	GR.4	BS142	CMU	Ex parked.
ZD850/111	GR.4	BS148	2Sqn	Ex 12Sqn.
ZE731/GP	F.3	AS047	RTP	Ex Leuchars store
ZG713/123	GR.4A	BS180	Lossiw Wing	Ex 13Sqn.
ZG771/133	GR.4	BT056	QinetiQ	Ex 15(R)Sqn for mod work.
ZG775/134	GR.4	BS187	2Sqn	Ex 617Sqn.
ZG777/135	GR.4	BS188	BAE	D/d 17/12 ex QinetiQ for further trials work ‘MRH56’.
ZG791/137	GR.4	BS190	2Sqn	D/d 28/1 ex CMU.
ZG792/138	GR.4	BS191	2Sqn	Ex 14Sqn.

Typhoon

ZJ800/BC	T.1	BT001	BAE	D/d 14/1 ex 29(R)Sqn for R2 upgrade.
ZJ911/BZ	FGR.4	BS002	TMF	D/d 14/1 to CBY ex BAE R2 upgrade.
ZJ914/AF	FGR.4	BS005	17(R)Sqn	Noted as such 18/1 ex DE/17(R)Sqn.
ZJ933/DF	FGR.4	BS024	TMF	Ex 11Sqn.
ZJ939/DXI	FGR.4	BS032	11Sqn	Ex TMF.
ZK303	T.3	BT017	BAE	Updating last month did not make f/f on 17/12.
ZK304/EB	FGR.4	BS055	11Sqn	F/n coded 25/1.
ZK305/EC	FGR.4	BS056	11Sqn	F/n coded 25/1.
ZK306	FGR.4	BS057	TMF	D/d 14/1 to CBY ex BAE production ‘Gunfighter1’.
ZK307	FGR.4	BS058	TMF	D/d 21/1 to CBY ex BAE production ‘Typhoon14’.

VC 10

ZA147/F	K.3	882	1312Flt	D/d 12/1 ex 101Sqn ‘RRR2340’.
ZD241/N	K.4	863	101Sqn	Ex 1312Flt left Falklands 15/1 ‘RRR2341’.

Fleet Air Arm

Lynx

XZ235/EE435	HAS.3S(ICE)	016	815NAS	Noted fully coded 14/1.
XZ723/444	HMA.8SRU	185	815NAS	F/n at Yeovilton 21/1 ex 697/VAHS.
XZ735/404	HAS.3GMS	217	VAHS	D/d 28/1 ex 815NAS.
ZD250/635	HAS.3S	248	702NAS	F/n coded 13/1 ex unmarked.
ZD261/352	HMA.8SRU	295	815NAS	F/n at Yeovilton 14/1 ex VAHS.
ZF558/PD426	HMA.8SRU	335	815NAS	F/n coded 14/1 ex unmarked.

Sea King

XV649/180	ASaC.7	WA637	849NAS	Ex VAHS.
XV671/183	ASaC.7	WA659	854NAS	Ex 857NAS.
XV714/188	ASaC.7	WA685	SKAMG	D/d 5/1 ex 854NAS.
ZA126/91	ASaC.7			Arr BZN 15/1.
ZD476/WZ	HC.4	WA931	SKAMG	Ex 848NAS.
ZD480/J	HC.4+	WA935	845NAS	Ex SKAMG.
ZF119/WY	HC.4	WA966	848NAS	Ex VAHS.
ZG821/G	HC.4+	WA1002	845NAS	Ex SKAMG.

Army Air Corps

Apache

ZJ167	AH.1	WAH-2	4Regt	Ex 7REME
ZJ174	AH.1	WAH-9	4Regt	Ex 7REME
ZJ178	AH.1	WAH-13	AH DSU	Ex 4Regt
ZJ212	AH.1	WAH-46	673Sqn	Ex 7REME
ZJ229	AH.1	WAH-63	3Regt	Ex 7REME

Gazelle

XW849	AH.1	1016	GDSH	D/d 8/1 by road ex Shawbury store for spares recovery.
XX381	AH.1	1269	GDSH	D/d 8/1 by road ex Shawbury store for spares recovery.
XZ338	AH.1	1682		D/d 8/1 by road to Shawbury ex HMS Sultan.
ZB689	AH.1	2002	GDSH	Ex 665Sqn 5Rgt.

Two former AAC Gazelles, XW851 (1021) XZ313 (1582), have found they way to a company known as ‘VTOL Tri Services’ located in the Durham area, both helicopters came from Ramco Ltd. (Note the cab of XZ313 was noted outside GDSH on 26/1?)

Lynx

XZ211	AH.7	127	1Regt	Ex VAHS.
XZ216	AH.7	138	VAHS	Ex 1Regt confirmation of destination required.
XZ221	AH.7	147	VAHS	Ex 1Regt confirmation of destination required.
XZ605	AH.7	149	VAHS	Ex 1Regt.
ZD273/A	AH.7	275	671Sqn	Ex unmarked.

Gliders

Vigilant

ZH191/UD	T.1	6540	613VGS	Ex CGMF.
ZH197/UK	T.1	6548	618VGS	Ex CGMF.
ZJ962/SK	T.1	6550	634VGS	Ex 613VGS f/n 30/1.

