Aviation News 11.2022 PDF

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LORD’S WORK DC-8 in life-saving
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IWM VICTOR REVEALED
Mammoth six-year V-Bomber
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TESTS, REGISTER REVIEW, THOMAS CASTLE

Inside huge Dutch Coastguard transformation TRUST, WHAT’S ON GUIDE AND MORE
Contents
p32
Features Regulars
20 Night Photography Guide 5 Headline news
Tripods at the ready, Aviation News editor Martin Needham provides top hints and tips for
getting the most from your night photography 6 Civilian News
28 Separating Airways from Airwaves 11 Military News
Mark Broadbent details the reasons behind Boeing dispatching a Vietnam Airlines 787-10
Dreamliner to the UK 16 Preservation News
32 Italian Tornados at 40 18 General Aviation News
Marco Rossi reports from Ghedi Air Base on 40 years of Italian Air Force Tornados
31 Talking Point
36 Passing le baton
Babak Taghvaee charts the final months of service for the French Air and Space Force’s 40 What’s on?
C-160G Gabriel signals intelligence aircraft
46 Aviation’s friendly games 62 Airbase Movements

Martin Needham takes a look at the recent Vintage Aerobatic World Championships, held
at Breighton, North Yorkshire
64 Airport Movements
50 Heavy Seas of Change 68 Register Review
Peter Ten Berg provides an insight on the Dutch Coastguard’s impending transformation
72 At The Fence
55 Victor Restoration Revealed
The Imperial War Museum’s Handley Page Victor B.1A(K2P) is rolled out after a six-year-
long restoration
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56 Doing the Lord’s Work great savings on the cover price. See
Felix Reim steps on board Samaritan’s Purse Douglas DC-8, N782SP, for an exclusive look pages 44 and 45 for details.
at the aircraft and its operator
We are happy to report that, at time of going to press, production and
76 Remembering Tom dispatch of our magazine is not affected by the ongoing coronavirus
pandemic. Should this change, we will continue to update you as best
Aviation News learns how the family and friends of Thomas Castle are working to ensure we can. Some postal services may be delayed. You can keep in touch
with our latest updates and see what we are doing to keep distribution
that his passion for vintage aviation lives on after his tragic passing. as normal as possible by visiting www.keypublishing.com/FAQs`
WWW.AVIATION-NEWS.CO.UK 3
Welcome
I
n 2015, BBC Radio 4 celebrated 50 years Newquay with little to no justification for Clambering down from one’s soap box,
of its ‘World at One’ show by asking its stance. We marvel at the engineering it was heartening to visit IWM Duxford
the British public and an assortment of wizardry of the Avro Vulcan, its maiden and see up close the remarkable work to
guests how they thought Britain was flight little more than a decade removed preserve the sole surviving Handley Page
leading the way. Among those guests from that of the Lancaster, yet in its most Victor B.1A(K2P). With recent arguments
was author, playwright and human recent masterplan, titled ‘Strategy 2030’, that the Imperial War Museum site has “lost
embodiment of Yorkshire, Alan Bennett. the RAF Museum – now on the cusp of its way” with talk of hotels being built on
Having passed up on opportunities to its 50th anniversary in November – has site and the loss of the wonderful Flying
praise the NHS, the National Trust or curiously forgotten about the unparalleled Legends Airshow, there is clearly a real
anything else, Bennett took aim at England collection of aircraft its Hendon and tension between what a museum feels it
and its hypocrisy. “Take London,” he began. Cosford branches house. The words needs to be in order to keep its doors open
“We extol its beauty and its dignity while at ‘aeroplane’, ‘aircraft’, ‘airframe’, ‘bomber’, and what we as aviation enthusiasts –
the same time, we are happy to sell it off to ‘fighter’ and ‘jet’ have all gone unuttered in arguably the group most invested in what
the highest bidder, or the highest builder. favour of the explanation that its values are is going on at these sites – feel they should
We glory in Shakespeare, yet we close our to ‘inspire’ – which, rather clunkily, stands be doing. We are undoubtedly watching
public libraries. A substantial minority of for ‘INtegrity, Sharing, Passion, Innovation, one of the most interesting periods in the
our children receive a better education Relevance and Excellence’. evolution of the aviation museum.
than the rest because of the social While we no longer seem to be an Back to business. Thank you to those
situation of the parents, then we wonder aircraft manufacturing nation – the last who took the time to get in touch via email
why things at the top do not change or Hawk having recently been delivered and telephone regarding the changes
society improve.” to the Qatar Emiri Air Force on a dismal being made to Aviation News. As will
It seems that in recent months and weeks September day – that doesn’t mean that continue to be the case for the duration
that this self-same hypocrisy has landed there isn’t cause for us to celebrate our of my time as editor, I look forward to
at the doorsteps of our aviation museums. pioneering past. The world may have hearing your thoughts on the magazine
We revel in the beauty of the Spitfire and moved on from a time of museums full of and value your feedback – good or bad –
the robustness of the Hurricane in their ‘stuff’, but surely there’s a strong argument tremendously. This is your magazine, I’m
defence of this sceptred isle, yet Cornwall for that ‘stuff’ to be kept? just here to make it as good as I can.
Aviation Heritage Centre continues to I hope you enjoy your November issue.
Front cover: Craig Sieminski
battle a local council hell-bent on evicting Martin Needham
it from a quiet corner of Cornwall Airport Below: Paul Varcoe Editor
4 AVIATION NEWS NOVEMBER 2022

HEADLINE NEWS COMPILED BY MARTIN NEEDHAM
Virgin to become first
UK SkyTeam member
VIRGIN ATLANTIC has announced it is to Virgin Atlantic is set to receive its first Airbus 750 airport lounges across six continents.
become the first UK-based member of A330-900s ahead of joining SkyTeam in early Meanwhile, Virgin’s six Clubhouses will be
global airline alliance SkyTeam. The airline 2023 Clement Alloing/v1images open to passengers travelling on fellow
expects to complete the membership SkyTeam carriers.
process in “early 2023” and is the first “If we’ve learned anything over the Speaking to Key.Aero after the press
new airline to join since Garuda Indonesia last three years it is that the strength of conference, Weiss explained how
in 2014 (ITA Airways was admitted last any individual company is enhanced the carrier will maintain the exclusive
October as a replacement for Alitalia). by partnership,” Weiss said. “By joining atmosphere of its airport lounges: “We
Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic’s CEO, SkyTeam and the 18 members there… need to make sure that everybody [who]
announced the move at a press conference we’re really joining something that is well gets into a Clubhouse has the Virgin
in London at the end of September in the established to provide more services and Atlantic experience. We’ll find a way of
company of SkyTeam CEO Kristin Colvile recognition for our customers throughout figuring it out and maybe in the future, we
and the alliance’s chairman, Walter Cho. the world, so we’re really delighted.” can grow the footprint of the Clubhouse at
“You probably know what I’m about to Kristin Colvile added: “Virgin Atlantic Heathrow and around the world.”
say,” the long-haul airline boss told the shares SkyTeam’s values – caring for our When asked why the carrier has chosen
gathering. After a pause for effect, he customers, our employees and the world now to finally join the alliance, the CEO
continued: “We’re joining SkyTeam.” in which they live – and we are excited to replied: “Because there is no reason why
The move is not a huge surprise for many have them as part of the SkyTeam family.” not anymore. We’ve always been fearlessly
in the industry, having been rumoured Virgin’s Flying Club members are independent but, like I said, working with
repeatedly since Singapore Airlines sold its expected to benefit from the day the airline partners through our joint venture [and
49% share in the British carrier to SkyTeam officially joins, with a global expansion of the] wider SkyTeam is really important.
founding partner Delta Air Lines in 2012. its loyalty offering. Silver Card holders will The access to the lounges, the elite
Notably, Virgin is also a joint venture be recognised as SkyTeam Elite members, recognition, the baggage and check-in
partner with fellow alliance carriers Air while the operator’s Gold Card members privileges that are provided to our Flying
France-KLM, with whom it is co-located at will become Elite Plus. Club members really outweigh anything
London/Heathrow Terminal 3, alongside Customers flying with the British airline that we could think of, so we’ve joined.”
Delta, Aeromexico and China Eastern. will soon be able to access more than Thomas Haynes
COMPILED BY MARK BROADBENT CIVIL NEWS
The end for DSA?
Mike Ford/Construction Photography/Avalon/

Getty Images
DONCASTER SHEFFIELD Airport will close, concluded there are “no tangible proposals” intractable problem remains the
the owner Peel Group citing a “fundamental for the airport to remain open. fundamental and insufficient lack of current
lack of financial viability”. Operations at the In September 2022 South Yorkshire public or prospective revenue streams, together
South Yorkshire facility will begin winding authorities made a financial offer to Peel with the airport’s high operating costs.”
down on October 31, 2022. to keep DSA operational into 2023, to give Doncaster Sheffield Airport, the former
Peel warned back in July 2022 that more time for consultation. RAF Finningley, opened in April 2005. Aer
“aviation activity at the site may no longer However, in a statement Peel Airports Lingus, easyJet, Flybe and Ryanair have
be viable”. The company said its review chairman Robert Hough said: “The come and gone over the years in operating
Alice is set to take off
Eviation
EVIATION FLEW its prototype Alice all- data to further optimise the aircraft for and carry up to 2,500lb. The cargo variant
electric commuter aircraft (N882EV) commercial production”. will have a secure webbing system and
at Grant County International Airport, Promoted with the tagline ‘Reinventing forward/aft doors for speedy turnarounds.
Washington on September 27, 2022, after regional travel’, the Alice will be produced US domestic and regional carriers Cape
earlier completing a high-speed taxi test in three variants: nine-seat commuter, six- Air and Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX)
with the aircraft. passenger executive and cargo. have placed orders for 75 and 50 aircraft
Alice lifted off at 07:10hrs local and flew Alice is powered by two magniX respectively. DHL Express has also ordered
for eight minutes at an altitude of 3,500ft. magni650 electric engines. The aircraft will 12 examples of the cargo variant, which it
Eviation said the flight provided “invaluable have a 260kts cruise speed, 250nm range expects to begin receiving in 2024.

CIVIL NEWS COMPILED BY MARK BROADBENT
from the airport seasonally. Wizz Air closed already booked to fly from Doncaster. from the airport for HM Coastguard.
its base there in June 2022. The impact of DSA’s closure will extend DSA is additionally home to National
TUI, the only remaining airline operator, beyond passenger flights. The airport Police Air Service’s four Vulcanair P68Rs,
confirmed its final DSA services will operate is the base for 2Excel Aviation’s Boeing one of the Children’s Air Ambulance
on November 4, 2022. The airline plans 727s G-OSRA and G-OSRB used for Oil Leonardo AW169s, the Yorkshire Aero Club
to increase capacity at Manchester, Leeds Spill Response. And 2Excel also operates and Doncaster Sheffield Flight Training. The
Bradford and East Midlands in 2023 to Beechcraft 200 Super King Airs G-HMGA closure also raises the question over what
offer alternatives for customers that have and G-HMGB and Piper PA-31-310 G-SCIR happens to Vulcan XH558.
VX4’s Vertical Aerospace
tethered
flight
VERTICAL AEROSPACE’s VX4 electric
vertical take off and landing (eVTOL)
undertook its first, tethered test flight
at Gloucestershire Airport, Kemble in
September 2022.
The developer noted it is “the first British
company to start flight tests with a new
aircraft in over 20 years”. At the controls
was Vertical’s chief test pilot, Justin Paines,
the RAF’s X-35 JSF project test pilot and
more recently a test pilot for Joby Aviation,
another eVTOL developer.
The VX4’s eight sets of aerodynamic from vertical to horizontal forward flight”. The five-seat VX4 (pilot and four
propellers lifted the aircraft from the The VX4 flew under a Civil Aviation passengers) will have up to 100 miles
ground at hover-thrust. Vertical said initial Authority Permit to Fly. Vertical said the range and a 150mph cruise speed. Vertical
testing is “expected to continue for several permit and the early tests mean it can has received more than 1,400 conditional
months, completing different stages which “progress confidently” towards its target of pre-orders from airlines, operators, lessors
will involve reaching higher altitudes and having certification and first deliveries of the and tourist groups, including Virgin Atlantic,
speeds, and demonstrating the transition VX4 in 2025. American Airlines, Japan Airlines and Air Asia.
Continuous descents made easy

EASYJET A320 Family aircraft will receive use only idle thrust when descending from signed up as a partner in Airbus’ direct air
updated flight management systems to the cruise. Airbus said this will save easyJet carbon capture project to remove CO2
save fuel. more than 98,000kg of fuel per aircraft direct from the atmosphere and store
New descent profile optimisation and per year and save 88,600 tonnes of CO2 it underground.
continuous descent approach software across the fleet. Other sustainable initiatives easyJet is
from Airbus will be installed on the low- EasyJet has pledged to reduce carbon involved in include the Airbus/Rolls-Royce-
cost carrier’s 300-strong fleet of A320s emissions per passenger per kilometre led project researching hydrogen and
and A321s by the end of 2023. by 78% by 2050. The carrier is involved electric aircraft, and a NATS/Eurocontrol
Continuous descents enable crews to in various sustainability initiatives and has project studying efficient flight paths.
Airbus
Rolls-Royce and Boom part ways

ROLLS-ROYCE and the US developer partner and our transformational approach Council on Clean Transportation report
Boom Supersonic are no longer working for reliable, cost-effective and sustainable said: “Flying faster than the speed of sound
together, leaving the US company supersonic flight.” is inherently energy-intensive, in part
seeking a new engine partner to power its Exactly who a future engine supplier because supersonics use powerful, narrow
proposed Overture supersonic airliner. could be is unclear. Multiple media reports engines to produce the high thrust needed
The Denver, Colorado-based Boom – in AIN and Flightglobal say other major to break the sound barrier.”
which in July 2022 revealed an updated engine suppliers GE Aviation and Pratt & The report said: “This means high
configuration for the planned Mach Whitney have distanced themselves from fuel burn – up to 10 x more fuel per
1.7-capable, 80-seat Overture featuring supersonic projects, citing other priorities, seat kilometre compared to subsonics,
four engines and a reshaped airframe – including developing new technologies. according to a Massachusetts Institute
continues to target a first flight in 2026 and Broadly, supersonic aircraft might also of Technology report to the National
initial delivery in 2029. be out of step with the aviation industry’s Aeronautics and Space Administration –
A Boom statement said: “Later this year, sustainability focus. A joint International disproportionate climate impact, and the
we will announce our selected engine Civil Aviation Organization/International spectre of increased airport noise.”
Beautiful sky. Cumulonimbus cloud and cirrus cloud Boom Supersonic

CIVIL NEWS COMPILED BY MARK BROADBENT
Heart launches ES-30
SWEDISH START-UP Heart Aerospace has as “comfortable three-abreast flat-floor energy without cannibalising battery range
revised its electric regional airliner. The cabin seating”, a galley and lavatory, for use during cruise on longer flights “to
company will now produce a 30-seat overhead cabin stowage bins and a large complement the electrical power provided
commuter airliner instead of its previous baggage and cargo compartment. The by the batteries”, the developer has said.
19-seat design. aircraft’s standard range will be 200km, Heart Aerospace founder and CEO
The ES-30 was launched with a purchase with the ability to fly up to 800km with 25 Anders Forslund said: “The ES-30 is
order from Air Canada for 30 examples. passengers on board. an electric aircraft that the industry
The Canadian carrier is also investing US$5 Fully electric with battery-powered can actually use.” Orders for the ES-19
million in Heart Aerospace, with the same motors generating zero emissions and low previously placed by United Airlines and
amount also to be contributed by another noise, the ES-30 will have what Heart calls Mesa Air Group, totalling 200 aircraft
new project partner, Saab. a ‘reserve-hybrid’ system. This will feature plus 100 options, have been reconfirmed
The ES-30 will have what Heart describes two turbo generators designed to preserve for the ES-30.
Heart Aerospace
Looking up for vertiports In brief...

AIRBUS IS ramping-up the testing of the
A321XLR following the September 2022 first
flight of the programme’s second flight test
aircraft, F-WWBZ (msn 11058), from Toulouse-
Blagnac, France. The jet is the first A321XLR
with Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G-
JM engines. Airbus is targeting an early
2024 certification and service entry for the
4,000nm (8,7000km)-capable variant.
DE HAVILLAND Aircraft of Canada will build a

new aircraft factory near Calgary, Alberta. De
Havilland Field will be the final assembly site
for the forthcoming DHC-515 Firefighter
aerial firefighting aircraft launched earlier in
2022, the DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 and
DHC-8 Dash 8. The facility will have assembly
Volocopter lines, maintenance, parts distribution and
training facilities, and a De Havilland Canada
SEPTEMBER 2022 saw the US Federal putting vertiports on top of structures. aircraft museum.
Aviation Administration issue the first Separate work studying how to integrate
TWO MORE Leonardo AW169s will be used
design standards for vertiports – dedicated air taxis into air transport continue. German
for air ambulance services in the UK. Sloane
facilities for the new generation of electric eVTOL developer Volocopter, light aircraft Helicopters will operate G-CPTZ and G-NICU
vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer Pipistrel and air traffic for The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA). The
aircraft in development. management specialist M3 Systems tested helicopters will replace an EMS-configured
The standards outline dimensions for avoidance manoeuvres and deconfliction AW109SP GrandNew which Sloane has
vertiport touchdown and lift-off areas, during a week-long trial at Pontoise Airfield used since taking over the TCAA contract
additional airspace needed for eVTOL in France. earlier in 2022. Sloane separately operates
flightpaths, as well as guidelines on Another eVTOL developer, Wisk, two AW109SPs for the TCAA’s parent
markings, lighting and visual aids. They also and Boeing recently unveiled a future organisation, The Air Ambulance Service.
lay out initial safety standards for battery- concept of operations, which included a
Have you got news for us? Just head to
charging equipment, the requirements recommendation for automating these
Key.Aero or aviation-news@keypublishing.
for adding a vertiport to an existing aircraft in order to reduce air traffic com with your submissions.
commercial airport, and guidelines for control burdens.
Copa goes retro
Copa Airlines has marked its 75th anniversary with a special retro livery applied to eight-year-old Boeing 737-800, HP-1841CMP (c/n 44156).
The Panamanian airline, which began services in 1947 with a fleet of Douglas DC-3s and assistance from Pan American World Airways, opted
to paint the single-aisle jet in colours worn by the aircraft’s fleet during the 1990s AirTeamImages.com/Steven Marquez
UK AOC for Norse
Norse Atlantic Airways
NORSE ATLANTIC, the Norwegian low-cost with flights from Oslo to the US, flying from operate routes “currently not served by
carrier, has received a UK Air Operator’s Gatwick two months later. The UK AOC will direct flights or lacking sufficient capacity”.
Certificate (AOC) and operating licence provide additional flexibility and expansion Norse uses Boeing 787-9s finished in a
from the Civil Aviation Authority. opportunities from mainland European livery called ‘Oseberg’ inspired by the Viking
Norse began operations in June 2022 points and the UK, enabling the carrier to longship of that name in Oslo.
Rising from the ashes In brief...

AER LINGUS introduced the A320neo in late
September 2022. The aircraft, EI-NSA (c/n
10712), named St Thomas, is leased from
CDB Aviation and was put onto the carrier’s
Dublin-London/Heathrow route. The aircraft
was originally destined for Smartavia but
sanctions against Russia meant it became
available for another operator.
BRITISH AIRWAYS and Qatar Airways have

further expanded their partnership, adding
42 new countries to their shared network.
The airlines said the expansion “will enable
seamless connecting journeys on single
tickets through Doha and London, bringing the
total number of destinations served by the two
The first aircraft for the soon-to-be-relaunched Jet Airways has broken cover at Maastricht/ airlines to 185 across more than 60 countries”.
Aachen airport having been repainted at the Dutch hub. The Airbus A320neo, OE-IBQ (c/n
10546), is the first Airbus narrowbody to wear the Indian airline’s livery, the last iteration of Have you got news for us? Just head to
the carrier having operated 148 examples of the Boeing 737. The airliner has been leased from Key.Aero or aviation-news@keypublishing.
Avolon having initially been destined for S7 Airlines prior to sanctions being imposed on Russia com with your submissions.
and its aviation industry AirTeamImages.com/Jan Severijns

MILITARY NEWS
UK Lightning II force
in FOC delay
The UK’s Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning the UK will have received the majority of last year. As was widely reported at the
II force has suffered a setback after it was the 48 F-35Bs it has on order and the time, the aircraft was on strength with 617
revealed full operating capability (FOC) for second of the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft ‘Dambusters’ Squadron and was undertaking
the fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighter carriers, HMS Prince of Wales (R09), will routine flying operations while deployed
fleet has now slipped by two years to 2025. be fully operational. The UK is expected aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth when it
James Heappey, Minister of State for the to agree a follow-on order which would crashed into the eastern Mediterranean Sea
UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), made the increase its Lightning II fleet to 74, with a shortly after take-off on November 17, 2021.
disclosure while answering a question in decision on a further purchase beyond this The pilot successfully ejected from the jet,
the House of Commons on Monday, due to be made mid-decade. which sank in international waters and was
September 12: “809 Naval Air Squadron is In other Lightning II news, a stray engine subsequently recovered. The crash was the
due to stand up in Q2 of 2023. Full operating intake blank has been identified as the first loss of a UK F-35B.
capability for the Lightning Force is expected primary cause of an incident in which In its interim accident report issued on
in 2025, at which point the Lightning Force RAF F-35B ZM152 (coded 018) was lost September 8, the UK Ministry of Defence
will be able to operationally deploy both (MOD) found the F-35B had no technical
squadrons concurrently.” RAF/617 Squadron F-35B Lightning II ZM152 defects at the time of the crash and
No reason was given for the delay, which ‘018’ on HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) on confirmed a blank had been inadvertently
marks a departure from the MOD’s earlier August 24. This was the aircraft lost off left in one of the F-35B’s intakes, restricting
stated timeline of initial operating capability the carrier on November 17 MOD Crown airflow and causing a loss of power.
by next year, though it is anticipated by 2025 Copyright/LPhot Unaisi Luke Craig West
Patriot Express returns or ‘Cat B flight’, these commercial charter

services enable military personnel and their
families to travel between US and overseas
installations.
Capt Cole Finnerty, 100th Logistics
Readiness Squadron deployment and
distribution flight commander, said: “This
is a huge win for our airmen and their
families as it saves their personal time
and money during an already daunting
international transition.”
AirTeamImages.com/Steven Marquez The Patriot Express will operate
fortnightly from Baltimore/Washington
The US Department of Defense has The first flight, operated by Eastern International Thurgood Marshall Airport
officially reinstated ‘Patriot Express’ services Airlines Boeing 767-336ER, N705KW (c/n and be able to cater for around 240
between RAF Mildenhall and the US after 24342), arrived at the Suffolk air base on passengers. Future services are expected to
an almost two-decade hiatus. September 20. Also known as the ‘rotator’ be flown by Omni Air International.
MILITARY NEWS
Raider rollout revealed
Northrop Grumman has confirmed the the B-21 Raider will be a historic moment take place in 2023. It added: “The actual
B-21 Raider – the US Air Force’s next- for our Air Force and the nation. We last timing of the first flight will be based on
generation stealth bomber – will be introduced a new bomber almost 30 years ground test outcomes.”
formally unveiled later this year, ahead of ago. As we look to the threats posed by The USAF intends to operate a future
its first flight in 2023. our pacing challenge; we must continue fleet of 225 bombers, consisting of veteran
The US manufacturer said the milestone to rapidly modernise. The B-21 Raider B-52H Stratofortresses and “at least 100”
event, the first of its kind since the B-2A will provide formidable combat capability Raiders, though the force is yet to confirm
Spirit broke cover in November 1998, will across a range of operations in highly specifically how many examples will be
take place in December at its Palmdale, contested environments of the future.” acquired. The first B-21s will be based at
California, facility. While its existence has Northrop Grumman has been working Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California,
been openly acknowledged, the B-21 has on the B-21 since it was awarded the for testing, with operational examples due
so far only been depicted in a series of development contract in October 2015. It to be assigned initially to Ellsworth AFB,
digital concept images. confirmed on September 20 that six test South Dakota, followed by Whiteman AFB,
Gen Charles Q Brown Jr, USAF Chief of aircraft are currently in various stages of Missouri, and Dyess AFB, Texas, as they
Staff, highlighted the importance of the final assembly at Palmdale and reaffirmed replace the outgoing B-1B Lancer and
new stealth bomber. “The unveiling of that the type’s first flight is scheduled to B-2A fleets. (Photo Northrop Grumman)
Portuguese Millennium progress
The first of five Embraer KC-390 Millennium The first Portuguese Air Force KC-390, PT- Deliveries of the KC-390 are anticipated
tanker-transports for the Força Aérea ZDK (c/n 39000011, to be FAP 26901), which to start in early 2023, paving the way for
Portuguesa (FAP; Portuguese Air Force) has Embraer announced had begun flight testing the withdrawal of the FAP’s ageing fleet of
entered its final phase of testing ahead of its on September 1, 2022 Embraer Lockheed C-130H Hercules.
planned arrival in Portugal. Elsewhere, the force has placed a firm
The aircraft – which currently wears the KC-390 Program Monitoring and Inspection order for six Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks
Brazilian test registration PT-ZDK but will be Mission” and precedes the platform’s arrival to support domestic firefighting operations.
given the serial 26901 – is now conducting in Portugal, where it will be integrated with Announcing the deal on August 30, the
certification trials at Embraer’s facility in NATO-standard equipment and certified FAP said it expects to receive its first two
Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo. According by the country’s National Aeronautical helicopters – supplied by Arista Aviation
to the FAP, this final test phase is being Authority with support from the Portuguese Services, which specialises in modernising
performed “under the watchful eye of the aerospace company, OGMA. surplus US Army UH-60s – early next year.

