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Hunt erFl i ghtAcademy
USMC Expedi t i onar yFor ce
Ki nch Avi at i on
How YOU coul df l yWV318
HMM268( REI N)
Bi zj etser vi ces
Heavyl i f t i ngi nt heci t y-wi t h hel i copt er s!
PLUS:
RoyalThaiAi rFor ceMuseum Schnei derTr ophy80t h Anni ver sar y
Taki ngFli ghtSi mulati ontonew hei ghts
CO N T E N T S I NS I DEI S S UE1 SCHNEI DER TROPHY 80t hANNI VERSARY Thomas Pi t t s r epor t s f r om t he c el ebr at or yev ent satL eeonSol entt o c ommemor at et he80t hanni v er s ar yof Gr eat Br i t ai n’ s t hi r d c ons ec ut i v e v i c t or yi nt heSc hnei derAi rRac et hat meantt he RAF’ s Hi gh Speed Fl i ght c l ai medt het r ophyper manent l y .
HMM268 & THE 11t h MARI NEEXPEDI TI ONARY UNI T PaulDunn r epor t sf r om MCAS Camp Pendl et on,Cal i f or ni a,asHMM268and t he 11t h Mar i ne Ex pedi t i onar y Uni t wor k s up f or an out of ar ea depl oy ment .
HUNTER ACADEMY
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Gar et h St r i nger v i s i t st he Cot s wol d Ai r por tt omeetCol i nBoy d,new owner ofHawk erHunt erWV318whoi sal s o t heman pl anni ng on gi v i ng YOU t he c hanc et of l yher .
I NTRODUCI NG JUST FLI GHT - The Si mul at i on Speci al i st s Whet hery ou’ r eaf l i ghts i m ex per tornew t ot hewonder f ulwor l doff l y i ngf r om t hec omf or t ofy ourownhome,J us tFl i ghthasev er y t hi ngy ouneedt ogety ous t ar t edorenhanc et he ex per i enc e.GAM gav eJ us tFl i ghtt heoppor t uni t yt ot el lusmor eandt heygav ey ou20% of f !
A10C THUNDERBOLT I IFROM THECOCKPI T Gar et hSt r i ngert al k st oCaptJ oe‘ Ri f l e’ Shet t er l y , Wes t Coas t A10 Demons t r at i on Team Pi l ot , about f l y i ngt he‘ Hawg’ .
HELI COPTER LI FTI NG I N THECI TY RobEdgc umbeheadsouti nt oChi c ago t o l ear n about t he ar t of ur ban hel i c opt erl i f t i ng.
KI NCH AVI ATI ON SERVI CES Gl ennBeas l eyv i s i t sKASatDonc as t er Shef f i el d Robi n Hood Ai r por tt of i nd outal laboutt hi s bl os s omi ng bi z j et s er v i c ec ent r e.
THE ROYAL THAIAI R FORCEMUSEUM PaulDunn t r av el st o Don Muang Ai r For c eBas ei nBangk okt oex pl or et hi s s pl endi d mus eum dedi c at ed t ot he hi s t or yoft heRoy alThaiAi rFor c e.
S c hnei derT r ophy80t h Anni v er s a r yCel ebr a ons
ThomasPi t t sl ook sbac katt hehi s t or yoft hef amousSc hnei derTr ophyAi rRac easauni que ev entmar k st he80t hanni v er s ar yofBr i t ai n' sr ec or dbr eak i ngt hi r dc ons ec ut i v ewi n. ( I mageSt eveSi nt on)
On Dec ember 5t h 1912 t he Coupe d' Av i at i on Mar i t i meJ ac quesSc hnei der( Sc hnei derTr ophy )was announc ed asa c ont es tf ors eapl anest hatwoul d s uppor tt het ec hni c aldev el opmentofc i v i lav i at i oni n t hos eear l ypi oneer i ngy ear sbef or et heFi r s tWor l d War .Fr enc h av i at i on pi oneer J ac ques Sc hnei der of f er edapr i z ef ort hewi nnerof£1000andat r ophy ofs i mi l arv al ue. The t r ophy was adopt ed and s uper v i s ed by t he Fédér at i on Aér onaut i que I nt er nat i onal e( FAI )and t heAer oCl uboft hehos tnat i on. The c ont es twasr un on a t i me t r i albas i sov era t r i angul arc our s ewi t hami ni mum di s t anc eof240k m ( l at er i nc r eas ed t o 350k m) . The ai r c r af tt hat c ompl et ed t he c our s ei nt he f as t es tt i me was deemedt hewi nneroft het r ophyandt hewi nni ng Aer oCl ubc l ai medt her i ghtt ohos tt henex tr ac e. TheFAIl at eri nt r oduc edr egul at i onst hatt es t ednot onl yt he s peed oft he ai r c r af tbutt he ai r and