Fleet Location 13 January 2010

612VGS	Abingdon	ZH118/TD	ZH121/TG	ZH265/UX	ZH268/SA	ZJ967/SM
613VGS	Halton	ZH125/TL	ZH186/TY	ZH191/UD	ZH264/UW	ZJ962/SK (*)
616VGS	Henlow	ZH122/TH	ZH127/TN	ZH211/UR	ZH270/SC	ZH278/SF
618VGS	Odiham	ZH116/TB	ZH197/UK	ZH247/US	ZZ192/SQ
624VGS	Chivenor	ZH128/TP	ZH190/UC	ZH194/UG
631VGS	Woodvale	ZH124/TK	ZH193/UF	ZH206/UM
632VGS	Ternhill	ZH119/TE	ZH120/TF	ZH126/TM	ZH129/TQ	ZH184/TW
633VGS	Cosford	ZH144/TR	ZH145/TS	ZH188/UA	ZH192/UE	ZH266/UY
634VGS	St Athan	ZH209/UQ	ZH249/UU
635VGS	Topcliffe	ZH205/TL	ZJ961/SJ	ZJ963/SL
636VGS	Swansea	ZH185/TX	ZH189/UB
637VGS	Little Rissington	ZH123/TJ	ZH263/UV	ZH271/SD
642VGS	Linton on Ouse	ZH115/TA	ZH117/TC	ZH146/TT	ZH195/UH	ZJ960/SH
645VGS	Topcliffe	ZH148/TV	ZH208/UP	ZH248/UT	ZH267/UZ
663VGS	Kinloss	ZH196/UJ	ZK005/SP
664VGS	Newtownards	ZH187/TZ	ZH279/SG
ACCGS/644VGS	Syerston	ZH147/TU	ZH207/UN	ZH269/SB	ZH890/SE	ZZ193/SR
CGMF	Syerston	ZK205/SS

Although I have listed ZJ962/SK with 613VGS it had transferred to 634VGS by 30/1 and was noted along with ZH249/UU on 31/1. The entire compliment of Topcliffe was also noted airborne on 30/1.

Viking

ZE503/VG	TX.1	33887-K-125	CGMF	Ex 622VGS.
ZE530/VS	TX.1	33899-K-137	611VGS	Ex CGMF.
ZE558/WF	TX.1	33917-K-152	CGMF	Ex 614VGS.
ZE585/WQ	TX.1	33932-K-165	614VGS	Ex CGMF.
ZE586/WR	TX.1	33933-K-166	CGMF	Ex 662VGS.
ZE595/WY	TX.1	33943-K-176	662VGS	Ex ACCGS/643VGS.
ZE606/XF	TX.1	33955-K-188	622VGS	Ex 625VGS.
ZE610/XK	TX.1	33959-K-192	CGMF	Ex 615VGS.
ZE636/XZ	TX.1	33996-K-229	ACCGS/643VGS	Ex 611VGS.
ZE650/YB	TX.1	33998-K-231	615VGS	Ex ACCGS/643VGS.
ZE651/YC	TX.1	33999-K-232	622VGS	Ex CGMF.

Fleet Location 13 January 2010

611VGS	Watton	ZE530/VS	ZE601/XA	ZE611/XL	ZE633/XX	ZE658/YK
614VGS	Wethersfield	ZE498/VC	ZE504/VH	ZE563/WL	ZE585/WQ	ZE614/XN
		ZE656/YH
615VGS	Kenley	ZE528/VQ	ZE531/VT	ZE553/WA	ZE603/XC	ZE631/XV
		ZE650/YB	ZE684/YU
621VGS	Hullavington	ZE529/VR	ZE557/WE	ZE561/WJ	ZE593/WW	ZE604/XD
		ZE679/YP
622VGS	Upavon	ZE564/WN	ZE600/WZ	ZE606/XF	ZE607/XG	ZE625/XP
		ZE637/YA	ZE651/YC
625VGS	Hullavington	ZE495/WA	ZE522/VL	ZE526/VN	ZE560/WH	ZE628/XS
		ZE653/YE
626VGS	Predannack	ZE521/VK	ZE527/VP	ZE562/WK	ZE605/XE	ZE626/XQ
661VGS	Kirknewton	ZE496/VB	ZE520/VJ	ZE533/VV	ZE559/WG	ZE590/WT
		ZE594/WX	ZE683/YT
662VGS	Arbroath	ZE591/WU	ZE595/WY	ZE602/XB	ZE613/XM	ZE629/XT
		ZE630/XU	ZE632/XW	ZE682/YS
ACCGS/643VGS	Syerston	ZE499/VD	ZE524/VM	ZE608/XH	ZE636/XZ	ZE652/YD
		ZE657/YJ
		ZE680/YQ
CGMF	Syerston	ZE502/VF	ZE503/VG	ZE532/VU	ZE551/VY	ZE552/VZ
		ZE554/WB	ZE558/WF	ZE584/WP	ZE586/WR	ZE587/WS
		ZE610/XK	ZE627/XR	ZE677/YM	ZE678/YN
Stored	Syerston	ZE555/WC	ZE609/XJ	ZE685/YV

Civil Registered Aircraft Operated on behalf of the Armed Forces

Tutor

G-BYUW

Cambridge/London UAS

Damaged during t&g at Conington during early 12/09, was noted hangared there 12/12 and at Wyton 8/1 awaiting transportation to Grob for repairs.

Other

Dominie T.1

XS729	T.1	25049		Ex Everett Aero now with a Technical Training School in Barcelona Spain.
XS736	T.1	25072		Ex Everett Aero now located in Winterbourne Gunner Wiltshire.

Scout

XV124/W

AH.1

F9699

Ex SE&AE Arborfield now stored at Bentwaters with Everett Aero.

Wessex

XR516/V	HU.2	WA138		Has been placed on the gate at Shawbury.
XT672/WB	HU.2	WA540		The former Shawbury gate guard is expected to go to Stafford on 1/2.