NEWSLETTER 04/08

3 May 2008

As mentioned last month the two F.3 squadrons stood down during April, details of the new assignments are detailed later. I was planning to do a full rundown of the Tornado fleet this month but unfortunately I have run out of time!

There are plenty of other changes for you to go through which should keep you occupied for a while, a couple of new aircraft on the way as well.

On the down side this month I’m about to lose a couple of my regular suppliers of information, their personal circumstance are changing and I would just like to pass my thanks for their previous help. Possibly in the future they maybe in a position where they can return to the fold, thanks again guys.

Waddington is fast approaching and it seems the Indians are coming again, not with noisy jets but a helicopter display team, bring it on.

Till next month.

HAMMERS

Royal Air Force

Chinook

HC.2	ZA671	M7007	18/27Sq	Noted 4/4 ex DARA Fleetlands.
HC.2	ZA680/AH	M7024	18/27Sq	F/n with code applied 29/4.
HC.2	ZA682	M7008	18/27Sq	Noted 7/4 ex DARA Fleetlands.

Globemaster III (or is it C.1?)

ZZ175

UK5/F185

99Sqn

D/d 7/4 c/s ‘RRR6733’ ex 06-0205/N9500Z, flew first op 20/4 ‘RRR6572’.

Harrier

GR.7	ZD319	512042/DB.2		D/d 14/4 by road to Cottesmore for spares recovery and disposal. The aircraft was at Boscombe Down but was noted at Weycock Cross Barry in South Wales on 26/3 so is assumed to have arrived from St Athan!
GR.9	ZD321/28	512071/P.2	JUMP Flt	F/f 1/5 following GR.9 conversion, note code, also has 1Sq marks on nozzles with 20(R)Sq badge on tail.
GR.7	ZD323/04	512074/P.4	JUMP	On GR.9 conversion.
GR.7	ZD329/10	P.10	4Sq	Ex 1Sq.
GR.9	ZD330/11	P.11	4Sq	Ex 1Sq.
GR.9	ZD402/31	P.31	NSW	Ex JUMP Flt.
GR.7	ZD403/32	P.32	4Sq	Ex 1Sq.
GR.9	ZD410	P.39	4Sq	Ex 1Sq.
GR.9	ZD435/47	P.47	4Sq	Ex 1Sq.
GR.9	ZD438/50	P.50	4Sq	Ex JUMP Flt.
GR.9	ZD465/55	P.55	4Sq	Ex 1Sq.
GR.9	ZG480/70	P.70	4Sq	Ex 1Sq.
GR.9	ZG859/91	P.91	NSW	Ex 1Sq.
T.10	ZH657/105	TX.5	NSW	Ex 1Sq.

Deployment

The four aircraft, which deployed to HMS Illustrious in March returned to Cottesmore on 16/4, aircraft were:

ZD322/03A ‘RFR9761-Cougar1’, ZG472/62A ‘RFR9762-Cougar2’, ZD470/60 ‘RFR9763-Cougar3’, ZD408/37A ‘RFR9764-Cougar4’

101Sq VC 10 XV102/T ‘RRR9621’ provided support.

ZD470 lost it’s 1Sq marks during the deployment.

Op Herrick

You will have guessed from the above unit changes that 1Sq took over from 4Sq at the beginning of April.

Departing to Akrotiri on 2/5 were ZD436/48A, ZD431/43A, ZD404/33A ‘RFR9741-3’. They were supported by LTW Hercules C.4 ZH874 ‘RRR5840’.

Expected back are ZG500/71A, ZG892/94A along with ZD436/48A.