s eawor t hi nes soft he des i gns ,f orex ampl e one of t hes et es t si nc l udedaf l oatt es t ,wher ebyt heai r c r af t hadt or emai ni nt hewat erf ors i xhour spr i ort ot he r ac eands uf f ert hewei ghtpenal t ydur i ngt her ac ei f t he f l oat sorhul ls pr ung a l eakand t ookon any wat er . The Sc hnei der Tr ophy was c ont es t ed on t wel v e oc c as i onsbet ween1913and1931wi t has i xy ear gapduet ot heFi r s tWor l dWar .The1919r es ul twas deemedv oi daf t ert her ac ewi nni ngI t al i ant eam was di s qual i f i ed. Ov er t hos e ei ght een y ear s , t he Sc hnei derTr ophy at t r ac t ed ent r i esf r om t he Aer o Cl ubs of Gr eat Br i t ai n, Fr anc e, I t al y , Spai n, Swi t z er l and, Bel gi um and t he Uni t ed St at es of Amer i c a. TheSc hnei derTr ophyal s oat t r ac t edas mal lnumber ofwel l k nownav i at or sf r om t heabov enat i ons ,wi t h t hemos tnot abl enamesont heent r yl i s t si nc l udi ng Rol l and Gar r osc ompet i ng f orFr anc ei nt he 1913 r ac eand1s tL i eut enantJ amesH Dool i t t l ewhowon
Mor eGl obalAvi at i onRes our c e ar t i cl eson compet i t i on f l yi ng
The Schnei der Tr ophy on di spl ay atThe Sci ence Museum ( Huw Hopki ns)
Thel i stofwi nni ngnat i ons,ai r cr af t ,pi l ot sandspeedsi sasf ol l ows:
HMM268a ndt he11t hMa r i ne E x pediona r yUni t
Thedoc t r i neoft heUSMar i neCor psi sf oundedont hedepl oy mentofamul t i f ac et edt as k f or c e,c apabl eofc onduc t i ngawi dev ar i et yofoper at i ons .Thi sf or c er out i nel yt ak est hef or m ofa Mar i ne Ex pedi t i onar y Uni t( MEU) .Cont i nui ng GAR' ss er i es aboutUS Mar i ne Cor ps ai r power ,PaulDunnj our ney st oCampPendl et on,Cal i f or ni a,t ov i s i tHMM268( REI N)ast he ' RedDr agons 'pr epar et oembar kont hei rf i r s tMEUdepl oy menti nadec ade. I ' v edr i v en al ongt heI 5f r om L osAngel est oSan Di egomanyt i mesov ert hel as tc oupl eofy ear s .The r oad s k i r t st he Cal i f or ni ac oas t l i ne and pas s est he edgeoft hemas s i v eUSMar i neCor psbas eatCamp Pendl et on.Ev er yt i meIdr i v epas tt her es eemst obe s omet hi ngi nt er es t i nghappeni ngwi t hi nv i ew oft he r oad,be i tar mour ed v ehi c l esmanoeuv r i ng i nt he f i el ds ,hel i c opt er spi c k i ng up t r oopsoroc c as i onal gl i mps es oft he Nav y ' sL CAC hov er c r af t on t he s hor el i ne.ForCampPendl et oni samas s i v emi l i t ar y i ns t al l at i onc ov er i ng125, 000ac r eswhi c hpr ov i desa bas ef ort hebul kofIMar i neEx pedi t i onar yFor c e( I MEF) ,t hepar entuni tofmos tUSMC as s et sont he Wes tCoas t .Ass uc h,i ti shomet ot hef ul ls pec t r um ofMar i neCor psas s et s ,i nc l udi ngi nf ant r y ,ar t i l l er y , ar mour eduni t sandamphi bi ousv ehi c l es . I n addi t i on,t her ei s an ai rs t at i on ( MCAS Camp Pendl et on,al s ok nown asMunn Fi el d) ,homet oa t ot alofni nes quadr onsofhel i c opt er s .Al loft hes e uni t sar eas s i gnedt oMAG39,oneoft hef our
CH46Es on t he HMM268 f l i ghtl i ne atMCAS Camp Pendl et on
c omponentuni t soft he 3r d Mar i ne Ai r c r af tWi ng. Al ong wi t h MAG16,MAG39 pr ov i desr ot ar y wi ng as s aul ts uppor tf or I MEF.Today I am v i s i t i ng MAG39 t os ee how t he end ofOper at i on I r aqi Fr eedom hasaf f ec t edt heoper at i onsofoneofi t s c omponentuni t si npar t i c ul ar .
Mor eGl obalAvi at i onRes our c e ar t i cl eson t heUS Mar i neCor ps
Themi ght yCH53Epr ovi desheavyl i f tcapabi l i t yf ort heMEU.Nor mal l yassi gnedt oHMM462atMi r amar ,t hi si s oneoff oursuchai r cr af tf or mi ngpar tofHMM268( REI N)
The maj or i t y of t he Gr oup' s s quadr ons ar e des i gnat ed HML A( Mar i neL i ghtAt t ac kHel i c opt er ) and oper at ev er s i onsoft he Bel lAH1 and UH1. Mos toft hes es quadr ons ar ei nt he pr oc es s of upgr adi ng f r om t he UH1N Huey and AH1W Super c obr at ot heUH1YVi perandAH1ZVenom r es pec t i v el y ,amov ewhi c hr epr es ent sahuges t ep upi nc apabi l i t yf ort hel i ghtat t ac kc ommuni t y . The AH1Z i st he l at es tv er s i on of an at t ac k hel i c opt er whi c h has bec ome a Mar i ne Cor ps s t al war ts i nc eear l yv er s i onsent er eds er v i c ei nt he ear l y1970s .Thec ur r entAH1W Super c obr af l eet wasdel i v er edi nt he1980sandhass eenpl ent yof ac t i ons i nc e,bei ngi nv ol v edi nev er yc onf l i c tt hatt he Mar i neCor pshast ak enpar ti ndur i ngt hatper i od. Wheni tc amet or epl ac i ngt hef l eet ,des pi t es ome i nt er es ti nanav al i s edApac he,i twasdec i dedt hat t hebes topt i onwast opr oc ur eanupgr adedv er s i on oft heAH1,t er medt heAH1Z. The mos tc ons pi c uous c hange f r om t he or i gi nal AH1i sanew f ourbl adedr ot orandt r ans mi s s i on s y s t em.The new s y s t em hasf ewerpar t sand i s madef r om c ompos i t emat er i al s ,r es ul t i ngi nbet t er per f or manc e,l es sv i br at i on and a l owerac ous t i c s i gnat ur e.L es sobv i ousar ehugei mpr ov ement si n t heav i oni c si nc l udi ng amuc h enhanc ed t ar get i ng s y s t em and hel metmount ed di s pl ay s .The AH1Z wasdec l ar edc ombatr eadyi nSept ember2010wi t h t hef l eett oc ons i s tofac ombi nat i onofnew bui l d hel i c opt er s and AH1Ws upgr aded t ot he new s t andar d.
The AH1W Super cobr ai s a Mar i ne Cor ps l egend, cur r ent l ybei ngr epl acedbyt heupgr adedAH1Z Vi per . Thi sSuper cobr ai sf r om HMLA369Gunf i ght er s
When HMM268( REI N)set soutwi t ht he 11t h MEU,i t wi l lmar kt hef i r stdepl oymentoft heAH1Z Vi per
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Oneoft heUK’ sbes tk nownandmos tpopul arc l as s i cj et shasanewownerandnex ty earYOU c oul df l yher .Gar et hSt r i ngert r av el l edt oTheCot s wol dAi r por tt ol ear nmor eaboutt heHunt er Fl i ghtAc ademyandT. 7AWV318. Ther e has c er t ai nl y been one not abl e ai r c r af t mi s s i ngf r om t hi sy ear ’ sc ommemor at i onst omar k t heHawk erHunt er ’ s60t hbi r t hday .Wear es ol uc k y i nt he UK t os ee Team Vi perand i t ss el ec t i on of Hunt er s , J onat hon Whal ey ’ s s t unni ng Mi s s Demeanourand wewer ebl es s ed wi t hv i s i t sf r om bot hDut c handSwi s sex ampl est hi ss eas on,butt he j et i n ques t i on, WV318 ( GFFOX on t he c i v i l r egi s t er ) ,r emai nedf i r ml yont hegr ound. Ther ei snot hi ngwr ongwi t ht heai r c r af tatal l ,i nf ac t s hei s100% ai r wor t hy ,buts hehasbeent hr ougha c hange of owner s hi p f ol l owi ng Del t a J et s ’ unf or t unat edemi s eands adl yt hatmeantt hats he wasunabl et o appeari n 2011 – notev en ather homeev ent ,TheCot s wol dAi r s how,bac ki nJ une. Thatal lc hangedatTheCot s wol dAi r por t ’ sBat t l eof Br i t ai n Ai r s how i n Sept ember ,howev er ,when,on t heSundaymor ni ng,s hewast owedoutf r om her hangars ov i s i t or st ot hes how c oul dt ak eac l os er l ook at one of t he ai r f i el d’ s mos tr ec ogni s abl e r es i dent s . Thebi gges tpor t i onofWV318’ ss er v i c el i f es aw t he ai r c r af ti n al ong r el at i ons hi p wi t h t he RAF’ s Buc c aneerf or c easat r ai ni ngai r c r af t ,f i t t edwi t ha hal fandhal fHunt er/Buc c aneerc oc k pi t .Shehad mov edt o12Squadr onear l yi n1970andt henwent on t o per f or m i nas i mi l arr ol e wi t h XV and 16 Squadr ons ,t henpar tofRoy alAi rFor c eGer many ,
bef or e f i nal l y f i ni s hi ng her c ar eer at RAF L os s i emout hont hebook sof208Squadr on. Att hatt i me WV318 was one oft he RAF’ sl as t r emai ni ngHunt er sand,j us tpr i ort or et i r ementand di s pos al ,t hej etr ec ei v edabl ac kpai nts c heme,as di dt he ot her t hr ee Hunt er s whi c hr emai ned at L os s i emout h,i nc ommemor at i on oft he t y pe’ s40 y ear sofRAFs er v i c e.Eac hai r c r af twasal s oador ned wi t ht he111Squadr on( Bl ac kAr r ows )c r es t .Del t a J et sac qui r ed WV318 ear l yi n 1996 and s he was del i v er ed,byai r ,t o Kembl ef oran ov er haul .May 1996s aw herf l yagai nand,unt i lr ec ent l yandwi t h j us toneot herbr eakf ormai nt enanc ei n2006,s he hadbeenar egul aront heUKai r s how c i r c ui t ,mor e of t ent hannoti nt hehandsoff or merRedAr r owand J aguardi s pl aypi l otAndyCubi n.
WV318 at Manst on i n 1993 wear i ng t he bl ack r et i r ementscheme( Li ndsayPeacock)
WV318hasbeenar egul arpar t i ci pantatKembl e/ Cot swol dAi r por tevent s( Al lphot ost hi spageKar lDr age)
Or i gi nal l y ,WV318hadac t ual l ybeendel i v er edt o5MUatRAFKembl e,now t heCot s wol dAi r por tofc our s e,i n J uneof1955asas i ngl es eatHunt erF. 4.Theai r c r af twentont os er v ewi t hbot h14and93Squadr onsbut anac c i dent ,i nMar c h1956,r es ul t edi nt hej etbei ngr et ur nedt oHawk ers ot hatr epai rwor kc oul dbec ar r i ed out . Whi l eatHawk er ,t hedec i s i onwast ak ent oc onv er theri nt oat wos eat ,dual c ont r olT. 7,ands heev ent ual l y r ej oi nedac t i v eRAFs er v i c ei nJ une1959,oper at i ngwi t ht hef amous111Squadr onands ubs equent l yt he Cent r alFl y i ngSc hool .Conv er s i ont oT. 7A,whi c hs aw t hei nc l us i onofaL i ght ni ngc oc k pi t ,wasc ar r i edouti n 1964,ands hewentont of i ndus easbot ht r ai ni ngai r c r af tands quadr onhac kby74and5Squadr ons ,bot h ofwhi c hwer eoper at i ngt heL i ght ni ngatt hatt i me,bef or ehermov et o12Squadr oni n1970.
Mor eGl obalAvi at i onRes our c e ar t i cl eson t heHawkerHunt er
A10CT hunder bol tI I -f r om t hec oc k pi t
( I mageKar lDr age)
Wi t ht heUSAF’ sA10Wes tCoas tDemons t r at i onTeam v i s i t i ngt heRoy alI nt er nat i onalAi r Tat t ooatRAFFai r f or d,Gar et hSt r i ngergr abbedt heoppor t uni t yt os i tdownwi t hdi s pl aypi l ot CaptJ oe‘ Ri f l e’Shet t er l yf orac hataboutt heWar t hog–f i x edwi ngav i at i on’ sul t i mat ec l os e ai rs uppor tpl at f or m.I magesasc r edi t ed. Rel at i v el yf ew ai r c r af tc an j us t i f i abl yc l ai m i c oni c s t at usbut ,hav i ngr emai nedoneoft heUni t edSt at es Ai rFor c e’ s mos tr el i abl e,and ef f ec t i v e,s pec i al i s t weaponspl at f or msf orwel lov er30y ear s ,t heA10 maywel lbepus hi ngf ori nc l us i on;es pec i al l yast he j etc oul ds eeac t i v es er v i c ef ormuc hoft henex tt wo dec ades-atl eas t . Thehi ghmount edengi nes ,t hos ebi gs t r ai ghtwi ngs , t he unmi s t ak eabl e GAU8 Av enger c annon, t he di s t i nc t i v e whi ne ofi t s Gener alEl ec t r i ct ur bof an power pl ant sandofc our s et hef ac tt hat‘ TheHog’
was bas ed her ei nt he UK f or many y ear s at Woodbr i dge,Bent wat er sand Al c onbur y .Al lt hes e f ac t or sc ombi net omak et heA10anai r c r af twhi c h peopl ear ef ami l i arwi t hand,i fi t ’ st hec or r ec twayof ex pr es s i ng i t , al mos tf eel s ome af f ec t i on f or . “ You’ v egot t al ov et heA10”wasonof tov er hear d phr as ei nt he r un up t o,and dur i ng,RI AT 2011 t hat ’ sf ors ur e. Thataf f ec t i on wasc l ear l y demons t r at ed when i t wasannounc edt hatt heA10woul dbeappear i ngat t he s how and,hav i ng f l own i nv i aac ommer c i al
“ Idon’ tt hi nkIr eal l ypr oc es s edt hepopul ar i t yoft he ai r c r af ther ei nt heUKunt i lImetpeopl eandt al k ed t ot hem af t erf l y i ngademoatt hes how, ”hes ay s . “ The USAF has wor k ed v er yc l os el y wi t h Br i t i s h gr oundc ont r ol l er sandJ TACs( J oi ntTac t i c alAi r c r af t Cont r ol l er s ) bot hi nt r ai ni ng and i n pr ac t i c ei n Af ghani s t an and i t ’ sobv i oust hatt hey appr ec i at e whatwedo,andv i c ev er s a,buti t ’ sbeengr eatt o c omeher et omeett hegener alpubl i cands eehow ex c i t edt heyar eaboutt hej et . ” Above - The Nor t hr op YA9 was devel oped f or t he Uni t edSt at esAi rFor ceAX pr ogr ammebutl ostoutt o t heFai r chi l dRepubl i cYA10( PaulDunn)
Above -I nt er est i ng spi nach and sand col our son t hi s A10,seen on t he t ype’ sf i r stoper at i onalvi si tt o UK shor es( Li ndsayPeacock)
Above - Boss Bi r d oft he 10t h TFW based at RAF Al conbur y,wear i ng t he ‘ l i zar d col our scheme’( Li ndsay Peacock)
r out eandus i ngai r c r af tc our t es yoft he81s tFS,52nd FW,bas edatSpangdahl em AFB i nGer many ,Capt J oe‘ Ri f l e’Shet t er l y ’ sdi s pl ay sc apt i v at edt hec r owds at RAF Fai r f or d wi t har out i ne s howc as i ng t he at t r i but eswhi c hc ont i nuet omak et heA10s uc han ef f ec t i v eas s et .
TheA10wasbor nasar es ul tofapr ogr ammes etup byt heUSAFasf arbac kas1966andt i t l edAt t ac k Ex per i ment al( AX) .I t sai m wast oi nv es t i gat et he des i gnandpr oc ur ementofal owc os tat t ac kai r c r af t t of ol l ow i nt hef oot s t epsoft heA1Sk y r ai der ,whi c h oper at ed wi t h gr eat s uc c es s ov er Vi et nam. I n addi t i on t oc os t ef f ec t i v enes s ,k ey r equi r ement s wer e l ong l oi t er t i me on s t at i on, l ow s peed manoeuv r abi l i t y , ex t r eme s ur v i v abi l i t y and s i gni f i c ant c annonbas ed f i r epower . The or i gi nal s pec i f i c at i onc al l edf orac os tofl es st han$3mi l l i on perai r c r af t . