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t hi sRoy alAi rFor c e95t hanni v er s ar ys pec i aledi t i on.Fi r s t l y heex ami nest heXH134s t or yf r om ent r yi nt os er v i c ewi t ht he RAFt hr oug ht or et i r ementandt hes ubs equent-s uc c es s f ulef f or t st or et ur n hert ot hes ki es . Sec ondl y ,het akesa pr edomi nant l ypi c t or i all ook bac k ats ome oft he RAF’ s nons t andar dpai nts c hemesf r om i t shi s t or yt odat e.
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RAF Mus eum at Cos f or d, Shr ops hi r e, homeofanex c ept i onalc ol l ec t i onofr ar e ands i g ni f i c antai r f r ames .
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oft hear t i c l esi nt hi si s s ue.Hi sf i r s tc ont r i but i onc omesby wayofani nt er v i ewwi t h2010RAFHar r i erDi s pl ayPi l ot( t hen) Fl tL t St ev e Kenwor t hy . T he i nt er v i ew was or i g i nal l y c onduc t edf oranot herpur pos eandt husof f er sani nt er es t i ng i ns i g hti nt ot hi nki ng ahead oft he ai r c r af t ’ ss ubs t ant i al l y ear l i er t hanpl anned wi t hdr awal f r om UK MOD s er v i c e. Gar et h’ ss ec ondof f er i ngi sal s oani nt er v i ew,t hi st i mewi t h Phant om nav i g at orDav i dGl edhi l labouthi sex per i enc esi n t hebac ks eatoft heT oom.
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© Gl obalAvi at i on Resour ce 2013.Al l r i ght s r es er v ed. Gl obal Avi at i on Resour ce' sphot ogr aphi candwr i t t enwor k i ss ubj ec tt oc opy r i ght and may not be r epr oduc ed i n any f or m wi t hout ex pr es s wr i t t enper mi s s i on. I fy ouwoul dl i k et odi s c us sus i nganyofour i mager yorf eat ur ec ont entpl eas ec ont ac tus .
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Hi ghqu al i t yav i at i oni mager yav ai l abl ef or pu r c h as ei nav ar i et yof f or mat s f r omr egu l ar pr i n t st h r ou ght ocan v aspr i n t s , T s h i r t s , mou s emat s , paper wei gh t san dmu c h , mu c hmor e.
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2013al s os aw t he RAFadd a new var i antoft heBAE146,t he C Mk3,t oi t sr anks .T he t wo ai r cr af twer epr ocur edundera T heT or nadoGR4f l eeti sbei ng UOR ( Ur gent Oper at i onal s l owl y whi t t l ed down as
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pr epar at i onsf ort he ar r i valof 95yearex i s t ence oft he Royal t heF 35L i ght ni ngI Ibui l d. Ai rF or ce t o dat e,t he pi ct ur e hasbeencons t ant l ychangi ng AtRAF Coni ngs by,No.17( R) asdemandspl aceduponi tby S quadr on handed over i t s our l or ds and mas t er s have T yphoons t o No. 41( R) di ct at ed. I ti st hi s abi l i t yt o S quadr on, as i t s own f ocus adaptt hathas enabl ed t he s hi f t edt owar dsJ S F ’ sar r i val . RAF t or emai n amongs tt he mos tpot entai r bor ne f i ght i ng I twasevert hus :t hr oughoutt he f or cest obef oundi nt hewor l d.
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T heCanber r a T hePR9wast hedef i ni t i vepr oduct i onvar i antof Engl i s hEl ect r i c’ sphot or econnai s s ance ver s i on oft he ver s at i l e Canber r a,whi ch had been or i gi nal l y concei ved asa medi um bomberi n t he i mmedi at e af t er mat h ofWor l d War2. I n f act ,qui t er emar kabl y,t heCanber r apr ot ot ype f l ew f ort he f i r s tt i me on 13May1949,j us tf our year saf t ert heces s at i onofhos t i l i t i es . S uchwast heai r cr af t ’ sper f or mancet hati tdi d not t ake l ong bef or e al t er nat i ve r ol es wer e bei ng ex pl or ed f ort he pl at f or m,and even bef or e a dedi cat ed PR var i ant coul d be r el eas ed t o s er vi ce, modi f i ed B2 bomber ver s i onswer ebei ngequi ppedwi t hcamer ast o keepwat chovert heWar s aw Pactcount r i es .
T he PR3 ar r i ved i n 1952 and conf i r med t he s ui t abi l i t yf ort he r ol et hatmany had al r eady r ecogni s ed. S ubs equentdevel opment swer e madeand anevenmor ecapabl ever s i on,t he PR7,f ol l owed t he nex t year .L onger wi ngs , i ncr eas ed f uelcar r yi ng capaci t yand upr at ed Rol l s RoyceAvon109engi nesal l f eat ur edi nt he i mpr oved model ,whi ch wascapabl e off l yi ng athei ght si nex ces sof60, 000f t . A PR7,WH793,wasl at erf i t t ed wi t hf ur t her upr at ed engi nes ,Rol l s Royce Avon 206s ,and act ed as t he pr ot ot ype ai r cr af tf ort he PR9 var i ant ,f l yi ngf i r s ton8J ul y1955.Pr oduct i onof t he PR9 was s ubcont r act ed out t o S hor t Br ot her si nBel f as t ,wher e23ai r f r ameswer ebui l t bet ween1958and1962,al bei tonl y21woul dbe del i ver edf ol l owi ngt hepr edel i ver yl os sofXH129 andXH132’ ss ol eus easami s s i l et r i al st es tbed.
One not abl e ex t er naldi f f er ence bet ween t he pr ot ot ypeandt hepr oduct i onai r cr af twast hat t he ai r cr af tul t i mat el ymade us e oft he of f s et cockpi tl ayoutdevel oped f ort he B( I ) 8model . T hi schangegr eat l yi mpr ovedt hepi l ot ’ svi s i bi l i t y. L i nked t ot hi swast he i nt r oduct i onofa hi nged nos e whi ch ul t i mat el y became a deci dedl y dar k, di ngy, and ex t r emel y cl aus t r ophobi c homet ot hePR9’ snavi gat or .
det achmenti n Muhar r aq,Bahr ai n,was al s o manned by 13 S quadr on.By Augus t1976,39 S quadr onhadbecomet hes ol eoper at oroft he PR9 ( havi ng r et ur ned t o RAF Wyt on i n 1970) , af t er13S quadr on’ sai r cr af twer er epl aced by var i ant soft heear l i erPR7mar k.
Oft he r emai ni ng 16 PR9 ai r cr af t ,12 r ecei ved upgr adesbet ween 1976and 1980,al lgear ed t owar ds i mpr ovi ng t he t ype’ sl owl eveland T hePR9ent er eds er vi cewi t hNo.58S quadr onat t act i calr econnai s s ance capabi l i t y.Whi l e mos t RAFWyt oni nJ anuar y1960bef or ebei ngt aken oft he changest ookpl ace i ns i de t he ai r cr af t , onchar gebyNos .13and39S quadr onsatRAF t heygai ned t wo ex t er nal‘ acor ns ’ ,one ont he L uqa,Mal t a. I nt hos eear l yyear s ,t hePR9was l eadi ngedgeoft het ai l f i nandt heot heront he empl oyed ona mul t i t ude ofoper at i onalf l i ght s t ai lcone, f r om t he addi t i on of an AN/ ARI over t he Mi ddl e Eas t , keepi ng wat ch on 18228/ 6r adarwar ni ngr ecei ver . conf l i ct sbet ween I r aq and Kuwai tand t hen S audiAr abi a and Abu Dhabi .A per manent
Canber r aPR9XH169i ss eenabovet hecl oudsovert heNor t hS eai nOct ober1995 ( L i nds ayPeacock)
T ot hi sdayt her er emai nsadegr eeofconj ect ur eoverwhet herornott he RAF ’ sCanber r a PR9spl ayed anyr ol ei nt heF al kl andsConf l i ct .T heBBC’ s J on S now r epor t ed s eei ng mor et han one PR9 atPunt a Aer nas ,Chi l e, dur i ngt hewar( s omer epor t sevencl ai mt hatt heai r cr af tcar r i ed Chi l ean Ai rF or ce mar ki ngs ) ,t hough t he of f i ci all i ne i st hatt he Canber r asnever madei tf ur t hers out ht hanBel i z e. Addi ng t ot he mys t er y,s hor t l y af t ert he conf l i ct ,one PR9 wasnot ed car r yi ng a l ar ge dr awi ng ofa wi nki ng ‘ S noopy’ ,t he beagl e dog made f amousbyt he Peanut scar t oon. S pecul at i oni st hatt hi sr epr es ent ed an acknowl edgementoft he ai r cr af t ’ soper at i onsovert he Beagl e Channel , l ocat edpar t l yi nChi l eandpar t l yi nAr gent i na.Or ,maybe,ast hepi ct ur e bel ow s ugges t s ,i twasf armor ei nnocentandr el at edt oadepl oymentt o Denmar kar oundt hes amet i me. . . ?
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Af t ert headopt i onoft hehempcol ours cheme,39( 1PRU)S qn’ sCanber r as acqui r edat wol et t ercodef orawhi l e,l i keXH135/ AC ( L i nds ayPeacock)
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Unl i ket heF al kl ands ,nos uchconj ect ur eex i s t s overmor e moder nday conf l i ct s ,and t he RAF ’ sCanber r aPR9sdef i ni t el ydi dt akepar ti n oper at i ons overBos ni a,I r aq,S omal i a and l at t er l y Af ghani s t an. I ndeed, t wo of t he s quadr on’ sf i nalt hr ee ai r cr af tonl yr et ur ned f r om Oper at i on HERRI CK – t he UK MOD’ s i nvol vementi nAf ghani s t an–on23J une2006, wi t ht he t ype’ sr et i r ementcomi ng j us tf i ve weeksl at er .
nts chemesf ort hei rOpHERRI CKdepl oyment s ,ass eenher eont hef or meratRAFMar ham f ol l owi ngt he
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T he ai r cr af twass eenoutofs er vi ce i nf i ne s t yl e wi t han‘ End ofanEr a’ s peci alcol ours cheme appl i ed t o XH134,and a handf ulofai r s how per f or manceswer es queez ed i n dur i ng t hos ef i nalf ew weeks ,f i t t i ngl y cul mi nat i ngwi t hf i nal f l our i s hesatt hatyear ’ sRAFMar ham F ami l i esDayon 27J ul yandatRAFWyt onF ami l i esDay24hour sl at er .
XH134’ sr et i r ement 39S qn‘ Wi ngedBo cr es t sofeachoft h oper at edt hePR9.
Above - On t he Mar ham wi t hXH13 col ours cheme af Af ghani s t an.
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L i f eAf t ert heRAF Byt hats t ageanauct i onhadal r eadybeenhel d t o det er mi ne t he f ut ur e oft he t hr ee r emai ni ng ai r cr af t .T hef i nal t hr eeCanber r aPR9si ns er vi ce wi t h No.39( 1PRU)S quadr on oft he RoyalAi r F or ce( XH131,XH134andXH135)wer edel i ver ed t oKembl e( now knownast heCot s wol dAi r por t ) on 31 J ul y 2006. At t hat s t age onl y one bel onged t o Mi dai rS A’ s Mi ke Davi s ,and i t was n’ tunt i ls omes i xmont hsl at ert hatt heot her t wocamei nt ohi spos s es s i onaswel l . “Wewer ei ni t i al l ypl anni ngonl eas i ngt wooft he ai r cr af t back t o t he mi l i t ar y wi t h moder n, updat ed camer a equi pment ,whi l et he t hi r d
ai r cr af twasus edf ors par es .Af t eran18mont h j oi ntvent ur e wi t hZ ei s sCamer as ,whi ch was goi ng t o pr ovi de s at el l i t e up and down l i nki n r ealt i me,unf or t unat el yt he RAFdeci ded t hat t he f ut ur el ay wi t ht he dr one and not t he Canber r a. However ,i n hi nds i ght ,I ’ m r at her gl adwedi dn’ tdoi t ,i naway! ”Mi ket el l sme. Wi t houtacl ear ,commer ci al r eas onf orbr i ngi ng t heai r cr af tbackt ol i f e,i tbecamequi t edi f f i cul t
t oj us t i f yt heenor mousex pens eas s oci at edwi t h apr oj ectoft hi ss i z e,butMi kewasunwi l l i ngt os i t backandl ett heai r cr af tbebr okenup.A new pl an was devi s ed,one t hatwoul ds ee one Canber r ar et ur ned t oai r wor t hys t at usand wi t h a mor e l ongt er m pl an of br i ngi ng t wo addi t i onalai r cr af tofa di f f er entt ype – t he HawkerHunt er– i nt ot he f r ay,cr eat i ng “T he Mi dai rS quadr on” . “Wes eeT heMi dai rS quadr onasanoppor t uni t y f oras ubs t ant i al gl obal br andwhocoul dus et he s quadr onasat ot al l yuni quePRandmar ket i ng t ool f ort hems el ves , ”Mi keex pl ai ns .“Wecan
s eeaf ut ur ei neventopeni ngsf orf i nanci aland t echni cal i ns t i t ut i onswhi chcoul denhancet hei r cur r ents t r at egybyaddi ng an i mpr es s i ve and noi s y1950s ’ex hi bi t i onofex cel l ence t ot he ai r . Youcani magi net heUni ver s i t yBoatRacebei ng opened by t hr ee 1950s ’mi l i t ar y ai r cr af tf l yi ng down t he T hames ,ort he s t ar tofS hanghai Gr and Pr i x bei ng over f l own by a hi s t or i c s pect acl e.T hi si sanex cl us i veoppor t uni t ywhi ch Iam del i ght edt obeapar tof . ”
Mai n-T heendofaner a.T heCanber r aPR9bowedoutofRAFs er vi ceatt heendofJ ul y2006 ( Kar lDr
XH134’ sRes t or at i on C2 Avi at i on’ s Chr i s Vaughan has pr oj ect managed t he engi neer i ng s i de oft he Canber r a’ sr es t or at i ont of l i ght ,buthow di dt he t eam deci dewhi choft heai r cr af tt or es t or e? “Wechos e‘ 134becaus ei t ’ st echni cal l ybet t er . I thad l es ss t r uct ur ali s s uest han XH135 ( XH131 hass i nce‘ gonehome’t oNor t her nI r el andand i snow ondi s pl ayatt heUl s t erAvi at i onMus eum) . Whi l s t‘ 135 coul df l yagai n,i twoul dr equi r ea s ubs t ant i alamount of i nves t ment t o do s o, whi ch woul d onl y be vi abl e i ft her e was commer ci al backi ng. ” Att heconcl us i onofherRAFcar eer ,XH134had
t or es t or e XH134t o ai r wor t hycondi t i on.I ti sa s ki l l edt eam wor ki ngont hepr oj ectwi t hmanyof t heor i gi nal Canber r aengi neer sr emai ni ngatC2 Avi at i on L t d.T he ai r cr af ti sdes i gnat ed byt he CAA asbei ng a compl exai r cr af tand i sver y aki nt o a Vul can i ni t scompl ex i t yand agei ng s ys t ems–s ever al ofwhi chwe’ ver epl aced. ” Char l i eKyl ei sC2Avi at i on’ sManagi ngDi r ect or : “T hemos ti mpor t antt hi ngf orMi keandhi st eam i st hes af et yoft hepi l ot sandcr ew whi l s ti nt heai r andont hegr ound.F ew oper at or shavegonet o t hel evel ofcar ewepr ovi deatC2Avi at i on,and f ol l owi ng t he compl et e over haulofal lai r cr af t par t s ,t heCAAhavebeent hr i l l edatt hel engt hs we have gone t o ens ur e t he Canber r a’ s ai r wor t hi nes s . ”
s er ved wi t h each of Nos . 13, 39 and 58 S quadr ons , had been a t r i al s ai r cr af t at Bos combe Down, had not ched a t ot alof 9281: 20 f l yi ng hour s and had made 4, 556 l andi ngs .S hehadal s ounder goneacompl et e r ef ur bi s hmenti nt heear l y1980s . Mi ke ex pl ai ns ,““T he r et ur nt of l i ght pr oj ect s t ar t edi near nes ti nMay2011,andMi dai rS Ahas f undedanew companycal l edC2Avi at i onL t d
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Above -XH131,134and 135on t he apr on at Kembl es hor t l y af t ert hei rdel i ver yf l i ght sf r om RAFMar ham ( RayDeacon)
Cons ci ousoft hef actt hatXH134’ snew car eer pat h may l ead t o wor l dwi de appear ances , pot ent i al l y wi t hr educed gr ound s uppor t at t i mes ,oneoft hekeychangest het eam want ed t os ee made waswi t ht he i nt r oduct i on ofan el ect r i cs t ar t ers ys t em,i n pl ace oft he or i gi nal AVPI Nmet hod. Char l i e ex pl ai ns , “T he el ect r i c s t ar t i s a modi f i cat i onofaknowns ys t em t hatal l owsust o be much mor e f l ex i bl e and r equi r e l es s ont hegr ounds uppor t .I fwewer egoi ngt oan ai r s how i nt he Mi ddl e Eas t ,wi t ha f ul lbr i ef i ng, t her e’ sno r eas on why t he pi l otcoul dn’ thop t hr ough a coupl e of pl aces and t hen t he gr oundcr ew coul dmeett hem atanot herpoi nt . “T he ai r cr af tnow s t ar t swi t h a pi l ot oper at ed but t onpus h,wi t hnoneoft hel ogi s t i csi nhavi ng t o move danger ousai rcar go ( AVPI N) .T hi si s bet t erf ort heengi neandmeansyounol onger havet o dealwi t ha ‘ commi t t ed s t ar t ’pr oces s . We’ ve been t hi nki ng ahead atal lt i mes as XH134needst obeadepl oyabl eai r cr af t . ” T he Canber r a hass o muchs pace f ors t owage t hatt het eam i snow l ooki ngats ol ut i onst oal l ow at ow bart obef l ownwi t ht heai r cr af t ,f orus eon l andi ngatf or ei gnai r f i el ds .
Regul at or yI nvol vement Nat ur al l y,wi t h a pr oj ect of t hi s nat ur e,i t ’ s abs ol ut el y i mper at i ve t hat an ongoi ng di al oguehasex i s t edbet weenC2Avi at i onand t heCAA. Char l i e el abor at es , “T he CAA has been unbel i evabl y s uppor t i ve gi ven t he l evel of changest hey’ r ef aci ng i nt er msofcut backs , and we’ r e gr at ef ulf ort hei rencour agement and ongoi ng advi ce. T her e’ sa l ot mor e del egat ed aut hor i t y t o E4 s i gnat or y or gani s at i onsnow.Yous t i l lneedt os at i s f yyour s ur veyor wi t h what you’ r e doi ng,and t hey woul dn’ tj us tgi ve outt hi sl evelofaut hor i t y l i ber al l y.You know how wel lyou’ r e doi ng by how of t en you’ r e audi t ed;i fi t ’ sever ymont h, t her e’ ss omet hi ngwr ong! ”
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rherr es t or at i on ( Kar lDr age)
omy ( Kar lDr age)
One of t he changes t he CAA want ed i mpl ement ed on t he Canber r a concer ned a f uel t anks uppr es s ants ys t em. “You have t o us et oday’ smet hods ,pr act i ces and pr i nci pl est o modi f y,s o even t hough an ai r cr af t compl i es t o t he or i gi nal des i gn s peci f i cat i ons t andar d,i t ’ sbeenmodi f i ed,and youhavet obeabl et os how t hati tcompl i est o t he cur r ent s t andar ds at t he t i me of t he modi f i cat i on. By t oday’ s pr i nci pl es and s t andar dsi ti ni t i al l yr equi r edust ohaveas econd s ki ns epar at i onont hebel l yt ank–t hemai nt ank. I ft her e’ sani s s uewi t ht hel andi ng,t her ei sahi gh r i s koff uel i gni t i on,whi chi t ’ si mper at i vet oavoi d. “Cer t ai ns ugges t i onswer e bounced ar ound s uchas‘ coul dweputaKevl ars ki noni t ?’-and i nt heend,amodi f i edver s i onofanof f t hes hel f pr oduct was t he s ol ut i on f or us , ” Char l i e ex pl ai ns . “I thad ex pl os i ve f i r es uppr es s i on t ubesi ni t , ” Chr i st el l sme,“Es s ent i al l y we’ ve j us tf i t t ed an ai r cr af tf i r e ex t i ngui s heratt he back. I t ’ s85% f l ui d,15% gasand t hei dea i st omaket hef uel evenmor ei ner t .Whatwehadt odot henwas get Dave S t ar key f r om Acr o Aer onaut i cal S er vi cest o des i gn a s ys t em wi t h us . He t hen us ed s ci ent i s t sf r om t he nucl earl abor at or i esat Cul ham S ci ence Cent r et o wor koutt he f l ui d dynami csf oruss oweknew whatbor eofpi pe t ous eandt hel engt hr equi r edandhow bi gt he hol eshadt obet odi s pens et hef l ui d. ” “F r om a pur e engi neer i ng per s pect i ve,i twas goods t uf f ! ”Char l i ei nt er j ect s . Chr i scont i nues ,“Andt henDaveandI cameup wi t hamani f ol dandr et ur nval ves ys t em andr an i t pas tJ ohn ( Mar t i n) and I an ( Chapman) , al t hough t he CAA s t i l lr equi r ed doubl es ki n pl at es .Iwas doi ng t he s af et y cas ef ort he aer opl ane att hi st i me and t her e’ d onl ybeen f i ve Canber r a PR9 cr as hes ,one ofwhi ch was r epl i cat i nganot herPR9cr as h( Bos combeDown want ed t o putan ai r cr af ti nt ot he s ame f l i ght r egi meands eei fi twoul dhappenagai n–i tdi d, butt hi st i met hepi l otmadei tout ! ) !I wentback ands howedt hem t hef l yi nghour s ,andt heCAA
wass at i s f i ed wi t ht hi s . Ij us thad one oft hos e ‘ Eur eka! ’moment sone day,Iwasj us ts att her e and Is uddenl yt hought ,‘ T her e’ sneverbeen a Canber r aPR9bel l yl andi ng! ’S oI wentt ot heCAA and t ol dt hem i twasf ourt i mesmor el i kel yt o ki l l you t hr ough cr as hi ng t han i twasl andi ng on i t s bel l y,and t heyagr eed wi t hme.Real l y,t hatwas t he moment wher e al lt he over l yl egi s l at i ve r es t r i ct i onswer er el ax ed and we coul d car r yon r es t or i ngt heai r cr af t ” . T hei mpr ovement shaven’ ts t oppedatt heai r cr af t ei t her . Aswel lasan ongoi ng pr ogr amme of r enovat i on t o C2 Avi at i on’ s hangar ,a pi l ot s ’ br i ef i ng r oom hasbeenconver t ed whi chmeans t he S quadr on’ spi l ot snow have t hei rowns pace t of ul l y pl an,pr epar e and br i eff ort hei rs or t i es , wher evert heymayt aket hem. I anChapmani saf or merengi neeri nt heRoyal Ai r F or cewi t hex per i enceonHawksands omeoft he RAF ’ sl ar geras s et s ,s uchasC17andVC10.He’ s beeni nvol vedwi t ht hepr oj ects i nceear l y2012. “I ,aspar tofJ ohnMar t i n’ st eam,l i t er al l ys pentt wo weekst r yi ng t os ett he r ange ofmovement son t heai l er ons , ”I ant el l sme.“Wepur pos el ys etout t o getever yt hi ng notj us twi t hi nt he accept abl e t ol er ances ,butbang i nt he mi ddl e att he nul l pos i t i on,and ever yt i me Igotone end oft he ai l er oncont r ols ys t em s quar edaway,i twoul dbe of fs omewher e el s e! We cr acked i tevent ual l y t hough,andnow s hef l i esl i kes he’ sf act or yf r es h! ”
F i r s tPos t Res t or at i onF l i ght Undoubt edl yt he mos ts i gni f i canteventi nt he pr oj ect ’ shi s t or yt o dat e came on 19J ul yoft hi s yearwhens he f l ew f ort he f i r s tt i me af t eral mos t ex act l ys evenyear sont hegr ound. “Asyoucani magi ne,whens he gotai r bor ne f or t hatf i r s tf l i ght ,t her e was n’ ta dr y eye i nt he hous e, ”I an s ays .“We’ ve been pour i ng bl ood, s weatandt ear si nt ot hepr oj ectf ors ol ong– and t he r el eas e of emot i on at a ver y poi gnant momentwashugef oral l t hos ei nvol ved.