Hawk

T.1A	XX157		HSF	Ex FRADU.
T.1A	XX159		HSF	Ex FRADU.
T.1	XX184/19	312031	19(R)Sq	F/n 1/5 in special colour scheme of brown/green to celebrate the unit taking on Spitfires in 1938, code is bright yellow. Everyone is waxing lyrical of the scheme quite frankly I think its hideous
T.1A	XX194/CL	312041	100Sq	Noted back with unit 28/4 ex HSF Valley.
T.1A	XX198		FRADU	Ex HSF noted 16/4.
T.1A	XX203		100Sq	Ex 19(R)Sq f/n 29/4.
T.1W	XX299/299	312124		D/d 2/4 c/s ‘VYT06’ Shawbury for store ex 208(R)Sq.
T.1	XX325		208(R)Sq	F/n 15/4 in the 2008 display marks at Valley.
T.1A	XX350/350			D/d 30/4 c/s ‘VYT06’ Shawbury for store ex 19(R)Sq.

Deployment

100Sq sent XX200/CG and XX331/CP ‘RFR7400A/B’ to Akrotiri on 22/4 to work with the 617Sq Tornados.

Hercules

XV208

4233

Marshall

Noted outside at Cambridge 15/4 with the A400M engine in the no. 2 slot.

Islander

CC.2B

ZH537

2118

Stn Flight

D/d 18/4 to Northolt.

Beech 300C King Air

	ZZ418	FM-17	Raytheon	D/d 26/3 to Hawarden as N817KA will become G-JIMG.
	ZZ419	FM-18	Raytheon	D/d 3/4 to Hawarden as N818KA will become G-OTCS.

Merlin

HC.3	ZJ132/Q	50177	28Sq	Ex MDMF Culdrose by 23/4.
HC.3	ZJ135/T	50187	MDMF	Ex 28Sq possibly d/d 16/4.
HC.3A	ZJ990/AA	50089	78Sq	Noted at Benson 1/4.
HC.3A	ZJ995/AD	50123	78Sq	Note corrected serial re last months note.

Puma

HC.1	XW213	1116	PASF	Ex 1563Flt.
HC.1	XW216	1129	PASF	Ex 230Sq.
HC.1	XW219	1144	1563Flt	Ex 33Sq.
HC.1	XW223	1161	PASF	Ex 33sq.
HC.1	XW235	1212	230Sq	Ex PASF.
HC.1	ZA935	1633	230Sq	Ex PASF.
HC.1	ZA939	1653	230Sq	Ex PASF.
HC.1	ZA940	1656	1563Flt	Ex 33Sq.
HC.1	ZJ955	1363	230Sq	Ex 33Sq.
HC.1	ZJ956	1374	33sq	Ex DARA Fleetlands.

Sea King

HAR.3	XZ593/I	WA859		Noted at Brize Norton 17/4 ex 1564Flt.
HAR.3A	ZH540/U	WA1006	DARA	D/d 3/4 ex 22Sq ‘A’ Flt.
HAR.3A	ZH542/W	WA1008	22Sq ‘A’ Flt	D/d 1/4 ex DAR Fleetlands.
HAR.3A	ZH545/Z	WA1011	22Sq ‘A’ Flt	Not del to 22Sq ‘A’ Flt 2/4 was only a test flight however on 23/4 it was delivered c/s ‘SRG07’.

Tornado

GR.4A	ZA372/006	BS054	AMF Lossie	Ex 15(R)Sq.
GR.4A	ZA400/011	BS067	12Sq	Ex 14Sq.
GR.4	ZA406	BS073	15(R)Sq	Ex 31Sq.
GR.4	ZA447	BS077	41(R)Sq	Now in full marks having lost code ‘019’.
GR.4	ZA449/N	BS079	TEF	Ex 12Sq.
GR.4	ZA456/023	BS086	15(R)Sq	Ex 14Sq.
GR.4	ZA461/026	BS091	Marham Wing		Ex AMF Lossiemouth
GR.4	ZA553/045	BS018	12sq	Ex 617Sq.
GR.4	ZA559/049	BS023	TEF	Ex 9sq.
GR.4	ZA564	BS027	AMF Lossie	Ex 31sq.
GR.4	ZA588/056	BS031	617Sq	Ex 12Sq.
GR.4	ZA609	BS046	2Sq	Confirmation of operating unit.
GR.4	ZA614/076	BS050	12Sq	Ex Op Telic.