MILITARY NEWS
RAF A400Ms in paradrop trials
Martin Needham
The Royal Air Force (RAF) continues to Insertion’ sorties over the Salisbury Plain for already in service such as the ability to
expand and develop the capabilities the first time. air-drop supplies, air-to-air refuelling, and
of its Airbus A400M Atlas C1 fleet after Commenting on these trials, Air Cdre landing on natural surfaces, puts the Atlas
successfully completing low-level Martin – the RAF’s Atlas Programme in a good position to take over from the
parachute trials with the type. Senior Responsible Owner – said: “The Hercules in 2023.”
The missions were planned and delivered successful initiation of mass low-level Expansion of the A400M’s tactical
by 206 Squadron – the RAF’s Heavy Aircraft parachuting trials on the Atlas represents capabilities comes as the RAF readies the
Test and Evaluation Squadron – and the a major milestone for the Atlas Capability heavy lift transporter to take over from the
Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit Programme. This significant step is the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules C4/C5
(JADTEU), both based at RAF Brize Norton result of a lot of hard work by the whole fleet, due to be withdrawn in 2023. The
in Oxfordshire. team and keeps the programme on track service has taken delivery of 20 of the 22
Supported by paratroopers from the to transfer low-level and high-altitude Atlas C1s it has on order. The UK Ministry
British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade parachuting capability from C130J of Defence annual defence equipment
Combat Team and the Royal Marines’ 3 Hercules onto the Atlas next year. Adding plan published in February anticipates a
Commando Brigade, these trials saw an both parachuting capabilities to the range follow-up deal for an unspecified number
Atlas C1 conduct a series of ‘Mass Para of other tactical capabilities that are of A400Ms in 2028-29.
Green light for

Swiss F-35 deal
Switzerland has firmed up its agreement
to acquire 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A
Lightning IIs.
A $6.14 billion deal was signed on
September 19, marking a significant
milestone in what has been a prolonged
procurement exercise to replace its
legacy Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet and
Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II fleets. In addition
to the aircraft, the multi-billion-dollar
contract also covers the provision of
mission-specific equipment, weapons
and ammunition, along with a logistics
package, mission planning systems,
training systems and initial training for
Swiss Air Force pilots and ground crews.
Deliveries of the F-35s are scheduled
between 2027 and 2030 Switzerland will replace its F/A-18s and F-5s with 36 F-35A Lightning IIs Lockheed Martin
MILITARY NEWS
Typhoon strike sinks US frigate
Martin Needham
Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon The exercise, which involved other UK fired by a Wildcat, a Royal Navy first.
FGR4s have dropped live weaponry and US assets, saw the former US Navy Commander Ed Moss-Ward, Commanding
onto a warship for the first time during an vessel attacked by an array of munitions, Officer of HMS Westminster, said: “Atlantic
exercise to destroy a decommissioned including Harpoon anti-ship missiles fired Thunder has demonstrated that UK and
US Navy frigate. simultaneously from HMS Westminster US naval and air forces can work together
The three aircraft from the RAF’s fast jet and a US Navy P-8A Poseidon, an SM-6 to deliver an end-to-end kill chain against
test evaluation unit, 41 Sqn, took part in missile from the guided-missile destroyer a maritime target at long range. The
the multinational exercise Atlantic Thunder USS Arleigh Burke and Joint Direct Attack integration of high-end weapons, sensors
held off the coast of Scotland in early Munitions (JDAMs) released by USAF and communications with our NATO
September during which they released Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF allies is key to the collective war fighting
multiple Paveway IV precision guided Lakenheath. It was also on the receiving capability of the Alliance demonstrated by
bombs onto the USS Boone. end of Martlet air-to-surface missiles the sinking exercise.”
Kentucky goes Super
The eighth C-130J Super Hercules for the Kentucky ANG’s 123rd AW is seen shortly after arriving at Louisville ANGB, Kentucky, on August 25,
2022. The delivery of this aircraft (serial 19-5945) marked the completion of the 123rd AW’s transition from the legacy C-130H to the new C-130J.
US ANG/Staff Sgt Chloe Ochs
The Kentucky Air National Guard’s (ANG’s) arriving on August 25. The unit’s outgoing stretch model. This means there are two
123rd Airlift Wing (AW) has completed C-130Hs – which it has operated since additional pallet positions for equipment
its transition from the legacy C-130H 1992 – have been reassigned to Delaware on top of the six pallet positions that are
Hercules tactical transport to the C-130J ANG’s 166th AW. normally associated with what we refer
Super Hercules. Highlighting the step change in capability to as legacy C-130s… that’s thousands
Deliveries of the upgraded and more offered by the new mount, 123rd AW of pounds of additional combat resupply
capable type kicked off in November 2021 commander Col Bruce Bancroft said: “The equipment for our warfighter on every
with the eighth and final example, 19-5945, C-130J has often been referred to as the single sortie.”

MILITARY NEWS
More ‘Red Air’ contracts for Top Aces
A trio of Top Aces-operated F-16 AAFs fly together in formation. The privately owned, US-based ‘Red Air’ contractor was awarded a five-year
contract, worth up to $175m, to provide ADAIR training to F-22A and F-35A pilots at Eglin and Luke AFB by the USAF on September 12, 2022.
Top Aces/James DeBoer
Top Aces has been selected by the US frontline F-35 Lightning II and F-22A looks forward to supporting Luke and
Air Force to provide adversary air training Raptor fifth-generation fighter fleets at the Eglin to fulfil their advanced combat
services to fighter pilots at Eglin Air Force end of September training needs. With our fleet of F-16 AAFs
Base (AFB), Florida, and Luke AFB, Arizona. Commenting on the five-year, $175m [Advanced Aggressor Fighter], we deliver
The ‘Red Air’ contractor, currently the only contract, Russ Quinn, president of Top Aces a calibre of adversary air training that was
privately owned operator of Corp and a former USAF Aggressor pilot, previously non-existent. Our commitment
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons, said: “Top Aces’ cadre of highly experienced is to deliver professional excellence and
was expected to have started supporting Aggressor pilots and maintenance crews significant cost efficiencies.”
First H160B
for France
The French Navy has taken delivery of its
first Airbus Helicopters H160B. The aircraft,
008/F-HMRE (c/n 1008), arrived at Base
Aéronautique Navale Hyères on September
22 and is the first of six for an interim fleet
which will be delivered by 2023.
They will take over the maritime search
and rescue (SAR) role from the current
NHIndustries NH90 Caïman Marine and
AS565 Panther helicopters pending delivery
of the first full military variant, the H160M
Guèpard Marine, in 2029. Feedback on
operational experience with the interim
variant will also contribute to development
of the Guèpard, which is being led by the
Direction Generale de l’Armament (DGA;
General Directorate of Armament) to
create a single fleet of 169 light helicopters
to replace five types currently in service
with the French army, navy and air force.
The H160Bs will be deployed at three
bases – Hyères, Cherbourg and Lanvéoc-
Poulmic in Brittany – to provide SAR cover
along the Atlantic and Mediterranean
coasts as well as the North Sea and the The French Navy has taken delivery of the first of six H160s that will perform search and rescue
English Channel. (SAR) missions Anthony Pecchi/Airbus Helicopters
PRESERVATION
Portuguese Sabre
looking sharp
A freshly restored North American F-86F flown by the Portuguese Air Force’s The unit was the second Portuguese
Sabre, 5361 (c/n 202-133), was unveiled at Esquadra 52 ‘Galos’ (‘Roosters’). squadron to fly the F-86F. However, it only
Monte Real Air Base, Portugal, during the The move is a unique choice as the jet is flew the type for two years between 1959
facility’s annual open day. the sole example painted in these markings. and 1961. During this time, the aircraft took
The early jet fighter has been repainted Portugal’s other three preserved F-86s all part in Operation Atlas in which Sabres
in an all-over silver scheme with red wear the later grey and blue markings that were deployed to Portuguese Guinea on
accents on the aircraft’s nose, tail and were applied to aircraft flown by Esquadra the outbreak of the Guinea-Bissau War of
wingtips, which represents an aircraft 51 ‘Falcões’. Independence in 1961.
Convair flying career extinguished
AirTeamImages.com/HAMFive
Canada’s BC Aviation Museum experienced museum’s home at Victoria International Conair from 2000. Grahame fondly recalls
a first in September – the simultaneous Airport. ‘Kilo-Foxtrot’ will now be put on that every year he spent with Conair was
retirement to the museum of both an static display, with Grahame volunteering “special”, and that of all the aircraft he
aircraft and its pilot. as a tour guide, explaining to visitors how flew, the CV-580 was the most enjoyable
The aircraft, Convair CV-580 C-FHKF, aviation shaped the province. and fulfilling.
had spent more than 20 years fighting Originally built in 1955 as a CV-440 The new exhibit complements the
fires – and making his farewell flight at the ‘Metropolitan’ – an all-metal airliner – it museum’s Douglas A-26B Invader
controls was Grahame Wilson, who has first flew with Sabena Belgian World 43-22357 (CF-BMS), which participated
some 40 years’ experience in the role. Airlines. Eventually exported to Canada, in World War Two before post-war
In Grahame’s capable hands, the aircraft it was converted to an air tanker and conversion to the air tanker role.
made a final flight from Abbotsford to the began operations with Abbotsford-based Steve Beebee

PRESERVATION
Paulo Mata
Air Canada donates Electra

Air Canada has marked its 85th He added: “Air Canada has a long and
anniversary with the donation of rich history connecting Canadians from
Lockheed L-10A Electra CF-TCC to coast to coast, which continues to this
Winnipeg’s Royal Aviation Museum of day, and it all started with the Lockheed
Western Canada. L-10A, 85 years ago. As we celebrate
The aircraft made its final journey as this anniversary, we mark the milestone
it taxied from the Air Canada hangar at by ensuring that such an important
Winnipeg International Airport to the part of Canadian aviation history will
museum at a handover ceremony. be available for enthusiasts to enjoy for
One of three purchased by Air Canada's many years to come.”
forerunner, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) Museum boss Terry Slobodian added:
in 1937, it was until recently one of only “We're very pleased that CF-TCC has
two Lockheed L10-A Electra aircraft landed at the Royal Aviation Museum
in the world still flying. Named after a and is now part of our permanent
bright star in the Pleiades star cluster, the collection. Our museum was previously
Electra once represented the exciting located in the original TCA hangar here
The aircraft had joined the Portuguese new face of commercial aviation. in Winnipeg. The Lockheed Electra
Air Force in February 1960, having “There is no more fitting preservation is a perfect picture of the early days
previously served with the Norwegian Air for one of our original aircraft than of commercial air travel in Canada.
Force. It served until April 1980, several to have TCC on permanent display We are grateful to Air Canada for
months short of the type’s retirement. in Winnipeg, which was one of TCA's their longstanding support of our
It will remain at Monte Real as part of original hubs when the airline began museum and for entrusting us with this
a collection of several historic aircraft operations in 1937,” said Air Canada’s spectacular piece of aviation history.”
preserved at the base. Martin Needham Capt Murray Strom. Steve Beebee
Shooting Star drops in for repaint

A Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star has been mid-1940s. The example being airlifted be preserved to educate visitors on the
flown by an Iowa Army National Guard to the ANG paint facility in Sioux City had history of the Iowa National Guard. When
Boeing CH-47F Chinook from its former been painted in the markings of the 174th it was activated in the early 1950s, the
home at the Iowa state headquarters in Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), the 174th FIS was equipped with the Republic
Des Moines to the Air National Guard predecessor to today’s 185th Air Refueling F-84 Thunderjet and its airmen and aircraft
(ANG) paint facility in Sioux City, where it is Wing (ARW) – which is based at Colonel had been dispersed across Europe and
being repainted. Bud Day Field (or Sioux ANG Base), the Korean peninsula. On the unit’s return
The F-80 Shooting Star was the first co-located at the Sioux Gateway Airport in to Sioux City, it was re-equipped with the
jet-powered aircraft to enter operational western Iowa. F-80C to maintain pilot currencies until
service with the US Army Air Force (USAAF) After restoration, the F-80 will be it converted to the F-84E Thunderstreak
– the precursor to the US Air Force (USAF) returned to static display at Camp Dodge, in 1955. The F-80 was retired from USAF
– at the end of World War Two in the located in Johnston, Iowa, where it will service in 1959. Khalem Chapman
Korean War-era F-80 Shooting Star, repainted at the Air National Guard (ANG) paint facility in Sioux City, Iowa, stencilled with the markings of
that ANG scheme from the mid-1950s. The Iowa ANG’s 174th Fighter Bomber Squadron flew the F-80 from 1953 to 1955. The F-80 will be on
permanent static display at the Iowa National Guard Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa USAF/MSgt Vincent De Groot
GENERAL AVIATION NEWS
Light aviation at Blois
UL Concept hopes that there is a market for an ultralight

version of the popular Stampe SV-4 biplane Rod Simpson
The SMAN PetrelX was one of two designs

on display at the event Rod Simpson
Rod Simpson
reports from the
annual Mondial de
l’ULM exhibition
at Blois, France
T
he first weekend in September
saw large crowds and more than
150 light sport and ultralight
aircraft on show at the annual
Mondial de l’ULM exhibition in the Loire
Valley. While traditional Cessnas, Pipers,
Socatas and Robins still form the backbone to a parachute wing) and the weight- Friedrichshafen in Germany is the major
of flying clubs and training schools, many shift microlights, then there are very showcase for new light aircraft designs,
new private pilots move on to the more small single-seat fixed wing aircraft and Blois has much to offer, as we discovered.
affordable ULMs (Ultra-Léger Motorisé), larger two-seaters and high-performance Open cockpit biplanes are still an
and the choice as seen at this exhibition tourers. Add in amphibians, helicopters excitement for many pilots, but numbers
is enormous. At one end there are the and gyrocopters and there’s something are dwindling. Fortunately, Belgian
Paramotors (single seat trikes attached for any aviator. While the exhibition at company UL Concept has found a ready
The most recent addition to the JMB VL-3 stable is this turboprop-powered variant, while development continues on a four-seater Rod Simpson

GENERAL AVIATION NEWS
Romania’s AVI Composites is now offering the Dracula 140 which can take-off
in less than 300ft (90m) and boasts a range of 280miles (450km) Rod Simpson
market for its SV-4RS, a modern ultralight this two-seat biplane ceased some years At the other end of the spectrum, you
version of the venerable Stampe SV4-RS. It ago, but it is now built as a light sport can still have fun in a single seater as the
first flew on 28 December 2016 and more aircraft in Brazil as the Scoda Super Pétrel. new Dracula 140 from the Romanian
than 70 have been built, with five appearing The new PétrelX has been redesigned with company, AVI Composites proves. It has a
at Blois. The Stampe airframe had to be a longer fuselage, the original wingtip floats tiny 28.3kw Polini Thor engine (or can be
redesigned to reduce the 560kg empty instead of the underwing floats of the Super powered by an electric motor) and takes off
weight of the original down to the 295kg Petrel, a forward retracting nosewheel in 90 metres, has a cruising speed of up to
ultralight limit and this is helped by use of a and a different cockpit. The prototype, 140km/h and a range of 450 km.
lighter 80hp Rotax 912UL – or the D-Motor registered W54UG and powered by a If you are into helicopters there’s the
or Parma Technik Micron engines. 100hp Rotax 912, flew in the Blois new Choppair CR4-T powered by a 95kw
Although many lakes in Europe do not showcase event. Another amphibian visitor TurboTech TP-890 diesel engine and fitted
allow aircraft, there is still an appetite for was a German-built Flywhale - again, a with an emergency escape parachute.
amphibians and Splash-In Aviation, based at two-seater with a high wing and centre- Easily entered through a forward-sliding
Vannes in southern France, has introduced mounted engine. The Flywhale design front fuselage, it cruises at 180km/h and
a new version of the SMAN Pétrel, designed rights have been bought by Dornier has a three-hour range. For those who
by Paul Tisserand in 1982. Production of Seawings at Munich Oberpfaffenhofen. like touring and need something faster
with hi-tech equipment, there’s the JMB
VL-3. Originally known as the Aveko VL-3
Evolution and built at Vysoké Mýto in the
Czech Republic, many VL-3s have been
sold worldwide and a four-seater is in the
works. The latest version is the VL-3 Turbine
with a TurboTech turboprop which is
credited with a 180km/h top speed.
As the Blois exhibition proved, there is
truly a flying machine to meet the needs
and ambitions of every private pilot.
The Flywhale design rights have recently been acquired by Dornier Seawings Rod Simpson
The diesel-powered Choppair CR4-T features

a ballistic parachute system Rod Simpson
Nightshoots:
explained
With the nights drawing in, Aviation News’ Martin Needham
looks forward to the start of several months of tripod-based antics
with this guide to getting the most from a night photoshoot

Above: Several event organisers permit
T
aircraft to run their engines at night. This adds he date was January 29, 2009. I appreciate that night photography isn’t
a sense of movement to pictures of The place, RAF Northolt. A for everyone, especially having recently
propeller-driven and rotary wing types gaggle of between 50 and 100 witnessed my mum take the tripod she’d
photographers, uniformly clad in bought my dad for Christmas 1987 down
Left: Museums are popular locations for night
high-vis jackets, were standing hunched from the loft and to a charity shop, still
photography events, offering opportunities to
behind cameras and tripods, the cold, still, unused in the box it had arrived in so many
capture out-of-service aircraft after dark.
This Tornado GR.1P has been a star of past winter air broken only by quiet chatter and years earlier.
nightshoots at South Wales Aviation Museum the slapping of DSLR mirror mechanisms. If you too are wondering ‘what on earth
and is appearing under the floodlights at It’s unlikely that Phil Dawe knew that the is the appeal of standing round in the dark
another event in November event he had organised would be the first with a tripod?’, then I can only apologise
of 27 (at current count) at the West London – having co-founded an organisation
Below left: Current military aircraft are a
regular feature at events held at RAF Northolt
airfield, and that similar evenings would now running the majority of these events
and RNAS Yeovilton, with the French Air and continue to crop up at airfields, air bases in the UK, I am somewhat responsible for
Space Force being particularly big supporters and air museums across the country for the recent boom in night photocalls. But
of events at the former well over a decade afterwards. if I’m honest, I’m not all that sorry! That
Engine runs often present more dramatic images of an aircraft, with older piston-powered aircraft
likely to emit flames from their exhausts. However, not every pilot will over-prime their aircraft quite
as much as Hawker Hurricane owner James Brown did on this occasion! All images Martin Needham
Above: As events of this kind tend to take
January night almost 14 years ago is what of a camera being knocked over while
place between September or October and
first stirred my interest in photography unattended. At a nightshoot, there is an
March, it is advisable to wrap up warmly.
‘after dark’. I will admit that it has become Some events will also require you to wear a etiquette that is strictly adhered to, with
such an obsession that, in August, a high-visibility jacket photographers mindful that others are also
collection of confused and bemused trying to get their images.
German aerobatic pilots looked on as I Below: The organising team behind RAF Frequently, there are no barriers
Northolt’s night photoshoots has spent
illuminated a pair of Bucker Jungmeisters separating event attendees and aircraft.
almost a decade-and-a-half securing rarities
before rushing back and forth between the to attend its events, the highlight being this
However, a natural ‘crowdline’ will form
two cameras I was using to simultaneously Swedish Air Force Rockwell Tp86 Sabreliner, around the floodlights illuminating an
photograph both 1930s biplanes. which attended the 14th iteration of the event aircraft. It is possible to move forwards
The opportunity had come about on March 14, 2013 of these, but it is advised to shoot from
because my long-suffering Seat Ibiza is a lower angle. This offers two benefits:
crammed with sufficient floodlights to is a more relaxed pace to the evening and it often increases the presence of an
illuminate an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 plenty of time for a natter while cameras aeroplane in the frame, making it appear
(I reckon, although no one’s let me loose do the hard work and heavy lifting. more imposing; it also reduces the
with a 180-seat narrowbody… yet!). likelihood of your shadow appearing in the
Anyone who has been to one of these Composing the shot foreground of someone else’s pictures.
evenings will appreciate that an event of While I’ve previously mentioned using Odds are, if you or your shadow are edging
this kind is a world apart from the usual two cameras and racing between them into another’s pictures, they will politely let
lens-swinging session that an airshow to ensure that each are producing the you know.
affords a keen photographer. Alongside images I’m looking for, I will only use one What I will say is that if you choose to
the challenge of taking pictures at night, camera at a public event. This is purely position yourself against a hangar wall
the inclusion of tripods and the increase because I don’t have to worry about how and use a telephoto lens to compose an
in shutter speed – usually to between ten the aircraft are lit, as I would if I had done image – as seems to happen at least once
and 30 seconds in length – means there it myself, and it also removes the risk at each event – you are leaving people

Above: A tripod is an essential item at a night
with no option but to walk in front of you. of high contrast, ideally around a third of
photoshoot in order to achieve sharp images,
Therefore it shouldn’t be too much of a the way into the frame. This will make life
while a shutter release cable can help to
surprise if they begin walking through your reduce camera shake further much simpler for you and your camera, but
frame and leaving luminous high-vis trails it’s most important to ensure you switch
on your images! Below: RAF Northolt’s proximity to London your focusing mode from ‘auto’ to ‘manual’
Also, if you are repositioning for a new means that event organisers are able to in order to lock the point you want to
secure additional aircraft participation at
angle or moving to another aircraft, focus on.
short notice. However, a downside to this is
it’s best to ask someone if they’re in the light pollution from the capital that can
Once you have the subject nice and
the middle of taking a picture before give the sky an orange hue sharp and the focus locked, if needs be, it’s
wandering across their frame. time to frame the aircraft whichever way
Returning to that etiquette mentioned would be willing to look at your pictures to you see fit.
earlier, lights will have been set up by the see what the lighting looks like and how it With an average night photocall offering
event organiser and positioned as best needs to be changed. a selection of between one and possibly
possible to illuminate the aircraft involved a dozen aircraft to photograph over the
in the shoot. Often, they may have been In focus space of several hours, it’s unlikely you will
angled upwards – so as to remove bright Having picked your spot and set up your need to rush from one aircraft to another.
pools of concrete, tarmac or grass in tripod, it’s time to frame up the subject Of equal importance is to switch back
the foreground and areas of glare on the and get it nice and sharp. Depending on to auto focus after you have finished
subject, and to create longer, less harsh the age of your camera and/or lens, your photographing at this location and moved
shadows behind the aeroplane. However, if equipment might not easily lock focus to another, as you may be further forward
you’re not happy with how an aircraft is lit, on an aircraft in the dark, especially if or further back at your next shooting point.
asking event staff is your best bet. It saves that aircraft wears a dark colour or deep In manual focus mode, your camera
potentially upsetting those around you and camouflage scheme. Should you be won’t be bothered how out of focus your
quite often prompts a chat with someone struggling to get a focus lock, first zoom in pictures are, but you certainly will be if you
who is not only able to move the lights, but as much as possible and look for an area don’t realise until you get home!
Above: An aperture of around F8-F10 and
Settings a low ISO value will ensure the aircraft are
of it and some of the background and
Anyone who has photographed a gig or in focus and images aren’t grainy or noisy. foreground, too.
a night-time airshow act like AeroSPARX However, this does lengthen the shutter I set an ISO value of around 100 and put
will be aware that night photography speed considerably the camera in A mode (Nikon, Sony) or
tends to involve maxing out ISO values Av mode (Canon, Pentax), selecting an
Below: The use of a wide-angle lens – either
and shooting ‘wide open’ with as small an aperture between F8 and F11. This should
to photograph more than one aircraft or a
aperture value as possible. This is all that single aeroplane at close quarters – increases
give a shutter speed somewhere between
in reverse. As the subject isn’t moving, the amount of sky in the frame, which is a few seconds and 30 seconds, depending
there’s very little concern for blur – even particularly effective during dusk on how early in the evening it is.
if an aircraft is running its engine, as event It’s worth noting at this point that there’s
organisers will brief pilots and request sharpest image with the smallest amount an awful lot of difference between your
they don’t go hell for leather with the of electronic noise present. That means eyes and a digital sensor set to record light
throttle. This is because the harder an using a smaller ISO value – usually no for up to 30 seconds. This is most evident
aircraft’s engine is working, and the more higher than ISO200 – and an aperture at the start of a nightshoot when your
air a propeller is moving, the more likely value of around F8 to F11, which will images look more like they were taken
the rest of the aeroplane is to vibrate or increase the depth of field to include as during daylight hours on a cloudy day
shake. As such, we can aim to take the much of the aircraft as possible, if not all than at dusk.

Above: Night photography can offer
Removing camera shake opportunities to take striking images full of
camera that you’ll likely be using or else
Usually, there’s only a couple of things that contrast that might not have been possible at your tripod legs will flex while you’re
can produce a blurry image. For me, one any other time of day composing your shot.
of those is my own clumsiness when I’ve Another easy way to mitigate this is with a
Below: The use of a longer zoom lens can
knocked the camera or tripod, although shutter release cable. These are very simple
work well to remove a subject from its
there might also be an occasional bit of little remotes which plug into your camera,
background
jostling for position when an event’s star enabling you to control the auto focus if
act is ready to run engines or spin rotors. different options when choosing one: you’ve left it on, and to fire the shutter.
The other issue is image stabilisation: if aluminium or carbon fibre construction, Many even have a lock function that allows
your lens has VR, IS or the equivalent, then three-way or ball heads. However, you’ll you to keep the camera taking pictures
it may be necessary to turn it off, as the want to avoid a video tripod if you ever until you release the lock again. Very handy
system may try to compensate for lens want to shoot portrait, and you’ll want for when you’ve crossed paths in the dark
movement that isn’t present as the camera to buy one that’s rated for the weight of with a mate and get distracted having
is mounted on a tripod.
If it hadn’t occurred to you already, the
most important thing besides your camera
and yourself, is a tripod. There are myriad
What to take Kit bag (kit car!?)
So, you’re thinking of going to What’s in Martin’s camera bag?
a nightshoot? Here’s what I’d I use one or more full-frame DSLRs with 16-35mm, For lighting aircraft, I use two Nightsearcher
recommend you have in your 24-120mm and 80-200mm lenses, depending on Galaxy Pro 3,600-lumen floodlights that I’ve
camera bag: the situation. Of the three lenses, the 24-120mm is modified to sit atop Gravity Stands’ 3m-tall
in most demand due to the versatility of its zoom SP5522 speaker stands. These are compact,
- Your ticket; either printed out or
range, while the others are used more sparingly, battery-powered lights that provide a wide
viewable on a phone should it need
making appearances if opportunities to position spread of light ideal for throwing a useful
to be scanned.
myself closer for low, wide-angle shots or to move amount of bright white (5,600°k) light, meaning
- A high-visibility jacket; some further back to zoom in and squeeze more of an there’s no need to start adjusting your camera’s
nightshoot organisers will NOT aircraft into a tighter frame. white balance. Threshold.aero also uses the
permit you entry to the event unless I use shutter release cables with both cameras Galaxy Pro for the majority of its events; the light’s
you have one. It’s dark and people if lighting an aircraft myself, this means I can three-hour endurance at maximum brightness
are wandering around with lots shoot continuously from two different angles – which is usually not necessary to illuminate
of heavy, expensive camera kit. It simultaneously, going between each camera to an aircraft for the duration of an event – means
is best to be seen, no matter how make sure I’m happy with the images from each, there’s no need to worry about batteries running
unfashionable you might look. and can continue shooting with one camera while out during a shoot.
- Camera; obviously! lining up another shot with the other. I couple these with the Nightsearcher Galaxy
I have three tripods – excessive, I know – which Star, a 2,800-lumen light that I use to fill in areas
- A lens or lenses with a focal allow me to position my camera at a variety of which aren’t as well illuminated. While they have
range of between 18mm and 150mm; heights between around 4-5 inches off the a more focused beam, they also offer five output
that way you’ve plenty of options ground and around 8ft high. The former is perfect levels and double-up as a power bank, which is
for capturing your subjects how for low, wide-angle shots that make aircraft remarkably handy. One or two Gravity stars can
you wish. much more imposing and increase the amount happily sit on top of Gravity Stands’ 192cm-tall
- A tripod; vital for keeping your of sky in an image, perfect during the ‘blue hour’, SP5212B speaker stands through M10 reducer
camera steady. which is when you get those beautiful deep blue flanges, which they also offer.
dusky skies. The latter means I can get more I also have some Nightsearcher Galaxy 1200s
- A good pair of shoes – events
unusual angles of aircraft from height. However, that can also be used as fill-in lights, but double-
airside may require a walk of some
it only really lends itself to low-wing aircraft and up as little torches so I can see what I’m doing
distance, while others may be on and can have a FOD sweep once I’ve packed
opportunities to use this are few and far between,
grass airfields. especially as long shadows cast by a camera on everything away if airside.
- Warm clothing – these events a tripod and yours truly on a stepladder tend to They have an adjustable stand/carry handle
traditionally take place between complicate things! At a public event, I’ll take two which is magnetic, so you can attach them to
September or October and March, tripods: one allowing me to shoot from down low, more or less anything metal, and they also
when it gets dark earliest. the other giving me more height, if not quite 8ft. double-up as power banks, too.
a good chinwag! Aside from the lock radio frequencies – but in more than 100 the shutter firing to worry that your pride
function, these remotes largely remove of these events, I’ve ever seen it happen. and joy has broken, leaving you to fret
the need to touch a camera once you’ve If your budget doesn’t stretch to a shutter about how much it’ll cost to fix!
composed the shot and dialled in the release cable, your camera’s self-timer While all the above works for me, I
settings you want, ensuring that there’s no function works equally well... but you will suspect others will have their own takes
camera shake from pushing the shutter inevitably forget to turn it off and only on how to get the most from a night
button. While most are cabled, you can remember when next following an aircraft photoshoot. However, I hope this article
also pick up wireless ones. I’ve heard down most of the glideslope or through gives insight into what these events involve
tales of people using these and setting a lovely topside pass, your shutter firing and, should you consider attending one,
off a handful of other cameras close by into life once more. There will also be time a good idea of how to get the most from
unintentionally that are on the same/similar between pressing the shutter button and it photographically.
As the night progresses and it gets darker, it can become harder to make
darker areas of an aircraft stand out from the background. This can be easily
fixed with some backlighting – a light is positioned behind and off to one
side of the airframe to accentuate the lines and shape

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Separating airway
Why has a Boeing 787 destined for Vietnam Airlines been
operating from various UK airports? Mark Broadbent reports
A
Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 day with the aircraft departing Heathrow, the ordinary. It was also a tantalising
Dreamliner isn’t the most unusual spending much of the next two hours at prospect for enthusiasts who savoured
sight at London/Heathrow. altitudes no greater than 11,000ft in the the opportunity to see and photograph
However, things don’t quite Bristol area, and then heading to the Essex the 787-10 during its week-long visit to
add up when that 787-10 wears a US airport for an overnight stay. the UK. And inevitably there were rumours
test registration, flies to Stansted and On September 11, the 787-10 conducted on forums and social media about the
Manchester, and spends time in the a 1hr 55min flight from Stansted to Bristol, purpose of what the aircraft was doing.
circuit at Bristol. where it again flew orbits and missed The jet was understood to have been
The aircraft, N8290V (c/n 60293), approaches, and then to Heathrow. A day conducting test flights to gather data about
which is set to become VN-A876 with the later, the widebody flew between Stansted interference on aircraft radio altimeters
Southeast Asian carrier, touched down at and Heathrow, positioning back to Essex caused by 5G wireless signals – an issue
nearby London/Stansted just before 8am before heading northwest to Manchester. that caused major disruption to airlines in
on September 7. The Dreamliner, visiting On September 13, the jet made another the United States early in 2022.
from Boeing’s North Charleston, South visit to Heathrow before heading back to One likely reason for the speculation is
Carolina facility, would spend the next two Manchester. After three further days at that the UK has seen an extensive roll-out
days at the Essex hub before making a the Mancunian hub, it flew back to North of 5G wireless services – including the
quick 20-minute hop to Heathrow on the Charleston. On each occasion, the aircraft very areas of southeast, central, northern
morning of September 9. flew with the callsign ‘BOEING160’. and southwest England where the 787-10
The same day, N8290V operated during its time in the UK.
would later head west and Test flights Aviation News asked Boeing for a
spend an hour-and-a-half in the A widebody airliner wearing comment about the 787-10’s stint in the
Bristol area, making five missed the livery of an exotic airline UK and an explanation for the flights it
approaches at Lulsgate before undertaking a range of short, undertook, however as the magazine went
returning to Stansted. A similar domestic hops in the UK to press, it had yet to hear from the US
sortie was conducted the following was very much out of aerospace giant.

ys from airwaves
Above: Many of the data-gathering

The 5G issue flights departed from London/Heathrow
FCC’s auction, the [Federal Aviation
The introduction of C-band 5G in the Administration, the US regulator]
AirTeamImages.com/Carlos Enamorado
United States by wireless providers Verizon determined that C-band mobile
and AT&T resulted in serious disruption to Below: The widebody visited London/ telecommunications signals could interfere
the airline network early in 2022, forcing Stansted, Heathrow and Manchester and also with low range radio altimeter operations.”
carriers to cancel hundreds of flights spent considerable time over the Bristol area A4A said: “The interference concerns were
AirTeamImages.com/Simon Willson
across the country. But what was the root material because radio altimeters are the
cause of the problem? only device on every aircraft that can directly
In 2017, the US Federal Communications According to a February 2022 measure the distance between the aircraft
Commission (FCC) announced it would testimony presented to the US House and the ground.
auction the 3.7-3.98 GHz portion of the 3.7- of Representatives by the Airlines for “Data from those radio altimeters also
4.2 GHz frequency band available for 5G. America association (A4A): “Before the feeds into several other safety-critical
flight control and warning systems that are Above: The jet visited Manchester towards of steps that will continue to protect
needed in all phases of flight.” the end of its week-long visit to the UK commercial air travel from disruption”
AirTeamImages.com/Simon Willson
The association’s testimony also said the while continuing the 5G roll-out.
FAA determined “radio altimeters cannot Below: In January, the US Federal Aviation Operators of aircraft with radio altimeters
be relied upon to perform their intended Administration advised 787 operators to most susceptible to interference are
function if they experience interference take additional precautions when landing on required to retrofit new radio frequency
from wireless broadband operations” in wet or snowy runways at airports where 5G filters by the end of 2022.
the C-band. C-band service is deployed Boeing Radio-altimeter manufacturers “have
worked at an unprecedented pace” with
Aviation impact disseminated throughout January [2022], the manufacturers of affected aircraft
A specific concern, A4A added, was that it became clear the harm to aviation that (Airbus, Boeing, Embraer and Mitsubishi
radio altimeters would supply erroneous would result from deployment of 5G in the Heavy Industries) to develop and test
information to critical onboard systems C-band near airports would be substantially filters and installation kits that can be
of aircraft operating in the vicinity of 5G worse than originally anticipated.” installed in just a few hours at airline
C-band broadcasting towers in Instrument The testimony claimed more than 1,100 maintenance facilities.
Meteorological Conditions. passenger and cargo flights, and 100,000 The FAA said: “Filters and replacement
The association said that because travellers, were hit by cancellations, units for the mainline commercial fleet
altimeters provide critical information to diversions or delays due to the 5G roll-out. should be available on a schedule that
other safety, flight control, alerting and Nicholas E Calio, A4A president and would permit the work to be largely
navigation systems, “multiple modern CEO, described the 5G introduction as an completed by July 2023. After that
safety systems on aircraft would be “operational nightmare” that “should be time, the wireless companies expect
deemed unusable”. held up as a cautionary tale of government to operate their networks in urban areas
The FAA and US Department of communication and co-ordination with minimal restrictions.”
Transport jointly wrote to the National gone awry. It will likely take years, not Wireless companies also offered “to
Telecommunications and Information days or weeks, to fully and permanently continue with some level of voluntary
Administration (NTIA) expressing concern. mitigate the interference issues caused by mitigations” on rolling out 5G services “for
The FCC auctioned the spectrum to new deployment of 5G in the C-band.” another year”, the FAA said. The agency
licensees in December 2020. On January 28, 2022, the FAA announced added it will also continue to engage with
A subsequent FAA Airworthiness Verizon and AT&T would delay deploying the NTIA and the FCC on technical issues.
Directive mandated revisions to flight some 5G wireless towers after taking “steps A4A said: “Some in the media and
manuals, limiting operations in low- that will enable more aircraft to safely other observers have tried to portray this
visibility conditions around airports near use key airports while also enabling more situation as a conflict between the airline
the 5G C-band deployments. Aircraft towers to deploy 5G service”. This involved industry and the telecommunications
equipped with radio altimeters capable of precisely mapping where 5G signals are industry. That is simply not the case.
functioning without adverse interference around airports. Airlines fully support 5G – but it needs to
could operate without restrictions. A4A In June 2022, the FAA said aviation and be deployed in a manner that allows 5G
commented: “As more information was wireless industries “have identified a series and aviation to coexist safely.”

In the first of a new series
Talking where readers can have their

say, Jeremy Flack considers
what the Russia-Ukraine
Point conflict means for aviation

enthusiasts in the UK
The Polish Air Force has been a big supporter
R
ussia’s invasion of the Ukraine in while Slovakia has donated its Fulcrums
February has had far-reaching of the Royal International Air Tattoo in to Ukraine in anticipation of receiving
recent years, offering visitors to the event
implications that have affected Lockheed Martin F-16V Block 70s.
opportunities to see their Soviet-built jets
numerous aspects of life in the UK Earlier MiG variants may appear in the
in the air and up close on static display
and western Europe, not to mention the AirTeamImages.com/Philippe Noret form of privately owned examples such as
devastation which has been unleashed on the MiG-15UTI operated by the Norwegian
the innocent people of Ukraine. gross domestic product, a measure on Air Force Historical Squadron.
Over the past three decades following the which it had long lagged. The only Russian-built aircraft to have
fall of the Berlin Wall and later the collapse Poland too has been prompted to act, featured in this year’s RIAT flying display
of the Soviet Union, aviation enthusiasts in ordering 48 KAI FA-50 light fighters during were Czech and Hungarian Air Force Mil
the UK have been blessed with a regular September to expedite the retirement of Mi-24 Hind helicopters, the former flying a
smattering of Soviet and Russian-built its remaining Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 pairs display with a Mi-17 Hip. The Czech
aircraft at airshows courtesy of central and Fulcrums and Sukhoi Su-22 Fitters. The duo were potentially on a farewell visit to
eastern European air arms and, for a brief Polish administration will also be keen RAF Fairford, having been earmarked for
period, Russia itself. to receive its first Lockheed Martin F-35s retirement next year in favour of four Bell
As countries such as Poland and Czechia ahead of schedule. Its first Lightning IIs are AH-1Z Vipers and eight UH-1Y Venoms.
have begun to westernise their armed expected to roll off the Fort Worth, Texas, Indeed, before the Gloucestershire base
forces, the once plentiful supply of Soviet- assembly line in 2024 and spend up to two had played host to this year’s RIAT, a pair
built aircraft on the continent has steadily years at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in of former Czech Air Force Hinds had been
decreased. With Russia flexing her military Fort Smith, Arkansas, for training before spotted in Ukraine with large Ukrainian
might, the pace of this shift towards US arriving in Europe. As such, it would seem flags covering markings identifying their
and Western European-built hardware has very unlikely that the MiG-29 or Su-27 will former operator. Hungary presently has no
only increased – unsurprising given that the be seen at RIAT or any other UK airshow plans to replace its own Hinds, nor does
Russia-Ukraine War is the largest conflict in again. Poland’s absence from the Royal Romania to phase out its pair of Antonov
Europe since World War Two and has not International Air Tattoo (RIAT) was notable, An-30 ‘Clank’ Open Skies aircraft, although
only renewed, but greatly increased the but unsurprising given that a war is raging the latter type is, of course, Ukrainian-built.
threat of war elsewhere on the continent. on the opposite side of its eastern border, As we re-enter an age of uncertainty,
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has it seems likely that we will return
sparked an urgency from European to a Cold War-like period where
nations to increase defence spending
Have you got an opinion you’d like to Russian aircraft will be absent from
and to upgrade ageing equipment, share with your fellow Aviation News UK airshows and flying displays until
with Germany having committed such a time that relations between
€100bn to a special military fund readers? We’d love to hear from you east and west begin to thaw once
and increased its annual defence via [email protected] again. How long that will take, no
spending to more than 2% of its one can say.
Red Devils ride on...
Specially painted jets and a ten-ship formation
flypast were just two of the highlights at
the Italian Air Force’s recent 40 years of the
Panavia Tornado celebrations. Marco Rossi
travelled to Ghedi Air Base to join the festivities
T
he arrival of the Aeronautica Right: The drop tanks of Tornado ECR
Militare’s (AM – Italian Air Force) MM7059 carried the badges of the four units
first operational Panavia Tornado to have flown the IDS and ECR variants in
IDS at Ghedi AB on August 27, Italian service; 102°, 154°, 155° and 156°
1982, marked the beginning of a new era Gruppi Marco Rossi
not just for 154° Gruppo (squadron), but Main photo: The flying display was opened
as a highly capable replacement for the by Legend Formation, consisting of a mixture
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, it represented of current and former AM training aircraft
a significant upgrade for the force too. Marco Rossi

Four decades on, the air base near Brescia
in Italy’s far north held a special event to
commemorate 40 years of the Tornado
in service. Ghedi remains home to 6°
Stormo (Wing), better known as the Red
Devils, which encompasses 102°, 154°, 155°
Gruppo and with them all the remaining
operational examples.
The ceremony, which took place on
September 8, 2022, was organised for
pilots, crews and maintainers who have
worked with the Tornado – originally
dubbed by the AM as the PA-200, and now
A/EA-200 – since its introduction into
service and saw the participation of around
The first Lockheed Martin F-35A for 6° Stormo, MM7366, was also on display. The jet carries the
same 6-01 code as the wing’s maiden Tornado, MM7006, did four decades earlier Marco Rossi
The official 40th anniversary logo

incorporates the Italian Air Force roundel, a
Tornado profile and the iconic lightning strike
typeface Aeronautical Militare
4,000 serving and former AM personnel,

and many enthusiasts on the boundary
fence trying get a glimpse of the action.
Tornado ECR MM7059, 6-66 wore a striking livery designed especially for the celebration
Notable guests among the invited
AircraftStudioDesign. It combines all four liveries worn by Italian Tonkas since the type’s first
dignitaries included the AM’s chief of air flight in 1975 Marco Rossi
staff and former Tornado pilot with 156°
Gruppo, Generale di Squadra Aerea Luca and logistic organisation. It was the embryo Tornados on show
Goretti, who said the 40-year anniversary of today's successes. The Tornado allowed The event included a small static display
was a “prestigious milestone”. He added: the Aeronautica Militare to go beyond with two aircraft – the Tornado MM55000,
“The Tornado not only traced a fundamental national borders and brought with it a leap coded 6-51, with celebratory tail markings
furrow for the operational growth of the in quality that has proudly contributed to and flanked by the entire range of weapons
entire force but was the precursor of a making us a leading force appreciated and munitions at the jet’s disposal, and
seismic shift in the aeronautical technical throughout Europe.” 6° Stormo’s first Lockheed Martin F-35A
Dirty diamond: A nine-ship of Tornados

overflying Ghedi with their undercarriage
extended. The formation was led by
specially painted jet MM7059, callsign
‘Devil 01’
Another specially marked Tornado, MM55000, was on static display at Smoke on, go! Nine Tornados in formation
Ghedi, flanked by various weapons and munitions carried by the type with the Frecce Tricolori Marco Rossi
Marco Rossi
Tornado ECR MM7036 added some pace to the flying

programme with a spirited solo display Marco Rossi
MM7366, which carries the same 6-01 code North American T-6H4M Harvard I-UOGI,
the wing’s maiden Tornado, MM7006, had Siai Marchetti S-208M MM62002, 60-40
four decades earlier. The fifth-generation jet and SF-260EA MM55117, 70-24. Bringing up
will eventually replace the venerable swing- the rear were a pair of Aermacchi MB326s
wing fighter-bomber in AM service. (I-RVEG and I-MBCK), and from the current
The most interesting action of the day crop, MB-339CD MM55087, 61-157 and
took place in the skies above Ghedi. T-346A MM55217, 61-13.
Delayed by a short but heavy rain shower, This paved the way for the undoubted
the flying display opened with a series of highlight of the day – a giant formation
Below: The flying display was opened by
low passes by the Legend Formation, a consisting of nine Tornados (four IDS ground
Legend Formation, consisting of a mixture
mixture of old and current AM training attack examples and five electronic combat of current and former AM training aircraft
aircraft. This was led by Fiat G.46-4B I-AEKA, and reconnaissance ECRs) and the nine MB- Marco Rossi

The mass formation over Ghedi included a
mixture of Tornado IDS and ECR variants. All
remaining active examples in Italian Air Force
service fall under the control of 6° Stormo
Marco Rossi
for the celebration by Mirco Pecorari aircraft, 12 were configured for the training
of AircraftStudioDesign and applied by role with dual controls in the rear cockpit,
SchriftArt, combines all four liveries worn while a further 16 were later converted to
by Italian Tonkas since the type’s first flight ECR standard and operated by 155° Gruppo.
in 1975. The red and white colours of the Operational conversion for Italian pilots
P.05 and P.09 prototypes on the forward was undertaken at The Tri-National Tornado
fuselage give way to grey and green Training Establishment (TTTE) at RAF
1980s/90s-era camouflage, the distinctive Cottesmore, before transferring after the
sand livery applied during Operazione unit’s disbandment in 1989 to 102° Gruppo.
339A/PANs of the Frecce Tricolori. It was Locusta, the Italian contribution to Desert The AM’s Tornado fleet was bolstered in
first time such a combination had ever been Shield and Desert Storm during the first Gulf 1995 by the arrival of 24 ADVs (Air Defence
assembled but sadly the gathered masses War, and finally the current low-visibility Variant), leased from the Royal Air Force until
were treated to just a solitary flypast before grey. The 40th anniversary logo and Italian 2004 and operated by 12° and 21° Gruppi as
the jets split, leaving the air force’s aerobatic tricolour are proudly worn on the fin, while a stop-gap measure until the introduction of
team to perform its trademark display. the aircraft’s external fuel tanks carry the the Eurofighter F-2000 Typhoon.
badges of the four units to have flown the Just over half the original 100 Tornados
Quattro colori IDS and ECR variants in AM service; 102°, remain active in AM service. The type will
Thankfully the ‘Tonkas’ returned, with some 154°, 155° and 156° Gruppi, the latter of eventually be replaced by the F-35.The first
spirited flying from single ship MM7036, which disbanded in 2016. Lightning II has now joined 6° Stormo and
6-06 punctuating two slightly more sedate is expected to be assigned to 102° Gruppo,
passes over the airfield from the rest of the In service which currently acts as the Tornado OCU.
jets. This included a crisp diamond-nine Although Italy played a key role in the The wing’s second example is planned to
complete with landing gear lowered, and Tornado programme, it was the smallest join 154° Gruppo imminently.
then a final overflight by all ten after the operator among the original three partner
solo aircraft re-joined its stablemates. nations. The first of 100 IDS examples was
The formation was led by specially painted delivered to the Reparto Sperimentale Volo Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank personnel of
Tornado ECR MM7059, callsign ‘Devil (RSV - Flight Test Unit) on March 3, 1981,
6° Stormo and 1° Luogotenente Francesco
01’ and appropriately carrying the ‘devil’s for evaluation before the type entered Nacca for their support with this report.
code’ 6-66. The design, created especially operational service with 6° Stormo. Of these
The final French Air and
Passing Space Force Transall C-160G

Gabriel capped off a 33-year
flying career with an intense
three-month deployment.
le baton Babak Taghvaee details

the type’s last months

Left: C-160G Gabriel, F221, was retired from across 44 sorties between early March As F216’s deployment stretched on,
l’Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace on January 31 and the end of May. its intensity only grew. During March,
French Air and Space Force
The signals intelligence aircraft, which it logged 13 missions 51 hours and 30
Above: A pair of C-160Rs, including R221 in a had been operated by Evreux-based EEA minutes, which grew to 73-and-a-half
special livery marking the type’s retirement, 01.054 Dunkerque (Escadron électronique hours across 15 flights in April before the
were also operated by EEA 01.0054 for crew aéroporté, airborne electronic squadron) Rolls-Royce Tyne-powered type racked up
training and currency reasons Babak Taghvaee prior to its retirement, was dispatched to more than 81 hours during 16 operational
Bucharest as part of a much larger French sorties in its final month of service.
A
t the beginning of 2022, the force, which included Renault GBC-180 During the missions, crews gathered
Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace trucks, VBL armoured vehicles, AMX- signals generated by radar systems, UHF
(AAE; French Air and Space 10RC reconnaissance wheeled tanks and and VHF radios and even weapons such
Force) was anticipating to retire VAB armoured personnel carriers, all of as cruise missiles launched by Russian
its final two Transall C-160G Gabriels which were airlifted on board a quartet of warships. The intelligence gathered was
on May 20. However, any chance of a Antonov Airlines Antonov An-124-100s. shared with the Ukrainian Armed Forces
gradual drawdown of the type was quickly This was supplemented by Lockheed through NATO Air Command and assisted
abandoned following Vladimir Putin’s Martin C-130J and KC-130Js from the the Ukrainian navy and air force to target
invasion of Ukraine in the early hours of German-French C-130J Tactical Air Russian marines on Zmiinyi (Snake Island)
February 24. By this time, the Gabriel force Transport Squadron, also stationed at Base from April 26 to May 12. The Gabriel was
was down to a single aircraft as F221 had Aerienne 105 Evreux, which flew troops also on hand to monitor the sinking of the
been retired and stored at Châteaudun Air and ammunition to Constanta, Romania Russian cruiser, RFS Moskva, in the hours
Base at the end of January. Gabriel missions from the Romanian after Ukrainian forces fired a pair of R-360
As NATO member states worked quickly capital began just two days after the Neptune missiles at the flagship of Russia’s
to protect the military alliance’s eastern aircraft arrived, with an inaugural four-hour Black Sea fleet.
flank, France’s sole C-160G, F216, was sortie flown over the east and northeast The aircraft would log its final sortie
deployed to Bucharest in Romania, where of the country to monitor Russian naval in Eastern Europe on May 29, ending its
it would log more than 206 flying hours activity in the Black Sea. deployment and a 33-year-long flying
This would be the first in a series of 44 career at its Evreux home. However, the
Left: Both C-160Gs in formation during a missions to be flown over the next 85 days, Gabriel’s retirement left only a slight
training flight French Air and Space Force all but one of which would be flown within capability gap, with the Beechcraft
Below: Missions totalling more than 200 Romanian airspace, the exception being a King Air 350-based Vecteur Aéroporté
hours were flown during the final three six-hour-long flight which ventured into de Désignation, d'Observation et de
months of Gabriel service Babak Taghvaee Polish airspace on April 11. Reconnaissance (VADOR; airborne
Above: The Beechcraft King Air 350ER
vector for designation, observation and almost three weeks between April 4-19
VADOR was briefly deployed to Bucharest in
reconnaissance) being cleared to take April and returned to the Romanian capital
in which it logged 10 sorties including
on a portion of the C-160G’s role from in mid-June to take on the role vacated by the one over Poland. These missions were
June 10. C-160G Babak Taghvaee supplemental to those conducted by the
A requirement to replace the two sole remaining Gabriel.
Below: Seven VADORs have been ordered,
Gabriels had been identified several As the final Gabriel was retired on May
only two of which have entered service
years ago, with the French Ministère des 31, 2022, the responsibility for performing
Babak Taghvaee
Armées (ministry of the armed forces) multi-intelligence gathering missions over
unveiling a plan to develop a Dassault aspects of the Gabriel’s role with much Romania handed over to VADOR. Little
Falcon-based successor in February 2018. lower operational and maintenance more than a week later, the French Air and
Named Epicure, the programme initially costs than those incurred by the use of Space Force’s second example, the Vador
called for a pair of Falcon 2000 or 7X ageing Transalls. Initially, VADOR had with 1030 serial number and F-RACH
jets to be used as an electronic warfare been envisioned to operate alongside register, was deployed to Romania. It
platform. A subsequent contract was the C-160Gs as part of a tactical multi- carried-out its first operational sortie over
awarded to Dassault Aviation and Thales intelligence gathering package. the country on June 12, 2022.
to equip a trio of the former’s Falcon 8X The ALSR programme was launched in While the introduction of VADOR
business jets with the latter’s Capacité 2016 following a contract signed between negates a three-year-long ‘capability
Universelle de Guerre Electronique (CUGE; the DGA, Sabena Technics and Thales for holiday’ between the Gabriel’s retirement
universal electronic warfare capability) seven King Air 350s to be modified and and the Archange’s entry into service,
system during December 2019. With the equipped with intelligence, surveillance many in the AAE consider the C-160G’s
wheels in motion, the programme was and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. The premature withdrawal to be a mistake.
renamed Archange and the Gabriel’s out first aircraft, 1018/F-RACG (c/n 1018), was This has not gone unnoticed as a leased
of service date was set for 2025, when delivered to the DGA on July 31, 2020, and Saab 340 is to be equipped with systems
the first Archanges were due to become was released to EEA 01.054 several month from F216 and used as a stop-gap until the
operational. This would all change in late later. A second VADOR, 1030/F-RACH (c/n first Dassalt Falcon 8X Archange becomes
2021 when the two C-160Gs’ retirements 1030), joined before year’s end. operational. However, while VADOR’s
were brought forward to January and May Having since been touted as an interim shortcomings may mean there is a
2022, respectively. replacement for the Gabriels, the first reliance on intelligence gathered by other
A key factor for this was the availability of operational deployment of a VADOR NATO platforms, it is a matter of short-
two Beechcraft VADOR light surveillance coincided with F216’s three-month stint in term pain before Archange brings about
and reconnaissance (ALSR) aircraft. Romania earlier this year. The turboprop, significant long-term gains for the French
These turboprops could perform several 1018, was dispatched to Bucharest for ISR community.

Above: Both Transall C-160G Gabriels have been preserved, with the
Put out to pastures other example, F221, due to go on display at Châteaudun Air Base
Babak Taghvaee
nouveaux
The Musée de l’Air et d’Espace
Below: The Musée de l’Air et d’Espace’s other signals and electronic
intelligence gathering aircraft. Douglas DC-8 SARIGuE, 45570/F-RAFE
(c/n 45570), which was flown to Le Bourget for preservation in July
2001 Babak Taghvaee
placed its newly acquired C-160G

Gabriel on display in September,
reuniting it with an old colleague, as
Babak Taghvaee discovered
L
ess than a month after returning gathering missions, which were also known SARIGuE. The two aircraft conducted
from its final operational sorties over as ‘Gabriels’. Two options were considered: missions in support of Operation Daguet,
Eastern Europe, the Armée de l’Air et the C-160 and the Lockheed EC-130H the French contribution to Operation Desert
de l’Espace’s sole remaining Transall Compass Call, with the French opting for the Storm. Both Gabriels were also used to
C-160G Gabriel, F216, made the short flight domestically produced option in March 1986. monitor Serbian, Bosnian and Croat forces
from its home base at Evreux, 60 miles west Two examples were converted to C-160G during the Yugoslavian conflicts. More
of Paris, to the French capital’s Le Bourget standard, which included a belly-mounted recently, the two Rolls-Royce Tyne-powered
Airport. The Gabriel – or ‘Gabby’ as the Thomson-CSF EPICEA communications C-160Gs supported French armed forces
type was affectionately known to its crews intelligence (COMINT) system with a in Iraq and Syria, when they were deployed
– touched down at the historic Parisian retractable antenna, an ASTAC electronic to Prince Hasan Air Base in Jordan, as well
airfield to join the Musée de l’Air et d’Espace, intelligence suite including wingtip pods, as Ukrainian forces following the Russian
France’s national aviation museum. and several antennas on the top of the invasion earlier this year.
The type’s origins can be traced back to fuselage. Finally, a pair of OMERA 51 Following the retirement of F216 in May, the
1984, when the then-Armée de l’Air began cameras were installed in fairings on each aircraft’s classified signals, communications
a study to replace the eight Nord N2501 side of the aft fuselage. The aircraft entered and electronic intelligence systems were
Noratlas transports that it had converted for service in 1989 and were quickly deployed removed in readiness of the aircraft being
signals and communications intelligence on missions over West Germany along flown to Le Bourget and donated to the
the West Berlin Air museum. This took place without an official
Corridor from ceremony and the aircraft wasn’t unveiled to
March 21 until the public until September 17.
November 9, when At Le Bourget, F216 was reunited with an
the Berlin Wall fell. old colleague as the museum’s collection
The following includes another former French intelligence-
year, a C-160G gathering aircraft, Douglas DC-8 SARIGuE,
was deployed to 45570/F-RAFE (c/n 45570), which was
Al Hasa Air Base, handed over in July 2001. As Aviation News
Saudi Arabia, went to press, the two aircraft were in the
As Aviation News went to press, the retired C-160G Gabriel had yet to alongside France’s Museum’s storage area and inaccessible to
go on permanent public display Babak Taghvaee sole Douglas DC-8 the public without prior permission.
AIRSHOWS AND EVENTS
What’s on?
These listings are subject
to change.
Please ensure an event is taking
place prior to setting off.
Want your event listed here? Aviation News is not responsible
Get in touch with those all-important for any changes or cancellations
to the events listed here.
details at [email protected]
Andre Tempest’s Handley-Page Victor K.2 – a veteran of the Falklands

UK AIRSHOWS AND EVENTS conflict – will be one of several aircraft featured in the night photocall
at Yorkshire Air Museum on October 29 Martin Needham
DATE EVENT LOCATION DETAILS
OCTOBER JANUARY
19- Swiss Air Force Axalp, www.vtg.admin.ch/en/ 8th Croydon Airport Croydon Airport [email protected]
20th Live Fire Demo Switzerland organisation/kdo-op/air- Aviation Collectors' Hotel, South
force/flpl-mei/axalp.html Fair London
22nd Light Aircraft Turweston, www.lightaircraftassociation.
Association AGM Buckinghamshire co.uk/
APRIL
7-9th Classic Fighters Omaka, New https://www.classicfighters.
22nd Threshold Vintage Sywell, www.threshold.aero
Air Show Zealand co.nz/
Night Photoshoot Northamptonshire
[pre-book] 8th ACS Aviation Perth Airport, www.perthairport.co.uk
Festival of Flight Perthshire
29th Yorkshire Air Elvington, North www.yorkshireairmuseum.
Museum Night Yorkshire org/events/ 19- AERO Friedrichshafen, www.aero-expo.de
Photo Shoot 23rd Friedrichshafen Germany
NOVEMBER MAY
2nd Threshold FAA Yeovilton, www.threshold.aero 19-20 Private Flyer Fest Wycombe https://www.
Museum Night Somerset London Air Park, privateflyershow.com/uk/
Photoshoot Buckinghamshire
5th Shropshire Aero Sleap, www.shropshireaeroclub. 28- Oostwold Airshow Oostwold, NL https://www.oostwold-
Club Bonfire Night Shropshire com/events 29 airshow.nl/
Fly-in
JUNE
12th Avro Vulcan Wellesbourne www.timelineevents.org/
Evening Mountford, product.php?xProd=1019 2nd- Midlands Air Ragley Hall, https://www.
Photoshoot Warwickshire 4th Festival Warwickshire midlandsairfestival.com/
8th- Aero Expo Sywell, https://www.aeroexpo.
13th Shropshire Aero Sleap, www.shropshireaeroclub.
10th Northamptonshire co.uk/
Club Remembrance Shropshire com/events
Sunday 11th RAF Cosford Air RAF Cosford, https://www.
Show Shropshire cosfordairshow.co.uk/
13th Remembrance Breighton, North www.realaero.com/bugle
Sunday Service Yorkshire JULY
20th Heathrow Aircraft Kempton Park www.aircraftenthusiastfair. 7-8th Private Flyer Fest Leeds East https://www.
Enthusiasts Fair Racecourse, co.uk/ Leeds Airport privateflyershow.com/uk/
Surrey
14- Royal International RAF Fairford, www.airtattoo.com
DECEMBER 16th Air Tattoo Gloucestershire
10th Christmas Fly-in Compton Abbas, www.comptonabbasairfield. 24- EAA AirVenture Wittman Regional https://www.eaa.org/
Dorset co.uk/events 30th Oshkosh Airport, Oshkosh, airventure
Wisconsin

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347/22
Aviation’s frieAerobatic competitions don’t have to be hotly contested
battles to see who the most precise pilot is or who has the
best G tolerance, as Martin Needham discovered at the
Real Aeroplane Company’s Breighton headquarters
D
uring the second half of August, a 60 miles northeast of Stauning, for a 2018 competitive in events, including modern
gaggle of historic aircraft descended event. In 2019, the VAWC strayed beyond and higher performance types such as
on the Real Aeroplane Company’s Danish borders for the first time, holding the Extra EA-300, Zivko Edge 540 and
Breighton, North Yorkshire base. the event at Gera, Germany. Genevation GenPro. The spirit of the VAWC
Among them, a pair of Bücker Jungmeisters Søren explains: “I had participated in means that it is a much more level playing
which had made a mammoth, eight-hour aerobatic competitions for many years field for them to compete in.
trip from Landshut in southern Germany and felt that the atmosphere was a little
supported by a Cessna 195 Businessliner. harsh. I wanted something social but still The competition
However, it wasn’t just a collection of competitive and I have always been in love The competition is not regulated by either
Bölkows, Bückers and Zlins arriving on UK with historic aircraft. I felt that someone the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale’s
shores, but the Vintage Aerobatic World needed to do something and thought Aerobatics Commission (CIVA) or the
Championship (VAWC). Founded in 2015 ‘why not me?’. I started working on the International Aerobatic Club (IAC),
by Søren Dolriis, a Danish private pilot idea around Christmas 2015 and within 10 however portions of the two organisations’
and aerobatics aficionado, the event first minutes of launching the website, a German frameworks have been borrowed in creating
took place in Stauning, Denmark – Søren’s pilot got in touch to say, ‘count me in’.” the VAWC’s rules and scoring system. This
home airfield – in 2016 and again in 2017 He states that there are many gifted pilots provides a familiar starting point for both
before moving the short distance to Skive, who have older aircraft that are no longer pilots and judges who have previously taken
No fewer than six examples of the Bücker

Jungmeister could be found on the airfield
over the weekend Martin Needham

ndly games
part in or been involved in running
an aerobatic competition.
assistance from Zlin Avion.
As well as splitting the pack in
In order to make the terms of aircraft performance,
competition fairer, aircraft are there are different categories
split into one of three categories: based on pilot ability and
Vintage – for aircraft built more experience. Rather than
than 65 years ago with a type describing these with terms
certificate or similar issued such as ‘beginner’, ‘intermediate’
before 1955; Classic – for types and ‘expert’, the different
certificated between 1955 and levels are reflected in names
1975, and aircraft at least 45 years which refer to the types of
old such as Zlins or Yakovlev Yak- manoeuvres flown in those
50s. The final category concerns categories. The first of these,
replica and modified aircraft, Looping the Loop, is intended
including those which have been for less experienced pilots and
reengined. Just one aircraft in is flyable in all low-powered
attendance fell into this category, aerobatic aircraft. It involves
Benoit Dierickx’s SSH Bücker movements including barrel rolls,
Bü-133PA Jungmann, SP-YBK (c/n half Cubans, wingovers and a
T-131-201). The aircraft, powered loop. The second, Dancing the
Benoit Dierickx visualises an aerobatic routine
by a 200hp LOM 337CE inline engine, ahead of taking to the air. The Belgian, a Cloverleaves, is more advanced and can
had been a project started by Janusz TUI fly Belgium 737 captain by trade, would be flown in most low-powered aircraft.
Karasiewicz prior to his death in 2006 and eventually scoop top honours at the event Routines in this category include stall turns,
was completed in 2014 by Dierickx with Martin Needham quarter clovers and humpty bumps,
include Immelmanns, hesitation rolls, and
manoeuvres included in the other divisions.
The event culminates with ‘The
Performance’, a six-minute freestyle routine
set to music. This element, and others,
mean that Søren and others see the VAWC
not as a competition, but as a movement
which celebrates vintage aviation, and it’s
this which led to Breighton hosting the
most recent gathering.
Back in 2018, Tony ‘Taff’ Smith and
Les Clark took part in the VAWC, flying
a Jungmeister and Jungmann to Skive,
respectively, while Real Aeroplane Club
chairman, Charles Sunter, flew a Max Holste
Broussard in support of the biplane pair.
Tony ‘Taff’ Smith gets airborne in the Bücker Jungmeister for his slot in the ‘The Performance’ Charles explains: “We had such a good
category. The aircraft had been issued with a permit to fly just days before the VAWC kicked off time at the competition and got to know
Martin Needham Søren and a few other people. The whole
thing about the VAWC is the spirit; it’s about
the competitors and their crew and their
friends having fun, enjoying aerobatics
and enjoying classic aviation. It was such
tremendous fun that it was suggested that
we invite them to the UK. It’s the kind of
event that should be held at Breighton
because that’s what we’re about. Breighton
is Yorkshire’s – and I’d go as far to say that
it’s the North of England’s – only home for
classic aviation.”
Runners and riders

With Bückers proving a popular choice
for past iterations of the event, it was to
be expected that Rangsdorf-designed
as well as half Cubans and stall turns. aerobatics, the rolling circle – a rolling 360° and built types were well represented. No
The last and most advanced is known turn which simultaneously tests a pilot’s fewer than six Jungmeisters were present
as Rolling the Circle and features one abilities to maintain constant rates of turn over the weekend, with Bu133Cs D-EIII
of the most challenging manoeuvres in and roll. Sequences in this category also and D-EJJI having flown from Landshut
to be in attendance. The former of these
was used over the weekend by Bernhard
Looping the Loop Drummer – president of the Bavarian Sport
Position Name Nationality Aircraft Score Aviation Association – and Rainer Berndt,
1 Richard Stirk GBR de Havilland Chipmunk T.10 52.77% while the latter of these is painted as the
2 Peter Künast GER Zlin 526F 37.19% aircraft flown by famous German aviatrix
and 1938 German national aerobatics
Dancing the Cloverleaf champion, Liesel Bach, who flew the
1 Jan Schiedek-Jacht GER Bücker Jungmeister 87.07% original D-EJJI. It was flown by Thomas
2 Dietmar Poll AUT Letov LF-107 Luňák 85.50% Sachse, Jan Scheidek-Jacht, Oli Heupel
3 Thomas Sachse GER Bücker Jungmeister 74.88% and Kathi Suthau, whose Zlin 526F, D-EZLI,
4 Mike Rottland GER Bölkow Bo-209 Monsun 73.67% had developed a technical fault shortly
5 Maxim Schelfhout BEL Piper J-3 Cub (clipped wing) 66.49% after arriving.
6 Stephen Stead GBR Bücker Jungmeister 64.73%
Stephen Stead took part in Bu133C
G-BUTX, which Taff restored in the 1990s,
Rolling the Circle while Taff himself took part in Spanish
1 Bernhard Drummer GER Bücker Jungmeister 77.31% Nationalist Air Force-marked G-RPAX, the
2 Kathi Suthau GER Bücker Jungmeister 76.67% decade-long restoration which had been
3 Rainer Berndt GER Bücker Jungmeister 68.89%
completed just days prior to the start of
4 Benoit Dierickx BEL Bücker Jungmeister (mod) 62.87%
the VAWC with the issuing of a permit to
fly. Another example of the type previously
The Performance owned by Taff, Swiss Air Force-liveried
1 Benoit Dierickx BEL Bücker Jungmeister (mod) 402.20pts G-AXMT, remained hangered for the
2 Rainer Berndt GER Bücker Jungmeister 395.60pts
weekend. Rounding out the half-dozen was
3 Dietmar Poll AUT Letov LF-107 Luňák 395.40pts
Benoit Dierickx in his aforementioned SSH-
4 Bernhard Drummer GER Bücker Jungmeister 389.60pts
5 Kathi Suthau GER Bücker Jungmeister 379.40pts built, LOM-powered Bu133PA.
6 Maxim Schelfhout BEL Piper J-3 Cub (clipped wing) 370.60pts Additional German-built participation
7 Tony 'Taff' Smith GBR Bücker Jungmeister 355.80pts came from Bölkow Bo 209 Monsun,
8 Oliver Heupel GER Bücker Jungmeister 315.20pts D-EFJH, which competed in the Dancing
the Cloverleaves category.

Bücker Jungmeisters D-EJJI and
D-EIII taxi out for the long flight
back to Landshut Martin Needham
Breighton-based Richard Stirk picked

This Cessna 195 Businessliner, N3010B up first place in the Looping the Loop
(c/n 7893), flew as a support aircraft category in his former Portuguese Air
for the German-based Jungmeisters
Force OGMA DHC-1 Chipmunk, G-UANO,
Martin Needham
while Maxim Schelfhout brought his
Belgium-based clipped-wing Piper J3 Cub,
N92107, and took home the Jiri Koberle
trophy for Sportsman of the Year.
A sole glider, a Letov LF.107 Lunák, was
beautifully flown by Dietmar Poll, while
Czech aircraft types were bolstered by a
pair of Zlin 526Fs, however luck was in
short supply for the type as both developed
mechanical issues before the competition
had chance to get underway, sadly.
With its mix of vintage aircraft types and
enthusiasm for historic aviation, it’s easy
to understand just how the VAWC has
become so popular in little more than a few
years. This isn’t a competition so much as it
is an opportunity to get together and enjoy
some beautiful historic aircraft.
Left: Fortune wasn’t on the side of the two
Zlin 526s. Maintenance issues prevented both
aircraft from taking part in the competition
Martin Needham
Below left: Maxim Schelfhout, a newcomer

to the VAWC, competed in this clipped-wing
Piper Cub. His performance earned him the
Jiri Koberle Sportsman of the Year trophy
Martin Needham
The 2023 Vintage Aerobatic World

Championship is due to be held at Odense,
Denmark and you can keep up to date with
VAWC news at vintageaerobatic.com.
Breighton Aerodrome is a members-only
airfield, however annual membership for
enthusiasts is just £35 per year and allows
entry to the airfield and around a dozen fly-
ins and other events each year. More details
can be found at realaero.com
Martin Needham would like to thank Charles
Sunter, Søren Dolriis, Tony ‘Taff’ Smith and
the Real Aeroplane Company team for their
assistance in producing this article.
Heavy seas
After years of preparation, the Netherlands Coastguard is

replacing its entire fleet. Peter Ten Berg takes a look at the force
as it switches from Dorniers and Dauphins to Dash-8s and AW189s
T
he Netherlands Coastguard unobstructed views of seaways between the Kustwacht and its then-15-year-old Dornier
(Nederlandse Kustwacht) is River Scheldt on the Belgian border and the overstretched. In reaction to this, the
undergoing the largest upheaval River Ems which separates the Netherlands Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) doubled
in its history, with both its fixed from Germany. down on the Dornier. It acquired two
and rotary-wing fleets being retired and With the threat of Russian submarines remanufactured and upgraded examples,
replaced within a matter of weeks. Part in western European waters greatly PH-CGC (c/n 8183) and PH-CGN
of this change means the force’s 30-year diminished, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (c/n 8181), from aerospace company
association with the Dornier 228 is drawing opted to disband 320 and 321 squadrons RUAG. The two German-built aircraft were
to a close. in 2006. The units’ fleet of Lockheed equipped with navigation, communication
An example of the high-wing STOL P-3C CUP+ Orions was sold to Portugal and marine tracking and tracing devices as
turboprop, PH-MNZ (c/n 8206), was and Germany and Naval Air Station well as an optical sensor suite. However,
acquired in 1992 to patrol Dutch territorial Valkenburg closed. However, an unforeseen PH-MNZ was part-exchanged in the deal
waters in the North Sea. It quickly became consequence of this was a capability and it would later become the Do 228NG
a hit with onboard observers who enjoyed gap in coastal patrol sorties, leaving the prototype/demonstrator, D-CNEU.

of change
Dornier Double Main photo: The Airbus Helicopters AS365 As the Do 228s began to close in
The two aircraft delivered in 2007 continue Dauphin II is one of two Netherlands on the end of their economical lives,
to fly daily surveillance flights over the Coastguard types being retired a project group was created by the
North Sea, with taskings including tracing All images Peter Ten Berg Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO)
and identifying the origins of sea pollution, – responsible for Dutch military
observing ships’ sailing behaviour, law In addition to sorties conducted off procurement – to prepare for the
enforcement, monitoring and filing sea and close to the Dutch coast, the aircraft replacement of the current aircraft.
traffic and supporting search and rescue participate in international missions. These The group drew up requirements,
(SAR) missions. The turboprops are based include periodic deployments in support specifications and preferred operational
at Schiphol Oost – part of Amsterdam of Frontex, the European Union Border organisations for the new aerial
Schiphol Airport primarily used by business and Coast Guard Agency, and include platform. This led to a tender focusing
aviation traffic – and, while civilian involvement in European Union Naval on outsourced activity, culminating
registered, are managed by the Dutch MoD. Force Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med, in a contract being awarded to the
This hybrid approach continues on board, ‘Operation Sophia’). ISR Support Europe consortium – a
as crews comprise Royal Netherlands The Netherlands was one of several partnership between Jet Support,
Air Force pilots and cabin-based roles EU member states that contributed to which maintains the Do 228s, and PAL
are allocated to government or military maritime patrol missions in the central, Aerospace of Canada. The latter fulfils
specialists including members of the south Mediterranean following a steep similar maritime surveillance operations
Koninklijke Marechaussee (Dutch military rise in the number of shipwrecked Libyan for clients in Canada, the Dutch
police) and customs officers. migrant vessels from April 2015. Caribbean and the United Arab Emirates.
Above: The Dornier Do 228-212 has been
in service with the Netherlands Coastguard
since 1992
Left: The pair of Dorniers were to continue

flying daily coastal patrol missions until the
Dash 8s reached initial operational capability
Below left: The first of two Bombardier Dash

8-100s for the Netherlands Coastguard
arrived at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on
September 9
Bottom left: The incoming Canadian-built

turboprops bring with them advances in
capability as well as a six-hour endurance
on September 9 and the second was due

later the same month. The initial aircraft,
C-GCFK (c/n 028), is set to become
PH-CGD while the second and final
example, C-FGCE (c/n 038), will be placed
on the Dutch civil registry as PH-CGE.
The two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120-
powered airliners have led particularly varied
lives. Built in 1986, the future PH-CGD spent
more than 30 years flying in Canada as an
ILS calibrator, first with Transport Canada
and later with Nav Canada. It was retired in
October 2020 and sold to PAL Aerospace,
which has modified the aircraft for its new
role. Constructed in the same year, the
soon-to-become PH-CGE spent 15 years
with the Canadian Armed Forces before
passing through a trio of Canadian regional
carriers. It was sold to Titan Helicopters
Group in 2017, spending three years with
the South African company before it too
made its way to PAL Aerospace in late 2020.
In readiness for their entry into Kustwacht
service, pilot training on the Dash 8 began
in November 2021 and crews will continue
to build hours and keep current on the
Dutch Dash detailed specifications of the equipment new type. This will be done in phases to
The new contract for the Netherlands have been released, but the switch to Dash ensure availability of the Dorniers until the
includes modifying and delivering two fully 8 operations will see several benefits against Bombardier type reaches initial operational
mission-ready Bombardier Dash 8-100 the older patrol platform. Certainly, its six- capability. The switch from Dornier to Dash
aircraft, to provide cockpit crew and crew hour endurance will provide more flexibility is anticipated to take several months.
training on all systems and support the and the inclusion of a surface radar will
operation of the leased aircraft for an improve the sea traffic data availability Rotary replacements
initial ten-year period, with an option to significantly. More modern equipment on The Dutch Coastguard also contracts a SAR
extend for two one-year terms. The crew board will also improve the detection of service for its national waters as well as the
of observers and system operators will drowned persons and sea pollution. international seaways in the North Sea. Two
continue to comprise personnel from Dutch The first Dash 8 arrived at Schiphol Oost, coastal stations are equipped with Airbus
military and governmental services. No its new home for the next decade at least, Helicopters AS365N3 Dauphin IIs operated

by Noordzee Helikopters Nederland (NHN),
a subsidiary of Ostend, Belgium-based NHV.
This arrangement had been in place since
2015, when the Royal Netherlands Air Force
disbanded 303 Squadron and retired its
Agusta Bell AB-412SP fleet, surrendering its
SAR commitments.
NHN split its four-strong Dauphin fleet
between De Kooij and another facility at
Pistoolhaven, very close to the Port of
Rotterdam. De Kooij is already a hotbed for
rotary-wing operations, with NHV, CHC
Helicopters Netherlands and Dancopter
all using the airfield as a base from which
to transport workers to oil platforms in the
North Sea.
The small heliport at Pistoolhaven is used
solely by NHV and its Dutch subsidiary. As
well as SAR missions, NHV also conducts
commercial flights to take maritime pilots
to merchant vessels when additional crew
members are required to sail a ship into
harbour. At each of these locations, one
AS365 is on continuous alert and there is a
requirement for a helicopter to be airborne
within 20 minutes of an emergency call. The
Top right: A crew of four, comprising a pilot,

co-pilot, rescue swimmer and a winch
operator, respond to call-outs in the NHN-
operated Dauphin. This remains largely
unchanged as Bristow begins flying SAR
missions with the Leonardo AW189
Above right: Three Bristow-operated

Leonardo AW189s are being based at Naval Air
Station De Kooij and Midden-Zeeland Airport
Right: NHN’s presence at De Kooij extends

beyond its current SAR commitments to
transporting oil industry workers to platforms
in the North Sea
Below right: The Italian-built AW189 is capable

of rescuing up to 16 people at a time and can
transport a mobile rescue and firefighting
team from the Maritime Incident Response
Group in case of a fire on a ship
second aircraft at each station is on standby

and can be used to scale up the response to
a larger incident if necessary.
A standard crew is made up of four people:
a pilot, co-pilot, a rescue swimmer and a
winch operator. However, NHN’s De Kooij
base has a flight nurse available to join the
crew when an emergency requires additional
medical support and co-ordination with a
hospital. Missions are predominantly SAR
efforts or in support of shipping, with 108
SAR sorties and 40 medical evacuations from
various types of vessels conducted in 2019.
Enter the AW189

Last August, the Dutch Coastguard
announced that SAR operations would be
transferred to Bristow Helicopters from
November 2022 following a public tender.
As well as a change of operator, NHN’s
four Dauphins are being replaced by a trio
of Leonardo AW189s, one of which will be
used as a reserve aircraft. They are being
During 2019, the four Dauphins
carried out 108 SAR missions and
conducted 40 medical evacuations
from vessels
deployed to Naval Air Station De Kooij, in

the northern Netherlands close to the port
of Den Helder, which also plays host to 860
Naval Air Squadron and its NHIndustries
NH-90s.
From November, the Dauphins will make
way for Bristow and its three AW189s
for a decade-long term. The transfer
will end a turbulent period in which the
Coastguard has had to prepare for the
start of the new contract. Since NHN was
awarded its contract in 2015, there have
been allegations from the public that the
Dauphins were inadequate for the SAR
demands they are contracted to fulfil.
It has since been proven that NHN was
complying with the terms of its contract,
but this didn’t stop the company from
disputing the result of the new tender
process. This was resolved when a court
determined that the tender had been
conducted correctly and that Bristow’s bid
could be accepted.
Bristow’s €158m bid comprises three
AW-189s, based at De Kooij and Midden-
Zeeland Airport, the latter having been
chosen instead of Pistoolhaven. The
Leonardo-built helicopter has proven itself
in coastguard and SAR arenas and fulfils the
Dutch requirement to be able to rescue up
to 16 people at a time. It will be operated by
a four-person crew with an optional flight
nurse, while it is also capable of transporting
a mobile rescue and firefighting team from
the Maritime Incident Response Group in
case of a fire on a ship.
Training for the November start has been
under way at Bristow’s Lee-on-Solent facility
in Hampshire, while an AW-189 visited De
Kooij in June in anticipation of becoming
a permanent fixture at the airfield later this
year. Registered G-MCGN (c/n 92001) at the
time of its visit, it was set to become
PH-GCN ahead of the contract’s start date.
No doubt it – and the two other AW189s
that will respond to emergencies in Dutch
territorial waters and North Sea shipping
lanes – will quickly become familiar sights
along the country’s coastline.

Victor
restoration revealed
Martin Needham reports from the Imperial War Museum Duxford
on the completion of its Handley Page Victor B.1A(K2P) restoration
The Handley Page Victor should hopefully not
C
onservation staff at the Imperial staff and 20-30 volunteers working on the
require any major works for the next 40-50
War Museum (IWM) Duxford have aircraft for six years. The complexity of the
years and is expected to be moved into the
completed what is regarded as main AirSpace gallery exhibition hall when it is aircraft, the physical size of it and the depth
the most ambitious restoration rearranged in the near future Martin Needham of work that was required meant that we
project undertaken at the Cambridgeshire have had quite the challenge on our hands.
site. The six-year-long effort to return to 55 Sqn in April 1965, moving to RAF “The sheer size of the aircraft has meant
Handley Page Victor B.1A(K2P), XH648 Marham with the unit soon thereafter. It that we weren’t able to paint entire
(c/n HP80/48), to the condition in which would spend the next decade with 55, sections at once, and there have been sub-
it arrived at Duxford on June 2, 1976, was being transferred to 57 Sqn in June 1975 assemblies and components that we’ve
marked by a reunion of former Victor crew as its former unit began working up on the restored and then put on shelves until
members on September 26. Victor K.2. The aircraft would remain with we’ve been able to reassemble the entire
Originally built to Victor B.1 standard 57 Sqn for its final year of service, being aircraft. At the same time, there’s been
at Radlett, Hertfordshire, the jet made retired to Duxford on June 2, 1976. up to six teams each working on different
its first flight late in November 1959. It While with the IWM, the Victor was parts of the aircraft at any one time, so
joined 57 Squadron at RAF Honington, initially kept live by members of Duxford there’s been lots of liaising to do to make
Suffolk, the following month, spending 11 Aviation Society and received regular sure that everything’s being done to the
months on strength before returning to maintenance which culminated in a full same standard and that people working
Radlett in October 1960 for conversion to repaint in 1989. However, the gloss paint on the same area or sub-assembly are
B.1A standard. This included fitting new used to dress the aircraft reacted poorly working to the same timeline.”
electronic countermeasures, an improved with a matt varnish applied to make the Now that XH648 is back to its best, it
radar and radio, and uprated Armstrong aircraft’s colours more accurate. Having isn’t expected that it will venture into the
Siddeley Sapphire turbojet engines. spent much of the four decades since British weather for extended periods.
The V-Bomber was redelivered to 15 Sqn it arrived at IWM Duxford on external However, the conservation team have
at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, on May 11, display, the aircraft was in extremely poor taken no chances, as Marriott explained:
1961, and would remain with the unit until condition by 2016, when it was confirmed “In service, the dinghy bay on top of the
April 1964. During this time, it was posted the aircraft would be restored. fuselage was sealed with a cotton cloth so
to RAF Tengah in Singapore as part of the A mammoth restoration project began it could be opened quickly and easily in an
Far East Air Force, where it would act as a with the aircraft being disassembled and emergency. This leaked when the Victor
deterrent during the ensuing Indonesia- moved to the Conservation in Action had just entered service, but it wasn’t
Malaysia Confrontation. hangar, before being stripped back to sealed properly and, for the past 40-odd
On April 3, 1964, XH648 reacquainted bare metal. Speaking to Aviation News, years, the rain’s poured in and caused a lot
itself with RAF Honington, joining 55 Sqn Andrew Marriott, a large object conservator of corrosion. We’ve tackled that properly
at the Suffolk station. However, with the at IWM Duxford, said of the restoration and the windscreen seals have also been
grounding of the Vickers Valiant fleet effort: “We’re all very proud of what we’ve addressed so they’re as watertight as
due to spar fatigue, an urgent need for achieved, but I think a lot of us are very possible. Internally, everything’s been
air-to-air refuelling aircraft was identified relieved that it’s done. The most that any of waxed to protect it from corrosion, too. It’s
in late 1964. Six Victor B.1As – including us had previously spent on a single project now in a position where it should last 40-
XH648 – were converted to B.1A(K2P) has been two or three years, with two or 50 years before it needs any major work.”
two-point tankers, enabling them to pivot three members of staff and their volunteers The Victor will remain on display in the
between bombing and refuelling roles working on one restoration at a time. With Conservation Hall until the displays in the
where necessary. The aircraft would return the Victor, we had six or seven members of AirSpace hangar are rearranged.
Doing the L
Almost 55 years since its Douglas DC-8 rolled off the production line,
Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse continues to fly this first-generation
airliner. Felix Reim steps on board to learn more
quad-jet during its 45-year history. ATI

would fly the former Finnair and French Air
Force jet as N721CX between June 2005
I
t is a bright but chilly April morning in long-distance runner. The jet was placed and December 2013, when it was again
Shannon, Ireland – unseasonably so, I’m on European and transatlantic connections withdrawn from use.
told by a member of security staff as I from Helsinki, being re-registered as OH- At this point, there was a very real
make my way airside. Perfect weather LFT after just three months in the Finnish chance that the jet would be scrapped as
for flying, and what a bird to be flying on. flag carrier’s employ. it spent time in storage at both Amarillo
Samaritan’s Purse Douglas DC-8-72CF, Following 12 years’ service, the jet was International Airport and Roswell Industrial
N782SP (c/n 46013), basks in the early retired and sold to the French Air Force Air Center before being purchased
morning sunshine ahead of our flight to in November 1981. During the next seven by Samaritan’s Purse in March 2015.
Katowice, Poland. The quad-jet is one months, it converted to a DC-8-72CF with Considerable financial and technical
of precious few DC-8s still flying, being its four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3Bs being investment was needed for the aircraft
well into its sixth decade having rolled off replaced with CFM International CFM56- to comply with US Federal Aviation
the Long Beach, California production 2Cs. The airliner would spend 23 years Administration (FAA) and international
line towards the tail end of the type’s with Escadron de Transport 03.060 Esterel, regulations prior to returning to the air.
manufacturing run in 1969. stationed at Paris/Charles de Gaulle Airport, The jet was also reconfigured from a
The jet was built as a DC-8-62 until its roles were absorbed by the unit’s pure freighter to a combi aircraft capable
convertible freighter with a main deck Airbus A310s and later a pair of A340-200s. of transporting up to 10 pallets and 32
cargo door on the fore port side enabling Following seven months in storage at passengers on the main deck.
it to switch between cargo rotations and Châteaudun, the DC-8 was acquired by Back in the present, the crew made the
a two-class, 140-seat configuration. The Cargo Aircraft Management and placed most of the sunshine, carrying out their
airliner first flew in January 1969 and with Air Transport International (ATI). The pre-departure preparations and inspections
would join Finnair later that same month as Wilmington, Ohio-based freight specialist ahead of the two-and-a-half-hour flight
OH-LFR, receiving the name Paavo Nurmi is well known for its love of the DC-8, to Poland. The weather would continue
in honour of the Finnish middle- and having operated 48 examples of the to co-operate, with only light winds and

Lord’s work
cloud cover expected at the destination. Above right: Titles on the aircraft’s nose It specialises in disaster relief and world
affirm the aircraft and its operator’s aim Felix
Shannon had been picked as a stopover medical missions, with the Children’s Heart
Reim
point as it has a large maintenance Project, which provides life-saving surgery,
presence, its runway is more than long Main photo: The 1969-built airliner has one of its core aid programmes.
enough for a DC-8, and there is very little previously served with Finnair, the French Though Samaritan’s Purse has strong
passenger traffic. Air Force and Air Transport International religious links, it works interdenominationally,
Although it is almost 40 years since the AirTeamImages.com/Carl Ford expecting that all members identify
Pratt & Whitney JT3Ds made way for four who have flown the type for many years. themselves with its core values. During my
CFM56s, the sound of the four engines and The two pilots previously flew for DHL and time with the aircraft, there was a strong
the vibration in the cabin is still remarkable. have numerous hours and countless trips sense of this being a highly motivated team
Our cargo is 15 tons of urgently-needed between Cincinnati and Brussels on type, all with the same goal.
aid and supplies for those affected by while the flight engineer and loadmaster, Currently, the charity has 160 people
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Previous previously flew for ATI. All are proud to have engaged in Ukraine relief operations, either
missions have operated into Rzeszów, been hired by Samaritan’s Purse when their working as members of a short-term
which is much closer to the Ukrainian former companies phased out DC-8 fleets. disaster response team or on longer-term
border, but has since become a hub for Samaritan’s Purse is headquartered in assignments. No fewer than five warehouses
NATO and several other organisations and Boone, North Carolina, and the aircraft is were established for the onward distribution
armed forces. Katowice is just three hours based close by at Greensboro/Piedmont of aid into Ukraine, and many are involved
from Lviv, so it too serves as an important Triad International, where the Christian with their continued operation.
gateway into Ukraine and the country’s organisation operates its own hangar with Samaritan’s Purse operates several other
embattled eastern regions. maintenance facilities. The humanitarian aircraft, including the venerable DC-3TP
The Douglas type’s age and scarcity concern was founded in 1970 and is and Casa C-212 for more localised
means that comprehensive skills, both in financed by public funds, international missions. It also charters freighters up to
the cockpit and for ground operations, are companies, sponsorships and donations and including Boeing 747s. However, the
drawn from a small pool. The crew of three from all over the world, with the majority DC-8 is the most visible aspect of its air
on the flight deck comprises ‘veterans’ of its large income coming from the US. operations, having been deployed to
On the Shannon tarmac ahead of departure Felix Reim
Above: The flight deck is a far cry from that of a modern day airliner Felix Reim
Below: Cruising above the UK en route to Katowice Felix Reim

Above: The jet’s original Pratt & Whitney JT3Ds were replaced with Above: The aircraft can be unloaded in as little as 20 minutes
CFM International CFM56s in the early 1980s Felix Reim Felix Reim
Below: There is seating for 32 people in the aft fuselage Felix Reim Below: There is seating for 32 people in the aft fuselage Felix Reim
Haiti, Italy, Liberia, Ethiopia, Japan, Nepal, the outbreak of war, when the DC-8 After touching down in an overcast
Lebanon and other countries since joining transported an emergency field hospital Katowice, we are parked on a closed
the charity in 2015. It has also flown within and outpatients’ clinics which are used taxiway and unloading starts immediately.
the US, flying supplies to New York during by Samaritan’s Purse’s own medical The unusual parking arrangement suits
the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the personnel. Subsequent flights have mainly the crew as it makes the aircraft almost
invasion of Ukraine brought about the jet’s been used to bring in supplies including independent from a ground support
most intense period of operations, with aid hygiene kits, blankets, surgical materials, equipment perspective. A high-loader and
being flown to Poland every five days in medications and first aid equipment, as steps are required for unloading cargo and
support of those affected by the conflict. well as cleaning equipment. Incredibly, by for passengers to disembark, but the ability
While at cruising altitude, there’s an the beginning of April, more than 8,000 to start engines and taxi away without the
opportunity to take a walk through the patients had been attended to since war need for a tug and a lengthy pushback and
cabin. Right behind the flight deck is a broke out on February 24. start procedure makes for a more efficient
capacious cargo turnaround.
hold which can Removing all ten
accommodate up to pallets takes little
ten pallets. Having more than 20
previously been minutes and they
used as a freighter are taken to the
by ATI, there are just airport’s cargo
two small windows centre for breaking
in the overwing down before being
emergency exits, transported to
so there is very little Samaritan’s Purse’s
light in this part of warehousing.
the aircraft. With the next flight
Usually, two thirds from Greensboro
of the cargo space via Shannon
is packed with scheduled within
medical supplies, the next four days,
and any additional everything needs to
space is taken up run like clockwork
with other relief in order to maintain
items. An exception a steady stream of
to this was the essentials flowing
first flight into into Poland, Ukraine
Rzeszów following A flight engineer’s station is present as the aircraft is operated by a three-man crew Felix Reim and into the hands
Passing islands in the Shannon estuary on approach to the southern Irish airport Felix Reim
of those who desperately need it. on each side afford views of the German, remains a reliable, robust and easy-to-
After around two hours, our captain starts Dutch, British and Irish coasts during our handle aircraft. It can use unpaved strips
to become slightly anxious. With a flight flight westwards. Behind the passenger and the fuel consumption issue has been
time of two-and-a-half-hours each way bulkhead, there’s a galley, two storage offset somewhat by the French Air Force’s
and a further two hours on the ground, we areas and a pair of lavatories. decision to swap JT3Ds for CFM56s. An
need to hurry to avoid crew rest periods As we reach journey’s end, the weather ideal replacement would be a Boeing
conflicting. A challenge for the operation begins to deteriorate and our approach 767, however with high levels of demand
is that the pallets must be returned to the into Shannon is made through several for freighter conversions, prices of the
aircraft before it can take off again. This layers of cloud. Two hours behind widebody are unlikely to drop any time
waiting game means we’ve spent almost schedule, we are treated to views of the soon. Additionally, neither Boeing nor
four hours in Poland before we’re ready to craggy Irish coast and Cannon Island Airbus offer combi variants of their current
return to the Republic of Ireland. Abbey on one of the islands in the estuary offerings which complicates matters
Shortly after departure, it’s time for a of the river from which Shannon Airport further. The organisation’s recent purchase
late lunch. While the DC-8 isn’t used for takes its name. We touch down, back on of a Boeing 757-200F, N783SP (c/n 22611),
fare-carrying passenger service – and Runway 06, nine hours after we set off. isn’t viewed as an alternative to the DC-8
hasn’t been for 40 years since it flew with While the low initial acquisition cost gives but has instead been acquired for use on
Finnair – the FAA requires that any aircraft the DC-8 a certain appeal when compared other assignments.
seating people other than the crew has a to the latest long-haul freighters offered by It remains to be seen how long N782SP
flight attendant on board. I’m treated to a Airbus and Boeing, the 1950s type certainly can continue flying, as spares and expertise
freshly prepared chicken salad as we reach has some disadvantages. The jet requires continue to dwindle. However, with few
a cruising altitude of 40,000ft. a third man on the flight deck and there is alternatives available to Samaritan’s Purse
The seats at the rear of the cabin are a lot more work shared between the trio and a dedicated team keeping the ‘old bird’
primarily for members of Samaritan’s Purse than on a more modern airliner. Issues flying, there are still opportunities to see
staff or other charities the organisation around spare parts and engineers licensed a DC-8 flying.
works with. As such, the former American to work on the type is becoming evermore
Airlines seating is rather basic with no in- challenging as just a handful of examples The author would like to thank Samaritan’s
flight entertainment system, however they remain in service worldwide. Purse for its assistance in producing this article
do feature USB charging. Five windows Despite these obstacles, the quad-jet
The aircraft has been deployed to

nations including Haiti, Italy, Liberia,
Ethiopia, Japan, Nepal, Lebanon on
missions to transport vital aid Felix Reim

Poseidons Peter Foster provides
details on the recent
provide post-Littoral deployment of two
unusual US Navy
thinking P-8A Poseidons

to RAF Mildenhall
W
e have grown accustomed to 2014. The US Navy conducted operational loops supporting guided, ‘networked’
occasional visits from the US tests for AAS from fiscal year 2019 and the weapons such as the Tomahawk, SLAM-ER,
Navy’s less publicised assets. deployment of BUPERS jets to Mildenhall JASSM, SDB-2 and the future LRASM.
However, Lockheed P-3 Orions suggests these trials are continuing, with A number of other aircraft have been
and EP-3 Aries IIs from more elusive units the ten day deployment here an indication known to be retrofitted to operate the
such as VQ-1, VPU-1 and VPU-2 often that AAS is moving towards an initial AAS system including 168438, 168996,
showed no external signs of their actual role, operational deployment. 169007, 169010, 169335 and 169341.
aside from appearances by P-3CBMUPs The two jets flew seven missions, each Other later-batch aircraft that include the
equipped with the Raytheon AN/APS-149 between seven and nine hours. Of these, deployed 169567 are believed, although not
Littoral surveillance pod attached to the six sorties were flown by the AAS-equipped confirmed, to possibly have had the system
underside of the fuselage. 169567 with the aircraft departing to the and associated hydraulics integrated prior
As the Orion is now in its seventh decade northeast towards the Baltic or perhaps to delivery. 169567 had originally been on
of service with the US Navy, and the type is the Iceland Gap. the strength of VP-9 at NAS Whidbey Island
gradually being retired in favour of Boeing The AN/APS 154 system, also built by before re-assignment to BUPERS-SDC.
P-8A Poseidons, it is likely that the new type Raytheon, is thought to be still under Such is the sensitivity of the aircraft
needs a similar pod to the AN/APS-149. operational test even though it was first involved in AAS trials work that their
During early September, two Poseidons flown some eight years ago. The current identities have been changed. For instance,
assigned to a unit mysteriously named Naval program is focused on the ability of 168854 has previously been noted sporting
Air Systems Command – Flight Support the P-8A and AAS to operate safely and the bureau numbers of 169564 and 168441,
(NASC FC), 167952 and 169567 – arrived at efficiently. Successful testing of AAS on the neither of which are nor were assigned to
RAF Mildenhall as SHINER01 and SHINER02. P-8A will be a significant milestone, enabling P-8As. At the time of these sightings, 168854
The two jets are understood to be attached production decisions and leading up to the was understood to have been assigned to
to the Bureau of Naval Personnel – Sea initial operational deployment of AAS. VPU-2 and may have had nothing to do with
Duty Component (BUPERS – SDC) which The AN/APS-154 is designed to replace the the AAS programme. It is not clear whether a
operates from Dallas/Love Field. AN/APS-149 and will cover the broad range similar practice is or has been undertaken on
One of the pair, 169567, arrived at the of capabilities offered by the Littoral system, AN/APG-154-equipped jets.
Suffolk airfield with the Littoral pod’s which includes radar detection and tracking This ‘tinkering’ with airframe identities
successor, the Raytheon AN/APS-154 of targets at sea and on land. A notable was a common feature of past Orion
Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS) installed difference is the inclusion of an ultra-fast, deployments when a ‘black aircraft’ would
and had therefore been deployed to the solid-state active electronically scanned be integrated into a squadron rotation and
UK to operate with the AAS. It is likely that array (AESA) radar with next-generation line- take on the appropriate guise to blend in
167952 was similarly configured, though of-sight technology. When in use, the pod is with other Orions on the same deployment.
it was not carrying a pod. The aircraft hydraulically lowered clear of the P-8A’s two Intentionally miscoded aircraft could be
has previously flown as a test airframe CFM International CFM56 powerplants to distinguished as many were of the earlier
with Boeing’s Integrated Defense System give a 360° field of vision. P-3B variant and looked out of place among
programme during 2010 before being The AAS’ double-sided AESA radar delivers several P-3Cs.
posted to Patuxent River, possibly to serve both Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and an As more than 100 P-8As have been
with VX-20, however it was noted with Inverse SAR mode, capable of automatically delivered to the US Navy, it is thought that
VX-1 by 2012 before becoming the pattern ‘profiling’ vessels from long distance. It AAS capability will be spread across the
aircraft for AAS with BUPERS-SDC. It was also provides Moving Target Indication fleet. For the time being, BUPERS-SDC will
noted without unit markings at Love Field in (MTI) functions, automatically detecting, continue to develop and integrate the new
April 2016. classifying and tracking moving objects over system, with other Poseidon operators likely
Even by 2018, sensor performance a wide area. It is hoped that new radar will to be watching with interest. Among them
shortfalls had held back the P-8A’s also provide high resolution ‘weapon the RAF as it considers whether to close the
intelligence, surveillance and grade’ target location, enabling rapid capability gap left following the Bombardier
reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, despite sensor-to-shooter engagement Sentinel R.1’s retirement.
significant efforts to improve sensors.
The AAS system has been in development
since 2009, with flight testing beginning in
The Raytheon AN/APS-154 AAS-equipped

Boeing P-8A Poseidon on final approach
to RAF Mildenhall Ali Hunt
AIR BASE MOVEMENTS FROM MAR WWW.MILITARYAVIATIONREVIEW.COM
Air Base Movements

A selection of the most interesting aircraft
to visit air bases in the UK recently
RAF BRIZE NORTON Bedecked in special marks to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of No.36 Squadron,
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17 Globemaster III A41-207 powers out of RAF Brize
2/7 505 C-130J-30 Royal AF of Oman dep 6th.
Norton on August 4 using the callsign ‘ASY595’. Arriving from Poland’s Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport
7/7 10-0053 CV-22B 7th SOS, 352nd SOW, USAF.
three days before, the near-16-year-old jet, one of eight in use with the RAAF, was heading across
9/7 A31-211 C-17A 36 Sqn, RAAF dep 12th. the Atlantic to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Richard Ecclestone
10/7 130601 CC-130J 436 Sqn, RCAF also 20th.
12/7 346 C-130E 3 Sqn, Royal Jordanian AF n/s. RAF CONINGSBY 60-0005/MT, 60-0023/MT, 60-0026/MT &
14/7 88-0435/AX F-16C 555th FS, 31st FW, USAF. 10/8 ZH833/82 Merlin HM2 QinetiQ also 11th. 60-0034/MT B-52Hs 5th BW, USAF arrived on
17/7 2801 A319115(CJ) 241 dlt, Czech AF. 31/8 20-5573/LN & 20-5574/LN F-35As 495th deployment. 19/8 80-1077 U-2S 9th RW, USAF
20/7 045/F-UJCK A330-MRTT French AF; 15003 FS, USAF both o/s. n/s. 23/8 02-1109 C-17A 62nd/446th AW,
CC-150 436 Sqn, RCAF. 21/7 ZJ199 & ZJ209 USAF n/s; 80-1087 U-2S 9th RW, USAF dep
Apache AH1s AAC arrived by road. RAF FAIRFORD 29th. 30/8 02-1111 C-17A 62nd/446th AW,
23/7 555 A320-214(CJ) 4 Sqn, Royal AF of Oman 3/8 89-9105 C-130H 757th AS, AFRC. 17/8 07- USAF n/s; 04-4132 C-17A 305th/514th AMW,
dep 25th; 08-0050 CV-22B 7th SOS, 352nd 7185 C-17A 437th/315th AW, USAF n/s. 18/8 USAF n/s.
SOW, USAF; 130617 CC-130J 436 Sqn, RCAF.
25/7 503 C-130H Royal AF of Oman dep 27th.
27/7 ZZ385 & ZZ392 Wildcat AH1s 1 Regt, AAC
arrived for airfreight. 29/7 1228 C-17A UAE AF.
1/8 A41-207 C-17A 36 Sqn, RAAF dep 4th also

23rd-27th. 3/8 1503 C-130E 33 BLtr, Polish AF
n/s also 18th n/s. 5/8 130606 CC-130J 426 Sqn,
RCAF also 8th, 11th & 31st. 6/8 A41-211 C-17A
36 Sqn, RAAF dep 8th. 17/8 06-6160 C-17A
60th/349th AMW, USAF also 21st. 18/8 08-
8201 C-17A 62nd/446th AW, USAF. 19/8 ZM710
AH-64E AAC. 20/8 130617 CC-130J 426 Sqn,
RCAF also 23rd; 08-8194 C-17A 62nd/446th AW,
‘Gas-n-go’: Operating under the callsign ‘VALOUR 76’, United States Air Force Gulfstream C-37A 01-
USAF n/s. 22/8 09-9206 C-17A 437th/315th AW, 0076 taxies for parking at RAF Lossiemouth on August 24, 2022. On strength with the 86th Airlift
USAF dep carrying Apache AH1s ZJ182 & ZJ188 Wing’s 76th Airlift Squadron, the jet – one of two used by the unit for VIP transport duties – arrived
to Boeing. 24/8 1502 C-130E 33 BLtr, Polish AF. from its Ramstein Air Base home in Germany before departing to Prague’s Václav Havel Airport in
31/8 NZ7571 757-2K2 40 Sqn, RNZAF dep 3/9. the Czech Republic using the same callsign a couple of hours later Niall Paterson
Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) Gulfstream E-550A Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW)
MM62303 ‘14-12’ flies final for Runway 02 at RAF Waddington on August 30, 2022. Operating under the
callsign ‘IAM 1497’, the jet – which is one of just two examples of the multi-sensor platform operated by
14º Stormo’s (wing) 71º Gruppo Volo (flying group) ‘Sergio Sartof’ – arrived from its home base of Pratica di
Mare Air Base, just to the southwest of Rome Mike Hilley

AIR BASE MOVEMENTS FROM MAR WWW.MILITARYAVIATIONREVIEW.COM
August 25, 2022: The elegant lines of the Lockheed L-188 Electra linage are more than evident
in this nocturnal study of Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora 140115 on the pan at RAF
Lossiemouth during its recent TDY – or temporary deployment – to the Scottish base. On
strength with 14 Wing out of Canadian Forces Base Greenwood in Nova Scotia, the 41-year-old
turboprop arrived on August 14, 2022 as ‘Pathfinder 15’ and departed home on the 31st of the
month using the same callsign Niall Paterson
RAF LAKENHEATH RAF MARHAM storage. 10/8 ZZ501 Avenger T1 750 NAS, RN n/s.
4/8 04-4074/AK, 05-4090/AK, 05-4103/AK, 14/7 1022 M-28B Polish Navy dep 22nd. 19/7 31/8 ZJ191 & ZJ230 Apache AH1s 3/4 Regts, AAC.
06-4110/AK, 06-4112/AK, 07-4136/AK, 1118 M-28B Polish Navy n/s.
07-4138/AK, 07-4144/AK, 07-4149/AK, RAF VALLEY
07-4151/AK, 09-4190/AK & 10-4193/AK F-22As RAF MILDENHALL 5/8 ZB133 Hawk 167 JHTS. 9/8 167 & 269 PC-
3rd Wg, USAF all dep; 91-1652 C-130H 180th 1/8 16-46044 KC-46A 22nd ARW, USAF n/s. 2/8 9Ms FTS, Irish Air Corps.
AS, Mo ANG. 5/8 15-5831/RS C-130J-30 37th 15-46067 KC-46A 22nd ARW, USAF n/s. 3/8 20-
AS, 86th AW, USAF also 10th & 25th. 16/8 11- 5941 MC-130J arrived on delivery to 67th SOS. RAF WADDINGTON
5740/RS C-130J-30 37th AS, 86th AW, USAF. 11/8 97-3093 C-146A 524th SOS, USAF n/s also 1/8 995 C-130H Gr.10, Chilean AF dep 3rd also
22/8 03-3120 C-17A 62nd/446th AW. 23/8 15th. 12/8 60-0355 KC-135R arrived on delivery 18th n/s; ZJ211 & ZJ213 Apache AH1s 4 Regt,
F-009, F-013, F-017, F-022 & F-026 F-35As 322 to 100th ARW; 84-0097 C-21A 76th AS, 86th AAC. 9/8 19-5486/LN F-35A 495th FS, 48th FW,
Sqn, Royal Netherlands AF, all dep 25th; T.24- AW, USAF. 14/8 02-0042 C-42C 89th AW, USAF. USAF o/s also 10th o/s. 10/8 20-5570/LN F-35A
02/452-02 A330-200 45 Gr, Spanish AF. 18/8 H-24 A109BA 1 Wing, Belgian Defence - Air 495th FS, 48th FW, USAF o/s. 15/8 G-ZABH
24/8 87-0350/AV, 88-0425/AV, 88-0435/AV, Component. 21/8 15-5831/RS 37th AS, 86th AW, Falcon 900LX 32(TR) Sqn, RAF n/s. 24/8 55+02
88-0460/AV, 88-0526/AV, 88-0532/AV, USAF. 24/8 900530 C-26D AOD Sigonella. 25/8 C-130J-30 BATS, German AF. 26/8 MM62185/46-
89-2016/AV, 89-2044/AV, 89-2068/AV, 16-46017, 17-46025, 17-46028 & 18-46044 KC- 50 C-130J & MM62193/46-59 C-130J-30 46
89-2096/AV, 89-2137/AV, 90-0772/AV, 90- 46As 22nd ARW, USAF all n/s. 26/8 140116 CP- BA, Italian AF; MM62226/14-01 KC-767A 14 St,
0773/AV F-16Cs & 90-0800/AV F-16D 31st 140 14 Wing, RCAF dep 28th. 31/8 H-28 A109BA Italian AF. 30/8 MM7329/4-58 & MM7330/4-56
FW, USAF all arrived on TDY; C-GLTO/69 & 1 Wing, Belgian Defence - Air Component. F-2000As 4 St, Italian AF, MM7313/36-35 F-2000A
C-GVTA/009 Alpha Jets Top Aces. 26/8 89- 36 St, Italian AF, MM7345/37-45 F-2000A 37 St,
26205, 92-26471 & 97-26774 HH-60Gs 56th RAF NORTHOLT Italian AF & MM62303/14-12 E-550A 14 St, Italian
RQS, 31st FW, USAF. 5/8 ZM403 Atlas 1 24/70 Sqns, RAF n/s also 9th AF all arrived for Exercise Cobra Warrior running
n/s. 12/8 ZM403 Atlas 1 24/70 Sqns, RAF n/s. between 5/9 and 23/9. 31/8 MM7298/37-45
RAF LOSSIEMOUTH 17/8 166378 C-37B VR-1, USN. 26/8 280 PC- F-2000A 51 St, Italian AF arrived for Exercise
4/8 144619 CC-144D 412 Sqn, RCAF. 12NG 104 Sqn, Irish Air Corps. Cobra Warrior; 46+23, 46+25, 46+32, 46+49,
8/8 169005/PD VP-9, USN. 14/8 130601 & 46+50 & 46+51 Tornado ECRs TLG51, German AF
130602 CC-130Js 436 Sqn, RCAF; 140115 CP- RAF SHAWBURY arrived for Exercise Cobra Warrior; 54+29 A400M
140 14 Wing, RCAF on TDY dep 31st. 7/7 ZJ221 Apache AH1 3/4 Regts, AAC. 8/7 LTG62 German AF.
21/8 130606 CC-130J 436 Sqn, RCAF. 24/8 ZZ377 Wildcat HMA2 815 NAS, RN.
01-0076 C-37A 76th AS, 86th AW, USAF. 26/8 RNAS YEOVILTON
140116 CP-140 14 Wing, RCAF. 9/8 Hawk T1s XX162 & XX205 arrived from Valley for 9/8 ZJ197 & ZJ210 Apache AH1s 3/4 Regts, AAC.
Luftwaffe Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules 55+02 – callsign ‘GAF304’ – moments from touching down on
Runway 20 at RAF Waddington on August 24, 2022. The second of three C-130Js to be delivered to the Luftwaffe,
this marked the first visit of a German example since this variant of the indomitable Hercules entered operational
service with the European nation earlier this year. On strength with the Franco-German Joint Tactical Airlift
Squadron out of Base Aérienne 105 (BA 105, Air Base 105) Évreux-Fauville in France’s Normandy region, the aircraft
departed back ‘home’ that same day using the same callsign MOD-Crown Copyright 2022-Sgt Nicholas Howe RAF
AIRPORT MOVEMENTS COMPILED BY CARL HOPE
Airport Movements
A round-up of notable aircraft visiting UK airports
Wearing the colours of its former operator, Malaysian multinational low-cost airline Air Asia,
ABERDEEN Wamos Air Airbus A330-343 EC-NTY arrives at Manchester from Turkey’s Dalaman Airport on
INTERNATIONAL August 3, 2022. Operating as ‘TUI Airways 337’, the seven-year-old jet – which is leased by
2/7 2-DOGZ DA62. 6/7 EJ-GABJ BAe.125-800B; the Spanish leisure charter carrier from Irish-based aviation asset management and investment
N722NK Gulfstream IVSP. 9/7 D-ELMC Mooney firm Seraph Aviation – is currently operating for British charter airline TUI under a ACMI
M20K. 10/7 9H-MAS Global 5500. 11/7 G-CLXT (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) lease Nik French
ATR 72-212A(F) West Atlantic UK. 12/7 D-IRSG
Avanti; OK-PPP Nextant 400XTi. 13/7 N48JP Citation 550 Bravo. 12/8 UR-CBG An-12BK Cavok D-CAWK Citation 680A Latitude; OE-FGC Citation
Falcon 7X; OK-AST Citation 560XL. 14/7 9H-EAA Air; N809QS Citation 700 Longitude; OK-XLS 525M2. 11/6 M-ATTS EC155B1; N260FD SIAI-
Citation 560XLS+; N815CE Gulfstream G280. 15/7 Citation 560XLS+. 13/8 A9C-NB A321-253NX Gulf Marchetti SF260D; OK-JFA Nextant 400XT. 14/6
N807LA Global 7500. 16/7 EJ-VAIS PC-12NGX; Air; ER-JAI 747-412(BDSF) Aerotranscargo f/v; TC- N789LR Gulfstream G500; OH-RJD PC-12NG.
N225QS Challenger 650. 17/7 9H-RMD Citation FBV A320-214 Freebird Airlines; N656FG Falcon 15/6 HB-KKM Cirrus SR22T. 16/6 N355ZZ AS355F1.
560XL; PH-AJX Falcon 7X; PH-DKI Partenavia 8X; OK-AST Citation 560XL. 14/8 D-AIJC A320- 20/6 OO-SLM Citation 560XLS. 22/6 F-HLRZ
P68C. 20/7 C-FPSH Do.228-202 Summit Air 271N Lufthansa f/v; LY-MLN A320-232 SunExpress; Phenom 100; G-HURI/R4175 Hurricane XII. 23/6
Charters; OK-EMA Citation 680 Sovereign; OE-IWE 737-8AS(BCF) ASL Airlines ops for FedEx; F-HLRZ Phenom 100; OE-GHM CitationJet 525C
292/F-RACC DHC-6-300 French AF. 21/7 N652BA OM-GTF 737-86J Go2Sky ops for Corendon CJ4. 28/6 SE-MLP Beech 350. 29/6 EI-BMO Robin
Gulfstream G650. 22/7 VH-HQK Phenom 100; Airlines. 15/8 LY-MLJ A320-232 SunExpress; R.2160; N887MM Gulfstream G550.
N492CA Citation 700 Longitude. 24/7 N700NY D-CTLM PC-24. 16/9 N6311U A319 United/easyJet
Gulfstream IVSP. 26/7 84-00181 C-12U D/204th f/v; on delivery to Lasham, to become OE-LVG; BRISTOL AIRPORT
MIB, US Army. 27/7 84-00173 C-12U D/204th D-AUWE Global Express. 17/8 LY-MLG A320-232 1/7 D-ASAP Legacy 650E; LX-PCD PC-24; OO-
MIB, US Army. 29/7 N7423V Mooney M20E. 30/7 SunExpress; TC-RSC Learjet 45. 18/8 TC-SMA PCN PC-12NG; SE-RNP Citation 525B CJ3+. 2/7
LX-FPF CitationJet 525C CJ3+; OE-EBF PC- 737MAX-8 SunExpress; 9H-IFX Praetor 600. 19/8 EJ-GABJ BAe 125-800A. 3/7 D-CVMS PC-24.
12NGX. 31/7 N445ST Gulfstream G200. HA-LZK & HA-LZU A321-271NX Wizz Air both f/v; 4/7 F-HNFC PC-12NG. 5/7 OO-PCI PC-12NG.
YL-AAP A220-300 Air Baltic f/v ops for Eurowings. 7/7 F-HBOD Phenom 100; F-HGRI Citation
BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT 20/8 TC-FBR A320-232 Freebird Airlines; TC-ACN 525M2; LX-RHC Challenger 605. 10/7 N69745
1/8 LY-MLI A320-232 SunExpress; 9H-MAC Global XRS. 21/8 TC-MKC 737MAX-8 Corendon Stinson V-77 Reliant. 11/7 OO-WEG Challenger
737-548 Comlux Malta; HB-JFI Falcon 2000EX; Airlines f/v. 22/8 TC-MCZ A330-203F MNG 350. 13/7 D-EEOK Cessna F.172M; N543BA
YL-MGM Learjet 60XR. 2/8 EC-KTG A332 Air Airlines; I-DEUM CitationJet 525 CJ2. 23/8 Challenger 650; OE-FLO Citation 525A CJ2+.
Europa to STS Avn, dep 25th as G-KJAS for Hans EC-NOF A330-343 Wamos Air ops for TUI; ER- 15/7 OK-DJB Nextant 400XT; HB-VVU PC-24;
Air; TC-MKD 737MAX-8 Corendon Airlines f/v; BBJ 747-412(SCD) Aerotranscargo f/v; D-FWIT SP-ZEN Challenger 350; 9H-IFX Praetor 600.
TC-LTM A321-271NX Turkish Airlines f/v; OY- PC-12NG; N149LP Global Express. 24/8 9H-WFC 16/7 N800JH Gulfstream G550; N804QS Citation
JSW CitationJet 525 CJ2+; TC-RSD Learjet 45; Legacy 600; D-ASAP Legacy 650E; G-ZAHS Falcon 700 Longitude; OO-PCM PC-12NG; OK-MPM
YU-PBB Citation 560XLS+. 3/8 EC-NBU A340- 900LX 32(TR) Sqn, RAF; I-JSET Beech 400A. 25/8 PA-42-720 Cheyenne 3A. 18/7 SE-RMB Citation
313 Plus Ultra ops for TUI; EC-NTY A330-343 TC-MKE 737MAX-8 Corendon Airlines f/v; TC-SOM 525A CJ2. 19/7 F-HJCP Falcon 7X. 20/7 I-TOPX
Wamos f/v ops for TUI; ER-BBC 747-433(BDSF) 737MAX-8 SunExpress f/v; D-FBOX PC-12NGX. Beech 400XP. 21/7 EJ-REVA Hawker 800XP;
Aerotranscargo f/v. 4/8 EC-NCK A330-243 26/8 EC-NLK 737-81M AlbaStar f/v; TC-MCM ZZ524 Wildcat AH1 AAC tech diversion, dep by
Wamos ops for TUI; G-WUKP A321-271NX Wizz A330-343(P2F) MNG Airlines f/v; YL-CSI A220-300 road 27th. 22/7 N51VE Gulfstream V. 23/7 LZ-LAC
Air f/v Gatwick diversion; TC-SOI 737MAX-8 Air Baltic ops for Eurowings; D-AHOS Legacy 650. A320-231 BH Air f/v. 27/7 N687QS Citation 680A
SunExpress f/v. 5/8 TC-JTM A321-231(SL) Turkish 27/8 9H-BFS A330-202 Maleth Aero; OY-RUV Latitude; TC-FHP A320-214 Freebird Airlines f/v.
Airlines f/v; 6/8 LY-NVO A320-214 SunExpress ATR 76-600 Danish Air Transport; OY-JJJ Hawker 28/7 D-BPMI Challenger 350.
f/v; TC-FHM A320-232 Freebird Airlines; UR- 4000. 28/8 OE-IWD 737-8AS(BCF) ASL Airlines
CKM An-12BP Cavok Air; F-GRNT Merlin IIIB ops for FedEx; TC-MKF 737MAX-8 Corendon EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT
Airlec Air Espace; F-HSFJ Citation 680A Latitude. Airlines; D-CURE Learjet 60XR; N728HG Global 1/8 PH-TXA Citation 510 Mustang; D-AFAD
7/8 EI-IMO A319-112 ITA Airways f/v; OE-IWF XRS; OK-STS Phenom 300; ZS-TOW Learjet 35A. Challenger 604. 2/8 D-CEMO Hawker 750; EC-
737-8AS(BCF) ASL Airlines ops for FedEx. 8/8 HA- 30/8 YL-AAO and YL-CSC A220-300s Air Baltic NUG 737-8883(BDSF) Swiftair f/v. 3/8 G-POWM
LZV A321-271NX Wizz Air f/v; LY-VEL A320-232 ops for Eurowings; I-TOPD Beech 400XP; N59GX A320-232 Titan Airways, for painting into World
SunExpress; 9H-BCP Learjet 45; 9H-LFX Praetor Global 6000. 31/8 9H-CLD Falcon 10. Cup livery. 4/8 D-ASAP Legacy 650E; D-CCCB
600. 9/8 9H-AMP A320-232 Eurowings. 10/8 Learjet 35A; 9H-ZFX Legacy 500. 5/8 EC-NLK
LY-MLN A320-232 SunExpress; OY-JJS Hawker BLACKPOOL AIRPORT 737-81M AlbaStar; D-CHMS PC-24. 6/8 F-HAHA
4000; OH-BSL PC-12NG. 11/8 TC-SOM 737MAX- 3/6 N199HJ HondaJet. 5/6 YU-PINK Citation 560 Citation 510 Mustang; D-CNMB & LX-TWO
8 SunExpress; N765CS Global 6500; OE-HWJ XLS+. 6/6 SE-MAD DA42. 7/6 YU-BZZ Citation Learjet 45XRs. 7/8 ZZ172 C-17A 24/99 Sqns,
Citation 750 X; OH-ZRH PC-12NG; YU-SXX 550 Bravo. 8/6 F-PMRN Nicollier HN-700. 10/6 RAF; OY-CRJ CRJ200LR Copenhagen Air Taxi;

F-HEMI CitationJet 525A CJ2+; LZ-LAC A320-
231 European Air Charter. 8/8 9H-RMD Citation
560XL; D-CPOS Citation 680 Sovereign+; N857FD
777-FS2 FedEx f/v. 9/8 ZZ178 C-17A 24/99 Sqns,
RAF; SX-DNC A320-232 Aegean Airlines; OK-IMO
Beech 400A. 11/8 SP-OOK Hawker 400XP; LZ-DAI
ATR 72-600 for painting for Astra Air; 9H-IRC
Global 6000; HB-VTW Citation 525M2. 12/8 OE-
HGG Challenger 350; HB-FOZ PC-12; EC-MUB
737-86J AlbaStar. 13/8 9H-KFX Praetor 600. 14/8
SX-VVO Gulfstream G550; TC-RSA Challenger
Aerotrans Cargo Boeing 747-433(BDSF) ER-BBC, callsign ‘Aerotranscargo 8831’, chases its
605; LX-LAB A320-231 European Air Charter. 16/8
shadow while on final to Runway 33 at Birmingham Airport on August 25, 2022, on arrival from
EC-INV ATR 72-212F Swiftair; F-HMXL Citation 550
China via a fuel/tech stop at Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport. One of
II; OK-PVN PC-12NGX. 17/8 VP-CGD 737-883(SF) six examples of the indomitable Boeing type in service with the Moldovan freight carrier, the
for painting for Bluebird Nordic. 18/8 G-UNET near 31-year-old jet departed for Hong King (via a nightstop in Kazakhstan) later that day using
747-433 (BDSF) One Air f/v. 19/8 D-ALOA Legacy the same callsign AirTeamImages/Stuart Lawson
650; SE-RNP CitationJet 525B CJ3+. 20/8 OO-
CEJ CitationJet 525 CJ1. 21/8 LZ-LAH A320-214 GLASGOW PRESTWICK NAS, RN; ZK550 & ZK551 Chinook HC6s 7 Sqn,
European Air Charter. 23/8 A6-EIQ A320-232 AIRPORT RAF; F-HFCS Hawker 900XP. 18/7 08-8201 C-17A
Etihad for painting all white. 24/8 OK-NTU 1/7 N900BK Falcon 900C; N800AR Gulfstream IV; 62nd/446th AW, USAF; ZZ331 Voyager KC2, ZZ335
Nextant 400XT; F-HBTV Citation 525M2; YU-PEE N542MP HondaJet; 79-1950 KC-10A 306th/514th & ZZ336 Voyager KC3s 10/101 Sqns, RAF TDY
Legacy 600. 25/8 TC-RSE Learjet 45; D-CARO AMW, USAF; T-058 A330-MRTT MMF; PH-WMM due Brize runway closure; ZK553 Chinook HC6
Citation 680 Sovereign+. 26/8 D-AHOX Legacy CitationJet 525 CJ1. 2/7 KAF342 C-17A 41 Sqn, 7 Sqn, RAF. 19/7 G-JZBI 737-8MG Jet2 training.
650; VQ-BOK Global 7500; LN-AWE Learjet 45. Kuwait AF; 90-1795 C-130H 180th AS, Mo ANG 20/7 UR-CQD An-26B Vulcan Air; G-DRTD 737-
27/8 D-CICU Learjet 45; OY-CRV ATR 72-500 n/s; UR-CEZ An-12BK Cavok Air. 4/7 N742SP 808 Jet 2 training; HB-FQV PC-12NGX c/n 2196
for painting; C-GFEH 737-8GS Sunwing Airlines, Legacy 650; OO-RMC Beech F33A; 00-0174 on delivery; N555GA Gulfstream G650ER. 21/7
Norwich diversion. 28/8 D-CNMB Learjet 45. 29/8 C-17A 517th AS, 3rd WG, USAF n/s; 9A-BTK N36RT Challenger 605; M-AERO Falcon 2000LX;
D-AFUN Legacy 650. 30/8 C-FWGH 737-86J A320-214 Trade Air. 5/7 G-JZBD 737-8MG Jet2 G-JZHD 737-8Q8 Jet2 training; 1230 C-17A UAE
Sunwing Airlines Belfast diversion. 31/8 15+01 training also 6th. 6/7 C-FHTH TBM 910; 164762/ AF. 22/7 N135SM Challenger 604; 06-6160 C-17A
A319-133(CJ) FBS, German AF. JW C-130T VR-62, USN. 7/7 08-8204 C-17A 60th/349th AMW, USAF; G-JZHY 737-8MG Jet2
437th/315th AW, USAF; 165378 /CW C-130T training; 08-0050 CV-22B 7th SOS, 352nd SOW,
GATWICK AIRPORT VR-62, USN. 8/7 SE-LFS Fokker 50 Amapola; USAF; 07-7176 C-17A 436th/512nd AW, USAF
1/8 EC-NUI A330-243 WAMOS ops for TUI 84-00488 C-12U C/2-228th Avn, US Army; EI- n/s; UR-CQV An-26B Vulkan Air. 23/7 ES-PVP
Airways, f/v; EC-NXA 787-8 Air Europa f/v; HA-LGK GRN DA42NG; N7MT Maule M-7-420 (Starcraft Learjet 60; N742DR TBM 940; 1215 L100-30 UAE
A321-271NX Wizz Air f/v; HA-LZV A321-271NX turboprop conversion); A41-211 C-17A 36 Sqn, AF; 84-00158 C-12U A/6-52nd Avn, US Army;
Wizz Air f/v; PH-TFR 737MAX-8 TUI Airlines RAAF. 9/7 02-1107 C-17A 156th AS, NC ANG; 08- 188756 & 188797 CF-188s 425 Sqn, RCAF dep
Netherlands ops for TUI Airlines, f/v. 3/8 A7-BHA 8203 & 10-0218 C-17As 62nd/446th AW, USAF; 26th; 188730 & 188769 CF-188s 433 Sqn, RCAF
787-9 Qatar Airways f/v; TC-MKD 737MAX-8 N797CX Citation 750 X. 10/7 N299CX Citation 750 dep 26th; 188791 CF-188 433 Sqn, RCAF dep
Corendon Airlines f/v.5/8 HA-LGA A321-271NX X; N1AL Gulfstream G650; N815CE Gulfstream 28th; N571MA/61-0325 KC-135R Meta Aerospace,
Wizz Air f/v. 6/8 C-GOIP A321-271NX Air Transat G280. 11/7 84-0085 C-21A 76th AS, 86th AW, tanker support for CF-188s, dep 25th; 140110 CP-
f/v. 7/8 EC-NTY A330-343 WAMOS ops for TUI USAF; 93-0602 C-17A 156th AS, NC ANG; HB-FQS 140 405 Sqn, RCAF support for CF188s, dep 25th.
Airways f/v; N4062J A321-271NX JetBlue f/v. 8/8 PC-12NGX c/n 2193 on delivery; 168980 C-40A 24/7 130606 CC-130J RCAF replaced 130601 on
N713TS Lineage 1000 f/v. 11/8 YL-ABI A220-300 VR-58, USN n/s. 12/7 05-5144 C-17A 729th AS, TDY; 00-0177 C-17A 137th AS, NY ANG; 02-1098,
Air Baltic f/v; YL-LDO A321-211 SmartLynx ops for AFRC; N605TK Challenger 605; N293JG Global 04-4137 & 04-4128 C-17As 305th/514th AMW,
TUI Airways, f/v. 12/8 LN-FNI 787-9 Norse Atlantic 5000. 13/7 UR-82029 AN-124-100 Antonov USAF; 95-0106 C-17A 62nd/446th AW, USAF;
Airways; OY-LHC ATR 72-212 Danish Air Transport Airlines; 165378/JW C-130T VR-62, USN; VT-IAH 188787 CF-188 425 Sqn, RCAF dep 26th; 188739
ops for Eastern Airways, f/v. 13/8 EC-NOF A330- A319-115X(CJ). 14/7 N815CE Gulfstream G280; & 188760 CF-188s 433 Sqn, RCAF dep 26th;
343 WAMOS ops for TUI Airways, f/v; LN-FNC CS-PHW Phenom 300 NetJets Europe, delivery 15005 CC-150T 437 Sqn, RCAF tanker support for
787-9 Norse Atlantic Airways f/v. 14/8 EC-NOG flight. 15/7 N35AL DA42; N145DR DA62; N985BC CF-188s n/s. 25/7 99-0062 C-17A 437th/315th
A330-343 WAMOS ops for TUI Airways, f/v. 15/8 Citation 680A Latitude. 16/7 N690QS Citation AW, USAF; N478GS Gulfstream IV. 26/7 99-0062
CN-RGU 787-8 Royal Air Maroc f/v; TC-SOV 737- 680A Latitude n/s. 17/7 LX-PCG PC-24; 1230 & 07-7182 C-17As 437th/315th AW, USAF; 95-
8HC SunExpress f/v. 16/8 LN-FND 787-9 Norse C-17A UAE AF; ZZ519 & ZZ397 Wildcat HMA2s 815 00123 UC-35A E/1-214th Avn, US Army; UR-CQE
Atlantic Airways f/v. 17/8 LN-FNE 787-9 Norse
Atlantic Airways f/v; 9H-MLS A320-232 Avion
Express Malta ops for TUI Airways f/v. 18/8 LN-FNB
787-9 Norse Atlantic Airways f/v; D-AGJP Global
6000 f/v. 19/8 OE-LSM A320-251N easyJet Europe
f/v; TF-ICM 737MAX-8 Icelandair f/v. 20/8 TC-LTM
A321-271NX Turkish Airlines f/v. 21/8 9H-CXE
737-8GP Corendon Airlines Europe f/v. 22/8 EC-
NTX A330-343 WAMOS ops for TUI Airways, f/v;
G-CMFI ATR 72-212A Eastern Airways f/v; 9H-EMU
A320-214 AirHub Airlines ops for Air Malta, f/v.
23/8 LN-FNA 787-9 Norse Atlantic Airways f/v.
Having arrived at East Midlands Airport on August 9, 2022 for attention from Air Livery, former
26/8 EC-NIA A321-251NX Iberia Express f/v;
GullivAir ATR 72-600 LZ-DAI is seen here on August 20 wearing the colours of its new operator,
HA-LZU A321-271NX Wizz Air f/v. 28/8 HA-LGB
Bangladeshi regional airline Air Astra, which is slated to commence operations later this year.
A321-271NX Wizz Air f/v. 29/8 F-HOND HondaJet One of two examples currently leased by the low-cost carrier from United Arab Emirates-
HA-420 Biggin Hill diversion and type f/v. 31/8 based lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, the aircraft departed to GullivAir’s Sofia Airport base
G-TUMF 737MAX-8 TUI Airways f/v. OM-NEX 737- in Bulgaria using the callsign ‘Lima, Zulu, Delta, Alpha, India’ the same day. It has since been
8KN Air Explore ops for Corendon Airlines, f/v. transferred to the Bangladeshi Register as S2-STC AirTeamImages/Stuart Lawson
Turkish Airlines Airbus A350-941 TC-LGI arrives at Manchester from Istanbul using the callsign ‘Turkish Airlines 1993’ on August 20, 2022.
Operating one of the airline’s twice-daily non-stop service to/from the Turkish city, the jet replaced the carrier’s typical A330. Wearing partial
Aeroflot colours, the nine-month-old jet was originally slated to be delivered to the Russian carrier as VP-BXS, but was then taken on by the
Turkish carrier following sanctions placed on Russia in light of its invasion of Ukraine in February Spencer Bennett
An-26B Vulkan Air; HB-FQU PC-12NGX c/n 2195 All Nippon Airways f/v. 18/7 D-ACVG A330-343EF 9H-MSS Learjet 45; SX-ASK E175STD Marathon
on delivery; A7-AAH A340-313 Qatar Amiri Flight DHL Air f/v; VP-CMV Falcon 7X f/v. 19/7 N527AH Airlines ops for FlyBe f/v. 18/5 N147CJ Falcon
o/s; 60-0328 KC-135R USAF n/s; 07-7173 C-17A Lineage 1000E f/v. 20/7 B-321J A350-941 China 2000EX. 20/6 D-CPMU Learjet 60. 22/6 YR-TYA
436th/512nd AW, USAF n/s. 27/7 130601 CC-130J Eastern Airlines f/v; D-APRS Challenger 604 f/v; Citation 560XLS+. 23/6 SE-RNP CitationJet 525B
RCAF departed after TDY; 84-0096 C-21A & LZ-FBI A320-214(SL) Bulgaria Air f/v; N644RV CJ3+; EC-KKQ ATR 72-500 Swiftair ops for FlyBe
01-0029 C-37A 76th AS, 86th AW, USAF; VT-DHA Falcon 2000 f/v; YL-CSA CS300 Air Baltic ops f/v; ZM324 Texan T1 72 Sqn, RAF o/s, type f/v.
Global Express; OE-EPG PC-12NGX. 28/7 N702DR for Eurowings f/v. 21/7 HB-AZB E190E2 Helvetic 26/6 EC-LXV 737-85P Air Europa; LX-SAB Falcon
Global XRS; 4K-BCH 747-4 Silk Way West Airlines; Airways ops for Swiss f/v; T7-TLOL Falcon 7X f/v. 900DX; N690QS Citation 680A Latitude. 27/6
63-8872 KC135R 132nd ARS, Me ANG. 29/7 09- 22/7 B-1066 A330-343E China Eastern Airlines TC-SSA Falcon 8X; N835BZ BBJ1. 29/6 N240LG
9210 & 10-0218 C-17A 62nd/446th AW, USAF; f/v; B-324W A350-941 China Eastern Airlines f/v; Falcon 900EX; D-ANXA Legacy 650E. 30/6 EJ-
06-6159 C-17A 60th/349th AMW, USAF; UR-CBG F-HBNC A320-214 Air France f/v. 23/7 ES-NSE GABJ Bae 125-800A; EJ-REVA Hawker 800XP;
An-12BP Cavok Air. 30/7 KAF343 C-17A 41 Sqn, Saab 2000 Nyx Air f/v. 26/7 EI-KGC A321-271NX OO-TUV 737-86J TUI Fly f/v.
Kuwait AF. 31/7 D-AFUN Legacy 650 Hamburg Air; Air Astana f/v. 27/7 9H-MLR A320-232 Eurowings
N588HP Falcon 900EX; A41-207 C-17A 36 Sqn, f/v; B-30FM A350-941 China Eastern Airlines f/v; LIVERPOOL JOHN
RAAF 80th anniversary tail marks. EI-SIN A320-251N SAS f/v. 28/7 A6-EFT 777-F LENNON AIRPORT
Emirates Airline f/v; B-305X A350-941 China 2/4 N435HC Gulfstream IVSP; 2-JETS Legacy. 5/4
GUERNSEY AIRPORT Eastern Airlines f/v; TC-LTM A321-271NX Turkish N550BG Gulfstream G550. 6/4 N797CX Citation
1/6 D-EBAX AA-5 Traveler. 2/6 OE-DKK DA40D; Airlines f/v. 29/7 F-HBNH A320-214 Air France 750 X; D-CFIV Learjet 35A. 7/4 YL-RAG Saab
D-EABY Mooney M.20J; D-EOCU AA-5 Traveler. f/v. 30/7 A6-EFU 777-F Emirates f/v; B-8862 340A(F) RAF-Avia; D-ASIM Falcon 7X; OE-HPG
3/6 PH-THS Cessna 172N; D-CYKP Citation A330-343E China Eastern Airlines f/v; N549QS & Challenger 350. 8/4 CN-TKC Hawker 800XP.
550 Bravo; F-HSFJ Citation 680A Latitude. 10/6 N690QS Citation 680A Latitudes both f/v. 31/7 9/4 SE-RFL Citation 680 Sovereign; OK-OZZ
F-GCRS Robin DR.400/120; F-GYKL Robin SE-RVZ Citation 525M2 f/v. PC-12NG. 10/4 D-BFIL Legacy 450; OY-NCO
DR.400/160. 11/6 D-ETKS Cessna TR.182; N18028 Do.328JET Sun-Air; VP-BCT Gulfstream G650;
Beech D.17S. 14/6 OK-NTU Nextant 400XT. JERSEY AIRPORT 2-SHOT Hawker 750; 9H-AMO Gulfstream G450;
15/6 I-SKIT Lancair 235ES; T7-960 TBM 960 f/v 1/6 9H-IFX Praetor 600; D-EXXC PA-28R-201. F-HATV Citation 680A Latitude. 11/4 D-BUBI
of variant. 16/6 F-HUMM DA40 o/s; D-EWTE 2/6 D-ECMV Cessna 172S; OK-NTU Nextant Challenger 300. 12/4 HS-VNT Gulfstream G200.
Cessna 182Q. 17/6 F-HCTA DA42; F-HBGH TBM 400XT. 3/6 EI-BSL PA-34-220T. 5/6 D-EOCU 13/4 D-ACDE Global 5000; D-CDOC Learjet 45;
850. 18/6 F-GGTL PA-46-310; D-EVMG Cessna AA-5 Traveler. 6/6 D-EURS PA-46-310P; LN-PFA YU-PZM CitationJet 525A CJ2+. 14/4 HA-TAG
182T. 20/6 F-GDYU Robin DR.400/120; EJ-SCOT DA40NG. 9/6 F-HJSB Citation 525M2; 159/ABU Saab 340A(F) Fleet Air International; OY-TCF
Gulfstream G450. 21/6 F-HGJF PC-12NGX. 26/6 TBM 700 French AF. 10/6 F-HKCQ Cirrus SR20. A321-211(SL) Sunclass Airlines. 17/4 SP-CIT
F-HRCA CitationJet 525 CJ1+. 28/6 T7-PET 11/6 F-GCRS DR.400/120; F-GTVY DR.400/140B. CitationJet 525 CJ1. 18/4 EC-MRR Falcon
Phenom 100. 29/6 9H-JCE HondaJet. 30/6 12/6 D-EEFQ Cessna 172R. 14/6 D-EWTE 2000LX; EC-NHU CRJ200ER Air Nostrum; EC-
F-PVAC Van’s RV-6A dep 3/7. Cessna 182Q. 16/6 D-ELFC PA-28R-180; OE-IBK MLV Citation 680 Sovereign; LN-KGW Beech
Legacy 600; OK-MAR CitationJet 525A CJ2+. 200GT; OY-MIT CRJ200LR Copenhagen Air Taxi.
HEATHROW AIRPORT 17/6 D-EVOK Socata TB-20; F-HSXB DA40NG; 19/4 OK-JRT Citation 680 Sovereign+; N700TN
1/7 9H-MLQ A320-232 Eurowings f/v; N7JP N540LF & N720LF Gulfstream G650ERs; N613LF Beech H-18 Trigear; F-HGET PC-12NG; 2-RIOH
Gulfstream G650 f/v; N620JH Gulfstream G550 Gulfstream G550; OK-SGA PA-46-350P. 19/6 Navion Rangemaster H. 20/4 EI-TFC Cessna 172R;
f/v. 2/7 B-8967 A330-343E China Eastern Airlines YU-BZZ Citation 550 Bravo. 20/6 OH-WEU PC- OY-NCW Do.328JET Sun-Air. 22/4 F-HHAB TBM
f/v. 3/7 9K-AKM A320-251N Kuwait Airways f/v. 6/7 12NG; YU-TUU Citation 550 Bravo. 30/6 9H-SNB 850; SE-MKB ATR 72-600 Braathens International;
D-AEOT Legacy 600 f/v. 7/7 LN-WEA - Embraer Citation 680 Sovereign+; D-FPOL PC-12NG. N535RV Hawker 800XP. 23/4 LN-XAX Falcon 8X.
E190-E2 Wideroe; B-308E A350-941 China 24/4 OK-SLX Citation 560XL; D-CEMO Hawker
Eastern Airlines f/v. 8/7 B-304A A330-343E China LEEDS BRADFORD 750; F-HASJ Citation 510 Mustang; SE-MKC ATR
Eastern Airlines f/v; YL-AAP A220-300 Air Baltic AIRPORT 72-600 Braathens International. 26/4 2-DITO
ops for Eurowings f/v. 9/7 B-1049 A330-343E 1/6 D-ARMY Legacy 650E. 2/6 YU-SXX Citation PA-46-500TP; F-HBOD Phenom 100; N735HC
China Eastern Airlines f/v; OE-HPL Praetor 600 f/v. 550 Bravo; D-CVMS PC-24. 3/6 D-CITA Learjet Gulfstream G450; HB-VAJ Phenom 300; OY-VKD
13/7 B-300P A330-343E China Eastern Airlines f/v; 60. 5/6 SE-RVZ Citation 525M2. 6/6 N180FB A321-211 Sunclass Airlines; OE-LIO Global 5000;
B-307Y A350-941 China Eastern Airlines f/v; TF- Avanti. 7/6 D-IBLU Citation 525M2; F-HBYG EC-MQF 737-85P Air Europa; D-EAKA Cirrus
LLL 757-256 Icelandair f/v. 14/7 B-323H A350-941 H120; OK-PBK Citation 525B CJ3. 8/6 N462FX SR22T. 27/4 EC-MJO CRJ1000 Air Nostrum;
China Eastern Airlines f/v; F-HBNF A320-214 Air Gulfstream G450; N630QS Citation 680A Latitude. 9A-ABC 737-8Q8 ETF Airways; 9A-LAB 737-8K5
France f/v; TC-LGG A350-941 Turkish Airlines f/v. 9/6 F-HMUT Beech 350. 10/6 F-HGJF PC-12NGX. ETF Airways; OK-TSO 737-8GQ Smartwings;
15/7 B-8968 A330-343E China Eastern Airlines 12/6 D-AFAD Challenger 604. 14/6 LY-BGH I-NEOZ 737-86N Neos; OY-NBS PC-12NG;
f/v. 16/7 B-30CW A350-941 China Eastern Airlines Hawker 750. 15/6 F-HSHU Citation 510 Mustang; F-HLRZ Phenom 100; LN-AWB Learjet 45;
f/v; N797CX Citation 750 X f/v. 17/7 JA933A 787-9 CS-TFR Learjet 45; D-CFIV Learjet 35A. 16/6 D-CDRF Learjet 35A. 28/4 LY-FLT 737-522 KlasJet

TAP Air Portugal Airbus A330-941 CS-TUI flares for Runway 23R at Manchester on August 28, 2022. Arriving from Lisbon’s General Humberto
Delgado Airport using the callsign ‘TAP Air Portugal 1318’, the widebody replaced the Portuguese carrier’s Airbus narrowbody or Embraer 195
that are usually used on the so-called ‘Lisbon run’. The 100th aircraft delivered to TAP Air Portugal, the three-and-a-half-year-old departed
back home later the same day as ‘TAP Air Portugal 1315’ Spencer Bennett
n/s; D-CAAE Learjet 45XR; OY-TCG A321-211 PR-PGT Falcon 2000LX. 16/8 N657FX Gulfstream Air Canada f/v; N926PN Global Express f/v. 24/8
Sunclass Airlines; F-HGET PC-12NG. 29/4 HA- G650; LX-LQD Dash 8-Q402 Luxair, London City D-AENC A320-251N Eurowings f/v. 25/8 C-GFAJ
KAO ATR 72-212(F) Fleet Air Internatonal; D-ITOC diversion; N176QS Global 7500. 17/8 OK-KGR A330-343 Air Canada f/v. 26/8 LN-NIN 737-81M
Premier 1A; F-HBTV Citation 525M2; UR-CQD Citation 560XLS+. 20/8 YU-GIN CitationJet Norwegian Air Shuttle f/v; CC-3 Casa 295M
An-26B Vulkan Air. 525 CJ1. 21/8 OH-MIP PC-12NG. 24/8 N250QS Finnish AF f/v. 28/8 ET-ATQ A350-941 Ethiopian
Challenger 650; D-AFAD Challenger 604; T7- Airlines f/v; CS-TUI A350-941 TAP Air Portugal
LONDON BIGGIN HILL BLACK Global Express. 25/8 F-HPHX Hawker f/v; TF-ICM 737MAX-8 Icelandair f/v; D-AIEN
AIRPORT 900XP; N95VE Gulfstream G600. 26/8 N455KH A321-271NX Lufthansa f/v; N84AW Legacy 600
1/3 D-IRSG Avanti II. 2/3 D-FBNV TBM 940; Gulfstream G450; 9H-IRL Citation 560XL. 30/8 f/v; N632QS & N650QS Citation 680A Latitudes
OE-EHA PC-12NG. 3/3 PH-WTG H135; P4- N758PB Gulfstream G650ER. 31/8 N650MV both f/v. 29/8 F-HZUI A220-300 Air France f/v;
BFY Gulfstream G550. 4/3 D-ATON Falcon 7X; Gulfstream G650; YL-ICS Learjet 60; TC-KRA EC-NOF A330-343E Wamos Air f/v ops for TUI;
N160QS Global XRS; N900YB Falcon 900B. 5/3 Hawker 850XP. LZ-LAH A320-214 European Air Charter f/v. 30/8
D-EWWL PA-46 JetPROP DLX. 6/3 D-CNOW EC-NFX Beech 200GT f/v. 31/8 OM-NEX 737-8KN
Phenom 300; F-GVLD Socata TB-20. 7/3 D-IRAS MANCHESTER AIRPORT Air Explore f/v ops for Corendon.
HondaJet; HB-KHG Cirrus SR22; N801QS Citation 1/8 F-HGCP PC-24 f/v; N676GA Gulfstream
700 Longitude; VP-CLT Global 7500. 8/3 OO-ARI G600 f/v; N968FA Gulfstream G650ER f/v. 2/8 NORWICH AIRPORT
H130. 9/3 N650FX Gulfstream G650; OK-MOO F-HZUA & F-HZUG A220-300 Air France both 1/7 CS-DVH CitationJet 525B CJ3; EC-MUB
Mu-2B-60. 12/3 F-HTTL Challenger 650; OE-LUB f/v; EC-NTY A330-343E Wamos Air f/v, ops for 737-86J AlbaStar. 3/7 PH-CMW CitationJet
Gulfstream G500; 9H-ZFX Legacy 500. 14/3 TUI; EC-NBU A340-313X Plus Ultra f/v, ops for 525 CJ1+. 4/7 PH-JUR PA-32R-301T; D-CVMS
D-FKMK PA-46-M600; TC-RSE Learjet 45. 15/3 TUI. 3/8 TC-LTM A327-271NX Turkish Airlines PC-24; 2-PASE DA42. 7/7 F-HAHA Citation 510
D-IRBS Avanti II; N805AL Falcon 900. 16/3 OH- f/v; 9H-AMP A320-232 Avion Express f/v, ops Mustang. 8/7 EC-NAB 737-81Q AlbaStar; PH-EXH
DOG PC-12NGX; PS-BCA Gulfstream G550. 17/3 for Eurowings. 5/8 F-HBNC A320-214 Air France E175STD KLM Cityhopper to KLM Maintenance.
D-ABMR Gulfstream G500. 18/3 HA-SCU Citation f/v; YL-LDR A321-231 SmartLynx f/v, ops for TUI. 9/7 G-LCAE E190LR BA Cityflyer dep ex KLM
650 VI. 21/3 D-ELDY PA-46-350P. 22/3 D-ITOC 6/8 F-HZUB A220-300 Air France f/v; TC-FHI Maintenance. 10/7 SE-KSZ AG-5B Tiger; HB-
premier 1A; HB-DFJ Mooney M20J. 23/3 D-IPIA A320-214 Freebird Airlines f/v. 7/8 TC-TJV 737- JEQ Challenger 604. 11/7 G-LCYW E190LR BA
Avanti II; F-HRDG Phenom 300. 24/3 HB-ZZR 86J Corendon Airlines f/v; C-FXDB Global 6000 Cityflyer to KLM Maintenance. 12/7 PH-VDH
AW109SP GrandNew. 25/3 OE-HCU Challenger f/v. 8/8 OY-NCS Do.328JET Sun Air f/v; OO-ROK DA62; M-ABPN ATR 72-600 Wellington Leasing
350. 26/3 D-EVMP Cirrus SR22T. 27/3 F-HLRX CitationJet 525C CJ4 f/v; 283 PC-12NG 104 Sqn, dep 22nd. 13/7 9H-BCP Learjet 45; OY-NPG
Falcon 2000S; N279SW Falcon 2000EX. 28/3 Irish Air Corps. 9/8 M-JCBC Sikorsky S-76C f/v. Metro 23 North Flying. 14/7 PH-EUE AW139 CHC
F-HJJV CitationJet 525A CJ2; HB-VVA PC-24; 10/8 YL-ABI A220-300 Air Baltic f/v; T7-BLACK Netherlands. 15/7 D-CJMS PC-24; EC-NLK 737-
SP-RYT DA40D; 2-WOWS Cirrus SF50. 29/3 PH- Global Express f/v. 13/8 TC-SOE 737-800 Sun 81M AlbaStar; F-HMCX CitationJet 525A CJ2. 16/7
JWK Cirrus SR22T. 30/3 N905FJ Falcon 900. 31/3 Express f/v; EC-NTX A330-343 Wamos Air f/v, ES-NSF Saab 2000 NyxAir; TC-SSA Falcon 8X; PH-
N646AK Global 7500; OY-SPA Global 6000. ops for TUI. 14/8 C-GHKW A330-343 Air Canada WDB Tecnam P2010 TDI; TC-RMK Falcon 8X. 17/7
f/v; TC-SOV 737-8HC Sun Express f/v; TC-MKD ES-NSH Saab 2000 NyxAir. 18/7 PH-BXV 737-8K2
LONDON LUTON 737MAX-8 Corendon Airlines f/v; G-VROE Avro KLM to KLM Maintenance; PH-EUF AW139 CHC
AIRPORT Anson C21 o/s; PA474 Avro Lancaster B1 BBMF, Netherlands. 19/7 PH-KIO Tecnam P2006T;
2/8 N46GJ Gulfstream G550; P4-IFF Gulfstream o/s. 15/8 PH-NXL E195E2 KLM City Hopper f/v; HB-KWM Cirrus SR22T; UP-A2101 A321-211(ACJ)
G650; 9H-GOA Learjet 60XR. 3/8 D-CICU Learjet 9H-LAJ A320-232 Lauda Europe f/v; TC-SEZ Government of Kazakhstan to Air Livery, dep 28th.
45. 4/8 XA-RBI Falcon 900LX; N232G Gulfstream 737-8HC Sun Express f/v; N549QS Citation 680A 20/7 OE-FGB CitationJet 525A CJ2. 21/7 M-MEVA
G650ER. 5/8 C-FXFY Challenger 350; 9H-PARTS Latitude f/v. 16/8 SX-NAJ A321-271NX Aegean Citation 560 Ultra; LZ-LAD A320-231 European
Beech 200GT. 6/8 F-HTED Falcon 900EX; SX- Airlines f/v; M-IMIC Gulfstream G280 f/v; OK- Air Charter. 23/7 2-PASC & 2-PASN DA40Ds.
AQG Citation 560XLS. 7/8 N860PS Falcon 900LX; PHE Phenom 300 f/v. 17/8 TC-RBL A321-251NX 24/7 D-AIUQ A320-214(SL) Lufthansa to Air
N240WL Global 5000. 8/8 T7-HAS BBJ1. 9/8 Pegasus Airlines f/v. 18/8 F-HCTV Falcon 7X f/v. Livery; D-CAWB Citation 680 Sovereign; ZZ507
HA-JEX Citation 650 VI. 10/8 OO-VMF Citation 20/8 F-HZUK A220-300 Air France f/v; TC-LGI Shadow R1+ 14 Sqn, RAF. 25/7 PH-DWA ERJ145LR
560XLS+. 12/8 OE-GPP Citation 560XLS+. 13/8 A350-941 Turkish Airlines f/v. 21/8 OE-LSL A320- JetNetherlands. 28/7 F-HIPE Phenom 300. 30/7
T7-ROYAL Global Express 5000; SE-RLZ Hawker 251N Easyjet Europe f/v. 22/8 TC-SNV 737-86J F-HGJF PC-12NGX; D-CQAA Learjet 45. 31/7
900XP. 14/8 N828KD Gulfstream G500; XA-RIN Sun Express f/v; B-5935 A330-343 Hainan Airlines, 9Y-MBJ 737-85P Caribbean Airlines to Air Livery.
Gulfstream G550; T7-3338 Global 5000. 15/8 LZ- resumption of 1 x weekly Beijing service; N700TN
AWY A330-22 Gullivair; N887LC Challenger 300; Beech H-18 Trigear f/v. 23/8 C-GEGI A330-343 Key: f/v first visit; n/s night stop; o/s overshoot.
With thanks to. D Apps, D Bougourd, S Boyd, J Brazier, N Burch, P A Clarke, I Cockerton, KW Ede, M Farley, N French, P Gibson, G Green, J Gregory, I Grierson, D Haines,
M Harper, G Hocquard, S Lane, G Morris, S Morrison, R Roberts, RJ Sayer, A Smith, D Turner, Blackpool Aviation Society, Solent Aviation Society/‘Osprey’, South Wales
Aviation Group, CIAN, GSAE, The Aviation Society, EGPE ATC, www.dtvmovements.co.uk, Aerodata Quantum Plus and RHADS.
BY STUART MCDIARMID REGISTER REVIEW
Register Review
The latest changes on the UK, Irish, Isle of Man and Guernsey registers
RESTORATIONS G-FNOT 407E37 Scheibe SF-25C Falke

2000
44375 DM Ward, Trustee of The
TMG Syndicate (Milfield),
REG'N MODE(S) TYPE C/N OWNER Milfield, Northumberland
G-BYIX 40415A Cameron PM-80 4597 A Schneider, (Südlohn, Germany) G-GBUA 407809 Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen LAA 411- A Everitt, Ley Farm, Chirk,
G-BZKC 4043E7 Raj Hamsa X'Air BMAA/ CW Payne, (Droitwich, (Built by AL Virgoe) 15616 Wrexham
582(11) (built by PJ HB/144 Worcestershire) G-IMLW 407D73 AutoGyro Cavalon RSUK/ ML Watson, (Wisborough
Cheyney & MC Reed) (assembled by Autogyro CVLN/040 Green, West Sussex)
G-MMBU 402428 Eipper Quicksilver CAL-222 A Young, (Bircotes, Certification Ltd)
MXII Northamptonshire) G-KJAS 407D7F Airbus A330-202 950 Hans Airways Ltd,
G-MTSK 402A28 Thruster TST Mk.1 8117-TST- C Nicholson, (Hindley, Greater Birmingham, West
(modified) 047 Manchester) Midlands
G-MWRR 4033DC Mainair Gemini 834-0391- AL Cooke, (Rugeley, G-LDNG 407CD9 Diamond DA62 62.066 Twinstarhire Ltd, Oxford,
Flash IIA 7-W628 Staffordshire) Oxfordshire
G-RRVV 4069D6 Van's RV-8 (built by 82245 MW Albery, Enstone, Oxfordshire G-NADE 407E39 Bell 505 JetRanger X 65412 AR & JA Barratt trading
MA Ballard) as Cotswold Aviation,
Gloucestershire
EI-FNT 4CA68E Leonardo AW169 69013 Como Aviation Ltd, (operated
by Elitaliana, Fonte di Papa, G-NHHG 407E4C Embraer EMB-505 50500314 Catreus AOC Ltd,
Monterotondo, Italy) Phenom 300 Hawarden, Flintshire
2-VSLJ 43EC4C Airbus A320-233 3570 Crimson Sunbird Leasing 3570 G-NPTH 407DCF Boeing 737-43Q 28490 West Atlantic UK Ltd, East
DAC, (stored Kaunas, Lithuania) Midlands, Leicestershire
G-OCOL 407C71 Evektor SportStar SLM 2022-2206 CJ & JA Aldous, (Reading,
(assembled by Ascent Berkshire)
Industries Ltd)
NEW REGISTRATIONS G-OVEL 407DC7 Pipistrel Velis Electro VSW128- Chicken Roundabout
REG'N MODE(S) TYPE C/N OWNER SW128 0067 Finance Ltd, Church Farm,
Shipmeadow, Suffolk
G-CMAZ 407BF1 Diamond P120 DB-SN-002 AM Holly, (Breadstone,
Gloucestershire) G-OWEE 407D3E Bell 505 JetRanger X 65394 Claygate Ltd, (Goudhurst,
Kent)
G-CMCY 407D05 Tecnam P2012 Traveller 048 Oriens Aviation Ltd, Biggin
Hill, Greater London G-RANL 407E3B Leonardo AW109SP 22440 Sloane Helicopters Ltd,
Grand New Sywell, Northamptonshire
G-CMER 407E41 Bölkow Bö209 Monsun 171 Recovair Ltd, Thruxton,
(built by Messerschmitt- Hampshire G-RVGR 407E83 Van's RV-8A LAA 303- G Robertson, (Falkirk,
Bölkow-Blohm GmbH) 15743 Stirling & Falkirk)
G-CMFG 407D9C Van's RV-12iS (built by 121048 MN Stannard (Milton G-SLGZ 407E81 TAF Sling 2 LAA 399- PG Hooper, (Winchester,
RT Steers) Keynes, Buckinghamshire) 15717 Hampshire)
G-CMFI 407E1D ATR-72-212A 1312 Eastern Airways (UK) Ltd, G-SOLE 407E3A Cessna 525 Citation M2 525-1124 Catreus AOC Ltd, Liverpool
Humberside, Lincolnshire John Lennon, Merseyside
G-CMIU 407DA1 Airbus EC135T3 2184 Airbus Helicopters UK G-SPRY 407D7D Diamond S105 DB-SN-009 SM Heard, trading as
Ltd, Oxford, Oxfordshire Perfect Paint, (Bristol, City
(for RAF) of Bristol)
G-CMKD 407E6C Europa Aviation Europa PFA 247- D & JMR Royle, (Wigton, G-VVMC 407DE1 Cirrus SR22 8702 V Ferguson, Blackpool,
12622 Cumbria) Lancashire
G-CMKE 407E6D Van's RV-8 (built by SW 83408 MN Stannard, (Milton G-XOOM 4062D7 Van's RV-8 (built by D LAA 303- APS Maynard, Brighton
Long) Keynes, Buckinghamshire) Stephens) 14961 City, West Sussex
G-CMKH 407E7F Van's RV-7 LAA 323- ANE Nicholas, (Sevenoaks, G-XWBM 407CD2 Airbus A350-1041 563 British Airways PLC,
15501 Kent) London Heathrow,
Middlesex
G-CMKK 407E80 Zenair CH750 LAA 381- A Roddam, (Broadstone,
15297 Dorset) G-YIPY 400BC3 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo 31-7852143 Atlantic Bridge Aviation Ltd,
Chieftain Lydd, Kent
G-CMLA 407E12 TL Ultralight TL-3000 22 SI 222 DJ Brookfield, (Tickhill,
Sirius 600 South Yorkshire) G-YYES 407E04 Cirrus SR20 8701 A9 Leasing LLP, Guernsey,
Channel Islands
G-DHLW 407DBF Boeing 777-F6N 37714 DHL Air Ltd, East Midlands,
Leicestershire EI-AZG 4CAD4C Boeing 737-86Q 32773 ASL Airlines (Ireland) Ltd,
Shannon, Co. Clare (NB)
G-FGRP 404FAB Agusta A109E Power 11168 Green Leasing (North
Elite West) Ltd, Blackpool, EI-GUR 4CABC7 ATR-72-212A 1727 ASL Airlines (Ireland) Ltd,
Lancashire Shannon, Co. Clare (NB)

REGISTER REVIEW BY STUART MCDIARMID
PREVIOUS IDENTITIES
REG’N P.I. REG’N P.I.
G-BYIX ex (D-O***) EI-HHF ex F-HBNA
G-CMCY ex I-PDVL EI-HHG ex G-BFIG
G-CMER ex D-EAAK EI-HIJ ex I-EASK
G-CMFG ex N967P EI-KBC ex P4-KBC
G-CMFI ex LZ-DAH EI-KDF ex P4-KDF
G-CMIU ex D-HCBJ EI-KEA ex P4-KEA
G-CMKE ex N256LS EI-KGA ex P4-KGA
G-DHLW ex B-2078 EI-SIT ex F-WWDS
G-FGRP ex G-JBCB M-AWOL ex N119SX
G-FNOT ex D-KNOT M-TKGK ex 2-SSCA
G-GBUA ex G-DREW M-UATG ex C-FAPQ
G-KJAS ex EC-KTG 2-CDCA ex TC-CDA
G-LDNG ex 2-NGUT 2-DHIA ex G-CMEB
G-NADE ex C-GAJH 2-LOOK ex (D-E***), N92156
G-NHHG ex N30MN 2-MKJK ex 9V-SBH
G-NPTH ex EI-STO 2-PHIL ex N390RJ
G-OWEE ex C-GXVG 2-TSYW ex VT-SYW
G-RRVV ex N97VV 2-TSYX ex VT-SYX
G-VVMC ex N66VF 2-TSYY ex VT-SYY
G-XOOM ex G-RVEI 2-VSLJ ex TC-ODC
Withdrawn from service by Spanish low-cost carrier Air Europa in G-XWBM ex F-WZNE 2-WKTN ex N324CD
January 2020, Airbus A330-202 EC-KTG – seen here powering out G-YIPY ex G-VIPY 2-YJZH ex OY-JZH
of Paris’s Orly Airport on March 2, 2017 – was transferred to the G-YYES ex N135GB 2-YYDJ ex OY-YDJ
UK Register as G-KJAS by new operator Hans Airways on August 18, EI-AZG ex VP-CGV 2-YYDK ex OY-YDK
2022. Leased by the new privately-owned Birmingham Airport-based EI-GUR ex F-WWED 2-YYDM ex OY-YDM
start-up from global lessor Carlyle Aviation Partners, the 14-year-old EI-HDN ex B-LHD 2-YYDV ex OY-YDV
jet performed its formal route proving flight for the UK Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA) on August 31 AirTeamImages/Philippe Noret
EI-KDF 4CA364 Airbus A321-271N 8277 Tantalum Funding Ltd,
(operated by Air Astana,
EI-HDN 4CAD65 Airbus A330-343 1146 Stellar Aircraft Holdings
Almaty, Kazakhstan)
1 Ltd, (stored at
Chateauroux-Deols, EI-KEA 4CAC0D Boeing 767-3KYER 43220 Jetysu Aviation Ltd,
France) (operated by Air Astana,
Almaty, Kazakhstan)
EI-HHF 4CAD77 Airbus A320-214 4335 Whitney Ireland Leasing
Ltd, (for Cyprus Airways) EI-KGA 4CAC10 Airbus A321-271NX 8837 ALC Aircraft Ltd, (operated
by Air Astana, Almaty,
EI-HHG 4CAC91 Reims Cessna FR172K 0615 KP Rogan, Dublin Weston,
Kazakhstan)
Hawk XP Co. Kildare
EI-PHK Not Dudek Hadron 1:1 P.183613 A Kenny, (Kiltimagh, Co.
EI-HIJ 4CAC83 Leonardo AW169 69040 SMFL LCI Helicopters Six
allotted Mayo)
Ltd, (leased to Alidaunia,
Foggia, Italy) EI-PHO Not BGD Magic Motor BG1002092A JR Killian, (Maynooth, Co.
allotted Kildare)
EI-KBC 4CABFC Airbus A320-212 5734 Saryarka Aviation Ltd,
(operated by FlyArystan, EI-PHP Not BGD Cyclone 38 BG0910345A JR Killian, (Maynooth, Co.
Almaty, Kazakhstan) allotted Kildare)
Formerly OO-FCA with cargo carrier ASL Airlines Belgium, Boeing 757-222(F) 2-TFCA was
cancelled from the Guernsey Register by Aquila Air Capital (Ireland) DAC on August 4, 2022
as “Exported to Mongolia”. The 30-year-old jet has since been delivered to MIAT Mongolian
Airlines and assigned the registration JU-1109 AirTeamImages/Jan Severijns
BY STUART MCDIARMID REGISTER REVIEW
EI-SIT 4CAC8A Airbus A320-251N 10937 Scandinavian Airlines
Ireland Ltd, Copenhagen-
Kastrup, Denmark
M-AWOL 424BFA Agusta A119 Koala 14037 Saxon Logistics Ltd, Elstree,
Hertfordshire
M-TKGK 424C0F Airbus A330-343 1544 Ciaxabank SA, (stored
Tarbes, Lourdes, France)
M-UATG 424C02 Bombardier Challenger 6179 Cloud Services Ltd, Lagos,
650 Nigeria
2-CDCA TBA Airbus A320-214 5879 Bluesky 27 Leasing
Company Ltd, (stored at
Tallinn, Estonia)
2-DHIA 43EB00 Bombardier Challenger 5904 Kuwait International
605 Aircraft Leasing, Sales &
Possession Co, Guernsey,
Channel Islands
2-LOOK TBA Piper PA-46-350P 4622140 Private, Guernsey, Channel
Malibu Mirage (JetProp Islands
DLX conversion)
2-MKJK 43EEDO Airbus A319-133 4259 ACM GMT VII Asset Co.
LLC, (stored Toulouse-
Francazal, France)
2-PHIL TBA Raytheon RB390 RB-220 Herting10 Ltd, TBA
Premier 1A (built by
Hawker Beechcraft)
2-TSYW TBA Boeing 737-85R 36694 AWAS 36694 Ireland Ltd,
(stored at Hyderabad, India)
2-TSYX TBA Boeing 737-85R 36695 AWAS 36695 Ireland Ltd,
(stored at Hyderabad, India)
G-ATCX Cessna 182H Skylane 182-55848 Cancelled by CAA (crashed
2-TSYY TBA Boeing 737-85R 36698 AWAS 36698 Ireland Ltd, on landing at Stoodleigh
(stored at Hyderabad, India) Barton Farm, Stoodleigh,
Devon 29.03.20)
2-WKTN 43EED2 Beech B200 King Air BB-1528 DEA Aviation Ltd, Retford
Gamston, Nottinghamshire G-ATEW Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche 30-719 To France
2-YJZH TBA ATR-72-212A 1177 NAC Aviation 8 Ltd, (stored G-AVUZ Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six 32-40302 Cancelled as Permanently
Tallinn, Estonia) WFU (ARC expired 23.04.20.
Parted out at Jersey 11.21)
2-YYDJ TBA ATR-72-212A 1080 NAC Aviation 8 Ltd, (stored
Tallinn, Estonia) G-AWHM Hispano HA1112-M1L Buchon 187 To Germany
2-YYDK TBA ATR-72-212A 1108 NAC Aviation 8 Ltd, (stored G-AXGR Luton LA4A Minor PAL 1125 Cancelled as Permanently
Tallinn, Estonia) WFU (Permit to Fly expired
23.09.06)
2-YYDM TBA ATR-72-212A 1286 NAC Aviation 8 Ltd, (stored
Tallinn, Estonia) G-BFER Bell 212 30835 To Canada
2-YYDV TBA ATR-42-500 1012 NAC Aviation 8 Ltd, (stored G-BFIG Reims Cessna FR172K Hawk XP 0615 To Republic of Ireland as
Muskoka, Canada) EI-HHG
G-BGMH Bell 212 30512 To Canada
CANCELLATIONS G-BJCF Scintex CP1310-C3 Super 30835 To France
Emeraude
REG’N TYPE C/N REASON
G-BTUS Whittaker MW7 PFA 171- Cancelled as Permanently
G-ATAG Jodel DR1050 Sicile 226 Re-registered as G-COWW 11999 WFU (Permit to Fly expired
G-AJUL Auster J1N Alpha 2624 Cancelled as Permanently 20.06.06. On display at South
WFU (last reported on rebuild Wales Aviation Museum, St
at Halstead, Essex 12.90) Athan, The Vale of Glamorgan)
G-ARRU Druine D31 Turbulent PFA 502 Cancelled as Permanently G-BVJU Evans VP-1 PFA 062- Cancelled as Permanently
WFU (crashed on landing at a 10691 WFU (No Permit to Fly issued,
private strip at Lamberhurst, believed not completed)
Kent 08.07.96) G-BVPM Evans VP-2 PFA 7205 Cancelled by CAA (Permit
to Fly expired 31.05.94.
On display at South Wales
Aviation Museum, St Athan,
The Vale of Glamorgan)
G-AXRO Cessna U206G Stationair 6 U206-04217 To Bolivia
G-BZDK Raj Hamsa X'Air 582(2) BMAA/ Cancelled as Destroyed
HB/124 (Permit to Fly expired
18.04.22)
G-BZRZ Thunder Ax11-250 S2 10013 Cancelled as Permanently
WFU (CofA expired 11.10.09.
Parted out for spares 06.21)
G-CDGA Taylor JT1 Monoplane 8020-1 Cancelled by CAA (No Permit
to Fly issued, believed not
completed)
G-CGNV Reality Escapade LAA 345- Cancelled as Destroyed
14901 (Crashed just after take-off
at Breighton, East Yorkshire
14.11.21)
G-CHTC Schleicher ASW-15B 15188 Cancelled as Destroyed (ARC
expired 04.06.22)
Previously operated by China Cargo Airlines, Boeing 777-F6N B-2078
G-CLLJ Enstrom 480B 5128 To USA as N480GB
– seen here landing at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in October 2012
– was added to the UK Register as G-DHLW by East Midlands-based G-CMEB Bombardier Challenger 605 5904 To Guernsey as 2-DHIA
DHL Air on August 5, 2022. Delivered new to the Chinese carrier in July G-DDDK PZL-Bielsko SZD-30 Pirat S-04-08 Cancelled by CAA (ARC
expired 02.05.22)
2010, the freighter arrived at East Midlands airport on September 1,
2022, using the callsign ‘DHL Air 1’; it has since entered revenue service G-DREW Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen LAA 411- Re-registered as G-GBUA
15616
with the air transport and logistics provider Maarten Visser

REGISTER REVIEW BY STUART MCDIARMID
Cancelled from the Irish Register on August 30, 2022 by lessor Celestial Aviation Trading 15, Boeing 777-243 EI-DBM has since joined
Portuguese leasing/air charter specialists EuroAtlantic Airways as CS-TSW. Most recently operated by the now-defunct Italian flag carrier
Alitalia, the 18-year-old twinjet – which is configured to carry up to 293 passengers – was withdrawn from use in October 2020 Eric Salard
G-EEXW Beech 95-B55 Baron TC-1073 To USA as N210WF EI-STO Boeing 737-43Q 28490 To United Kingdom as
G-NPTH
G-FBEI Embraer 195 19000143 To Sweden as SE-RSM
M-ABNI Airbus A320-214 4376 To Libya as 5A-BRC
G-FBJI Embraer 175 17000355 To Canada as C-GYFC
M-ABPN ATR-72-212A 1199 To Gabon
G-FBJJ Embraer 175 17000358 To Canada
M-APCO Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 650 14501179 To India
G-FIJJ Reims Cessna F177RG Cardinal RG 0031 To France
M-ENTA Dassault Falcon 200 511 Cancelled as Dismantled
G-IPAX Cessna 560XL Citation XL 560-5228 To Malta as 9H-IRL
(broken up at Geneva-
G-JBCB Agusta A109E Power Elite 11168 Re-registered G-FGRP Cointrin, Switzerland)
G-JOJO Cameron A-210 2674 Cancelled as Permanently M-MWYL Airbus A330-343(F) 1401 To Hong Kong Special
WFU (CofA expired 11.04.06) Administrative Region of The
People's Republic of China
G-LGNN SAAB 340B 340B-197 To USA as N968AF as B-LOU
G-LGNP SAAB 2000 2000-018 Cancelled by CAA (ARC expired M-SAGI Gulfstream G550 5250 to USA as N95MJ
14.05.20, last noted stored at
Õrebro, Sweden 10.19) 2-ANBA Airbus A320-214 2964 To Austria as OE-LRD
G-MIRA Avtech Jabiru SP-430 PFA 274- Cancelled by CAA (Permit 2-ASKY Boeing 737-86N 43422 To Togo as 5V-TTV
13458 to Fly expired 28.11.14, was
2-BPDJ Boeing 737-8AS 33719 To Slovakia as OM-EDA
based in Belgium)
2-BPDO Boeing 737-8K5 34685 To Canada as C-GWJE
G-MOCL Bombardier Challenger 604 5620 To Canada as C-FHHM
2-CJIN Airbus A330-203 932 To Greece
G-MTHH Solar Wings Pegasus XL-R SW-WA-1172 Cancelled as Permanently
WFU (Permit to Fly expired 2-GECE Bell 412EP 36407 To USA as N412RF
28.12.98)
2-NGUT Diamond DA62 62.066 To United Kingdom as
G-MVSP Mainair Gemini Flash IIA 756-589 Cancelled by CAA (Permit to G-LDNG
-7-W549 Fly expired 04.04.04)
2-OCST Agusta Bell 206B-3 JetRanger III 8694 To United Kingdom as
G-MVZS Mainair Gemini Flash IIA 771-1089 Cancelled by CAA (Permit to G-OSAF
-7-W564 Fly expired 04.06.22)
2-SSCA Airbus A330-343 1544 To Isle of Man as M-TKGK
G-OGGM Cirrus SR22 1382 To Armenia
2-TFCA Boeing 757-222 25397 To Mongolia as JU-1109
G-PGSA Thruster T600N 0080-T600N Cancelled as Permanently WFU
-046 (Permit to Fly expired 17.11.19)
Key: NB – Nominal Base
G-PIXX Robinson R44 Raven II 10263 To Germany A place name in brackets relates to the owner’s address, as where the aircraft is based is unknown.
G-RVEI Van's RV-8 LAA 303-14961 Re-registered as G-XOOM
G-RVRZ Piper PA-23-250 Aztec E 27-7305142 To Canada as C-GYLD
G-SFLY Diamond DA40 40.362 Cancelled as Permanently UPDATES & CORRECTIONS
WFU (badly damaged when it REG’N DETAILS
collided with a hangar door at
Oaksey Park, Wiltshire 10.07.22) G-BPRA Became HB-UGH 10.05.22
G-BWUA Became U-G08 (Thai Ultralight sequence) 01.08.17
G-SPUR Cessna 550 Citation II 550-0714 To USA
G-BXRY Became N111HF 12.09.22 (Officially cancelled to Germany 01.12.21)
G-TRON Robinson R66 Turbine 0731 To Australia as VH-DPU
G-CLUL Became RA-07545
G-VIPY Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain 31-7852143 Re-registered as G-YIPY
G-ENVO Became UP-EC120 03.22
EI-DBM Boeing 777-243 32782 To Portugal as CS-TSW G-HITJ Became RA-07516
EI-FPO Bombardier CRJ-200LR 15434 To USA as N619NN G-MZOG Type officially changed to a Pegasus Quantum 15-912 18.08.22
EI-GIM Boeing 737-86Q 30289 To Sudan G-NLCH Became PH-NLC 28.07.22
EI-GWB Boeing 777-212 30872 To USA as N865BC G-PPEM Became N988JL 01.08.22
G-PRLY Became ES-UBK 08.22
EI-GWL Airbus A320-232 5027 To Indonesia as PK-STZ
G-TATS Became I-KING
EI-GZH Boeing 737-8 42840 To Canada as C-GISM
EI-CPE Became VP-CBS 05.07.22
EI-GZK Boeing 737-8 42845 To Canada as C-GULN
EI-CPG Became VP-CBL 05.07.22
EI-SLF ATR-72-201 210 Cancelled as Removed from EI-CPH Became VP-CBP 05.07.22
Service (Last reported stored
at Sofia, Bulgaria 09.21) M-AVIR Became T7-AVIR 04.22
Queen Elizabeth II
– the world says goodbye
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on September 19 was attended by some 500 heads of
state and dignitaries, including presidents, prime ministers and monarchs from across
the globe, making it one of the largest such gatherings since the memorial for former
South African president Nelson Mandela in 2013. The event attracted an array of civil
and military aircraft to London and beyond, some of which are illustrated here
Above: Ukraine may be embroiled in war, but

it still sent a delegation to the the UK for the
funeral. They were flown to London/Stansted
on board Airbus A319-115CJ UR-ABA (c/n
3260) Stuart Haigh
Left: Força Aérea Brasileira Embraer VC-2

(E190) 2591 (c/n 19000277) visited Stansted
twice in the build up to the funeral. It is
captured on the second of those visits arriving
from Sal in Cape Verde as BRS06 Stuart Haigh
Pictured on short finals for Stansted’s Runway

23 is the Government of South Korea’s
relatively new Boeing 747-8, 22001 (c/n
60410). The former Korean Air example was
acquired in late 2021 to replace its 747-400
Stuart Haigh
The Queen’s funeral in London led to some

unusual movements elsewhere in the country
as aircraft were moved to make space in the
capital. This included Boeing 757-2J4 N770BB
(c/n 25220), once operated by Sterling
Airways of Denmark but now registered to
The Yucaipa Companies, which temporarily
relocated to Birmingham
Ashley French

While Stansted handled the majority of the
incoming funeral-related movements, some
visitor aircraft also used nearby RAF Northolt,
including Cessna Citation 560XL T-784
(c/n 560-5269), which is operated by the
Swiss Air Force’s federal air transport service
Stuart Haigh
The Cypriot Air Force’s newly acquired

Embraer Legacy, CAF-001 (c/n 145484),
made a short visit to Stansted on September
18. The jet, which previously served with the
Hellenic Air Force as 484, arrived from Athens
before departing to Paphos later that day
James Ronayne
Left: Australia was well represented at the

funeral. Royal Australian Air Force Airbus
KC-30A A39-006 (c/n 892) was the first of two
examples to visit Stansted on September 16,
followed by A39-007 (c/n 898). Among those
who arrived on the jets were 39 members
of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) who,
along with troops from Canada and New
Zealand, led the Queen’s funeral procession
through the streets of London
James Ronayne
Below left: President Jair Bolsonaro attended

the funeral as the representative for Brazil. He
arrived at Stansted on Força Aérea Brasileira
Airbus VC-1A, (A319-133) 2101 (c/n 2263),
early on September 18 James Ronayne
Below: The South African delegation travelled

to Stansted on Boeing 737-7ED BBJ1 ZS-
RSA (c/n 32627). The jet is usually based at
Waterkloof Air Base and operated by 21 Sqn of
the South African Air Force James Ronayne
The government of Namibia’s smart Dassault
Falcon 7X V5-GON (c/n 127) is a regular visitor
to Europe. The jet was used by President Hage
Geingob, who continued on from London
to New York to attend the United Nations
General Assembly Dave Potter
Below left: Weststar’s sleek Boeing 767-

238ER, 2-TSSA (c/n 23896), was another
casualty of the influx to the capital, moving
from Stansted to Birmingham for its first visit
on September 16 to make space for visiting
dignitaries. It departed five days later to Kuala
Lumpur via Abu Dhabi Dave Potter
Below left: After delivering the Brunei royal

family to Stansted, this stylish Boeing 747-8,
V8-BKH(c/n 41060), relocated to Gatwick for
parking. This aircraft is the third to carry the
registration – it has previously been worn by
two different Airbus A340s Dave Potter
Bottom left: RAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster

ZZ177 (c/n F-277) of 99 Sqn was given the
prestigious task of carrying the Queen’s coffin
from Edinburgh to RAF Northolt, London,
following her death at her summer residence
Balmoral Castle. The flight, on September 13,
was watched by almost six million people,
making it the most tracked aircraft movement
in the history Flight Radar 24
Mark Bell - NCLairpics
Below: Luxaviation’s Embraer Legacy 600

G-LEGC (c/n 14501025) was pressed into
service in the immediate aftermath of Queen
Elizabeth II’s passing, transporting the newly
crowned King Charles III from Aberdeen to
Northolt, back to Edinburgh several days later,
and then across to Belfast
Mark Bell - NCLairpics

WIN
“In the early noughties, Ian Castle was the engineering
director for Delta Aviation, which operated Tiger
Moths nationwide. I had been the safety adviser to
James Black’s Avia Special and, shortly after the two
companies combined, I took up the same role with
Delta Aviation. It was during this period that I first
encountered Thomas, an inquisitive young lad just
1 5TS
TH OM A
PR I N
S CAST L
of
E T I GER M
OTH
about to embark on his teenage years. Delta also

operated Tiger Moth G-ADGT at this time; little
was I to know the influence both Thomas and the
aeroplane would have on my life in later years.
Some years later, G-ADGT suffered a landing

accident while owned by the Tiger Club at
Headcorn. I purchased the remains of the
aeroplane with a view to its restoration at
some point in the future. Meanwhile, I formed
Finest Hour Experiences at Bicester and Ian
became responsible for both scheduled and
‘line’ maintenance’ of our aircraft. I recall
the satisfied smile on Thomas’ face as he sat
outside the Bicester Watch Office enjoying the
Tigers fly overhead once his engineering work
was complete and before travelling home.
Thomas last visited Bicester to work on the
Tigers just a few days before he lost his life.
Following the awful news of Thomas’ accident, my thoughts turned quickly to how I could help Ian through
Worth
a situation none of us should have to face; I came to the idea of handing to Ian the restoration of G-ADGT, an
aeroplane to which Thomas, Ian and I all had strong links, to help give him something positive to focus on rather
than the inevitable consequences of the accident. The aeroplane remains in Ian’s workshop, where his matchless
craftmanship is visible for all to see.
Once the Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Scholarship was launched, Ian and I discussed how Finest Hour could
£35!
best support it. To that end, we have deployed Tiger Moths to Sywell to provide Ian’s team with extra capacity at the
larger events and we’ll be completing the Tiger Moth flying training for two of this year’s Scholarship winners using
our G-AOIS at Bicester; Tiger Moth G-ANTE has also deployed to Bicester in support of our photoshoot events. Finest
Hour’s support to the Scholarship is a long-term commitment; we will continue for as long as Ian wants us to.
In memory of Thomas, I commissioned aviation artist Paul Couper to paint ‘Tom’s Tigers’, a representation of
G-ADGT and G-ANTE flying in formation over Thomas’ beloved Sywell. Prints are available for sale in support of the
scholarship from Ian or via the Finest Hour website, with one of the prints having pride of place in the Finest Hour
lounge at Bicester.”
Chris Thompson
Founder and owner, Finest Hour Experiences
To enter visit:
Key.aero/aviation-news/competitions
Closing date: Friday 13th January, 2023. For full terms and conditions, see website.
389/22
Remembering
The family and friends of Thomas Castle, who lost his life in 2019, are
working to ensure his name lives on to inspire young aviators and
promote vintage aviation. Martin Needham learns more about
the Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Scholarship
I
t’s a hot Saturday in May and there’s Tragically, Thomas lost his life in an
a frenetic buzz around the pair of aerobatics training incident flying from
Tiger Moths in the sunshine at Sywell White Waltham Airfield, Berkshire, in
Aerodrome in Northamptonshire. The August 2019, when he was 30 years old.
two biplanes are being used to provide Ian launched the Thomas Castle Aviation
experience flights and training sorties Heritage Trust in his son’s memory.
for a handful of enthusiastic students. A Ian explains: “I wanted to find a way to do
dedicated team clad in red polo shirts something in his memory and to keep his
ensures those going for flights are legacy alive. The Trust came about because
strapped in ready for departure and Thomas was so enthusiastic about all
afterwards, clamber down safely from the aspects of aviation, but particularly vintage
aircraft as they beam from ear to ear after aviation. The thought that came to mind
an open-cockpit trip. was to form a trust around ‘Tango Echo’,
The operation runs like clockwork, which was effectively Thomas’ aircraft,
overseen by Ian Castle, who has and to let people around his age have the
masterminded the day’s events and opportunity to fly a vintage aircraft.”
countless others like it. However, behind Danny Williams, a friend and now an
Ian’s quiet, friendly demeanour lies the instructor for the Thomas Castle Aviation
heartbreak of losing a son. Yet, what Heritage Trust, remembered Ian and his
defines Ian is the strength he musters son (often known as Tom), as being “Two
from that loss. peas in a pod – they were best friends.

Tom
Martin Needham
Every time I went to Sywell, I’d see Ian and father’s business, but he worked on
Tom; it’d always be Ian and Tom.” the Spitfires, Buchons, Mustang and
Having initially taken an interest in Thunderbolt in the Ultimate Warbirds
motorsport, including building, restoring stable, with Richard having predicted
and racing motorbikes and go-karts, that Thomas would have gone on to fly
Tom came to aviation later than most. warbirds such as these.
He had an insatiable willingness to learn Danny describes Thomas as being “very
and perfect his craft, wasn’t afraid to ask grounded, very professional”, adding that
questions and would go to great lengths to “Everything was done right. His work was
research and learn new techniques. good, his flying was good, the lad was
Working with his father Ian at really going somewhere.”
Classic Sport Engineering at Sywell, Thomas had been given opportunities
Thomas became a regular fixture at to fly when his father was ferrying aircraft
the airfield, striking up a friendship to and from Sywell for maintenance,
with Richard Grace and going on to and he had really caught the flying bug.
work on projects from his company, He completed his licence at Turweston,
Air Leasing. Not only had he worked Buckinghamshire, and then learned to fly
on Tiger Moths, a staple of his and his ‘Tango Echo’. At the time, the Tiger was
Thomas Castle, right, with Richard Grace. The two became good friends, with Richard predicting
that Thomas would fly warbirds later in life via Ian Castle
Above: Two of a Kind: A pair of Tigers, G-ANTE and G-AMTV, prepare to depart Sywell on a busy
day for the trust Martin Needham
Above right: Two of Thomas’s friends, Simon Wilson (pictured) and Danny Williams have since
completed Class Rating Instructor courses to assist with training scholarship recipients Martin
Needham
Below: The scholarship has received considerable support during its short time, due in no part to
how well-respected Thomas was within the vintage aviation scene Martin Needham
owned by a group of people at Sywell seen a happier bloke; he couldn’t contain

who generously allowed him to fly it. himself. He was absolutely buzzing. He
Andrew Rawlings, another friend of loved the Tiger. Any opportunity to get in
Thomas’s and a driving force behind the it, he was there.”
Trust, remembers the day Thomas first Thomas used to look after it, maintaining
flew ‘Tango Echo’ solo: “It was one of and cleaning it – spending time ensuring
those difficult solos where everyone knew the aircraft was in fine fettle almost every
it was happening but him. We were all day. Recognising what the aircraft meant
hiding behind the tower waiting for it to to Thomas and the amount of work
happen. When he landed… You’ve never he’d been putting in to keep it in tip top

Above left: Andrew Rawlings swings Tango Echo’s propeller ahead of another sortie for
the Tiger Moth Martin Needham
Above: Instructor and warbird pilot Dave Puleston, discusses the Tiger Moth with Lucy Wootton,
a scholarship recipient, ahead of a training flight Martin Needham
Left: Thomas and Ian prepare for a flight in the Tiger Moth via Ian Castle
Below: Thomas had been gifted a small share in G-ANTE and had held ambitions of owning the
aircraft prior to his death Martin Needham
condition, the principal owners gifted him around vintage aviation all my life, but not
a small share in the aeroplane, which only everyone has the opportunity to get behind
furthered his investment and involvement the controls of a Tiger Moth.”
with it, leading to ambitions of wanting to Ian and Claire Durston, an easyJet captain
buy it from the owners, which they had (whose husband Andy flies for Ultimate
agreed to. Thomas was also involved in Warbirds) are looking for would-be pilots
much larger tasks with the Tiger, helping aged between 18 and 35 who want to get
his father to re-cover the wings. involved with vintage aircraft. Ian explains:
Ian continued: “I’ve been working in and “It’s not a scholarship for people who
want to come along, do a few hours and his knowledge and point me in the right need to do to fly the aeroplane, it lets you
move on. We’re looking for people who direction when I needed it.” know about it. It’s easy to fly, but hard to
want to take this sport or this industry It is also an enthusiasm and determination fly well.”
forward like Thomas wanted to. It’s vitally which has been instilled in, and is being Reflecting on the creation of the Trust,
important to foster that enthusiasm in carried through, the entire Trust, with two of and how Thomas might have viewed it,
people and encourage them to look after Thomas’s friends, Simon Wilson and Danny Andrew said: “He’d be made up if he knew
these aeroplanes and keep them flying. Williams, who have completed class rating all this was going on. Danny added: “He’d
We’re keen to find people who want to get instructor (CRI) courses to enable them have wanted to have been involved in it
involved with the aeroplane as opposed to to teach on ‘Tango Echo’. Simon said: “It’s all, leading from the front. He’d have been
flying it. Everyone joins in with the operating amazing being able to introduce someone doing the flying, all the organising... he’d
of the aircraft as well as the flying.” to ‘proper flying’, taking them up for their have been speaking to the public; he’d
It’s this enthusiasm that Ian and Claire are first flight in a Tiger and seeing the huge have been all over it.”
looking for in applicants that epitomised grin on their face when we’re back on the Testament to how well-respected Ian
Thomas’s attitude. Andrew continues: ground. There’s nothing out there to get and his son are, and to Ian’s decision to
“Whenever he was at Sywell, or anywhere, younger people into vintage aviation. All place the Tiger Moth in trust to provide
he’d always be thinking about plans and youngsters nowadays seem to just want opportunities for young people to get
projects and coming up with ideas for what to go down the airlines route, but there’s a involved with vintage aviation, is the
he wanted to do, or how to do things. Tom whole world out there and this is as pure as number of organisations that have given
wasn’t just in it for himself, though, he was flying gets; it’s just you and the aeroplane.” the Trust their support. Among them,
really interested and enthusiastic in what Andrew added: “The Tiger Moth’s a Little Gransden-based Vintage Engine
everyone else was doing. I started building culture shock from modern light aircraft, Technology (better known as Vintec), the
a Pitts and he was happy to devote time but it fits the purpose it was designed for. Light Aircraft Association, de Havilland
to what other people were doing, share The minute you stop doing everything you Support, Audley End-based Vintage Fabrics
and Henstridge’s Aircraft Coverings.
Meanwhile, notable airshow names,
including Dave Puleston and Mike Ling,
have donated their time to instruct those
who have been awarded scholarships.
Ian concludes, “To lose your business
partner, your best mate and your son all in
one fell swoop is pretty tough, but if we can
give something back to vintage aviation,
then Thomas’ memory won’t be forgotten.
It’s a lot of what keeps me going.”
Find out more about the Thomas Castle
Aviation Scholarship at www.warbirdflights.
co.uk/thomascastlescholarship
Proceeds from Tiger Moth flight
experiences go towards the Thomas Castle
Aviation Heritage Trust.
Tom’s Tiger, G-ANTE

The de Havilland Tiger Moth with which
Thomas Castle would become so closely
associated, rolled off the company’s Hatfield
production line in 1941, being allocated to the
Royal Air Force as T6562.
Following its military career, the training
aircraft was returned to the manufacturer
who placed it with the de Havilland (Chester)
Social and Athletic Club at its Hawarden
plant in North Wales in 1959. Remarkably, the
aircraft, now registered G-ANTE, remained
with the club through four decades and two
name changes, de Havilland having become
part of Hawker Siddeley, which was in turn
merged with British Aircraft Corporation to
become British Aerospace. It left Hawarden
in 1997 when it was acquired by Martin Keen
of Liverpool-based Keenair. The Tiger Moth
was overhauled by the Liverpudlian outfit and
rolled out in its wartime markings, making a
first post-restoration flight in April 1999.
‘Tango Echo’ was sold to Paul Reading in
December 1999, and flown to Sywell. It would
then pass through several owners and groups,
being restored by Ian and Tom and painted in
Brooklands Aviation colours, until being placed
into trust following Thomas’s passing.

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November 2022
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