Above -Bar r y Hegar t y appl i est he f i ni s hi ng t ouchest o XH134’ s el evat or spos tr es t or at i on. Bel ow -Backi nt he s ki eswher es he bel ongs ,XH134 af t eral mos t s evenyear sr oot edt ot hegr ound. Bot t om l ef t-I anChapmanandI onaBr andputt heai r cr af tt obedi n t hehangaraf t erherf i r s tj our neyt ot her unwayi nhernew col our s . L ef t-T he s i gn out s i de t he doort ot he pi l ot s ’br i ef i ng r oom att he Mi dai rS quadr on’ sCot s wol dAi r por thomebas e. T opl ef t-XH134t akest ot her unwayatt he2010Cot s wol dAi rS how. Att hats t age,ar et ur nt ot hes ki ess t i l l r emai nedbutadr eam. Al l i maest hi ss pr eadKar lDr age
“We wer et hr i l l ed wi t h how wel lt he f i r s tf l i ght went ,and t he pos i t i ve f eedbackwe r ecei ved f r om t he pi l ot s . F ol l owi ng t he s t andar d pos t f l i ghtchecks ,wewer edel i ght edt or epor tt hat , as i de f r om a coupl e ofver ymi nort hi ngs ,t he f l i ghthad pr oduced no s i gni f i cantpr obl emsor i nf l i ghti s s ues .Wequi ckl ys or t ed t hes eoutand s he wentup agai n.I twasf unnyt hough,wi t h t hatf i r s tf l i ghtoutoft he way,emot i onal l ywe wer equi t ebl as éaboutt hes econdt r i p! ”
RI AT2013 L at ert hats ameday,t heCanber r at ookof ff r om Cot s wol d Ai r por tand l anded atRAF F ai r f or d wher es he wasa s ur pr i s e addi t i ont ot he s t at i c di s pl ayatt heRoyalI nt er nat i onalAi rT at t oo.T hi s was heri naugur alpubl i c appear ance s i nce bei ng r et i r ed f r om act i ve s er vi ce i n 2006.I an cont i nues ,“T o achi eve t haton t he s ame day wasbeyondourwi l des tdr eams ! “Idon’ tt hi nkwe appr eci at ed j us thow much l ovet her ewasf ort heai r cr af tunt i l wel andedat RI AT .I onaBr andandI wer et her et os uppor tt he l andi ng and t ax yi ng pr ocedur e and vi s i t or st o t hes how wer ecl amour i ngt ocat chagl i mps eof her !I twasamaz i ng!Overt he cour s e oft he weekend,t her e wass o muchi nt er es tf r om t he gener alpubl i c;peopl ear egenui nel ydel i ght ed t hatwe’ ve gotan ai r wor t hyCanber r a agai n, andwer ekeent oknow whatt henex tphas eof t hepr oj ectwas . ”
Mi dai rSquadr on’ sCanber r aPi l ot s XH134’ s pi l ot i ng dut i es ar e t o be s har ed bet ween Mi ke L eckey & Dave Pi per , bot h f or merRAFCanber r a PR9 pi l ot sand bot h on 39( R)S quadr on att he bi t t erend oft he t ype’ s s er vi cecar eer . Mi kehadj oi nedt heRAFi n1988andwaspos t ed t o No.360S quadr on,f l yi ng t he Canber r aT 17. Af t er360waswoundup, hedeci dedhewant ed t o become an i ns t r uct orand,af t eracqui r i ng t he neces s ar y qual i f i cat i ons ,ul t i mat el y ended upast heQF I( Qual i f i edF l yi ngI ns t r uct or )onNo.
39 S quadr on. S ubs equenti ns t r uct i onalt our s havei ncl udedt heF i r ef l ywi t hDEF T S , t heDomi ni e wi t h No.55( R)S quadr on and Mi ke i scur r ent l y as s i gned t o No. 45( R) S quadr on as an advanced,mul t i engi ned pi l oti ns t r uct or . He’ s al s onos t r angert odi s pl ayf l yi nghavi ngbeena memberoft he Bat t l e ofBr i t ai nMemor i alF l i ght f orni neyear s ,oper at i ngt heL ancas t erandt he Dakot a bet ween2000and 2009.Hi sCanber r a hour st ot als ome2, 500,ofwhi ch1, 700wer eon t hePR9,andhewi l l beXH134’ sChi efPi l ot . Dave’ s RAF car eer has mai nl y i nvol ved bounci ng ar ound bet ween Canber r a and t r ai ni ngt our s .Whent heJ et s t r eam wasus edi n t hemul t i engi net r ai ni ngr ol e,Davewast heBos s ofNo.45S quadr onandhe’ sal s obeent heCF S ex ami neron t he T ut or .I nt ot alhe hasabout 3, 000hour sonCanber r a,ar ound 800ofwhi ch wer eont hePR9.Hehass omet hi ngofacl ai mt o f amei nt heCanber r aPR9wor l dt oo. “When we del i ver ed t he ai r cr af tt o Kembl e,I engi neer ed i t–asF l i ghtCommanderOps–t o makes ur eI wast hel as tonet ol and,s oI l anded t he l as teverCanber r at hatwasi n RoyalAi r F or ces er vi ce–XH135! “I ’ veal s odonequi t eabi tofdi s pl ayf l yi ng, ”he t el l sme,“i nt heRAFandwi t ht heci vi l i anmar ks– bot ht he T T 18t hatwasf i r s tf l own on t he ci vvy ci r cui t( now i n Aus t r al i a)bya guycal l ed Ron Mi t chel land t henl at eronwi t h( Ai rAt l ant i que) Cl as s i cF l i ghtont heB2/ 6var i ant . ” T hel as tnamed–att het i met heonl yai r wor t hy Canber r al ef ti nEur ope-bl ew anengi neback on22J ul y2007,s opr i ort oXH134’ sr es ur r ect i on, Dave’ sl as tCanber r a di s pl aywasf l own i nt he B2/ 6atRAFWaddi ngt onon1J ul y2007. Unl i keDave,Mi kewasr es i gnedt ohavi ngf l own hi sl as tCanber r at r i pwhent hei rt i mewi t h39( R) S quadr ondr ew t oacl os e. “It houghtt hatwast he end. Iwentt ot he t r oubl e oft hr owi ng al lmydocument at i on i nt o t hes ki pout s i det heS quadr onandI f el tt hatwas def i ni t el yi t .Iwasamaz edwhenIgotacal l out oft he bl ue as ki ng i fI ’ d be i nt er es t ed i nf l yi ng ‘ 134agai n. ”
Cl ockwi s ef r om t op l ef t : Ar r i vi ng i nt ot he RAF F ai r f or d ci r cui t ; Par ked up atRAF Coni ngs by i n May 2006; T ax yi ng i nt o par ki ng atRI AT2013; Get t i ng ai r bor ne f r om RI AT2006;XH134’ sownerandMi dai r S AMDMi keDavi ss t andspr oudl yi nf r ontof t hej etaf t eri t sar r i val atF ai r f or d;Headon af t er vacat i ng t he F ai r f or d Runway; L eavi ngas mokeyt r ai l ast hewheel st ouch downatF ai r f or df ort hef i r s tt i mei ns even year s .Al l i magest hi ss pr eadKar lDr age
Cl ear l y much haschanged on t he ai r f r ame s i nce ‘ 134’ sr et i r ement . Di d Mi ke and Dave havemuchi nputi nt opr eci s el ywhatwenton? “I twasal mos taf ai taccompl i byt het i meDave andI wer econs ul t edaboutt hechanges , s o, no, notr eal l y.Mos toft hei t emst hatwer emodi f i ed wer e ver y engi neer i ng s ens i t i ve r at her t han ai r cr ew s ens i t i ve. T he maj ormodi f i cat i on was t heel ect r i cs t ar tt ot heengi nes ,s oasf arast he ai r cr ew ar e concer ned t hat ’ sj us ta mat t erof pr es s i ng a but t on. Onet hi ng Ihavehad s l i ght i nputi ni st hes i t i ngoft heavi oni csi nt hecockpi t –I wascons ul t edovert hat .S oI t r i edt opi ckt he bes tpos i t i onf ort heGPS ,r adi os ,navi gat i ons ui t e andt hevar i ousdi al st hatwentwi t ht hat . ”
“Idi dt he f i r s tf l i ghtand di d a qui ckhal f hour s hakedowns or t i e,andt henDavej umpedi nt oi t s hor t l y af t er war ds – s o we bot hs hook t he ai r cr af t down on t he f i r s t day, whi ch, i nci dent al l y,wass evenyear sandonedays i nce Ihadl as tf l ownaCanber r aPR9! ” T hef actt hef i r s tf l i ght swents os moot hl ycame asnos ur pr i s eatal l t oDave. “Wasi ts ur pr i s i ng?No,becaus ewhenyouknow t hequal i t yoft heguyst hathavebeendoi ngt he engi neer i ng on i t ,you know t hey’ r e goi ng t o make a good j ob ofi t . We knew af t eral lt he gr oundt es t i ngt hatwedi d–t hehi ghs peedt ax i
Mi kehadt hehonouroft aki ngXH134backi nt o checks ,ands oon–weknew t hes ys t emswer e t he ai rf ort he f i r s tt i me af t erherr es t or at i on. I aboutasgood ast heywer eevergoi ng t obe. as kedhi mi fi twasl i kehe’ dneverbeenaway. Bear i ng i n mi nd I ’ ve f l own ci vi l i anoper at ed Canber r asf orqui t eaf ew year sonandof f ,s oI “I twas ,f unni l yenough.WhenI wass i t t i ngt r yi ng wasf ai r l yconf i dent . t or ecal lal lt he dr i l l set c wi t houtbei ng i nt he ai r cr af t ,Icoul dn’ tr emembert hem,butwhenI “You know when you’ ve gota good t eam of j umped backi nt oi t ,i tal lcamef l oodi ng back. engi neer sar oundyout het hi ngi sgoi ngt owor k T heyt al kaboutmus cl ememor y,and,youknow, asadver t i s ed.I t ’ smor eofat r i but et ot hes ki l l sof my ar mswer er emember i ng wher et o go f or t hem,r eal l y. “ what s wi t ches wi t hout me havi ng t o make cons ci oust hought s ,s oi twasni ce and i tdi d T her ewasoneas pectoft hef i r s tf l i ghtt hatMi ke comer us hi ngbackt ome. wasl ooki ngf or war dt ol es st hant her es t .
“T he f i r s tt hi ng Idi d was ,Igotai r bor ne and I want ed t o do a l ows peed handl i ng check becaus et heCanber r awasal waysver ydi f f i cul t t o gett he t r i ms or t ed out .T her e’ sa l i t t l es t r i p t hats i t sont hebackoft heel evat or s ,andi thas t obef i l ed;i t ’ saver ybas i cdes i gn.T hi ss t r i phas t obef i l edoutoft heuppers ur f aceort hel ower s ur f ace, dependi ng on how t he ai r cr af ti s handl i ng,and Iwasex pect i ng i tt o be f ai r l y
mar ki ngst he ai r cr af tcar r i ed whens he bowed outofRAFs er vi ce,Mi ke Davi swascar ef ult o ens ur et hat ,s houl dt he need everar i s e,XH134 coul dber et ur nedt oherf or mergl or y,s odi gi t al bl uepr i nt soft hear t wor kwer et akenbef or eany wor kbeganont henew s cheme. When t he Canber r a PR9 wasi nt r oduced i nt o
badl yout ,t o be hones t . Buti twasabs ol ut el y s poton. T hat-t he t r i m check-wast he t hi ng t hatIwas r eal l y dr eadi ng,and i tmar ched s t r ai ghtt hr oughwi t hnoi s s ueswhat s oever . ”
s er vi ce s he di ds oi n an al l overs i l vercol our s cheme,wi t hf ul l t r i col ourr oundel sandf i nf l as h and f eat ur i ng ‘ XH134’i nf our f oothi gh bl ack l et t er sundereach wi ng. Mi ke’ spl an wast o r es t or ehert oherf or mergl or y.
Achangeofcol our
S o, af t er much r ubbi ng down, mas ki ng, cl eani ng,s pr ayi ngandmor ecl eani ng,s hewas f i nal l yr eadyt ohaveherRAFmar ki ngsappl i ed.
Af t era hugel ys ucces s f ulRI ATweekend,t he r emai nderoft he ai r cr af t ’ sf l i ghtt es ts chedul e wascompl et ed wi t houtany s i gni f i canti s s ues bei ngr ai s ed.I twast hent i met oembar kupon t hes econdphas eoft hegr andpl an:XH134was t ober epai nt ed. Acut el y awar e of t he s i gni f i cance of t he
“We’ veus edat ypeofdecal t hatcaneas i l ybe r emoved and r epl aced.T hi si sf ort he s i mpl e r eas on t hatr ul esdi ct at et hati fs pons or s hi pi s car r i ed ex t er nal l y on t he ai r cr af t ,al lmi l i t ar y mar ki ngsmus tber emovedands hemus tf l yon herci vi l r egi s t r at i on,GOMHD, ”Char l i eex pl ai ns . Mai ni mageKar lDr age
Whi l et hi swi l l doubt l es scaus emuchf ur or eamongt henays ayer s ,s ur el y i t ’ sbet t ert o have t he ai r cr af tf l yi ng t han gr ounded due t oa l ackof f undi ng? And,ofcour s e,nobodys ayst heRAFmar ki ngscannott henbe r eappl i edonceanys pons or s hi pdeal shaveconcl uded.
GoodwoodRevi valPr epar at i ons Herf i r s tt r i pt ot her unwayi nhernew s chemecameundert ow at0730 on t he mor ni ng of2 S ept emberf ora phot os hootahead oft he announcementt hatt he Mi dai rS quadr on woul ds pons ort he F r eddi e Mar chS pi r i tofAvi at i onatt hef or t hcomi ngGoodwoodRevi val .S hewas s t i l lt o be wei ghed and s o herf uelt anks wer e empt y. As t he phot ogr apherl uckyenought obegi vent hej obofcapt ur i ngher ,l etme j us ts ay,s hel ookedamaz i ng. Ias kedMi keDavi show hef el taboutf i nal l yget t i ngt os how t heai r cr af t of ft ot hepubl i c:“I nawayIf eel qui t ener vousbecaus ewewer egoi ng t ot akehert oGoodwoodl as tyear ,andunf or t unat el yt het i mi ngwas n’ t r i ght ,al t houghwedi dmanaget of l yt heHunt er st hen.T hi syearwi l lbe t hef i r s tpubl i cdi s pl ayofheri nhernew col ours cheme,whi chnobody hasyets een. “Wehaveagoodr el at i ons hi pwi t hGoodwood–mos t l yt hr oughmyown pas s i onf ormot or car sand aer opl anes–s o Mi dai rS Ai spr es ent i ng t he F r eddi e Mar ch S pi r i t of Avi at i on at Goodwood f or t he s econd cons ecut i veyear ,andi t ’ sabs ol ut el yi mper at i vet heCanber r ai st her e. ” S ome aer i alvi ewsofXH134’ snew col our ss i t t i ng overt he t hr es hol dt o Cot s wol dAi r por t ’ sRunway08.Al l i magest hi ss pr eadKar lDr age
Di s pl ayAut hor i s at i on Al l t hat ex per i ence, and havi ngt i cksi nt her i ghtbox es al r eady meant t hat s or t i ng outDave’ spaper wor kt of l y XH134 i nf r ontoft he publ i c wasr el at i vel ypai nl es s . “I al r eady had a Di s pl ay Aut hor i s at i on( DA)andat ype ex empt i on f ort he Canber r a, s of ormei twasaf ai r l ys t r ai ght f or war dpr oces s–i twasj us ta r enewal ofmyDA. ” Rol l s Royce’ sChi efT es tPi l ot , Phi l lO’ Del l ,handl ed Dave’ s r enewaland Mi ke L eckey’ s i ni t i al DAi s s ueonbehal foft he CAA ( Ci vi lAvi at i onAut hor i t y) -t heCAA doesnotr ecogni s e t he mi l i t ar y equi val ent ,s o Mi ke’ sDA f r om hi st i me wi t h t he BBMFwasnots uf f i ci entat Cot s wol d Ai r por t on 8 S ept ember . “Ihave t os ay,Mi ke di da s t er l i ng j ob, ” Dave t el l s me, “t obeabl et of l yt hedi s pl ayi n t he PR9asex per t l yashe di d j us t on t he r un up t hat weekend wasqui t e an ef f or t on hi s par t . He pr obabl y di dn’ tbl ow hi sown t r umpet , buthedi dagr eatj ob. ”
Ri ght-Dave Pi per( l ef t )and Mi ke L eckey( r i ght )t ake t i me outf r om a bus yweekend of di s pl aywor kupsf ora cuppa and a f ew pos es f or t he camer a. Al l i mages T om Gi bbons
t hi s
s pr ead
Above-XH134get sai r bor nef r om Cot s wol dAi r por t ’ sRunway24f oradi s pl ay pr act i cewi t hMi keL eckeyatt hecont r ol s . Bel ow -Dave Pi pers hows‘ 134’ snew col our sof ft ot r emendousef f ectat Cot s wol dAi r por tdur i ngoneofhi sownpr act i ces .
Doesi tgetmuchbet t ert hant hi s ?!I ’ mr eal l ynots ur ei tdoes !As t unni ngs t udyofXH
XH134i nt heai roverCot s wol dAi r por t( T om Gi bbons )
T heSequence Att het i meofwr i t i ng,I am s t i l l t o wi t nes s t he Mi dai r S quadr on di s pl ayf i r s thand, af t er weat her f or ced t he t eam t o abor tt he S unday’ s appear anceatGoodwood, but l ooki ng at t he r i bbon di agr am oft hedi s pl ay,t her e ar e el ement s t hat l ook f ami l i ar ! “I t ’ smor e orl es st he s ame di s pl ay t hatIputt oget her backi nt he l at e‘ 90swhenI was f l yi ng t he Canber r a t hen, ” Dave ex pl ai ns . “I s us pect t he onl y r eal di f f er ence i st he hi ghs peed pas s , becaus e you can act ual l y do a hi ghs peed pas s i n a PR9 qui t e comf or t abl y,wher easi nt he l es s power f ul var i ant s , you havet ogoqui t eal ongway away f r om t he cr owd i n or dert os t and any chance t o gett he s peed up. I nt he PR9,t hat ’ snotani s s ue! ” “Bot hDaveandmys el fwent t o s peak t o t he pr evi ous Canber r a di s pl ay pi l ot ,a chap cal l ed T er r y Cai r ns – t he l as t Canber r a di s pl ay pi l oti nt he RAF . We went and chat t ed i tt hr ough wi t h T er r y–whathedi d–andhe wasver yhel pf ul andgaveus a f ew t op t i ps f or what l ooked good i n t he Canber r a, and we i ncor por at ed a f ew oft he t hi ngshe s ai d and t ookhi s advi ce and putt he di s pl ay t oget heraccor di ngl y, ”Mi ke adds .
Kar lDr age Whi l e Goodwood’ s unus ual l ys haped di s pl ay l i ne meant t hat t he di s pl ay needed t o be t weaked a l i t t l e, f eedback has been over whel mi ngl y pos i t i ve, wi t h r ealemphas i s pl acedupont he“Avonhowl ” .F r om t hepi l ot ’ s per s pect i ve,t hough,what ’ st he bes tbi t ? I as kedDave: “Il ove t he t akeof fand get t i ng i nt ot hatf i r s t s t eep t ur n;Iqui t e enj oy t hatasa pr ocedur e becaus e you’ ve gott o be f ai r l yaccur at e wi t h t hat ,f ai r l yt i ght ,and makeyouradj us t ment st o r ol l outoft hatoneoncr owdcent r e. “I s uppos ef orpur eex hi l ar at i on,i t ’ sgott obet he hi ghs peed pas s .T hati squi t es omet hi ng!You don’ tof t enhearmuchnoi s e–muchf eedback –i ns i de t he Canber r a when you’ r ef l yi ng,but whenyouputf ul l poweronyouf eel i tandhear i t . And,ofcour s e,i ts oundsgl or i ousf r om t he out s i de! ”
T om Gi bbons
Si ngl ePi l otCr ew T he r es t or at i on s aw t he ai r cr af t go f r om a t woman cr ew t o a s i ngl e pi l ot wi t h t he navi gat or ’ s s eat i n t he nos e becomi ng r edundant . Now t hat t he pai r has mor e ex per i ence of f l yi ng t he ai r cr af t i n her pos t r es t or at i on s t at e, what ’ s t he gener al f eel i ngaboutoper at i ngher ?
Kar lDr age
“T he ai r cr af tal wayswasdel i ght f ult o handl e ands t i l li s , ”Mi kes ays .“I t ’ sl i ght ert hani twasi n s er vi ce,s ot hatmakesi tmor e pl eas antt of l y– t hepower t owei ghtr at i ohasi mpr ovedwi t ht he r emoval ofs omes ens or set c. ” Andt hes wi t cht oas i ngl epi l otcr ew?
Kar lDr age
“I ti ncr eas est hewor kl oad a bi t .Butt heGPSi s ver ygood. We now have a GPSwi t ha vi s ual di s pl ay,whi ch we di dn’ thave pr evi ous l y–we j us thadanavi gat orwhowoul ddes cr i bet hi ngs t o you. A pi ct ur e pai nt sa t hous and wor ds ,as t heys ay,and bei ng abl et ol ookdownatt he GPS s cr een means t hat your s i t uat i onal awar enes si si mpr oved i mmens el y. T he onl y L ef t-F r om l ef t :Char l i eKyl e,Bar r yHegar t y,Mi ke Davi s ,I onaBr and& Chr i sVaughan
T om Gi bbons t hi ngt hatr eal l yi ncr eas est hewor kl oadi shavi ng t owor kt het r ans ponderandt her adi os ,andt he equi pment ’ sal l abi tnew andabi tunf ami l i ar ,s o t r yi ng t o get us ed t o t he t ouch s cr een t echnol ogy–andwehadaf ew i s s ueswi t ht he t ouchs cr eensnotwor ki ng t hr ougha gl ove,s o t hat ’ ss t i l lwor ki npr ogr es s .I ’ ms ur et hatonce bot hDaveandI getus edt ot heavi oni cs ,i t ’ l l be ver ygood. ” Whi l et her e mi ghtonl ybe one oft hem i nt he ai r cr af tatt hes amet i me,t her e’ sver ydef i ni t el y as t r ongt eam et hi cevi dentatCot s wol dAi r por t , asDavei skeent opoi ntout . “Mi keandIdowor kver ymuch‘ handi ngl ove’ . We’ r es quadr on buddi es ,we’ ve keptt hi ngs t i cki ngal ong–i t ’ sbeenver ygood,act ual l y,t o have anot herpi l otofs i mi l arcapabi l i t y and ex per i ence t o be abl et o bounce i deasof f ,I t hi nkwe’ r e wor ki ng pr et t ywel lt oget her .L ong mayi tl as t ! ” “C2 hasdone a cr acki ng j ob ofr es t or i ng t he ai r cr af t , ”Mi ke i skeen t o add,“and Ihave f ul l conf i dence i n whatt hey’ ve done,ot her wi s eI woul dn’ tbe s t r appi ng mys el fi nt oi tand goi ng f l yi ng. ”
Kar lDr age
2013ors omet i mei nt he1950s ?I t ’ sabs ol ut el yf ant as t i ct ohaveanai r wor t hyCanber r abacki nEur opea
eans ki esoncemor e Kar lDr age
T hepl anmovi ngf or war di ss t i l l f ort heCanber r at obe s uppl ement ed by t he t wo HawkerHunt er s ,XL 577 ( GXMHD)andXL 600( GRAXA) . “T heHunt er swer ef l yi ngl as tyear .What ’ si mpor t antt o usi st o homogeni s et he ai r cr af ts ot hatt hey’ r e al li n t hes amepai nts chemeandf l yi ngasas quadr on.T he t wo Hunt er sbot h needed maj orchecks ,and Iam ant i ci pat i ng t he pai nt wor k and checks wi l l be compl et edbyt hel at t erpar toft hi syear , ”Mi keDavi s s ays . T he us e oft he wor d “S quadr on” doesl eave me wonder i ngwhet herwecanex pectt os eeanyot her t ypesj oi ni ngt heCanber r aandHunt er s : “T he i nt ent i on i st o keep t he Mi dai rS quadr on asa s howcas i ng ex ampl e of Br i t i s h engi neer i ng ex cel l encef r om t he1950s .Whi l s tt hei mmedi at epl an i sf ort hes quadr ont of l yasat r i o,Iwoul ddear l yl ove t o puta Vi ct orbomberi nt he ai r ,butIt hi nk t he economi csoft hatar ebeyondmywi l des tdr eams ! ” Havi ngnow mett hemaj or i t yofkeypeopl ei nvol ved i nt heMi dai rS quadr on,Ihavet os ay,i t ’ sver ydi f f i cul t t obeanyt hi ngot hert hanhugel yi mpr es s edwi t ht he oper at i onf r om t opt obot t om.T hewhol eet hosi sbui l t ar ounddoi ngt hi ngst her i ghtway,t hes af eway,and i sgear ed t opr ovi di ngs omeoft hebi gges tbr andsi n t he wor l d wi t ha f i r s tcl as spl at f or m f r om whi ch t o pr es entt hems el vest oat r ul ygl obal audi ence.
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Al l i magest hi ss pr eadKar lDr age
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j oyed a numberofs eas onsast he T or nado F 3di s pl aypi l ot ,cul mi nat i ng i n1990whenhe f l ew Z E907, memor at et he50t hanni ver s ar yoft heBat t l eofBr i t ai n( Gar et hSt r i nger )
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Hawk&T ucano F orcur r entt r ai ni ng ai r cr af tl i ke t he Hawkand t he T ucano,t he s cheme hasbecome a huge par toft he engagementpr oces s ,and we at GAR have been f or t unat e enough t o have been i nvol ved i nr eveal i ng a numberoft he mor er ecents et sofdi s pl aycol our s .
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T hi ss t r i ki ng,bl ue 19( F )S quadr on HawkT 1was f l own dur i ng t he 1994 di s pl ays eas on byF l tL t DaveBent l eywhowentont obeCommandant Cent r al F l yi ngS chool( T om Gi bbons )
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T he 2011 T ucano Di s pl ay Pi l otwasF l tL tDan Hayes who ut i l i s ed t hi s r at her char mi ng pr edomi nant l ys i l ver and bl ue ai r cr af t wi t h pat r i ot i ccol our edex t r as .
F l tL tAndr ew F yvi eRae cont i nued t he t heme s t ar t ed by F l tL tT om Boul di n 2010 by f l yi ng anot her hi s t or i cal l y accur at e camouf l aged s chemedur i ngt he2013s eas on.
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Cel ebr at i ng t he Queen’ sGol denJ ubi l ee,F l tL t J on Bond’ ss cheme f r om 2012 wasl i kened i n s omequar t er st oacer t ai nbr andoft oot hpas t e!
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HawkerS i ddel eyDomi ni eT 1XS 739r ecei ved a s peci alt ai li n2006t omar kt he90t hanni ver s ar y ofNo.55S qn ( Kar lDr age)
J aguar GR1A XZ 398/ A wear i ng t he s peci al mar ki ngsofr edf i nands pi net ocommemor at e t he of75t h Anni ver s ar y of41 S quadr on,RAF Col t i s hal l( T om Gi bbons )
Beechcr af t Ki ng Ai rZ K453 car r i ed s peci al mar ki ngst o commemor at e 90year sofNo.45 S quadr on ( Kar lDr age)
No.I V( AC) S quadr on’ s 95t h anni ver s ar y was cel ebr at ed wi t ht hi ss peci alt ai ldepi ct i ng t he s quadr on’ sf amous r ed, yel l ow and bl ack col our s( Kar lDr age)
Z D748wast hef i r s toft woT or nadoGR4spai nt ed byNo.I I ( AC)S quadr onast hei r‘ S hi nyT wo’j et . T hi sonemar kedt hes quadr on’ s95t hanni ver s ar y i n2007 ( Kar lDr age)
No.208S quadr oncel ebr at ed 90year si n2006 bypai nt i ng XX205i nt hi seyecat chi ng s cheme t hatpl ayed ont hecol our sas s oci at ed wi t ht he s quadr on ( J ohnHi ggi ns )
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T hi sXI ( F )S quadr onT or nado F 3car r i ed a bl ack t ai land s pi ne t o mar kt he s quadr on’ s 90t h anni ver s ar yi n2005 ( Kar lDr age)
T heRAF ’ sS ear chandRes cueS eaKi ngscar r i ed a‘ RAFS AR70’l ogoand ‘ 70YEARSOFS AVI NG L I VES ’t i t l esi n2011 ( Kar lDr age)
BuccaneerXX894Wear i ngas peci als chemet o T ocommemor at e10year sofC17oper at i ons ,99 commemor at et he 75t h anni ver s ar y ofNo. 12 S qnador ned Z Z 177wi t ha s peci alt ai lmar ki ng, S quadr oni n1990 ( L i nds ayPeacockCol l ect i on) S eenher eatRoyalI nt er nat i onalAi rT at t oo2011 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
A memor abl e combi nat i onatt he 2006edi t i on oft he RoyalI nt er nat i onalAi rT at t oo s aw a 101 S qn VC10 i nf or mat i on wi t ht he Red Ar r ows ( Gl ennBeas l ey)
S ent r yAEW1Z H103car r i eddi f f er entmar ki ngson ei t hers i deoft hef i nt or ef l ect90year sofbot h Nos .8and23S quadr onsi n2005 ( Kar lDr age)
Mai n-Ani ces t udyofZ A401,t he13S qn90t hAnni ver s ar yT or nadoGR4,asi t banksl ef tat20, 000f tabovet heNor t hS eaon23Mar ch2005 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
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T or nadoF 3Z G757car r i edabl acks pi neandf i n t o commemor at et he 90t hanni ver s ar yof43( F ) S quadr on,t he‘ F i ght i ngCocks ’( Kevi nWi l l s )
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wi l ls ee l at er ,t he nact i ver ol ei nGul f s er tpi nkj et ,XX725, t owar dst he t ype’ s econf l i ct .
r eadKar lDr age
Mai n -Vi cker sVC10 K2 Z A141 was t he onl y ex ampl e oft hi sbat ch of conver s i ons t o r ecei ve t hi s camouf l age s cheme, wi t h t he r emai nderent er i ng s er vi cei nhemp col our s .I nt i me,t hi sai r cr af twoul d j oi nt hem ( L i nds ayPeacock)
Car r yi ng t he t empor ar y Ar ct i c camouf l age s cheme,XZ 363wasoneofs i xCol t i s hal lJ aguar s t o vi s i t RAF L os s i emout h back i nJ ul y 1989. Unf or t unat el yt he ai r cr af tand pi l otwasl os ton 24J ul y2001wheni tf l ew i nt ohi ghgr oundnear Eagl e,Al as ka,dur i ng ex er ci s e" Cope T hunder " ( T om Gi bbons )
I n2002t he RAFdet ached t hr ee T or nadosand t hr eeHar r i er st oChi naL akef oras er i esoft r i al s . Onet r i alwast ot es tt heef f ect i vnes sofdi f f er i ng col our s chemes . One T or nado, Z D792, was pai nt ed i na s and and gr ey s cheme,named " T r i alF l as hman" .I ti ss een bet ween t he Az or es andt heUS Aon16Apr i l( Kevi nWi l l s )
T r i alandT empor ar ySchemes I naddi t i ont ot hos es chemest hathavebecome ‘ t he nor m’ over t i me, t her e have been a numberofot hers et soft r i aland t empor ar y col our st hat ,f orwhat everr eas onhavenotbeen adopt ed.Her ear ej us taf ew.
s chemeoft he21s tcent ur yt odat eand,unl es s t hr eat ss t ar tt o emer ge i n di f f er entr egi onst o t hos e t hat have domi nat ed t he l as tt wo decades ,i t ’ shar dt oi magi ne t hatchangi ng anyt i mes oon.
T heavi at i onent hus i as tmi ghtj us thavet omake dowi t ht heai r s how andanni ver s ar ys peci al st o i t t l ecol ourt opr oceedi ngs . Gr ey hasver y def i ni t el y become t he col our addal
Chr i s t enedt he‘ F l yi ngT ur d’ ,f orobvi ousr eas ons , t hi s‘ chocol at e br own’ t r i alcol our s cheme pr oved t o be s hor t l i ved on t he t hen Hawker S i ddel ey Ni mr od MR1. XV246 i ss een atRAF Ki nl os si n1977 ( J i m Si mps on)
Har r i er GR7 Z D435/ 47 i n No. 1( F )S quadr on mar ki ngsr ef uel sf r om aVC10t ankerenr out et o Nor wayaspar tofEx er ci s eS now F al conon23 J anuar y2004 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
Pa r t n e r sa n dPr o d u c t s L e n s F e t t i s h
FLI GHTSTORE
Avi at i onWat ches
RAFMUS EUM CO
Aspr et t yass hel ooks ,donotbet akeni nbyt hi sBr i s t olBr i t anni a’ sex t er i or ,f ors hei snotRAFAi rS uppor
RAFMus eum Cos f or di soneoft hepr emi erat t r act i onsi nt heWes tM avi at i onent hus i as t . El l i ot tMar s hpaysavi s i tt or epor tf orGAM. T hes i s t ers i t et oRAFMus eum Hendon' ss out her n col l ect i on,Cos f or di shomet oas pr awl i ngr ange of t ypes wi t h var yi ng degr ees of hi s t or i cal pr ovenance.T he Mus eum i s di vi ded i nt oa numberofs ubs ect i ons ,i ncl udi ng a s t unni ng
numberofs ubs ect i ons ,i ncl udi ng a s t unni ng Col d Warex hi bi t i on and a l ar ge col l ect i on of hi s t or i c r es ear ch and devel opment t ypes . T oget herwi t ha s pr awl i ng mai n hal loff ami l i ar ( and s ome nots of ami l i ar )RAFmachi nes ,RAF
OSF ORD
Gat eGuar ds Vi s i t or st o Cos f or d ar e i mmedi at el y gr eet ed on ar r i valby a number of ex t er naldi s pl ays ;not‘ gat e guar ds ’per s e,butawel comet r eatt os eeout door s i nt hei rel ementnevert he l es s !T he f i r s t ai r cr af tvi s i bl ef r om t he ent r ance wayi s C130KHer cul esMk3XV202,one oft he 66– Kvar i antHer cul espur chas edbyt he RAFbet weenDecember1966andMay 1968.Del i ver edt ot heRAFasaC Mk1i n Augus t 1967, t hi s par t i cul ar Her cul es oper at ed i nt he S i ngapor e and Hong Kongr egi onofS out hEas tAs i adur i ngt he l at e60s bef or es pr eadi ng i t s wi ngs i n Nai r obi ,Bahr ai n and Cypr us ,amongs t ot her s ,dur i ngt hes ubs equentdecade. T he ai r cr af twasl at erconver t ed t oC Mk. 3 conf i gur at i on,wi t ha l engt hened f us el age whi ch f aci l i t at ed i t sus e asa l ong hault r ans por tand par at r oopi ng pl at f or m.XV202s er ved wi t h di s t i nct i on, endi ngupf l yi ngwi t hNo47S quadr onat RAFBr i z eNor t onunt i li twasdel i ver edt o Cos f or dbyai ron12Augus t2011.Gi ven t heHer cul es ’i mpor t ancei nRAFs er vi ce t hr oughout i t st enur e as a pr i mar y t r ans por t ,t r oops hi p and t ankeri n al lof t he maj orconf l i ct st he RAF hasbeen engaged i ns i nce t he t ype ent er ed s er vi ce,i ti sabs ol ut el yf i t t i ng t hati ti s gi ven pr i de ofpl ace over l ooki ng t he Mus eum’ scarpar k.
or tCommand’ sXM497butr at herex BOAC’ sGAOVF ( T om Gi bbons )
tMi dl ands ,and a ' mus ts ee'f orany Mus eum Cos f or di sone oft he UK' ss t r onges t avi at i onmus eumsandapl aceonecans pend hour st r awl i ngover .
Al s or es i denti nt heopenai rar eaBr i s t ol Br i t anni a medi umr ange ai r l i ner , and HawkerHunt erF 6A XG225,bot hai r cr af t whi ch s er ved wi t h di s t i nct i on i n RAF s er vi ce -i ndeed,t he l at t err emai nsone oft hemos twel l knowncl as s i cj et s ,wi t h s ever aloper at ed i n pr i vat e handsand many mor el ocat ed i n ai rmus eumsi n t he UKand Eur ope -al ongs i de Ni mr od, t he" mi ght yhunt er " . T heNi mr odpl ayeda maj orr ol ei n def endi ng Br i t i s hs hor es dur i ng t he Col d Warand beyond and, aswi t ht heHer cul es ,i ti sl i kel yoneoft he mos ti mpor t antoft he moder n mi l i t ar y t ypeshous ed atCos f or d.Gone -but cer t ai nl ynotf or got t en.
Res ear ch&Devel opment T he f i r s tpor tofcal lf ormanyvi s i t or si sl i kel yt o be t he f as ci nat i ng Res ear ch& Devel opmenthangar ,home t ot he Mus eum’ si mpr es s i ve col l ect i onofuni que pos t WWI I t es tai r cr af t .I fnot hi ngel s e,t hehangars er vesasas t ar kr emi ndert hat t he UK’ sdaysofmi l i t ar yai r cr af tdes i gni ngenui t yand engi neer i ng ex cel l ence may be wel land t r ul y behi nd i t ;undert hi sr oofs i tt i mel yr emi nder s of aer onaut i calmanuf act ur er sl ong s i nce cons i gned t ot he hi s t or y books ,wi t h namesl i ke Avr o,Br i s t ol ,BAC,Engl i s h El ect r i c and Gl os t erdomi nat i ng her e, r emnant sofat i mewhenBr i t ai nwass t i l l awor l dl eaderi nt heaer os pacei ndus t r y. Domi nat et heycer t ai nl ydo,f ort hi shangarhous esa whol er af tofi mpr es s i ve pr ot ot ypesand abor t ed des i gns ,manyofwhi chs t i l lhavea f ut ur i s t i cai rabout t hem –none mor es ot hant he Br i s t ol188,anex per i ment alai r cr af twhi chwas des i gned t o enabl et he r ecor di ng ofki net i c heat i ng ef f ect son t he ai r cr af t ’ s s t r uct ur eatMach2.T hi spar t i cul arex ampl e,XF 926,wast hes econdofonl yt hr ee Br i s t ol 188st obemanuf act ur ed,maki ngi t sf i r s tf l i ghti nApr i l 1963.I t scar eerl as t ed onl ya mat t erofmont hsand i twasgr ounded i near l y1964;unf or t unat el y,t he Br i s t ol188hadn’ tl i ved up t oi t spr omi s e,wi t ht heai r cr af tf ai l i ng t or each–and s us t ai n–Mach2asi nt ended. Equal l yi mpr es s i vei sF ai r eyF D2Del t aWG777,F ai r ey’ sr es pons et ot heMi ni s t r yof S uppl y’ ss peci f i cat i onsf ora s uper s oni cr es ear ch ai r cr af t .T he RAF Mus eum Cos f or d’ sDel t ai st he s econd oft wo ai r cr af tmanuf act ur ed,t he ot herbei ng r es i dentatt heF l eetAi rAr m Mus eum,RNASYeovi l t on;a r ealj eweli nCos f or d' s cr own.
Bel ow -T he i l l f at ed T S R2 wasconcei ved asa nucl earor convent i onal bomber capabl e of at t acki ng hi ghval ue t ar get sbyf l yi ngatl ow l evel andatex t r emes peeds .S adl yt he pr oj ectwascancel l edi n1965 ( Kar lDr age)
T hei mpos i ng,f u
Bel ow -No,t hi si snotanear l y wasi ns t r ument ali n pr ovi ng t des i gnwasef f ect i ve f orhi ghs S B5andf i r s tf l ew i nDecember1
,f ut ur i s t i cBr i s t ol T ype188domi nat est heent r ancet ot heRes ear ch& Devel opmenthangar( Huw Hopki ns )
yEngl i s hEl ect r i cL i ght ni ng,buti t t hatt he or i gi nalP. 1/ L i ght ni ng s peed f l i ght . WG768i sa S hor t r1952( Kar lDr age)
Bel ow -T heF ai r eyF D2,af or merWor l dAi rS peedRecor dhol der af t erPet erT wi s sf l ew t heai r cr af tat1132mphon10Mar ch1956 ( Huw Hopki ns )
T hes l eek,s t r eaml i nedl i nesoft heT ype188,F ai r eyDel t aandt hel i kesoft he i nf amousBAC T S R 2and Avr o 707c ( bel ow)cont r as tdr amat i cal l ywi t h s ome oft he mor e wor kmanl i ke des i gns ;cer t ai nl y,not al loft hes e ex per i ment al t ypeswer ecutf r om t hes amebeaut i f ul ,s i l kycl ot h.T aket he ungai nl yHunt i ngH126( r i ght ) ,amachi newhi cht es t eds hor tf i el dt akeof f and l andi ng per f or mance byvi r t ue ofi t s‘ j etf l aps ’whi ch enabl ed t hi s l oveabl epugofanai r cr af tt of l yats peedsofj us t32mph.S i t t i ngal ongs i de agener at i onofgor geoushi ghs peedj etdes i gns ,t heHunt i ngH126s eems al i t t l eoutofpl ace,buti t ’ scer t ai nl yanendear i ngdes i gn–t hat ’ saboutas compl i ment ar yasonecanget ,aes t het i cal l y!
T hi shangaral s oi ncl udest hr eevar i ant sofMet eor– i ncl udi ngt heMet eorF 8 ‘ pr one pos i t i on’ ai r cr af t( r i ght ) wi t h an ex t ended nos e s ect i on t o accommodat eas econd cockpi t .T hi s ai r cr af tcar r i es an i nt er es t i ng concepti ni t shi s t or y,t hatoft hepos s i bi l i t yoff l yi ngf r om t hepr onepos i t i on, f orwhi ch t he Met eors er vesasa r es ear ch t es tbed wi t ha s peci al l y cons t r uct edbubbl ecanopycockpi ts ect i onbui l ti nt ot henos eex t ens i on. T hes econdcockpi twasr et ai neds ot hatanot herpi l otcoul dkeepcont r ol oft he ai r cr af ti nt he eventofanemer gency.T hi suni que var i antoft he Met eorf i r s tf l ew on10F ebr uar y1954andhadt hedi s t i nct i onofbei ngt he l as tex per i ment alf l i ghtf r om Bagi nt on,bef or et hatai r f i el dcl os edi t sdoor s t ot es tf l i ght s .T hepr onepos i t i ont es t i ngi nvol vedat ot al of99s or t i esand55 hour s ’f l yi ng bef or ei t scompl et i onon31J ul y1955.T he out come oft he Met eor ’ st es t i ngwast hatt hepr onepos i t i onwoul dbef eas i bl ef ort r ai ned pi l ot s ,howevert he pr oj ecthad al r eadybeen cancel l ed and t hus ,t he r es ear chwasneverputt oi nt ooper at i on. L ooki ng att hi suni que and qui t e uns i ght l yai r cr af t( i t ’ samaz i ng how t he ex t ended nos es ect i on compl et el yr emoves any s embl ance oft he Met eor ’ sbeaut i f ulpr of i l e! ) ,i t ’ squi t es omet hi ngt ocont empl at ehow t he t es t i ng under t akenus i ng t hi sai r cr af tmayhave cont r i but ed t owar dsan ent i r el ydi f f er entf or m off l yi ng–al as ,i tnow s er vesasanot herr emi nderof aner awher ei ngenui t yl edt heway,andt heendl es spos s i bi l i t i esoff l i ght wer e put t o t he t es t each day i nt he name of i nnovat i on and devel opment . Al l i magest hi ss pr eadKar lDr age
T heS aunder s RoeS R. 53 ( Kar lDr age)
Al ongs i de t he Met eori st he pr ot ot ype ofanai r cr af tt hatwoul d go ont o achi eve wor l dwi de s ucce not or i et yi nt he s hape oft he Panavi aT or nado P02 Mul t i Rol e CombatAi r cr af t .Wi t ht he T or nado oper at i onall i f et i cki ng awayast he T yphoon domi nat esasa mul t i r ol e pl at f or m,t her e’ sa r eals e nos t al gi as ur r oundi ng t hes eai r cr af ti n2013;t heT or nadowi l lal lt oos oonj oi nt heHar r i erand J aguar hi s t or ybooks .Onedayi nt henot t oodi s t antf ut ur e,we’ l l l ookbackont heT or nadowi t ht hes amemi s t af f ect i onwedot heJ aguar ,L i ght ni ngandHar r i er–t hat ’ saver ys t r anget houghtt ohave,t obehone
XX946i st hef i r s toff ourpr ot ot ypesf ort hePanavi aT or nadoGR1andf i r s tf l ew 30Oct ober1974 ( Kar lDr a
Nat i onalCol dWarExhi bi t i on Ar guabl yt hej ewel i nCos f or d’ scr owni st heNat i onal Col dWarEx hi bi t i on,hous edwi t hi n t hei mpos i ngmet albui l di ng( t ocal li ta hangarwoul d beani nj us t i ce)t hatf or mst he l ar ges tpar toft heMus eum compl ex .
es sand o GR4’ s s ens e of ari nt he i s t yeyed es t .
r age)
‘ I mpos i ng’i scer t ai nl yt he wor d oft he momenther e,f ort he Ex hi bi t i oni s n’ tf ocus ed s ol el y on t he avi at i on s i de oft he Col d War ;mani f es t ed wi t hi nt hi sbui l di ng i st he cl aus t r ophobi cf earof40year sofi deol ogi calconf l i ct ,ef f ect i vel ymi r r or i ngt hes oci al f eel i ngf r om aner awher egl obal des t r uct i onbywayofnucl earwarwasmer emi nut es away.T he ai r cr af tbeardownonyou;i t ' sal luncompr omi s i ng angl esand i mpos i ng, hul ki ngwarmachi nes .
Res i denti nt heCol d WarEx hi bi t i onar eai r cr af t ,vehi cl es ,mi s s i l esand ot her or dnance f r om t he US A and UK,and t he Eas t er n Bl oc.Remar kabl yf ora bui l di ng whi ch hous est he l i kesofAvr o Vul can,Handl eyPage Vi ct orand Vi cker sVal i ant‘ Vbomber s ’ ,ever yt hi ng f eel sver y cr amped and,agai n, cl aus t r ophobi c, wi t h t he ar chi t ect ur e bear i ng down on t he ai r cr af t , i mpr i s oni ngt hem i nat ens echamberwhos eel ect r i cambi ancemi r r or st hat oft heer at heai r cr af tr epr es ent .
Above-Vi cker sVa s adl y,t he onl ys u ex ampl eoft het yp S he wasus ed on dr op t he UK’ sf i r s t nearChr i s t masI s l a
Ri ght-Unl i ket heV cont i nuest ol i ve number s ,l i keXM59 L ef t-
T opl ef t-HP Vi ct o Mar i an’ per f or me mi s s i ons dur i ng O S t or m,asi ndi cat e mar ks on t he f ( Kar lDr age)
al i antBK1XD818i s , s ur vi vi ng,compl et e ypel ef ti nt hewor l d. n 15 May 1957 t o s t hydr ogenbomb l and ( Kar lDr age)
Val i ant ,t heVul can on i nr eas onabl e 598 ( Kar lDr age)
t orK2XH672‘ Mai d ed a t ot alof 52 Oper at i on Des er t t ed by t he mi s s i on f or war d f us el age
Huw Hopki ns T he Ex hi bi t i on al s os howcas es many of t he pr omi nentai rdef ence,bomberand t r ans por t as s et soft he Col d Warer a.S ome oft hem – par t i cul ar l yt hef or mer–ar es us pendedf r om t he cei l i ng i n var i ous dr amat i c pos i t i ons ,f ur t her addi ngt ot heambi enceoft hebui l di ng;asyou ent er ,ai r cr af tar ei mmedi at el ybear i ngdownon you:anF 86S abr e( f arbot t om r i ght )andHunt er T 7A ( r i ght ) hang i nver t ed above t he mai n wal kway,whi l s ta Gl os t erJ avel i n( t hi s page, bot t om r i ght )–oneoft hef i nes tl ooki ngj et sever des i gned –hangsata dr amat i c nearver t i cal s t eepcl i mb.
Di r ect l y above t he wal kway,a L i ght ni ng F 1i s s us pendedf ul l yver t i cal l y,beneat h,al i neupof t r ans por tt ypescr ammedi nt owhatf eel sl i ket he s mal l es t of s paces - Dakot a ( mai n) , Yor k ( oppos i t e page,bot t om l ef t ) and Has t i ngs whi ch pl ayed t hei rpar ti nt he RAF ' st r ans por t f l eetdur i ngt heBer l i nAi r l i f tandbeyond.
Kar lDr age
Kar lDr age
Kar lDr age
L ef t-S hor tBel f as tC1XR371‘ Encel adus ’ ,oneof onl yt ent hatwer eul t i mat el ybui l tf r om anor der of30,al lofwhi ch had been des t i ned f ort he RoyalAi rF or ce. Af t erRAFs er vi ce ended i n 1976,f i ve wer e pur chas ed by T AC HeavyL i f t , t hr eeofwhi chwer eus ed f orcommer ci alwor k f r om 1980.
Huw Hopki ns
Kar lDr age
El s ewher e,onecanf i ndai r cr af tf r om bot hs i desoft heBer l i nWal l ,oneof t hemos tpr omi nentbei ngt hehul ki ngMH53PaveL ow,r et i r edonl yaf ew s hor t year s ago f r om t he 352nd S peci alOper at i ons Gr oup at RAF Mi l denhal l .T hePaveL ow i sal l t hr eat eni ngmachi ner yandweaponr y,wi t h chai ngunsand . 50calmachi negunspr ot r udi ng f r om t hes i dedoorand r earr amp.T hi si sa t r ue beas tofan ai r cr af t ,and i ti sgr eatt os ee one pr es er vedi nt heUKf ol l owi ngt het ype' sr et i r ementf r om oper at i onal s er vi ce i nEur ope. Whi l s tt hel ayouti scer t ai nl yonewhi chwi l l di vi devi s i t or s ,i t ’ sdi f f i cul tt odeny t he ef f ect i venes soft he Ex hi bi t i on.I ti s n' tj us taboutt he ai r cr af t ,f ort he bui l di ngi ncl udesex hi bi t i onscover i ngt hes oci al andpol i t i cal cl i mat eoft he t i me,whi char es t ar kr eadi ngf ort hos ebor ni nt hepos t Col dWarer a.T hi s i sanengr os s i ng,ut t er l yf as ci nat i ngbui l di ngt hatdul ycapt ur est hees s ence ofCol dWarf earandt het hr eatpos edbyt hemanypot entai r cr af twhi ch f i l l edt hes ki esast hewor l dt eet er edont heedgeofnucl earwar .
Oneoft hemor er e manyyear swhi l s tt
Ri ght-T wi nPi onee us edbyt heRAFi n i ncl udi ng t r ans por t s uppl i es ,CAS EVAC wor kacr os st heBr i
L ef t-T hi sf or mer Hu Mi G21PFl ef tai rf o andhadbeeni nt e UK ci vi lr egi s t er . mat er i al i s ed and r oot edt ot hegr ou
Kar lDr age
T opl ef t-740177i s Gener alDynami cs pr evi ous l yoper at e Uni t ed S t at es Ai r 48t hT F Wf r om RAF
r ecentRAF M Cos f or dar r i val si st heMH53PaveL ow,ahel i copt erwhi chwasaf ami l i ars i ghti nt heUKf or tt he352ndS OG oper at edt het ypeatRAFMi l denhal l ,S uf f ol k( Huw Hopki ns )
eerCC2XL 993was i navar i et yofr ol es or t ,t he dr oppi ng of C andaer i al s ur vey r i t i s hEmpi r e.
Hungar i anAi rF or ce f or ces er vi cei n1989 t endedt of l yont he . S adl yt hi s never ds he’ s now f i r ml y und.
i sanex ampl eofa i csF 111FAar dvar k, t edi nt heUKbyt he i rF or ces Eur ope’ s FL akenheat h.
Kar lDr age
Hangar1 T ol i s tal l oft het ypesondi s pl aywoul dbeaf ut i l eex er ci s e,f ort heex cel l entRAFMus eum Cos f or d webs i t e wi l lgi ve you al lt he i nf or mat i on you need,t oget herwi t h det ai l ed hi s t or i esofeach t ype’ scar eer ,s oI ’ l l s i ngl eouts omeoft hemos ti nt er es t i ngt ypesex hi bi t edher eandpr ovi dea gener al over vi ew ofwhat ’ sonof f er . T her ear es omewonder f ulol dmachi nest obef oundi nt heT r ans por t& T r ai ni ngs ect i onoft he hangar ,r angi ng f r om t he t i ny HawkerCygnetand ComperS wi f tt ot he pur pos ef uland cont r as t i ngr uggednes sofheavi ert r ans por t sl i ket heVi cker sVar s i t yT 1( f arr i ght )andt hebul bous Ar gos yC1.
Above-XP411,anAr ms t r ongWhi t wor t hAr gos y Above - T he S cot t i s h Avi at i on Pi oneer was C1,wasdel i ver ed t ot her es i dentNo.2S chool oper at ed asf araf i el d asAden and Mal ays i a ofT echni cal T r ai ni ng( 2S OT T )( Kar lDr age) bef or er et i r ementi n1969( Huw Hopki ns )
Kar lDr age
HSAndoverXS 639s er vedwi t h115S quadr onat RAFBens onunt i l J ul y1994 ( Kar lDr age)
Above -T X214 i san Avr o Ans on C19/ 1 and car r i es RoyalAi rF or ce T r ans por t Command col our s( Kar lDr age)
Above-deHavi l l andDevonVP952ent er edRAF s er vi ce way back i n 1947 and r et i r ed i nJ ul y 1985,maki ngherbot ht hef i r s tandl as tex ampl e oft het ypet obeoper at ed ( Kar lDr age)
T r ai ner sar eal s owel lr epr es ent ed byt hes t al war t de Havi l l and Chi pmunk, one of t he l onges t s er vi ng RAF t ypes , and t he F ai r chi l d Ar gus , Per ci val Pr ovos tandt hedi mi nut i veF ol l andGnat , once mount of t he Red Ar r ows .T he Gnat , r epr es ent ed her e by XR977, a Red Ar r ows s chemed machi ne,i sone oft he mos t s i gni f i cantai r cr af ti nt hecol l ect i on,r epr es ent i nga t ype whi ch s er ved asan advanced t r ai nerwi t h di s t i nct i ont hr oughoutt he1960sand ‘ 70s ,aswel l asbei ngt hemountnotonl yoft heRedAr r owsf or 1965t o1979,butoft heYel l owj acksdi s pl ayt eam f r om 1964.
Kar lDr age
Col l ect i vel y,t hi st r ai ni ng cont i ngenti l l us t r at es ,t o adegr ee,t hepr ogr es s i ont hatat r ai neeRAFpi l ot woul d under t ake,movi ng up t he r anksf r om t he pi s t ont ypest ot hel i ght erj et s ,pr i ort omovi ngon t ot he heavi ermet alf ound el s ewher ei nt he Mus eum. Br i ngi ng t hi ngsr i ghtup t o dat ei sJ et s t r eam T 1 XX496,per hapst he mos tr ecentaddi t i on t ot hi s hangarandanot hert ypet hat ,nott ool ongago, was i n act i ve s er vi ce. Whi l s tt he J et s t r eam enj oyedl engt hys er vi cei nt heRAFf r om 1973,t he ai r cr af twasr eachi ngt henat ur al endofi t scar eer whenr epl acedbyt heci vi l r egi s t er edBeechKi ng Ai rB200f l eeti n 2004,t he agei ng f l eetar guabl y havi ngbeenl ongover duef orr epl acementbya moder nai r f r ame–abi l lwhi cht heKi ngAi rs eems t of i tper f ect l y.
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WarPl anes Mos ti nt er es t i ng t o me wast he WarPl aness ect i onoft he hangar ,whi ch boas t squi t et hecol l ect i onofcombatai r cr af twi t ha par t i cul aremphas i s onWor l d WarT wo t ypes ,al t houghl at ert ypes-asmoder nast he Har r i er GR9-ar eal s oi ncl uded.S omeoft heRAF ’ sWWI I mai ns t aysar er epr es ent ed her e,headl i nedbyS pi t f i r eMk. I K9942,whi ch,f i t t i ngl y,i st heol des ts ur vi vi ng S pi t f i r ei nex i s t ence.Al ongs i dei ti st heS pi t f i r e’ sl es sgl amor ous ,mor er ugged cont empor ar y,t he HawkerHur r i cane,t hi sex ampl e bei ng Mk. I I cL F 738. Col l ect i vel y,t heS pi t f i r eandHur r i canear eal mos tcer t ai nl yt hemos twi del y knownhi s t or i ct ypesand t hef or meri npar t i cul arhasat t ai ned l egendar y s t at usf ori t ss er vi ce dur i ng t he Bat t l e ofBr i t ai n and t he s ubs equentai r bat t l esoverEur opeandbeyond.
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T heRAF ’ smai nadver s ar i esar eal s or epr es ent ed by t he Mes s er s chmi t t Me163 Komet r ocket pr opel l ed i nt er cept or and Mes s er s chmi t t Me410A,bot hofwhi chwr eakeddes t r uct i onon t heal l i edbomberf l eet sdur i ngt hel at t erpar tof t hewar .T heMe410wasus edt ogr eatef f ecti n ot herr ol es ,i ncl udi ngasal i ghtbomber ,gr ound at t ack ( i ncl udi ng ant i s hi ppi ng) and phot ogr aphi cr econnai s s ance pl at f or m,whi l s t t heMe163s uf f er edf r om l i mi t edf uelandmany t echni cali s s ueswhi ch meantt hatt he ai r cr af t neverr eal l yachi evedt hes ucces st heL uf t waf f e had hoped f or .S t i l l ,s eei ng t he 30mm cannons l i ned up nex tt ot he Kometmakesf ors ober vi ewi ng, and i ti s n’ t har d t o s ee how t he damage done dur i ng s t r af i ng r unswasof t en
ex t ens i veanddeadl y. T hei ncl us i onoft hes t unni ngMi t s ubi s hi Ki 46and Kawas aki Ki 100r epr es entt heAx i sai r cr af toft he conf l i cti nt heF arEas tandar et hes ol es ur vi vi ng ex ampl es of t hei rr es pect i ve t ypes .T hes e ai r cr af tmaybel ar gel yf or got t en,compar edt o t he f amousZ er of i ght er ,butt hei rpot encyand i mpacti nt hewaragai ns tJ apans houl dnotbe under es t i mat ed;i ndeed,t heKi 100wasoneof t hef i nes tf i ght er st obeoper at edi nt het heat r e. I nt er es t i ngl y,t he Ki 100 was once par tofa col l ect i on at RAF S t At han, wher e i t was mai nt ai ned i n gr ound r unni ng condi t i on f or s omeyear s !
Ri ght-T heMi t s ubi s hi Ki 46‘ Di nah’al s oex cel l edasaphot or econnai s s ancepl at f or m ( Kar lDr age) Bot t om r i ght-T heKawas aki Ki 1001,oneofJ apan' sf i nes tWor l dWarT wof i ght er s( Huw Hopki ns ) Bel ow - T heMe163Kometwast her es ul toft heL uf t waf f e' sdes per at eat t emptt ocombatt heUS Ar myAi rF or ce' sdayl i ghtr ai dsoveroccupi edEur ope ( Huw Hopki ns )
Dor ni erDo17 One oft he mos tf as ci nat i ng ai r cr af tt oj oi n RAFMus eum Cos f or di st he Dor ni erDo17,t hi sex ampl e bei ng a wr eckr ecover ed f r om t he Goodwi n S ands ,of ft heKentcoas t ,i nJ une2013.T he' F l yi ngPenci l 'i st heonl yoneof i t st ypes ur vi vi ng,maki ng i tnotonl ya mas s i vel yi mpor t antaddi t i ont ot he col l ect i on,butal s oamaj ors our ceofi nt er es tf ormany,es peci al l ygi vent he nat ur eoft heDo17' sver ypubl i cr ecover yoper at i on. T heDo17i scur r ent l yhous edi npur pos ebui l thydr at i ont anks ,whi chens ur e t hatt heai r cr af ti scons er vedf ol l owi ngi t sr emoval f r om t heEngl i s hChannel af t ermor et han70year sunderwat er .T hes et anksgi vet hepubl i cal i mi t ed vi ew oft he wr eckage but ,r egar dl es s ,i t ' sf as ci nat i ng t os ee.T he f ut ur e des t i nat i onoft he Do17i s ,asyet ,unknown-whet heri ti sr es t or ed t o any degr eei suncl ear ,butf ornow,i ni t scur r entf or m,t heDor ni eri sas ur pr i s i ngl y movi ngr emi nderoft hes acr i f i cesmadeonbot hs i desoft heBat t l eofBr i t ai n i nt heear l y1940s .
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T heCol dWarEr a T he RAF i n t he 1980s woul d be unr ecogni s abl ef r om t hecur r entf or ce. T hatdecade wast he l as toft he Col d Warandt heRAFwass t r uct ur edt odeal wi t ht he per cei ved t hr eat f r om t he War s aw Pact f or ces r anged acr os s Eas t er n Eur ope and T he S ovi etUni on. Ger many wass t i l lt wo count r i esand wass eenast hef r ontl i neofanyf ut ur e conf l i ct . Al lpl anni ng waspr edi cat ed on t he need t os t op t he mar ch ofa numer i cal l ys uper i orf or ce acr os st he bor der bet ween Eas t and Wes t . T echnol ogi cal s uper i or i t y and mor e aut onomoust act i cswer es een ast he hope agai ns t a l ar ger ,l es s wel l equi pped f or ce and a cent r al i s ed command and cont r ol s t r uct ur e. However ,i t was under s t ood t hat s t oppi ngt hef or cesf r om t heEas twoul d be a s t r uggl e and cons equent l y,t he doct r i neadopt edbyNAT O wasF l ex i bl e Res pons e. F l ex i bl e Res pons e wasan evol ut i on of nucl eart act i cs .I nt he ear l ys t agesof t heCol dWar ,t het heor yhadbeenany nucl earat t ackwoul dber es pondedt o wi t hanal loutas s aul t .I nt i me,t hi swas modi f i edt oanappr oacht hati nvol ved es cal at i on oft he r es pons e bas ed on t he t hr eatf aced. Cons equent l y,t he us e oft act i calnucl earweaponswas pl anned f or . Whi l et he mi s s i l escar r i ed war headst hatwer ei nt he megat on r ange, a l ar ge number of t act i cal war heads wer e depl oyed on s hor t r ange mi s s i l es and f r om f i ght er ai r cr af t . I ft he t hr eat coul dn’ t be hal t ed,t hes es mal l erweaponswoul d have been i nt r oduced t o of f s et numer i cals uper i or i t y. Ofcour s e,t he des cr i pt i onofanynucl earweaponas s mal li sa r el at i vet er m and t hei mpact oft heus eofs uchweaponswoul dhave been s ever e and had l ongl as t i ng i mpl i cat i ons .
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RAFGer many Whi l e none oft hi severcame t o pas s , t hi swast he doct r i ne i n pl ace att he t i me and f orwhi ch t he RAF was a pi vot al par t .T heUKbas edf or ceswer e s i gni f i cant l yl ar gert han t heyar e now. S t r i ke Command wast he oper at orof t he f i ght er as s et s wi t h S uppor t Command oper at i ng t he t ankerand t r ans por tas s et s .RAFGer many( RAF G) cont r ol l ed t he as s et sdepl oyed t ot he bas esi nGer many.Oper at i onal ai r f i el ds i n Ger many i ncl uded Br uggen, Gut er s l oh,Wi l denr at h,L aar br uch and Gat ow wi t h many ot her nonai r f i el d f aci l i t i es . Mos toft he ai r f i el ds wer e l ocat ed wes toft he Rhei ni n or dert o pr ovi de s ome meas ur e ofpr ot ect i on f r om aWar s aw Pactas s aul t .Gut er s l oh wast he onl yf i ght erbas e eas toft he Rhei nand i twascons i der ed pr obabl e t hat t he Har r i er s bas ed t her e ( GR3 Har r i er st hen bei ng t he oper at i onal t ype)woul dbedepl oyedt ot hef i el di n t he eventofhos t i l i t i es . Gat ow was act ual l yi nBer l i n( t hent ot al l yenci r cl ed byEas tGer many)andwasus edbyt he RAFt oex er ci s ei t sr i ghtt ooper at eover t heci t ywi t ha Chi pmunkbei ng bas ed t her et ocar r youtt hi ss ymbol i cr ol e. Byt heendoft he‘ 80s ,t heRAFhadt wo ai r def ence s quadr ons bas ed at Wi l denr at h oper at i ng t he Phant om F GR2, t wo Har r i er s quadr ons at Gut er s l oh and no l es st han s even T or nado s quadr ons and one J aguar s quadr on s pl i tf ourand f ourbet ween L aar br uchandBr uggen.T heT or nados had r api dl yr epl aced t he Buccaneer and J aguar uni t si n RAF G wi t ht he ex cept i on of I I ( AC) S quadr on, t he r ecceuni tatL aar br ucht hatcont i nued wi t ht he J aguarast he r ecce T or nado GR1A ai r cr af t had an ex t ended devel opmentper i odanddi dnotent er s er vi ce unt i lt he ver y end of t he decade.
Att hi ss t age,t heT or nadoGR1wasqui t enew ands eenast hecut t i ngedge oft echnol ogy.T hePhant omsand Har r i er s ,however ,wer ecomi ngt ot he endoft hei rl i f e.T heHar r i erI Idevel opment ,i npar t ner s hi pwi t hMcDonnel l Dougl as ,wasr es ul t i ng i nt he GR5whi ch s oon evol ved i nt ot he GR7wi t h ni ghtat t ack capabi l i t i es . T he Phant om wast o be r epl aced wi t ht he T or nadoF 3,whi l ei nt hel ongert er m,t heEur opeanF i ght erAi r cr af t( EF A)was pl anned asanagi l eai rdef enceai r cr af t-t heEF A bei ng t hepr oj ectt hat woul devent ual l ybecomet heT yphoon.
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F al loft heBer l i nWal l T hef al loft heBer l i nWal lchanged a l otoft hi ngs .F i r s t ,t het hr eatf r om t he Eas twasr api dl ys eent odi s i nt egr at e ast he S ovi etUni on cr umbl ed,t he War s aw Pact f el l apar t and t he economi es of pr evi ous l y hos t i l e nat i ons , and par t i cul ar l y Rus s i a, s t umbl ed, l eavi ng t he pr evi ous l y s i gni f i cantmi l i t ar yf or cess t r uggl i ngt o s ur vi ve.Al loft hi swasant i ci pat edt o del i ver t he peace di vi dend – a s i gni f i cant r educt i on i n def ence s pendi ngandavai l abi l i t yoff undsf or ot herpr oj ect s .I tal s o br oughti nt o f ocus ,t he ques t i on ofwhys o many UKf or ceswer ei nGer many.Opt i ons f or Change was a gover nment r evi ew i n 1990 t hat pr opos ed t he wi t hdr awaloft heRAFPhant om f l eet and t he hal vi ng of RAF bas es i n Ger many. T hus began t he pr ogr es s i ve dr awdown and ul t i mat er emovalof t heRAFf r om Ger many.Meanwhi l e, t he UKbas ed f or cesal s of aced a r at i onal i s at i on.Whi l et heBuccaneer had al r eady been wi t hdr awn f r om s er vi ce i n RAF G, i t cont i nued t o pr ovi de a mar i t i me s t r i ke r ol e bas ed at L os s i emout h. T he J aguar cont i nuedt ohavet hr eeoper at i onal s quadr ons bas ed atCol t i s hal l ,t he Phant om had t wo s quadr ons at Wat t i s ham and t wo at L euchar s , whi l et heT or nadoF 3wascomi ngi nt o s er vi ce i n l ar ge number s at Coni ngs byandL eemi ng.T heHar r i er s al s ohadanoper at i onal s quadr onat Wi t t er i ngandt heT or nadoGR1f or ce was oper at i ng t wo s quadr ons at Honi ngt on ( one a r ecce s quadr on wi t ht he GR1A havi ng al s o made i t s way t o r epl ace t he J aguar s at L aar br uch pr i ort ot he r undown of RAF G)andt womor eatMar ham.
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Over s easdepl oyment sal s oi ncl udeds mal l erdet achment s .T heRAFhad l ongmai nt ai nedadet achmenti nBel i z ewi t hHar r i er sandPumaspr ovi di ng a pr es ence. T he need f ort hi swasr unni ng outbuti twass t i l ls us t ai ned. Meanwhi l e,a Phant om det achmentwasi n pl ace atMountPl eas ant pr ovi di ng ai rdef ence f ort he F al kl and I s l andss uppor t ed bya Her cul es t ankerand 78 S quadr on oper at i ng Chi nooksand S ea Ki ngs ,t he l at t er havi ng a s econdar ys ear ch and r es cue r ol e. I n Cypr us ,84S quadr on’ s Wes s expr ovi deds i mi l ar . T ens i ons r emai ned hi gh i n Nor t her n I r el and and a pr es ence was mai nt ai nedwi t hWes s exandPumahel i copt er satRAFAl der gr ove.
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( Hear t s ) ,aWes s exHAS 5f r om 84S qni ss eenl i f t i ngof ff r om i t sbas eRAFAkr ot i r i i nCypr usi nNovember1996 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
R3Z D670/ 3A i ss een ur y’ s Ai rF et e 93 ar ki ngs of 1417 F l t
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nt omsof1435F l i ght by t he T or nado F 3 T yphoon on t he ( T om Gi bbons )
T wo uni t s ofVi ct ort anker s wer e at Mar ham wi t h t he T or nados whi l e t ankerand t r ans por tvar i ant soft he VC10wer ebas edatBr i z eNor t onwi t h t heT r i S t arf l eet ,andt heHer cul esf l eet domi nat ed t he f l i ght l i ne atL yneham. T he Andoverl i ghtt r ans por toper at ed i n bot h t r ans por t and el ect r oni c cal i br at i on r ol esand t hr ee s quadr ons ofNi mr odsoper at ed f r om Ki nl os swi t h af ur t hers quadr onatS tMawgan.T he t hr ee Ni mr od R1s oper at ed f r om Wyt on,a bas et hey s har ed wi t ha s i gni f i cantf l eetofCanber r aspr ovi di ng
ar ange ofs er vi cesi ncl udi ng t ar get t ug wor k and el ect r oni c war f ar e t r ai ni ng.T heCanber r asal s opr ovi ded anex cel l entoppor t uni t yf orpi l ot swho had nots ucces s f ul l ymade i tt hr ough f as tj et t r ai ni ng t o gai n addi t i onal ex per i encebef or ebei ngcycl edback i nt ot het r ai ni ng. T heE3Df l eethadmadei ti nt os er vi ce af t ert he l ong and ul t i mat el yabor t i ve ef f or tt o cr eat e an ai r bor ne ear l y war ni ng ver s i on of t he Ni mr od t o r epl acet heanci entS hackl et onf l eet .
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HawkT 1XX167i ss eent ax yi ngt ot her unwayat RAFChi venoron28J ul y1994 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
T ucano T 1Z F 514 on t he f l i ght l i ne at RNAS Cul dr os ei nJ ul y1994 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
As i gni f i canthel i copt erf l eetwasi ns er vi cewi t h Chi nooks and Pumas bas ed i nt he UK and Ger manyal ong wi t h Wes s exand S ea Ki ngsi n t hes ear chand r es cuer ol e.Al lt ypesal s ohad oper at i onalconver s i on uni t sand t he t r ai ni ng f l eetwasex t ens i ve wi t ht he T ucano r epl aci ng t heJ etPr ovos tast hebas i ct r ai nerandal ar ge Hawkf or cef oradvancedt r ai ni ngandweapons t r ai ni ng.T het woT act i calWeaponsUni t shada s econdar yai rdef encer ol ef ort hei rHawkswi t h S i dewi nderandcannonweaponsf i t s .Domi ni e andJ et s t r eam ai r cr af tal s ooper at edi nt r ai ni ng r ol esand t her e wer es t i l ls ome Hunt er si n us e, par t i cul ar l yi ns uppor tofBuccaneeri ns t r ument r at i ngs .
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7S qn Chi nook HC1 Z A711 i ss een on s t at i c di s pl ayatMi l denhal l i n1992 ( RobEdgcumbe)
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HawkerHunt erT 7WV318t ax i espas tt hecont r ol XW229Puma HC1of33S qn i ss een athei ght t oweratMans t oni n1993 ( L i nds ayPeacock) enr out e f r om RAF Cr anwel lt o RAF Bens on ( Kevi nWi l l s )
Z A492/ GST or nado GR1ofNo.20S quadr Ger many,s eenatt heRAFF i nni ngl eyBoBa 1991car r yi ng29GW1mi s s i ons ymbol s ,i ncl ( J ohnHi ggi ns ) Onel es s erknownpar toft heRAFwast hemi s s i l e def encesi toper at ed.Bl oodhoundai rdef ence mi s s i l eswer es t at i oned atanumberofbas esi n t heUKandGer manyt os uppor tt heai rdef ence pr ogr amme. Bl oodhound was an agei ng s ys t em andi t swi t hdr awal asi tbecameobs ol et e di d notr es ul ti na r epl acementpr ogr amme as t her equi r ementwasnol ongers eenasr el evant .
Gul fWar1 No s ooner was t he peace di vi dend bei ng cont empl at edt hant heUKf oundi t s el fi nawar . T hei nvas i onofKuwai tbyI r aqif or cesi nAugus t 1990r es ul t ed i na t hr eatagai ns tS audiAr abi a andades i r ef orKuwai tt obel i ber at ed.Al ar ge coal i t i onoff or ceswasr api dl yas s embl ed f r om acr os st hegl obe.T heRAFwass wi f t l ys entt ot he r egi on and pr ogr es s i vel ybui l tup a s ubs t ant i al f or cei nS audi Ar abi a,Bahr ai nandOman. T he T or nado f l eetwasheavi l y commi t t ed t o whatwasknownasOper at i onGRANBYwi t ht he GR1/ GR1A f l eet bei ng depl oyed acr os st he r egi on. T he F 3f l eetwas al s o depl oyed t o pr ovi deai rdef ence.J aguarai r cr af twer es ent t of l yt act i cals t r i kemi s s i onsandt heBuccaneer f or ce al s o made an appear ance s i nce t hey wer et he onl y capabi l i t yi ni t i al l y avai l abl ef or l as er des i gnat i on. L as er des i gnat i on was r equi r edwhenmedi um l evel bombi ngbecame t he nor m af t ert he i ni t i alni ght soft he conf l i ct , when l ow l evelat t acksbecame t he s t andar d del i ver y met hod. T ankerand mar i t i me pat r ol as s et swer eal s oheavi l yus edaswer ehel i copt er f or ces .
XZ 364,backhome atRAFCol t i s hal laf t er hadconcl uded ( L i nds ayPeacock)
Asi st hecas ewi t hconf l i ct ,manymodi f i cat i ons wer er api dl y embodi ed t o meeti mmedi at e needs .T heJ aguarf or cequi ckl yr ecei vedover wi ng S i dewi nder mount s , s i mpl e s t eal t h modi f i cat i onswer e empl oyed acr os st he f l eet s and t heT or nado f l eets t ar t ed t os el f des i gnat e i t sl as ergui ded bombsus i ng t wodevel opment T I AL Dpods .
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" Pi nky"T r i s t arKC1Z D951f r om 216S qni ss eenatRAFF ai r f or di nJ ul y 1991 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
ert he J aguar ’ si nvol vement
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r oundi nBahr ai ni nApr i l 1991. eout( L i nds ayPeacock)
101 S qn VC10 Z A140 had acqui r ed t he name “T he Empi r eS t r i kes Back”and43mi s s i onmar ksbyAugus t1991 ( L i nds ayPeacock)
T he conf l i ctwasul t i mat el ys ucces s f ul l y concl uded and many l es s ons wer e l ear ned. S ome of t hes e wer e t aken f or war d t o s uppor t modi f i cat i onst ot heai r cr af t .T hes ewoul dr es ul ti nt heMi dL i f eUpdat et o t heT or nadof l eetl eadi ngt ot heGR4and t hedevel opmentoft heGR3 ver s i on oft he J aguar .I tal s os i gni f i cant l yi ncr eas ed t he ut i l i s at i on of ai r cr af tand has t ened t he end ofl i f ef ors ome t ypes ,mos tnot abl yt he Vi ct ort anker swhi chus edupai r f r amel i f eheavi l ydur i ngt heconf l i ct . T he end ofGr anbyr es ul t ed i na maj or i t yofai r cr af tr et ur ni ng t ot he UK andGer many.However ,as i gni f i cantf or cewasr equi r edt oenf or cet he nof l yz oneses t abl i s hedi nt henor t hands out hofI r aqt opr ot ectt heKur ds andt heMar s hAr abst hathadbeenper s ecut edunderS addam Hus s ei n. T hes et wo mi s s i onswer e cal l ed Nor t her n Wat ch and S out her n Wat ch. S quadr onsr ot at ed outf r om Eur opet ounder t aket hes er ol esf ors ever al year s .
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Above -T he C17,oper at ed by 99 S qn,has pr ovent obea hugel ycapabl eai r cr af tf ort he RAF ( Kar lDr age) L ef t-S eenatOdi ham i nAugus t1995i st hi s7S qn Chi nook Z D574 i n a whi t e UN col ours cheme ( Kevi nWi l l s )
T he RAF ' sMer l i n hel i copt erf l eethass er ved i n Har r i erGR7 Z D406/ WB i n an ART F gr ey pai nt I r aq and Af ghani s t an;i n pr epar at i on f orOp s cheme t ax yi ng atRAFChi venori n May1995 HERRI CK,t he Mer l i nF or ce s pentt i me atNAFEl ( Kevi nWi l l s ) Cent r o t o gai n ex per i ence i n condi t i ons r epr es ent at i veofAf ghani s t an ( PaulDunn)
Opt i onsf orChange wast he nex ti na s er i esof r evi ews of def ence s pendi ng t hat had s i gni f i canti mpact son t he s t r uct ur e off or ces . 1994 br oughtF r ontL i ne F i r s t .T hi si ncl uded a f ur t herr educt i on i n RAFbas esbutdi di ncl ude t he appr ovaloft he Mi dL i f e Updat et ot he T or nado GR1 f l eetwhi ch r es ul t ed i nt he GR4 devel opment . 1998 br ought t he S t r at egi c Def ence Revi ew. T hi sr emoved a f ur t hert wo f r ont l i ne s quadr ons but s uppor t ed t he acqui s i t i onoft heEur of i ght erT yphoon. I tal s obr oughtaboutt heamal gamat i onoft he RAF ’ sHar r i erf or ce and t he RoyalNavy’ sS ea Har r i er f or ce i nt o J oi nt F or ce Har r i er . T hi s combi nedt heRoyal NavyandRAFai r cr ewsi nt o a gr adual l y mor ei nt egr at ed oper at i on whi ch ul t i mat el y al l owed t he wi t hdr awaloft he S ea Har r i erwi t houtr emovi ng t heF l eetAi rAr mf r om f as tj et oper at i ons . An i ncr eas e i n ai r l i f t
capaci t ywasi dent i f i edwhi chl edt ot hel eas i ng off ourC17 Gl obemas t erI I Iai r cr af t . T hes e l eas esul t i mat el y wer et ur ned i nt o pur chas es wi t ht hef l eetgr adual l yex pandi ngt oi t scur r ent s evenai r cr af t .
New T heat r esofConf l i ct T he pr ogr es s i ve r educt i oni nf or ce s i z esdi d not r ef l ectar educt i oni nt heneedf ordepl oyment . T he UK engaged i n a numberofoper at i ons ar oundwi t ht hewor l d.As i def r om t heongoi ng oper at i onsr el at ed t oI r aq,Bos ni a,Kos ovo and S i er r aL eoneal lr equi r ed depl oymentoff or ces , whi l s t nat ur al di s as t er s al s o needed t he capabi l i t i est he RAF coul d br i ng t o as s i s tt he af f ect ed peopl es . Wi t hal ar ge numberof over s easr equi r ement sand r educed s quadr on count s , t he f r equency and l engt h of depl oyment per i ods f or i ndi vi dual cr ews s ubs t ant i al l yi ncr eas ed. Wi t h t hi s came a gr eat er concer n r egar di ng r et ent i on of per s onnel s i ncemanyci vi l i anopt i onsex i s t edf or wel lt r ai nedper s onnelwhomi ghtbel ooki ngf or al es sdi s r upt i ve l i f es t yl e. L os i ng ex per i enced per s onneldur i ng a t i me oft r ans i t i on pl aced ex t r apr es s ur eont her emai ni ngpeopl e.
T hencamet heat t acksofS ept ember11t h2001. I twasnotl ongbef or et heUKwass uppor t i nga coal i t i onoff or cesengagedi nAf ghani s t ani nan ef f or tt o at t ackAlQaeda’ sl eader s hi p and t o dr i ve t he T al i ban outofpower . T hi si s an oper at i on t hati s yett o be concl uded and whi chhasbeenadef i ni ngpar tofoper at i onsf or t he RAF f orovera decade. Meanwhi l e,a s mal l ercoal i t i ont henengaged i na conf l i cti n I r aq whi ch r es ul t ed i nS addam Hus s ei nf al l i ng f r om power .T hi sconf l i ctal s ol as t edmanyyear s and t heRAFwasoper at i ng ont wo f r ont s .T he I r aq depl oyment s ul t i mat el y ended and a wi t hdr awalf r om Af ghani s t an i s pl anned f or 2014.
Aswi t ht hei nt egr at i onofHar r i eroper at i ons ,t he S t r at egi cDef enceRevi ew l edt ot hecr eat i onof J oi ntHel i copt erCommand t o br i ng t oget her t hebat t l ef i el ds uppor thel i copt eroper at i onsof al lt hr ees er vi ces .T hi ss t r uct ur econt i nuest ot hi s daywi t ht hes er vi cess t i l lhavi ngcont r oloft hei r i ndi vi dualt ypesbutcommi t t i ng t hem t ot he Command. Mai n-A617S qnT or nadoGR4i ss eenoverS cot l andi nS ept ember2003 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
S ent
T hes econf l i ct spl acedanaddi t i onal s t r ai nont heex i s t i ngf l eet sbutal s o r es ul t edi nnew capabi l i t i esbei ngbr oughtt ot hef or e.T hei nt r oduct i on ofanI S T ARcapabi l i t ywi t ht heBombar di erGl obal Ex pr es s bas edS ent i nel f l eetwasal r eadypl annedbutt heybecameaver ypower f ul as s eti nt he ongoi ng conf l i ct s . Addi t i onal l y,t he RAF moved i nt o t he us e of unmanned ai r cr af t ,acqui r i ng Reaperuni t sf r om t he Uni t ed S t at esand oper at i ng t hem wi t h cr ewsi ni t i al l yatCr eech AF Band l at t er l yatRAF Waddi ngt on,wi t ht heai r cr af tbei ngbas edi nAf ghani s t an. Ot hernew t ypeshave j oi ned t he i nvent or y. T he wi t hdr awaloft he J et s t r eam mul t i engi net r ai ner sl edt ot heacqui s i t i onofBeechKi ngAi r s t ocar r youtt hatr ol e.T heDomi ni eswer ewi t hdr awn,wi t hmuchoft he t r ai ni ngaf f or ded byt het yper epl aced bys ynt het i cai ds .T heHawkT 1 f l eethasbeenpr ogr es s i vel ydowns i z edandt henew HawkT 2acqui r ed t oevent ual l yr epl acet hem ( wi t ht heex cept i onoft heRedAr r owswhi ch wi l l ,pr es umabl y,makeus eoft her emai ni ngT 1ai r f r amesf orasl ongas pos s i bl e) .I ti sani nt er es t i ng s ummar yofchange t hatt he or i gi nalRAF Hawkf l eetwas176T 1ai r cr af tandt hes ear ebei ngr epl acedby28T 2s !
Ri ght - 45( R) S q Cr anwel lpr i mar i l y f ormul t i engi necr her e over t h count r ys i de s hor t l y ( Kar lDr age)
L ef t-HawkT 2ofI V l ow l evel s or t i e near by home ba one of28ex ampl byt heRAF ( Gl enn
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T hehel i copt erf l eethasbeenbol s t er edwi t ht he acqui s i t i on off ur t herChi nooks( i ncl udi ng t he i ni t i al l y pr obl emat i c ef f or tata S peci alF or ces ver s i on) and t he i nt r oduct i on of t he Agus t aWes t l and Mer l i n. T he Puma f l eeti sal s o under goi nganupgr adet oHC2s t andar datt he t i meofwr i t i ng.T heMer l i nf l eetpr ovedt obes o us ef ult hataddi t i onalai r f r ameswer es our ced f r om Denmar k. However ,i tnow appear st hat t he Mer l i nswi l lbe handed overt ot he Royal Navyt or epl ace t he S ea Ki ngst hatoper at ei n t heCommandor ol e.
T het ankerf l eethasbeenagei ngaswel l .Even t heconver s i onoft het r ans por tVC10st ot anker s wasnotenoughandt heywer eul t i mat el ygoi ng t obel i f eex pi r ed.S i mi l ar l yt heT r i S t ar sar es ome oft hef ew r emai ni ngi ns er vi cewor l dwi de.Bot h wi l ls oon be gone, r epl aced by Ai r bus A330bas edt ankert r ans por t soper at edundera pr i vat ef i nancei ni t i at i ve.T hi swi l l bet hef i r s tt i me t he RAFhasoper at ed ai r cr af tast anker st hat wer ebui l tf ort hatt as k. Mai n -VC10C1KXV105banksawayf r om t he camer a over s out hwes t Engl and on 9 November2007 s por t i ng s peci almar ki ngst o commemor at et he 90t hanni ver s ar yofNo.101 S quadr on ( Kevi nWi l l s )
Above-Z J 954i ss eenoutandaboutonS al i s bur y Pl ai naf t erunder goi ng t hePuma HC2upgr ade ( I anHar di ng)
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Above-T heVi cker sVC10hasbeenr epl acedby t he Voyager ,a modi f i ed ver s i on oft he Ai r bus A330200 capabl e of ai r t oai r r ef uel l i ng ( Kar lDr age)
Above -216S qnT r i s t arZ D953,i ss eenwi t hf our T or nadosf r om RAF Ger many i nt r ai lovert he Nor t hAt l ant i ci n1999 ( Kevi nWi l l s )
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T r ans por tcapabi l i t i esar e al s ot o be enhanced wi t ht he ar r i valoft he Ai r busA400M. Whi l et he pr ogr amme hass uf f er ed del ays ,i ti snow s t ar t i ngt oent ers er vi cewi t ht hepar t nercount r i esandpr omi s est obr i ng as ubs t ant i alai r l i f tcapabi l i t ywi t hs peed and r angecapabi l i t i est hats i t wel lbet ween t he C130Jf l eetand t he C17. T he J modelHer cul es s uppl ement ed t heor i gi nalC130Kai r cr af tpur chas ed i nt he1960s .T he l as toft he l at t ervar i anti sdue outofs er vi ce on31Oct oberl eavi ng a capabi l i t ygapunt i l t heA400Msar r i ve.
Ri ght-T he C17i s f r om ver y s hor evi denced by t h get t i ng ai r bor ne f as phal thavi ngdel MH53hel i copt ert o ( Kar lDr age)
L ef t& t opl ef t-T ac and par celoft he byt heRAF ’ sC130 J model( t op l ef t cont i nue t o be o f or es eeabl e f ut ur e t i me ( l ef t-Kevi nW wi t ht hatvar i ants e s er vi ceatt heend
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i sabl et o oper at e or t r unways , as t hi ss hot of one f r om t he 3890f tof el i ver edanex US AF rt ot heRAFMus eum
act i calf l yi ng i spar t e wor kcar r i ed out 30cr ews .Whi l et he f t-Kar lDr age)wi l l oper at ed f ort he ur e, t he Kmodel ’ s Wi l l s )i sal lbutup, s ett opas sf r om RAF dofOct ober .
Har r i erGR7Z D379 S cot l andenr out e
T he mos tr ecentr evi ew ofUKar med f or ceswast he S t r at egi c Def ence and S ecur i t yRevi ew of2010. T hi shad a dr amat i ci mpacton t he RAF . Whi l et he acqui s i t i on pr ogr ammes des cr i bed above cont i nued,t wo maj orcapabi l i t i eswer el os t .T he Har r i erf or ce wass cr apped wi t ht he s quadr onsbei ngr undownver yr api dl yandt heai r cr af ts ol dt ot heUni t ed S t at esf ors par es .Al s o,t heNi mr odf l eetwass cr apped.T her epl acement ofNi mr od had been s el ect ed i nt he 1990swi t h a maj orr ebui l d and upgr adeofex i s t i ngai r f r amest hechos encour s e.T hepr ogr ammewasa budgetands chedul eni ght mar e.Whet heri twasf i nal l yt ur ni ngacor ner ornotwi l lbedebat ed f oryear st ocome,butt heex i s t i ng f l eetand t he r ebui l tai r cr af twer eal ls cr apped l eavi ng t heUKwi t hnomar i t i mepat r ol ai r cr af t .T heR1f l eetwasal s ot obewi t hdr awnbut ,i nt hi scas e,t heyar e t os hor t l yber epl acedwi t hr ebui l tRC135ai r cr af t .
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AT or nadoGR4oft hef amous‘ Dambus t er s ’ ,No ai r bor nef r om RAFL os s i emout hatt hes t ar tofa WeaponsI ns t r uct or s ’( CQWI )cour s emi s s i oni n2
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F l tL tSt eveKenwor t hy T he mant as ked wi t hbr i ngi ng t he Har r i erback t hatyearwasF l tL tS t eve Kenwor t hy( now S qn L drS t eve Kenwor t hy) ,t hen an i ns t r uct orwi t h 4( R)S quadr onatRAFWi t t er i ng,t he uni twhi ch had been r es pons i bl ef ort he j ob oft r ai ni ng pi l ot st of l y,oper at eandevent ual l ymas t erwhat r emai ns t o t hi s day a uni que and hugel y compl expi eceoft echnol ogy. Imetwi t hS t eve atDuns f ol d’ spopul ar‘ Wi ngs and Wheel s ’event ,wher e we woul ds i tdown and conduct t hi s , never bef or e publ i s hed, i nt er vi ew.Aswenow commemor at et heRoyal Ai rF or ce’ sbi r t hday,i ts eemed anappr opr i at e t i met obr i ngi tt oyoui nf ul l ,f eat ur i ngasi tdoes anai r cr af tt hatwi l lal waysbe one oft he mos t memor abl e and s ucces s f ult o have s er ved dur i ngt hos e95year s . S t eve’ sper f or mancesatai r s howsacr os st heUK andEur opet ookt hef or m ofar ol edemo,nota f ul l aer obat i cdi s pl aybutonewhi chmadegood us eoft heHar r i er ’ sbes t knownabi l i t y,hover i ng, ofcour s e.Wi t ha s hor tt akeof f ,f as tpas s ,t i ght noz z l ebor net ur nandaver t i call andi ngt hr own i nf orgood meas ur e,t he demo s howed t he Har r i erof fi never ys t ageoff l i ght .
Above -I t ’ shar dt o bel i eve t hatt he s cene bel ow t r ans f or medi nt ot hi swi t hi nanhourors o! Duns f ol dWi ngs& Wheel s2010 ( Gar et hSt r i nger )
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“Att heend ofl as tyear( 2009)t hepos s i bi l i t yt hatwemi ghtbeabl et o pr ovi dear ol edemowasbei ngt al kedaboutont heS quadr on,andt he bos sas kedf orvol unt eer s , ”s aysS t eve. “Wheni twasconf i r medatt heendofJ anuar yt hatt hedemowoul dgo aheadt hi ss eas on,t heyt ookal ookatt hevol unt eer sandaf ew weeks l at eri twasannounced t hatI ’ d gott hej ob,whi chwasobvi ous l ygr eat newsf orme.Af t erwor ki ngup t hedi s pl ayIgotmyPDA ( Publ i cDi s pl ay Aut hor i s at i on)i nMayandf r om t hatpoi ntoni tal ls eemedver yr ealasI hadt hatpi eceofpaperwi t has i gnat ur eoni t ,gi vi ngmeper mi s s i ont o per f or mf ort hegener al publ i c. ”
Havi ng di s pl ayed t he Hawk whi l e an i ns t r uct oratRAFVal l eyi n 2003,S t eve i sno newcomert ot hewor l dofai r s hows ,andt he r ol e ofdi s pl ayf l yi ng i sone t hathe bel i eves t r ul y r epr es ent s s omet hi ng of gr eat s i gni f i cance f ort hos el ucky enough t o be i nvol ved. “I nmanywaysi ti st hepi nnacl eofwhatyou doasapi l oti nyourpar t i cul arai r cr af t .T her e’ s compet i t i ont odoi t ,whi chmeansi ti squi t e an accol ade when you ar es el ect ed,and t hewor kupf ort henew s eas oni samaz i ngas you ar e outt her e doi ng s omet hi ng t hatno oneel s ei sdoi ng,ori sevenal l owedt odo. ” Whatmade t he 2010 s eas on al lt he mor e s peci alf orS t eve wast he f actt hathe was br i ngi ngt heHar r i erbackt ot hedi s pl ayci r cui t f ort hef i r s tt i mei nf ouryear s ,aper i odwhi ch had s een J oi ntF or ce Har r i ers er vi ng wi t h gr eat di s t i nct i on i n Af ghani s t an. T hi s was s omet hi ng whi ch added a l i t t l e ex t r a pr es s ur e,es peci al l ywhenyourdi s pl aymount i ss uchahugecr owdf avour i t e. “I ti scer t ai nl ys omet hi ngIwasver ycons ci ous of , ” he agr ees , “but maybe I act ual l y under es t i mat ed s l i ght l yj us thow popul art he ai r cr af ti s ;i tr eal l yi sahugef avour i t e! ”
Mai n-Per f ectcondi t i onsf ora Har r i er di s pl ay:cr ys t alcl earbl ue s ki es ,l ovel y l ow s unand nott oohot .S t evet wi s t s t he Har r i er ’ s noz z l es back and t r ans i t i ons i nt o convent i onal wi ngbor nef l i ght( Kar lDr age) F arr i ght-S t eve cr aneshi sneck t o check out t he T ws t er Duo’ s per f or mance bef or e i t ’ s hi s t ur n ( Gar et hSt r i nger ) Ri ght-A head on vi ew oft he hover dur i ng t he 2010 RI AT di s pl ay ( RobEdgcumbe)
S t eve’ sf i r s tdi s pl ayoft hes eas onwasawayf r om t heUK,atS kyr ds t r upi n Denmar k,and,af t erl andi ngands hut t i ngdown,hi scol l eaguesconf i r med t hati thadbeent heonl yt i medur i ngt heday’ sf l yi ngwhenpr et t ymuch ever yonehads t oppedt owat ch;i t ’ ss omet hi ngt hathewoul ds oonhave t ogetus edt o. “I ’ dl i ket ot hi nki t ’ sbecaus eofme, ”hel aughs , “butofcour s ei ti sbecaus e i ti st heHar r i er ;i t ’ sact ual l ygotnot hi ngt odowi t ht hef actt hatI ’ mf l yi ng i t ! ” I nt r ut hi t ’ spr obabl ypar t l yduet ot hef actt hatt heHar r i eri ss ol oudt hat t her ei sact ual l yl i t t l e poi nti nevent r yi ng t o do anyt hi ng el s e whent he ai r cr af ti sper f or mi ng,buti tcer t ai nl yr ei nf or cest heendur i ngpopul ar i t yof t heaer opl aneandt hepr i dei nwhi chi ti shel dasaBr i t i s hdes i gn.
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T r avel l i ngatqui t eal i ck,S t evel oadss omeG ont ot hewi ngsandmanagest oex t r acts omemoi s t ur ef r o ai r ,r es ul t i ngi nas t r eamerandt hebegi nni ngsofi t sowns mal l cl oud ( Kar lDr age)
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Al ongwi t ht hehover ,t heHar r i er sot hermos tf amouspar t ypi ecei st hebow bef or et he cr owd,ass eenher eatDuns f ol d( Kar lDr age)
Whi l ei t shover i ngcapabi l i t i esmaket heHar r i eruni queamongf i x edwi ngai r cr af t , t hi sal s omeanst hati tcal l sf ora s peci als etofs ki l l sf r om t hos ewhof l yi t ,and t hi s appl i es ,ofcour s e,t odi s pl ayf l yi ngj us tasmuchasi tdoest odayt odayoper at i ons . Wi t hal ar gepor t i onofS t eve’ sr out i nes etas i det odemons t r at i ngt hos ecapabi l i t i es , i tmakesf orahect i ct enmi nut esors of ort hedi s pl aypi l ot . “S omeofi ti sver yi nt ens et hat ’ sf ors ur e, ”heagr ees .“Whi l ea nonaer obat i cr ol e demomeansl es swor kup,l es scur r encyi s s uesandl es si mpactont hes quadr on,i t doesmeanal otofhover i ng,andt hi shasani mpactf ormeast hepi l ot . “I nt er msoft hewi ngoverandf as tpas s ,t hes ear er eal l ynomor edi f f i cul tt hant hey wer ewhenIdi s pl ayedt heHawk,butt heot hers ect i onscanbemas s i vel yaf f ect ed byt hewi ndcondi t i ons . “I fyou ar ef l yi ng at400knot s ,t hen 20knot sofwi nd does n’ tmake much ofa di f f er ence. Buti fyouar ehover i ng, ort r yi ngt ogobackwar dsors i deways , t heni thas as i gni f i canti mpact .Added t ot hat ,hotweat hermeansl es st hr us t ,s o Ihave t o j uggl et heper f or mancet omakes ur eIdon’ tcookt heengi ne! ”
Above - T he l i g Har r i er ’ ss ubs t ant i a noz z l es come f o ai r cr af t pow ( Gar et hSt r i nger )
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T he ot hermai nf act ori sf uel ,asS t eve’ sHar r i erneedst ot ake of fwi t h ex act l yt he cor r ectl oad t o al l ow t he hover i ng por t i onoft he di s pl ayt o wor kpr oper l y. T her ej us ti s n’ tt hef l ex i bi l i t yt oj uggl ef ueland per f or mance,s uchasyou mi ghtf i ndwi t ht hel i kesofT ucanoorHawk,f orex ampl e,whi chmi ghtbe happys i t t i ngi nahol df ort enmi nut es ,wai t i ngt os t ar tt hei rdi s pl ay.Addt o t hatt he need t o dealwi t ht he af or ement i oned wi nd condi t i onsand i t s ounds l i ke a mul t i t as ki ng ex er ci s e ofepi c pr opor t i ons ,des pi t et he appar entcal m( ot hert hant henoi s e! )t heHar r i erex udesasi thover sand bowsi nf r ontofanador i ngcr owd.
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“Ican be pr et t ybus yi nt her e,es peci al l yi fi t ’ s wi ndy. T her e’ s no doubt t hat i t ’ s eas i er i n r el at i vel ycal m condi t i onsbut ,ei t herway,t her e i ss t i l la l otgoi ng onasIj uggl et he power ,t he cont r ol col umnandt henoz z l es . ” He’ sal s o been keptbus y on t he gr ound,f or S t eve and hi s4( R)S quadr on col l eagueshave t ot al l y embr aced t he publ i cr el at i onss i de of t hi ngs ; vi t al l yi mpor t ant when i t comes t o maki nganRAFdi s pl ayanal l r ounds ucces s . “I ’ ve r eal l y enj oyed t hatpar tofi t .When I
“I ’ ve r eal l y enj oyed t hatpar tofi t .When I di s pl ayedt heHawk,wewer en’ tr eal l ys etupt o doi tpr oper l y,buti t ’ sbeenwel lor gani s ed and s uppor t edt hi ss eas on.We’ vegott wot eamsof engi neer swhodr i vet ot heai r s howsi nt hevans and we’ vegota por t abl e‘ s hop’wi t hl oadsof f r eebi es ,s ot heoppor t uni t i est omeett hepubl i c andt ot el l t hem aboutt heHar r i erandt heRoyal Ai rF or cehavebeenagr eats ucces s . “Ever yone I ’ ve met s eems amaz ed by t he ai r cr af tand i tmakesme f eelpr oud t o be a Har r i erpi l oti nal l hones t y. ”
RAFWaddi ngt onI nt er nat i onal Ai r s how wi t hS t eve’ smai nj etands par et aki ngcent r es t age ( Kar lDr age)
Whi l et heHar r i eri t s el f ,i ni t sGR9gui s e,i sa ver y di f f er ent beas tt o t hat whi ch ent er ed RAF s er vi ce i n 1969,t he hear toft he ai r cr af t-i t s i ncr edi bl eRol l sRoycePegas usengi neand t he gener alconceptt hatmakesi tal lwor k-have r emai ned cons i s t ent . What has changed, however ,ar et het echnol ogi caldevel opment s , t hewayt heai r cr af ti sbui l tandi t scapabi l i t i es– al lofwhi ch ar e ver y much moder n day and cut t i ngedge. “T he bas i ci dea i sact ual l yt he s ame ast he or i gi nalai r cr af t ,t heKes t r elP. 1127.T hehandl i ng
i sdi f f er ent ,aswenow haves t abi l i s at i ons ys t ems t ohel pusf l yi t ,buts t i l l ,t heai r cr af tdoes n’ thave f l ybywi r el i ke t he T yphoon,f orex ampl e,s oi f you geti twr ong you know abouti tpr et t y qui ckl y,es peci al l yi nt heVS T OL( Ver t i cal/S hor t T akeOf fandL andi ng)envi r onment . “T he avi oni cs ar e compl et el y di f f er ent f r om t hos ei nt heear l i erai r cr af t ,s uchast heGR1and GR3.I t ’ sver y accur at e,ver y advanced and ver y capabl e – phenomenal act ual l y. I t per f or med f l awl es s l y i n Af ghani s t an and I woul dn’ twantt of l yanyt hi ngel s e. ”
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S i ngl es eat ,s i ngl eengi ne,gr oundat t ack–i t ’ sal waysbeenoneofmi l i t ar y avi at i on’ smos tdemandi ng r ol esand,wi t ht he addi t i on ofVS T OL ,t he Har r i err emai nsoneoft hemos tchal l engi ngf ort hepi l oti nt hecockpi t .As ani ns t r uct oront heHar r i erF or ce,i t ’ ss omet hi ngS t evei swel l awar eof . “Wedoonl yt akepi l ot sf r om t het op oft hef l yi ng t r ai ni ng s ys t em.I t ’ sa compl i cat edai r cr af tt of l yandt hepi l otneedsgr eatment al capaci t yt o beabl et odot hatandoper at eal lt hes ys t emsatt hes amet i me.I nmy opi ni on,t he Har r i erOCU ( Oper at i onalConver s i on Uni t )i sundoubt edl y t hehar des tcour s ei nt hewhol eRoyal Ai rF or ceandt her ei snoguar ant ee t hatal lt hepi l ot sl uckyenought o geta s l otont hecour s ewi l lact ual l y maket hegr adeandcompl et ei t . ”
Ri ght-L ooki ng he mas s i ve i nt akes r emar kabl e Rol l s engi ne as yet pr oductf l i esover h Hunt er( Kar lDr age
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headon down t he r equi r ed by t he l l s Royce Pegas us anot her Hawker r head -t hi st i me a ge)
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T her e wer e no s uchi s s uesf orS t eve ashe compl et ed a s ucces s f uland hugel ypopul ars eas onwhi chbr oughtt heHar r i erbackt ot hemas s esf or t hef i r s tt i mei nf ouryear s .T hemanyt hous andsofpeopl ewhowat ched hi sdemo,andmethi m andhi scol l eagues ,cer t ai nl yenj oyedi t ,andhe andt het eam di dt oo. “RI ATwasa bi ghi ghl i ghtf orme,es peci al l yasIwont het r ophyf orbes t i ndi vi dualdi s pl ay!Over al lt hough I ’ ve enj oyed ever ys i ngl e one,and eachweekendhasbeengr eatwi t hal ovel yr es pons ef r om t hecr owd.I ’ d doi tal l agai ngi vent hechance. ”
F l tL tS t eveKenwor t hys i t si nt hehoveri nZ D437/ 49j us tt wodaysbef or et hes uns et ont heHar r i er ’ sl engt hyUKmi l i t ar ycar eer ,Al l i magest hi ss pr eadKar lDr age.
On15December2010,l i t t l emor et hant hr eemont hsaf t ert hi si nt er vi ew wasconduct ed,F l tL tS t eve Kenwor t hywasoneof16pi l ot s( pl usanumberofpas s enger si nt wos eatT 12s )t ot akepar ti nwhat wass adl yabadl yweat her af f ect eds er i esoff l ypas t st omar kt hef i nal f l i ght soft het ypei nUKMOD S er vi ce.S t eve’ sr i def ort hats adoccas i onwasZ D467/ 57A.
Asweknow now,butS t evecoul dn’ thaveevens us pect edt hen,t hatwasan oppor t uni t yt hatwoul dnevermat er i al i s e.J us taf ew mont hsl at ert heai r cr af t wasgone,wi t ha f i nalf l our i s h atRAFCot t es mor et hati ncl uded a 16s hi p f or mat i on.S t evewaspar toft hatf or mat i on,andt hati ss ur el yaneventhewi l l neverf or get ,asnoneofuswi l l everf or gett heHar r i er .
F as tf or war dt ot hepr es entdayand,f ol l owi ngagr oundt our ,St evewi l l s ooncommencet r ai ni ngt of l yt heEur of i ght erT yphoon. Gar et hSt r i ngerwoul dl i ket ot hankSqnL drSt eveKenwor t hy.
RoyalAi rF or ce Ce
Ast heRoyalAi rF or cecel ebr at esi t s95t hanni ver s ar y,Chr i sWoodt a hi s t or yandpr evi ouscel ebr at i ons ,andt akesacl os el ookatt he75t byHerMaj es t yt heQueenatRAFMar ham on1Apr i l 1993.
el ebr at i ons B
r i t ai n’ sRoyalAi rF or ce i st he wor l d’ sol des t i ndependentai rf or ce and wasf or med on1 Apr i l1918,byt heamal gamat i onoft heRoyal F l yi ngCor ps( abr anchoft heAr my)andt heRoyal NavalAi rS er vi ce.T he “F at heroft he RoyalAi r F or ce”Maj orGener alS i rHughT r enchar d wast he f i r s tChi efoft heAi rS t af fands er vedi nt hi sr ol ef r om i t si ncept i onunt i l 1930,al bei twi t haf i vemont hgap i n 1918.Att he end oft he warhe had ar ound 23, 000 ai r cr af ti n over200 s quadr onsand mor e t han300, 000per s onnel underhi scommand. However ,t hes er vi ce’ sf i r s tpos twarchal l engewas i t sver ys ur vi valast he Pr i me Mi ni s t er ,Davi dL l oyd Geor ge,encour agedbyt heAr myandNavy,had i nt ended t o abol i s ht he Ai r Mi ni s t r y af t er t he ar mi s t i ce. Des pi t e mas s i ve def ence cut s ( a r ecur r i ngt hemeovert hel as t95year s ! )whi chs aw t he RAF s hr i nk over18 mont hst oat ent h ofi t s f or mers t r engt h,i tdi ds ur vi ve,and T r enchar ds et aboutl ayi ng t he f oundat i ons f ori t sl ong t er m s ecur i t y.Hi spl ansi ncl udedt hei ncept i onoft heRAF ( Cadet ) Col l ege at Cr anwel l ,t he RAF Ai r cr af t Appr ent i ce S cheme atNo 1S choolofT echni cal T r ai ni ng atHal t on and t he RAFS t af fCol l ege at Andover .L at eronheover s aw t hef or mat i onoft he Aux i l i ar y Ai rF or ce and t he f i r s t Uni ver s i t y Ai r S quadr ons . T hef i r s tRoyalRevi ew washel di nJ ul y1935atRAF Mi l denhal li nS uf f ol kt ocel ebr at eKi ng Geor geV’ s S i l verJ ubi l ee.S ome356ai r cr af t ,al lbi pl anes ,wer e on s t at i c di s pl aywhi l s ta f l ypas twashel d atRAF Dux f or d.T he t hr eatf r om an emer gi ng Ger many wasonl yj us tbei ngr ecogni s ed and t hef i r s toft he RAF snew monopl anef i ght er s ,t heS pi t f i r eandt he Hur r i cane,hadnotyetf l own. By t he t i me oft he RAF ’ sS i l verJ ubi l ee i twas s omewhatpr eoccupi edwi t ht hedayj obasi twas 1943,s onotmuchchancef oracel ebr at i on!
Cr owncopyr i ght
t akesal ookbackati t sear l y 5t hanni ver s ar yRoyalRevi ew
Pr obabl yt he mos ti mpr es s i ve RoyalRevi ew was hel di n 1953 atRAF Odi ham t o cel ebr at et he Queen’ scor onat i on.T he f l ypas tcompr i s ed 640 ai r cr af tandt ook27mi nut est opas sovert heRoyal s t and,whi l s tanot her300ai r cr af twer edi s pl ayedon t hegr ound.
F ur t herRoyalRevi ewsoccur r edatRAFAbi ngdonon14J une1968f ort he s er vi ce’ s50t hAnni ver s ar yandatRAFF i nni ngl eyonF r i day,29J ul y1977f or t heQueen’ sS i l verJ ubi l ee.Ex ampl esf oral lt het ypesofai r cr af ti ns er vi ce wer eondi s pl ay,wi t hvi r t ual l yever ys quadr onr epr es ent ed,and asus ual t her e wasa l ar ge f l ypas t .T hi seventf eat ur ed par t i ci pat i onf r om s ever al Commonweal t h ai rf or cesand a publ i c ai r s how t he f ol l owi ng day,t he hi ghl i ghtofwhi chwasundoubt edl yt he RoyalAus t r al i anAi rF or ce F 111 doi ngi t sf amousdumpandbur n.Onepr es umest hatHerMaj es t ywasnot t r eat ed t ot hats pect acl e!T hes i mul at ed s cr ambl ebyf ourAvr oVul cans cameacl os es econdi nt er msofi mpr es s i venes s .
Above -T or nado was one oft he Queen’ s S i l ver ( L i nds ayPeacock)
Ri ght-Al lt he RA s quadr onbadges ; f r om No.47 S qu oper at es t hes e ( Chr i sWood)
L ef t-T her ewer ea f r om Commonw i ncl udi ng t hi sC13 No. 40 S quadr on ( Chr i sWood)
T op l ef t-S t i l li nus e Whi r l wi ndHAR10,t 202S quadr on ( Ch
o pr ot ot ype XZ 630 e hi ghl i ght s oft he r J ubi l ee event k)
RAF ai r cr af tcar r i ed s ;t hi sHer cul esC1i s quadr on whi ch s t i l l e ai r cr af t t oday
anumberofai r cr af t weal t h count r i es , 130H Her cul esf r om r on of t he RNZ AF
us ef orS ARwast he ,t hi sonei sf r om No. hr i sWood)
T hef l ypas tcont ai ned al ar gevar i et yofai r cr af t ,how man ( Chr i sWood)
Bat t l eofBr i t ai n50t h 1990 wast he 50t h anni ver s ar y oft he Bat t l e ofBr i t ai n,and i n cel ebr at i on a l ar ge f l ypas t , cons i s t i ng of168 ai r cr af t ,was per f or med over L ondon and Bucki ngham Pal ace.Oft he168 ai r cr af tmos twer ef r ontl i nef as t j ett ypes ,f l yi ng i nf or mat i onsof 16 ai r cr af t : 16 T onado F 3s , f ol l owed by 16 Hawk T 1s , anot her16T or nado F 3s ,16F 4 Phant oms , 16 T or nado GR1s f r om RAFGer many,16Har r i er s i ncl udi ng S ea Har r i er s r epr es ent i ng t he RoyalNavy’ s cont r i but i on t o t he Bat t l e, anot her16T or nado GR1sf r om UKbas eds quadr ons ,16J aguar GR1s ,t hr ee VC10ses cor t ed by a pai rofT or nado GR1s ,t wo Ni mr ods es cor t ed by f our Buccaneer s , f our Canber r as wi t h a pai r of BAe125s ,f our C130K Her cul es , t he Red Ar r owsandofcour s et heBat t l e ofBr i t ai nMemor i al F l i ght( BBMF ) wi t hi t sL ancas t er ,f i ve S pi t f i r es andt woHur r i canes .T hef l ypas t cont i nued ont oRAFAbi ngdon whi ch was hos t i ng i t s annual Bat t l e of Br i t ai n ai r s how i n gl or i ous s unny weat her , and added a s pect acul ar , and unf or get t abl e,s egmentt ot he day’ sact i vi t i es . Compar i ng t hatt ot he cur r ent s t r engt hoft heRAF ,wi t haf r ont l i ne f or ce ofonl y ar ound 200 s t r i keai r cr af tcompr i s i ngj us tt he T yphoon and t he agei ng T or nado GR4,gi vess ome i dea ofj us thow much t he RAFhas s hr unki nt hel as tt wodecades . Cur r ent l yi ti st hes mal l es ti thas been s i nce bef or e Wor l d War T wo.
Al l t hef as tj ets ect i onscompr i s ed16ai r cr af tandt her ewer UKbas edai r cr af tandoneofai r cr af tf r om RAFGer many ( C
anydi f f er entonescanyoui dent i f yi nt hi ss hot ?
Above-A uni quevi ew of17S qnT or nadoGR1 ‘ CQ’ont her out et akenbyt heBat t l eofBr i t ai n 50t hanni ver s ar yf l ypas t( vi aChr i sWood)
er et wo16s hi pgr oupsofT or nadoGR1s ,oneof ( Chr i sWood)
Above-T her ewasonegr oupofJ aguar s ,16of t hem!( Chr i sWood)
Above -T he vi ew f r om t he back s eatof16 S quadr on T or nado GR1 Z D812/ F V ( vi aChr i sWood)
161426/ AG106 F 14B T omcatf r om t he Dogs ’bas edatNASOceana.
DDay50t h T heDDay50t hanni ver s ar ycel ebr at i onscent r ed nat ur al l yar oundt hes out hcoas tandNor mandy, wi t ht heBr i t i s hl eg oft hecel ebr at i onson6J une 1994i nvol vi ng a l ar ge s cal e,l owl evelf l ypas tof moder nmi l i t ar yf i x edwi ngas s et sandhel i copt er s . Beneat h,as t unni ngf l ot i l l amadeupofhundr eds ofves s el s ,bot h mi l i t ar y and ci vi l i an,depar t ed Por s t mout h Har bour ,i ncl udi ng ai r cr af tcar r i er s , war s hi ps ,s ubmar i nes ,l andi ngcr af tandt heRoyal Yacht ,Br i t anni a. Ahead oft he moder n el ement swer es ever al hi s t or i ct ypes ,f l yi ng t hr ough i nl oos ef or mat i on, i ncl udi ng s ever al S pi t f i r es , F ai r ey F i r ef l y, T hunder bol t ,Mus t ang,S wor df i s h,Bl enhei m and L ancas t er .T hemai nf l ypas ti t s el fcompr i s edmor e t han60f as tj et s ,i ncl udi ngt hecent r epi ecef i gur e ‘ 50’f or mat i onf l ownbyRAFHawks .T heRAFal s o f i el ded a quar t et of T or nado GR1s f r om 13 S quadr on,f l yi ng i nf or mat i onwi t hpai r sofRoyal Navy S ea Har r i er F RS 2s and T 8s f r om 899 S quadr on. S uppor t i ng t he ‘ home t eam’wer e ai r cr af tf r om manyAl l i ed nat i ons ;a s ol e RoyalAus t r al i an Ai r F or ceRF 111C Aar dvar k,ei ghtCanadi anAr med F or ces CF 188A Hor net s( s ome ador ned wi t h anni ver s ar yi nvas i ons t r i pes ) ,a pai rofCz echAi r F or ce Mi G23 F l ogger s and a s i ngl e Mi G29A F ul cr um,andquar t et sofF r enchAi rF or ceMi r age 2000Cs ,F r enchNavyS uperEt endar ds ,Gr eekAi r F or ce F 4E Phant oms ,S l ovak Ai rF or ce Mi G29 F ul cr ums ,USAi rF or ceF 15C Eagl es ,USNavyF 14 T omcat s( f r om VF 142 and VF 143/ CVW7,US S Geor geWas hi ngt on) ,andF 16AF i ght i ngF al cons f r om Bel gi um,Hol l andandNor way. T hef as tj etas s et soper at edf r om RNASYeovi l t on, wher e a phot ocal lwashel df orent hus i as t sand pr es st o phot ogr aph t he ai r cr af t and t hei r s uppor t s–Her cul es ,An26 Cur l sand t he l i ke – cl os eup. T he r ot ar y as s et sf ol l owed t he mai n f l ypas t ,i ncl udi ng bi g f our ,f i ve and s i x s hi p f or mat i ons of S ea Ki ngs ,L ynx ,Cobr as ,Bl ack Hawks and ot her RoyalNavy and US Navy hel i copt er s , many of whi ch f l ew f r om L eeont heS ol entorT hor neyI s l and.
7501Mi G29Aoft heS l ovakAF ’ s1S L P( 1s t
188781/ J EJCF 188A Hor netf r om t heCan S quadr onatCF BCol dL ake.
e US Navy’ sVF 143 ‘ Puki n
A8146RF 111C f r om t heRoyalAus t r al i anAi rF or ce’ s1S quadr on atRAAFAmber l ey.
s tS quadr on)f r om S l i acAB.
anadi anAr medF or ces ’441
L at eri nt he day,al mos t20 RAF ,US and Canadi an Her cul es over f l ew Por t s mout h, en r out e t o Nor mandy f or a commemor at i ng par achut e dr op. Concor de even made an appear ance l at eri nt he day,maki ng a s i ngl ef l ypas tovert he har bour . T hi swasas t unni ngef f or tbyal li nvol vedt ocel ebr at et hel ar ges t i nvas i oni nmi l i t ar yhi s t or y.T hequal i t yand quant i t yofhar dwar e ons how i sunl i kel yt obet opped and t hef l ypas ti t s el f-wi t hf i ght f or mat i onsoff as tj et st ear i ngi natl owl evel ,f ol l owedbymas s esof hel i copt er sandHer cul es-i ss ur el yoneoft hegr eat es tandmos t i mpact f ul evers t aged. Al l i magest hi ss pr eadJ ohnHi ggi ns
680444F 4EPhant om I I oft heGr eekAi rF or ce’ s338Mi r a,bas edat Andr avi da.
RAF75t hAnni ver s ar yRoyalRevi ew Wi t ha hi s t or ys t r et chi ng backt o 1915,RAFMar ham waschos enast he venue f ort he 1993 75t h anni ver s ar y RoyalRevi ew.T he eventt ooks i x mont hsofmet i cul ouspl anni ngandf eat ur edaf ul l dr es sr ehear s al t wodays bef or et her oyal vi s i ton1Apr i l .T heweat heronr ehear s al daywasf arf r om per f ectbei ng over cas twi t hs t r ong wi ndsand s ome l i ghtr ai ni nt he af t er noon.T hepar adewashel di ns i deas peci al l ypr epar edhangarand t he maj or i t yoft he pl anned 149ai r cr af tpar t i ci pat ed i nt he f l ypas t .T he s t r ongwi ndspr event edbot ht heF al consPar achut eDi s pl ayT eam andt he BBMFf r om t aki ngpar t .
Above - No l es T or nadosi nal i ne. F 3 var i antwer e S qn,43( F )S qn,29S S qn, XI ( F )S qn ( Kevi nWi l l s )
Ri ght-A J etPr ovo upoft r ai ni ngai r cr
L ef t-20 Hawksf T r ai ni ngS chool at t he cr owd how ( Chr i sWood)
T op l ef t - One Ni mr ods ,t hi s one S quadr on ( Chr i sW
es st han f our t een e.Repr es ent i ngt he 56( R) S qn,111( F ) S qn,XXV( F )S qn,23 and V( AC) S qn
vos tT 5headsa l i ne cr af t( Chr i sWood)
f r om No.4 F l yi ng tRAFVal l eyr emi nd ol d t he RAF i s
of a number of ei sf r om No.201 Wood)
T hef l ypas t ,l edbyaS eaKi ngf r om 202S quadr onatRAFMans t ont r ai l i ng anRAFens i gn,compr i s edex ampl esofvi r t ual l yever yai r cr af tt ypet heni n s er vi ce,and bot h UKand RAFGer manys quadr onswer er epr es ent ed. T ens epar at ef or mat i onshad beenpl anned,wi t ht he f i r s tcons i s t i ng of hel i copt er sand t r ai ni ng ai r cr af tf l yi ng al ong t he r unwayf r om eas tt o wes t .T he nex ts evenel ement sover f l ew t he par ade gr ound and Royal dai sf r om t hes out h,and i ncl uded S t r i ke,Mar i t i mePat r ol ,T r ans por tand f ur t hert r ai ni ngel ement s . T he Red Ar r owsar r i ved f r om t he oppos i t e di r ect i on,maki ng f ors ome i nt er es t i ng ai rt r af f i c cont r ol ,and per f or med t hei rus uali mmacul at e di s pl ay.I thads t ar t edr ai ni ngbyt het i met hatt her ehear s al f l ypas tcl os ed wi t h20Hawksf r om No4F l yi ngT r ai ni ngS choolatRAFVal l eyf or mi ngt he f i gur e“75” .T het ot al t i mef ort hef l ypas twas23mi nut es . T heweat heron1Apr i l l ef tmucht obedes i r edandneces s i t at edal otof f l ex i bi l i t yi nt hepl anni ng.Heavyr ai nwasr es pons i bl ef orachi evi ngwhat pas tadver s ar i eshadf ai l edt odo-keepi ngt heRAFont hegr ound!One andhal fi nchesf el l i nonehourand,al t houghaf ew ai r cr af tgotai r bor ne, t he weat herwass o bad i nt he f or mi ng up ar east hatt he f l ypas twas cancel l ed.
Bel ow -S i xT or nadoGR1sf r om RAFGer manyi nt hef l ypas t .Repr es ent ed ar ej et sf r om 14S quadr on,17S quadr onand 31S quadr on,al lbas ed at RAFBr uggen ( Chr i sWood) L ef t-T hi sVC10 C1K wast he f i r s tofNo.10 S quadr on’ sai r cr af tt o be conver t edf orai r t oai rr ef uel l i ngdut i es( Chr i sWood) T opl ef t-A l i neofT or nadoGR1t ai l s .I nor der :31S qn,27S qn,17S qn,14 S qnandI I ( AC)S qn ( Kevi nWi l l s )
T he cer emoni alpar ade f ort he pr es ent at i on oft he Queen’ scol our s wast o have been hel d out door swi t h a back dr op ofT or nados . However ,becaus e oft he weat hert he cer emonywasmoved i nt oa s peci al l y decor at ed hangarl i ned wi t h whi t e ar ct i c camouf l age net t i ng.T her et henf ol l owed a t ourofanot herhangari nwhi cht her e wer e di s pl aysofas pect sofRAFl i f ef r om al lper i odsoft he s er vi ce’ s hi s t or y. As Her Maj es t y ent er ed t he i ndoor ex hi bi t i on s he was conf r ont ed wi t h a Wor l d WarOne Br i s t olF i ght er ,and af t ervi ewi ng var i ousdi s pl ayswhi chi ncl udedaS pi t f i r eandr ecent l yr et i r edPhant om, s hewasbr oughtupt odat ewi t ha13S quadr onT or nado.S hewast hen gi vena gl i mps e oft he f ut ur e wi t hanex hi bi toft he new,and asyet unf l own,Eur of i ght er2000whi chi si ns er vi cet odayast heT yphoon.
Above-J us tpar to ofai r cr af t ,headed Chi pmunk, J et P Hawk,Hunt er ,Ha Buccaneer . Ca Ni mr od,VC10,And Her cul esar eamon r eadi l yi dent i f i abl e
L ef t-T her oyal dai s
Ri ght-A Har r i erG S quadr onhi desaw
Al l i magest hi ss pr e
oft hes t at i cl i neup edbyBul l dog,t hen Pr ovos t ,T ucano, ar r i er ,J aguarand anber r a, Vi ct or , dover ,Wes s exand ongt heot hert ypes l ei nt hi ss hot .
i s
GR7 f r om No.3( F ) way
r eadChr i sWood
Oneofs ever al T or nadoGR1sondi s pl ay,t hi sonei sf r om No.617S quadr on.
T hehomet eam pr ovi dedt hi sVi ct orK2,whi chwasaboutt ober et i r ed.
At r i oofWes s ex ,f ul f i l l i ngt hr eedi f f er entr ol es .
Al s oappr oac
Ei ghtT or nadoF 3s ,f r om ei ghtdi f f er entS quadr ons . T en t hous and gues t shad been i nvi t ed t o t he event , and t hi s i ncl udedRAFvet er ansands ome f oundi ngmember soft hes er vi ce, s ome of whom t hen had t he oppor t uni t yt o meett he Queen. Nex tont heRoyal par t y’ sagenda wasl unch i nt he Of f i cer ’ sMes s wher e member soft he Ai rF or ce Boar d wer e pr es ent ed t o Her Maj es t y, who t hen s i gned a Commemor at i veS cr ol l .
T hi sT r i s t arhadj us tbeendel i ver edt oNo.216S quadr on.
achi ngr et i r ementwast heCanber r aT 17ofNo.360S quadr on.
Af t erl uncht heRoyal par t yt our ed an out door ex hi bi t i on whi ch i ncl uded a s el ect i on ofcur r ent ai r cr af tand a mockup oft he Eur of i ght er2000.T hen,pr ot ect ed agai ns tt he weat her by t hei r l i mous i nes ,t hey vi ewed t he 66 ai r cr af ti nt hes t at i cdi s pl ay.T hes e i ncl uded ex ampl es of al mos t ever yt ype i nt he i nvent or y and i ncl uded s ever al s oon t o be r et i r ed, s uch as Canber r as , Buccaneer s ,J et Pr ovos t s and Mar ham’ s own Vi ct or s . T he cent r epi ece was an i mpr es s i ve l i neupof15T or nados ,eachf r om a di f f er ents quadr on ( and t her e wer e a f ew s quadr ons not r epr es ent ed! ) . Al lt he ai r cr af t wer e i mmacul at el yt ur ned out and hi ghl y pol i s hed, or as pol i s hed as mat t and camouf l agedai r cr af tcanbe! Havi ngi ns pect edt hes t at i cpar k, and wi t ht he f l ypas tcancel l ed, t he Royalpar t yr et ur ned t ot he Queen’ sF l i ght BAe 146 and depar t ed ar ai ns oaked Mar ham ear l i ert hans chedul ed. T hi st i met heRAFchos enott oput on a publ i c di s pl ay and onl y i nvi t ed gues t swer e per mi t t ed t o at t end bot ht he r ehear s aland act ual event .
Al l i magest hi ss pr eadChr i sWood
T hi swast hel as toft hebi g event s .T heend oft heCol d Warr es ul t ed i n l ar ger educt i onsi nt hedef encebudgetwhi chs aw t heRAFs hr i nki ns i z e and l os es omeofi t scapabi l i t i escompl et el y.Oper at i onalt as ki ng i nI r aq andAf ghani s t anhasnotonl yeat eni nt ot heavai l abl ef unds ,butkeptt he r educi ng numberoft he RAF ’ sas s et sempl oyed over s eas .T he cur r ent economi c condi t i ons mean t hat t he money avai l abl ef ordef ence s pendi ngkeepsr educi ng.
T heQueen’ sGol denJ ubi l ee However ,t hi s has n’ ts t opped t he RAF per f or mi ng s ome f or m of cel ebr at i on t o mar ks i gni f i cantevent s .T he Queen’ sGol den J ubi l ee i n 2002s aw ar el at i vel ys mal lf l ypas tof27ai r cr af toverBucki ngham Pal ace on 4J une,l ed bya new C17Gl obemas t erand f i ni s hed wi t h a Br i t i s h Ai r waysConcor dei nf or mat i onwi t ht heRedAr r ows .
Above-T heundi s t he Queen’ sGol d was Concor de f l y wi t ht heRedAr r ow
Ri ght-A Ki nl os sW f l i esi nf or mat i onw S quadr onCanber r
L ef t-Z H588,known Br i t i s h pr ot ot ype o T yphoon.
T opl ef t-AnE3Dl e S quadr onT or nado
Al l i magest hi ss pr e
i s put ed hi ghl i ghtof l denJ ubi l ee f l ypas t f l yi ng i nf or mat i on ws .
Wi ng Ni mr od MR2 wi t ha pai rof39( R) r r aPR9s .
nasDA2,t hi si st he oft he Eur of i ght er
l eadsapai rof56( R) oF 3s .
r eadPaulDops on
RAF ’ s90t hBi r t hday I n2008t he cel ebr at i onoft he RAF ’ s90t hbi r t hdayt ookpl ace aspar tof t hatyear ’ sRoyal I nt er nat i onal Ai rT at t ooatRAFF ai r f or d,whi chi nvol veda vi s i tbyt he Queen on F r i day,11J ul y,t he daybef or et he s how.Af t era par adeand pr es ent at i onofnew Col our sbyHerMaj es t yt ot heRAFand t heRAFRegi ment ,t heRoyalpar t ywast r eat edt oaf l ypas tby90ai r cr af t . T he t i mi ng f orhervi s i twasi mmacul at e ass he mi s s ed t he t or r ent i al downpour st hatpl agued t he dayand r es ul t ed i nt he Ai rT at t oo bei ng cancel l edt hatweekend,f ort hef i r s tt i mei ni t shi s t or y.
Above-Anex t r em ofni neT or nadoGR
Ri ght-A C130KH byapai rof45( R)S pai rof55( R)S qnD
Bot t om r i ght-A V as an E3D s i m r ef uel l i ng.
L ef t-A V( AC)S qn by a pai r of 32 BAe125s .
T op l ef t-A f o T yphoonF GR4s .
Al l i magest hi ss pr e
mel yt i ghtf or mat i on GR4s .
Her cul esi sf l anked )S qnKi ngAi r sanda Domi ni es .
VC10t r ai l si t shos es s i mul at es ai r t oai r
nS ent i neli sf l anked 32( T he Royal )S qn
f or mat i on of ni ne
r eadBar r ySwann
Above -T yphoon Coni ngs bypr act i c J ubi l eecel ebr at i on di amondni ne f L i ncol ns hi r e.T hi swa t he ai r cr af twer e Wi nds orCas t l e as cont r i but i on ( Cr ownCopyr i ght )
Ri ght-T hi r t een Ha waydownt het ax i ahead of t he p cont r i but i on t o Di amond J ubi l e ( Bar r ySwann)
n ai r cr af tf r om RAF t i ci ng f ort he Royal onsbyper f or mi nga f or mat i on over wast hedaybef or e e due t of l y over aspar toft he RAF t o event s t )
awkT 1scr ab t hei r x i wayatRAFVal l ey pr act i ce f or t hei r t he Queen’ s i l ee cel ebr at i ons
Queen’ sDi amondJ ubi l ee 2012 s aw t he Queen cel ebr at i ng herDi amond J ubi l ee and t he cel ebr at i onsi ncl uded a f l ypas toverWi nds orCas t l e on 19May.A f or mat i on ofni ne T yphoonss t ar t ed of ft he pr oceedi ngsand t hey wer ecompl et edbya78ai r cr af tj oi nts er vi cef l ypas t .T hi si ncl udeda f or mat i on of20 T ucanosf or mi ng t he f i gur e “60” and 24 Hawks f or mi ng “ER I I ” , as wel las t he us ualRed Ar r ows and BBMF cont r i but i on.
Above-Hur r i caneai r cr af tf r om t heBat t l eofBr i t ai nMemor i alF l i ght s oar soverBucki ngham Pal aceandcr owdscel ebr at i ngt heQueen' s Di amond J ubi l ee.T he pi ct ur e wast akenf r om t he r earoft he l ead L ancas t erbomberai r cr af t( Cr ownCopyr i ght )
T heRAF ’ s100t hBi r t hday? Wi t hj us tf i ve year st o go t ot he maj ormi l es t one ofi t s100t h anni ver s ar y,i t ’ l lbe i nt er es t i ng t os ee how t hati scel ebr at ed. Canwel ookf or war dt oa100ai r cr af tf l ypas twi t h50T yphoons and50F 35s ?Ans wer sonapos t car d. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
RAF
T hatt heMcDonnel lDougl asF 4Phant om i sanavi at i oncl as s i ci ss ur el y beyond ques t i on.I n manywaysi twast he or i gi nalmul t i r ol e combat ai r cr af tandf oral mos tt hi r t yyear st hePhant om wast hebackboneoft he RoyalAi rF or ce’ sai rdef encecapabi l i t y;aper i odwhi chs aw ust hr ough t hedar kand t hr eat eni ngdaysoft heCol d War .Davi dGl edhi l lwasan F 4 navi gat oratt hi st i me and hasr ecent l ypubl i s hed a bookon t he s ubj ect ,s o,t ol ear nmor eaboutl i f ewi t ht hePhant om,Gar et hSt r i nger wentt omeethi m.
AFPhant om: ACol dWarNavi gat or ’ sS t or y
T he avi at i on wor l di sact ual l ya r el at i vel ys mal l one –es peci al l ywhenyous pend anyamount oft i meatRoyal Ai rF or cebas es-andt odayhas hi ghl i ght ed t hatf actbeaut i f ul l y.If i nd mys el f s i t t i ng i nt he cr ew r oom att he Bat t l e ofBr i t ai n Memor i alF l i ght ,atRAFConi ngs by,wi t h Dave Gl edhi l l ,havi ngcover edapr es seventear l i eri n t hedayandar r angedt omeethi m her e,t hanks t ot hehos pi t al i t yoft heBBMF .
Notonl y wasDave bas ed atConi ngs by f or manyyear s ,ont heF 4Phant om andT or nadoF 2 /F 3,buthe’ sal r eady,wi t hi nmi nut esofar r i vi ng, mett woort hr eepeopl eheknowsf r om hi spas t l i f e,s uchast heBBMF ’ sS qnL drRus sRus s el land F l tL tAnt ony Par ki ns on,bot hf or merF 4 and T or nado men t hems el ves .Dave even gota T yphoont r i pbef or eher et i r ed,andt hes oundof t hem comi ng and goi ng out s i de punct uat es
Mai ni mage-XV426car r yi ngadr i l l weaponl oad ( DaveGl edhi l l )
what wi l lt ur ni nt o a l engt hy - and t ot al l y f as ci nat i ng-i nt er vi ew,aboutanai r cr af twhi chi s al mos tuni ver s al l yadmi r edt ot hi sday.
Col dWarWar r i or I ’ m noti nt endi ng t ot el lt he F 4Phant om’ sl i f e s t or y her e -t hathasbeen done many t i mes bef or e -butr at hert r y,t hanks t o Davi d,t o conveyaf eel f orwhati twasl i ket ooper at et he ai r cr af tdur i ngt heCol dWar ,as i gni f i cantper i od i nt he RAF ’ s95year sofhi s t or y,and i ndeed f or wor l dhi s t or yi t s el f . “Col dWarl i f er evol vedar oundex er ci s es , ”Dave t el l s me,“T hey woul dr amp up i nt er ms of i nt ens i t y and t he f i nalday was ,i nevi t abl y,a s i mul at ed nucl ear at t ack. T hat f ocus s ed ever yone’ s mi nds ;i t was al lver y vi vi d.T he gener al bel i efwast hatt hatwashow Wor l dWar T hr ee,i fi thappened,woul d concl ude.We al l knew t hati twoul dbeahugechal l engeandt he t hr eatf el tver yr eal . “WhenIwasbas ed i nGer manyweus ed t of l y bor derpat r ol s-wewer eonl yabout20mi nut es f l yi ngt i meaway-andononedayweheaded t owar dsHambur g.Ourf i r s tr unwasf i ne,but ,as we came backdownt he ot herway,ourRWR ( Radar War ni ng Recei ver )s t ar t i ng gi vi ng us i ndi cat i ons ,andi tl ookedt omel i kei twasf r om a Mi Gf i ght er . “Att he s ame t i me,ourT ACAN ( T act i calAi r Navi gat i ons ys t em)s t ar t edpoi nt i ngt owar dst he eas t-asi ft odi r ectust hatway-andl oudr ock mus i ccamebl ar i ngovert her adi o,bl ocki ngour cont r ol l er ’ scal l sf orust ot ur n away f r om t he bor der .I twasal la coor di nat ed at t emptt ot r y and make uspenet r at eS ovi etai r s pace and caus eadi pl omat i ci nci dent . “F or t unat el yi twasa l ovel ycl eardayand we coul dt hes eet hebor der ,s ower eabl et os t ay on t he cor r ects i de,butt hatwas a pr et t y det er mi ned ef f or tt o make uscr os sover-and t hr eat sl i ket hatwer ever y,ver yr eal . ”
S o,t hatput si tal li nt ocont ex t ,t hen,es peci al l y f oranyr eader st oo young t or emembert hos e days ,orper hapsf ort hos e who f eelt hatt he Col d Warwass omewhatphoney.I twas n’ t– and t he RoyalAi rF or ce’ sF 4Phant omswoul d have been att he cut t i ng edge ofanyact i on t hatt ookpl ace. Dave’ sf i r s tencount erwi t ht he j etcame when he wasf r es hf r om RoyalAi rF or ce navi gat or t r ai ni ng. “Ihad want ed t of l y Ni mr ods ,buthad been ‘ per s uaded’t hatf as tj et swast hewayf or war d and, wel l , one chap on my cour s e got Buccaneer ,I gotPhant om,andal l t her es twent t oheavi es ,s oIwasact ual l yver yl ucky!
No.228OCU “I s t ar t ed her e on t he OCU ( Oper at i onal Conver s i on Uni t )atConi ngs by,i n 1975,j us tas t hePhant om wasf or mi ngupi nt heai rdef ence r ol e.Icoul dn’ twai tt ogether e,andonmyf i r s t day Ir ememberIwasi nt he Of f i cer s ’Mes s , l ooki ngoutoft hewi ndows ,andt hi sbi gol ’br ut e t ax i ed pas tand It hought ,‘ T hi si si t ;t hat ’ swhat I ’ m her ef or ! ’T hatf i r s ti mpr es s i onneverl ef tme. T hes quat ,ugl i nes soft heai r cr af tgotme,andI wasr eal l yl ooki ngf or war dt oget t i ngs t ar t ed. ” However ,t he l eap f r om J etPr ovos t ,aspar tof Dave’ st r ai ni ng,t oF 4,wasacons i der abl eone, ashewasaboutt of i ndout . “T hel ear ni ngcur vewasi ncr edi bl ys t eepand,i n act ualf act ,t her ewasver yl i t t l epr epar at i onf or ai rdef encewor k,andal l I hadr eal l ydonei nt he J Pwasl ow l evel ,wi t hamapandas t opwat ch! T het r ai ni ngdi di mpr oveast i mewenton,butwe had r ecei ved no avi oni cst r ai ni ng,norr adar t r ai ni ngpr i ort ot heOCU. ”
Ri ght-A ver y young Dave Gl edhi l lj oi ns 56 ( F i ght er )S quadr ondur i ngt heS quadr onbui l dup atRAFConi ngs by ( vi aDaveGl edhi l l )
XT 907,at wi ns t i ckt r ai nervar i antoft heF GR2Phant om wear st he228OCU/ 64( Res er ve)S quadr on col our s( L i nds ayPeacock) T he cour s e commenced wi t h gr ound s chool , “endl es ss i mul at ort r i ps ” ,emer gency t r ai ni ng and t hen i nt ot he ai r cr af tf ort he Bas i c Radar Phas e,whi chl as t ed about15hour sand whi ch was f ol l owed by a ‘ br eak’ f or ai r combat t r ai ni ng. “Ever yt hi ng changed att hi spoi nt !I tal lwent f r om bei ng qui t e beni gn t o bei ng t ot al l y t hr eedi mens i onaland you had t o under s t and how t o cal lt he f i ght ,how t or eactand,al s o, whatyourcapabi l i t i eswer ecompar edwi t ht he ai r cr af tyouwer ef i ght i ng.Ont hecour s ei twas nor mal l yanot herPhant om;f orr eal i tmi ghtbea Mi G21 and you had t o under s t and why t hat wasdi f f er entandwhatt her i s kswer e. ” “T hatl as t edf ors i xs or t i es ,ors o,andt hecour s e f i ni s hedwi t ht heAdvancedRadarPhas e,whi ch cover ed hi gh f l yi ng t ar get s ,s uper s oni ct ar get s andal i t t l ebi tofl ow l evel .T hatwasi t ;i tal l l as t ed f orat ot al of30or40hour sandyouwer eof ft oa s quadr on! ” Aswel lasa s t eep l ear ni ng cur ve,Dave al s o f ound t hati twasa bi g phys i calj ump t ot he F 4. . . .
“I tr eal l ywas ,mai nl yduet ot heki twehadt o wear .I nt heJ Pwedi dn’ tevenweara gs ui t , andnow wehadt ogetus edt ot hatandt he i mmer s i ons ui tandal i f ej acket .I twasheavy, hotand ver yr es t r i ct i ve –ass omeone once s ai d:you wer et r us s ed up l i ke a Chr i s t mas t ur key. “T he ai rcondi t i oni ng i nt he Phant om was awf ul ,andt her ewer en’ tevenanycont r ol sf or i ti nt he back,s o‘ Bi ggl es ’up f r onthad t o adj us tal l t het emper at ur esand,i nvar i abl y,i fi t wasr i ghtf orhi m,i twaswr ongi nt heback! “T he l i ne [ cur vat ur e] of t he canopy al s o cr eat ed a f al s e hor i z on whi ch t ook s ome get t i ngus edt o.Whenyouwer ef l yi ngs t r ai ght andl evel i tf el tasi fyouwer ecl i mbi ngs oyour body’ si nt er nalgyr os wer e nevercor r ect l y al i gned.Yyouhad t o accl i mat i s et ot he f act t hatyouwer en’ ti ncont r oloft heai r cr af tand youal s o had ver yl i mi t ed f or war d vi s i on.T he r es ul t-al otofnavi gat or swer eai r s i ckandt he wor ki ng envi r onment was n’ t gr eat ,t o be hones t . ”
No.56Squadr on“ T heF i r ebi r ds ” Dave’ sf i r s tpos t i ngwast oNo.56S quadr on,t he F i r ebi r ds ,whi chhad act ual l ys t ood up wi t ht he Phant om atConi ngs by,bef or emovi ngdownt o RAFWat t i s ham i nS uf f ol k,wi t h Dave f ol l owi ng cl os el ybehi nd,j us tacoupl eofdaysl at er . “UKAi rDef ence,t hatwaswhati twasal labout atWat t i s ham,andwehadar eal l ygoodmi xof peopl ewi t hal otofguyst r ans f er r i ngacr os sf r om gr ound at t ack,a f ew f r om t he L i ght ni ng and t hen a number ,l i ke me,s t r ai ghtt hr ough f r om t r ai ni ng. “T hewhol es quadr onwass t i l lonabi gl ear ni ng cur veatt hi spoi nt–l ear ni ngwhatt hePhant om coul d do,and al s ot he f undament al sofai r def ence.Al otoft hegr oundat t ackchapswer e us i ngqui t ebas i ct act i cs ,whi l et heai rdef ender s whohaddonei tbef or ewer eadapt i ngt os ome of t he mor e advanced pr of i l es t hat t he Phant om wascapabl eof . ”
J oi ni ng a ‘ new’ s quadr on was cer t ai nl y ex ci t i ng f orDave,but i t was n’ t al lgood news … “Becaus ei twasnew,t her e wasver yl i t t l e r ot at i onofper s onnel .Wher easpeopl ewoul d nor mal l ybecomi ngandgoi ngonas quadr on ever ymont h,t hatdoes n’ thappenwheni t ’ s al lnew,s o Iended up bei ng t he J uni or Navi gat orf orabout18mont hs !T hatwasno f unatal l–Ir ant he s quadr oncof f ee barf or t hatwhol eper i od,al ongwi t ht heJ uni orPi l ot ! ” F undament al l yt hough,Davewass t r ai ghtout oft r ai ni ngandf oundhi ms el font hef r ont l i ne, def endi ngt heUKf r om pot ent i al i nvader s ,and t hatwas n’ tabaddeal atal l . “I twasbr i l l i ant !Ont hewhol eIwoul ds ayt hat I wasl i vi ngt hedr eam andi twascer t ai nl yver y di f f er entf r om bei ng ats choolwhi ch,att hat t i me,hadn’ tbeent oomanyyear sbef or e! ”
XV437f l i esoveras now cover edNor f ol k( DaveGl edhi l l )
S o,l at e 1970s ,t hen,and wi t ht he F 4 oper at i ng ex cl us i vel y asan ai r def enderf ort heRoyal Ai rF or ce–how goodwasi t ? “I twasver ygood,no ques t i on.Att hatt i me i twasEur ope’ sonl yPul s e Doppl err adar equi pped f i ght erwi t ha t r ue headup capabi l i t yatl ow l evel .T heAmer i canswer eus i ngt hePhant om i nEur ope,butt heywer eE model sandonl yPul s eequi pped,s ot hatcapabi l i t ywasonl yavai l abl eat medi um l evel .Not hi ng r eal l y changed t o af f ectt he RAF Phant om’ s pos i t i onunt i l t hei nt r oduct i onoft heF 15AEagl e. “I t ’ si r oni cI s uppos e,t hatt hes ocal l edMRCA( Mul t i Rol eCombatAi r cr af t ) wasbei ngdevel opedatt hatt i me,whi chwoul devent ual l ybecomet he T or nado,butanMRCA i sex act l ywhatt hePhant om was .T heRAFus edi t asf i ght er ,bomberand r econnai s s ance ai r cr af t ,and i tdi di tal lt hos e t hi ngsver ywel l ,s omuchs ot hatyoucoul dar guet hatt heJ aguar ,whi ch pi ckedupont hel as tt wooft hos er ol es ,wasact ual l yas t epbackwar ds . ”
Above -56( F )S q XV500 i s pus hed har dened ai r cr af Wi l denr at hdur i ng L eap ( DaveGl edh
Ri ght-A 56( F )S q t ax i es back af t er Wat t i s ham ( L i nds a
L ef t - XV437 i n coas t s out at ( DaveGl edhi l l )
T opl ef t-XV437atv a s now co ( DaveGl edhi l l )
S quadr on Phant om ed back i nt o a af ts hel t er at RAF gEx er ci s ePhant om dhi l l )
S quadr on Phant om erl andi ng at RAF s ayPeacock)
i n f ul l af t er bur ner Bl akeney Poi nt
tver yl ow l evel over over ed Nor f ol k
XV469i saccept edf orQui ckReact i onAl er taf t erbei ngl oaded
T he Phant om was capabl e t hen, yes , but r el i abl e?Nots omuch! “T heavi oni cswer epower f ul ,butt heywer et he ol d,t r ans i s t ort ypet echnol ogy,and t heybr oke r egul ar l y.You woul d qui t e of t en getai r bor ne and t her adarwoul d go down,of t enduet oa t r ans mi t t erpr obl em.S omuchpowerwasgoi ng outoft he f r ontend t hatt he ol d el ect r oni cs s i mpl ycoul dn’ tcope.I nar ound1980ar el i abi l i t y pr ogr ammewasbr oughti nand s omeoft hos e ol derpi ecesofequi pmentwer e upgr aded,s o t hi ngsi mpr oved.
anal ys e and r es pond t o war ni ngs as t hey happened.I fa hos t i l ef i ght erl ocked on,now you knew and you coul dr eact .T hen mor e def ens i veai dsappear edwi t hachaf fandf l ar e s ys t em and al s o a vi s ualacqui s i t i on s ys t em whi chwasl i kear i f l es i ghts t i cki ngoutoft hel ef t hand s i de oft he cockpi t . Wi t ht hatyoucoul d i dent i f yapot ent i al l yhos t i l et ar getbeyondvi s ual r angeandengagewi t haS par r ow mi s s i l e. ”
Cr ew cooper at i onwasvi t alt ot he Phant om’ s s ucces s ,ofcour s e,andDaveex pl ai nst hatwhi l e t hatwasmos tdef i ni t el yt he cas e,t he r ol e of each cr ewman was act ual l y qui t e cl ear l y “We al s o added var i ouspi ecesofki tovert he del i neat ed –wi t ht he navi gat orr es pons i bl ef or year s whi ch, whi l e addi ng capabi l i t y, al s o f i ndi ng t he t ar geton t he r adar ,s et t i ng up t he added t ot hewor kl oad i nt heback.T hef i r s tof i nt er cept ,gi vi ng t he commandst o geti nt oa t hes e wast he RWR ( RadarWar ni ng Recei ver ) , f i r i ngpos i t i onandl ockedup,wi t ht hepi l oti nt he whi chf edaudi oi nt ot heheads ets oyoucoul d f r ontt aki ngt hes hot .I ncl os ecombat ,t hepi l ot
edwi t hweapons .Unus ual l y,t hehooki sdown.T heS par r ow l oadi ngt r ol l eys i t sbehi nd ( L i nds ayPeacock)
was ver y much i n cont r oloft he f i ghtand weapons ,unl es shel os ts i ghtoft het ar getand neededhi snavt ohel phi mf i ndi tagai n!
“Pr es umabl yyoual s os atonQRA i nt heUKand gott he chance t oi nt er ceptmar audi ng T u95 Bear sands uchl i ke?”Ias k.
“I fyou had a new pi l oti nt he f r onthe woul d us ual l yj us tl etyougetonwi t hi tand do what youneeded t o do,ashe wasl ear ni ng aswel l and di dn’ tknow any bet t er !T he ex L i ght ni ng pi l ot shadt ogetus edt ot al ki ngt ousandwer e per hapsa l i t t l e mor er es i s t antt o havi ng t he r adarcont r ol l edf r om t heback,whi l et hef or mer mudmover swer e,i nt he mai n,okay t o wor k wi t ht oo,butt her e wasdef i ni t el ya di f f er ence bet weent het hr ee!
I t ’ saques t i onwhi chi smetwi t hl aught er ,bef or e Ihaveevenf i ni s hedas ki ngi t …. .
“I ngener al ,t he bet t eryouwor ked asa cr ew, t hel es syout al ked,asyoubot hknew whatt odo andwhent odoi t . ”
“Is at on S out her n QRA f or t hr ee year s at Wat t i s ham andbel i eveme;I t r i edever yt act i c– ex t r a Q,no Q,comi ng onQ atdi f f er entt i mes , vol unt eer i ng f orQ i fs omeone needed t o go anddos omet hi ngel s e…. . “Igotone l i ve l aunch –we l aunched i nt ot he I cel and/F ar oesGap,f l ew f ors evenhour sand wegotaNi mr odwhi chnooneknew wast her e! T her e wasa Beart her es omewher e butwe neverf oundi t ,andt hatNi mr odwasoneoft he har des ti nt er cept sIeverper f or med!
Above -A 56( F ) Phant om i n f or mat i on” f r amed t hes et t i ngs un.
Ri ght-XV468i sl oa ai r t oai r mi s s i l es oper at i onal t r ai ni ng f ort he ar mour er s .
“Idi d f i nal l y get a Rus s i an when we l aunched f r om Cypr us and i nt er cept ed t wo I l yus hi nI L 38Mayai r cr af t ,butneverf r om hol di ng Q at Wat t i s ham.T hei r onyi st hatmycl os es tencount erwi t haBearcamewhen It ookaT or nadot ot heAi rT at t ooatRAFF ai r f or dandt her ewasaBearon t her amp,l i kesus ,aspar toft hes t at i cdi s pl ay!I bl aggedmywayont ot he f l i ghtdeckandf i nal l ygotupcl os eandper s onal wi t haBear ! ”
L ef t-XV426 car r y weaponsl oad pu t hever t i cal .
Al l i mages t hi s DaveGl edhi l l
)S quadr on “bat t l e ed agai ns t
oaded wi t h es dur i ng t ur nr ound s quadr on
r yi ng a dr i l l ul l sup i nt o
i s s pr ead
Pr edat i ngDave’ st i meont heS quad RAF F i nni ngl ey i n 1977.I ti ss t i l lt o ( L i nds ayPeacock)
No.92( Eas tI ndi a)Squadr on Att he end ofhi st ourwi t h56S quadr on,and wi t h 850hour sunderhi sbel t( near l yhal fofhi sf i nal 2, 000 hour sF 4t ot al )andas ens et hathehadgott heUK j obpr et t ywel ls quar edaway,Dave’ snex tpos t i ng woul d s ee hi m ex per i ence s omet hi ng “al mos t t ot al l ydi f f er ent ”–92( Eas tI ndi a)S quadr onatRAF Wi l denr at hi nGer many,t heCobr as . “I n Col d Wart er ms ,i twasal lver yr eal ,no doubt abouti t ,andver ydi f f er entf r om s quadr onl i f eover her e.T heUKbas ess t i l l f el tal i t t l ebi t‘ S econdWor l d War ’wi t hcr ewsl oungi ng ont he gr as s ,wai t i ng t o s cr ambl e,t hatki ndoft hi ng. “Near l yever yt hi ng wedi di nGer manywasatl ow l evel ,and t heonl yt i mewer eal l yf l ew atmedi um l evelwas atni ght .We f l ew i ns ome at r oci ous condi t i ons ,whi ch we us ed t o cal lBr i tVF R,aswe woul dbes t umbl i ngar oundi nt henor t her nGer man mur k wi t h ver yl i t t l e vi s i bi l i t y,and t he onl y ot her peopl e doi ng t he s ame wer e Br i t sf r om RAF Br üggenandRAFL aar br uch. “Butyouhad t odoi t ,ast heywer et hepr evai l i ng weat hercondi t i onsand i fyou di dn’ tf l yi nt hos e condi t i ons ,t henyouwoul dneverf l yatal l ! ” As t andar ds or t i e,oper at i ng under2 AT AF S OPs ( S econd Al l i ed T act i cal Ai r F or ce S t andar d Oper at i ng Pr ocedur es )woul ds ee an F 4 depar t Wi l denr at h,t r ans i tat500’t o one oft he l ow f l yi ng ar easandt hen,at250’ ,s etupaCAP( CombatAi r Pat r ol ) .T heS econd Al l i ed T act i calAi rF or cewasa NAT O mi l i t ar yf or mat i on,undert hecont r ol ofAl l i ed Ai rF or cesCent r alEur ope and wast as ked wi t h pr ovi di ng ai rs uppor tt o NAT O' s Nor t her n Ar my Gr oup. “Once we wer e s et up, anyt hi ng t hat came t hr ough t hatar ea wases s ent i al l yf ai rgame,and we woul di nt er ceptany t act i calai r cr af t .Asyou engaged,i ft hey waggl ed t hei rwi ngsi twoul d meant hatt heycoul dn’ tort heywer en’ tal l owedt o ‘ pl ay’ .I fnot ,t heywoul dt ur ni nt oyou,andt hef i ght wason!
XV481i ss eeni nt heai rdef encegr eyco andi sador nedwi t ht hel at er92S quadr o
adr on,t hi s92( Eas tI ndi a)S quadr onj etcar r i esadr i l l weaponl oad( nol i vel oadal l owedatanai r s how)at t or ecei ve t he r adarwar ni ng r ecei vermodi f i cat i on and wear st he ol d gr ey gr een camouf l age
col ours chemeatRAFWat t i s ham i n1989.Unl i ket hei mageabove,t her adarwar ni ngr ecei veri spr es ent r onr edandyel l ow chequerboar ds( L i nds ayPeacock)
XV439/ Xof92S quadr ont ax i esi natNel l i sAF B,NV,af t eraRedF l agmi s s i oni n1989.T her ef uel l i ngpr ob ( L i nds ayPeacock)
obei sex t endedf orpos t f l i ghti ns pect i onbyt hegr oundcr ew
“I twasvi r t ual l yWor l dWarT hr ee onadai l ybas i sandwhenIgot t her e,bef or et headventoft he F 16and F 15,i twasa r ealmi x of t ypes as wel l , wi t h F 104 S t ar f i ght er s ,F i at G91s and ot her F 4 Phant oms - cl as s i c Col dWarai r cr af tr eal l y. “I nt er msofr eal adver s ar i es ,t he Mi G23 was t he ai r cr af t we ex pect edt os eemos tof ,i fi tal l ki cked of ff orr eal .T he Mi G21 di dn’ tr eal l yhavet hel egs ,but t he F l ogger di d. T he Mi G25 F ox bat mi ght have been an i s s ue,atal t i t ude,butwef el twe coul d dealwi t ht hat ,al t hough i twoul d have been a t r i cky s hot .L at er ,we knew t hatt he l i kesofMi G29and S u27wer e ex t r emel y capabl e and pr obabl y had a bet t er capabi l i t yt hanourown. “Att hi st i me,t hough,t he F 4 Phant om wast he ki ng oft he s ki es and t hat per s i s t ed, cer t ai nl yi nt er msofl ow l evel per f or mance,f orevent he f i r s t coupl e ofyear saf t ert he F 15 ar r i ved.When t he Eagl esand F 16sent er ed s er vi ce i tr eal l y di d f eel l i ke t hi ngs wer e changi ng,buti twasgr adual , not i mmedi at e. Our bi gges t chal l enge was l ack of i dent i f i cat i on equi pment ,and unl es s you wer e under GCI cont r ol ( Gr ound Cont r ol l ed I nt er cept )youwer en’ tal l owed t of i r eaS par r ow mi s s i l ef r om beyondvi s ual r ange. “T hatmeantyou had t o get cl os eenought ovi s ual l yi dent i f y t het ar getandbyt hatt i meyou wer et oo cl os ef ora S par r ow s hotand woul di nvar i abl y be s ucked i nt oat ur ni ng f i ght , whi ch wasnott he Phant om’ s s t r engt h. ”
Above -XV426ab t he ci r cui tovert he hangar( t opl ef t )a ( Not e:T hegr eyai r t hepr ot ot ype“Gr e
T op r i ght-A f ul l y out s i de t he RAF S hed� .T he ai r cr a car r yi ng a cent r e oper at i onsi nt ot h Gap.
Ri ght-XV495 on Al er tatRAFWat t i s l i f ej acket sar epos i t oft hes t epsr eady
Al l i magest hi ss pr e XV426car r yi ngadr i l l weaponl oad.
boutt o br eaki nt o t he 56( F )S quadr on atRAFWat t i s ham. i r cr af tont heAS Pi s r eyGhos t ”XV474)
l yar med XV490s i t s F Wat t i s ham “Q r af ti si n “Del t a” f i t r el i ne f uelt ank f or t he I cel and F ar oes
n Qui ck React i on t t i s ham.T heai r cr ew s i t i onedatt hebas e yf oras cr ambl e.
r eadDaveGl edhi l l
RAFGer manyal s ohel dai r cr af tatr eadi nes sf ori mmedi at el aunch,j us tas i nt heUKwi t hQRA( Qui ckReact i onAl er t ) ,butcal l edBat t l eF l i ght . T her ewer et woai r cr af ti nt wohar denedai r cr af ts hel t er s ,onef r om each s quadr on,19 and 92.T hey wer es i debys i de on t he 19 S quadr on di s per s aland bot hwer emanned 24hour saday,365daysayearand hadt obeai r bor ne,i fr equi r ed,wi t hi nf i vemi nut esoft hehoot ergoi ngof f .
“I twasmayhem and,qui t eof t en,t hef i r s tcr ew t o checki n woul d gett he l aunch,whi ch was i nt er es t i ng.Occas i onal l ywewoul dbel aunched f ort r ai ni ngpur pos esand,f r om t i met ot i me,you woul dbel aunchedf oranonot i ceBat t l eF l i ght f i r i ng t o Aber por t h Range,Wal es .Igotone of t hos eandt hef i r s tcl uewast hewes t er l yvect or wewer egi ven,asi twasnor mal l yal wayseas t , t owar dst hebor der . “Wecl i mbed t ohei ghtand headed f ort heUK wher ewewer ej oi nedbyanot herai r cr af twhi ch woul d actasphot ochas e,t hi swasus ual l ya UKbas ed F 4, and we headed s t r ai ght t o Aber por t ht of i r e a mi s s i l e agai ns ta J i ndi vi k ai r bor net ar get . ”
Apai rof92( Eas tI ndi a)S quadr onPhant omst ax y outpas tRDAFF 100S uperS abr esatS kr yds t r up dur i ngas quadr onex change ( DaveGl edhi l l )
XV424( ofAl cockandBr ownef ame)r ef uel sf r om aVC10t ankerovert heS out hAt l ant i c.T heai r cr af tw
By1983, whent hi spi ct ur ewast aken, i twasqui t e XV466f l i esovert he Ar ct i c Ci r cl e dur i ng an ai r r ar et os eeagr een/ gr eycamoj etwi t ht heRWR def ence ex er ci s e f r om Kef l avi k ai r bas e modi f i cat i on and RWR chequer boar ds s i nce ( DaveGl edhi l l ) mos t had al r eady been pai nt ed i nt he ai r def encegr ey ( PaulF i l mer )
wasr et ur ni ngt oUKf r om t heF al kl andI s l andsf ors er vi ci ng ( DaveGl edhi l l )
XV408i nt hecommemor at i ve“
Al lgood f unand ex cel l entt r ai ni ng,butwhati f t hebal l oonhadgoneup?Wast hats omet hi ng t hatt he cr ewsdar ed t hi nk about ? Di dt hey wonderhow t heyandt hei rai r cr af twoul dhave per f or med?
qui ckl y. It hi nk we woul d have f i r ed ever y avai l abl e mi s s i l e and t hen, what ever and whoeverwasl ef twoul d have r et ur ned t ot he UK,s owewer en’ tex pect i ngt ol as tver yl ong!
“As f or t he UK, t hat woul d have been “It hi nkt hatvar i ed,dependi ngonwhet heryou dependant on whet her t he conf l i ct went wer epos t edi nt heUKorGer many.F ort hel at t er , nucl ear ,buti fi thadn’ t ,t hen It hi nkwe woul d we ex pect ed t he S ovi etf or cest o mar ch ont o have s t ood f i r mf ormuchl onger ,ast he s et up t he Channelpor t si n about48 hour s ,s o Wes t wasqui t er obus tdur i ngt heCol dWar . ” Ger manywoul d have been r ol l ed overpr et t y
e“Bl ueDi amonds ”col ours chemet o“cel ebr at e”t hes quadr ondi s bandmenti n1992 ( L i nds ayPeacock)
T heEndoft heRoad
andr emai ns ,hugel ychar i s mat i c,t hough.I twas af ant as t i cai r cr af tt obei nvol vedwi t handi t ’ sa g r e a t s h a me t h a t t h e r e a r e n ’ t mo r e p r e s e r v e d i n Asf ort hePhant om,s hewasr et i r ed f r om Royal he UK – whi ch i swhy we ar e now t r yi ng t o Ai rF or ces er vi cei n1992,and,des pi t ei tbei nga t ur et hatXV582‘ Bl ackMi ke’ ,cur r ent l yatRAF hugel os si nt er msoft hes i ghtands oundofwhat ens L e u c h a r s , i s mo v e d t o B r u n t i n g t h o r p e and i sabonaf i deavi at i oncl as s i c,Davef eel si twas s aved. t her i ghtdeci s i on,oper at i onal l y. “It hi nkt heai r cr af thadhadi t sdaybyt henand had been s uper s eded.T he F 4 Phant om was ,
XV486f l i esove
Checkoutht t p: / / www. br i t i s hphant omavi at i ongr oup. co. uk/f ormor ei nf or mat i onont hi s ,and ot her , pr es er vat i onef f or t s . “Asf orme,If eelhonour edt ohavebeeni nvol vedwi t ht heai r cr af tandwi l lneverf or getmyt i meon t he Phant om.I tmi ghthave been hotand uncomf or t abl e,butt he memor i esar e near l yal lgood ones . ” Gar et hSt r i ngerwoul dl i ke t ot hankDave Gl edhi l lf orhi st i me.Hi sexcel l entbook,‘ T he Phant om i n F ocus :ANavi gat or ' sEyeonBr i t ai n' sCol dWarWar r i or ’andhi sf i r s tnovel ,‘ Def ect or ’ ,canbepur chas ed bycl i cki ngont hecoveri magest ot hel ef t .Hi snewes twor k,‘ F i ght er sOvert heF al kl ands :Def endi ng t heI s l ander s ' WayofL i f e’ ,wi l lbepubl i s hedon1November .
veraNor wegi anf j or dwhi l s toper at i ngf r om S t avanger/ S ol adur i ngEx er ci s eWhi s keyT r ol l( DaveGl edhi l l )
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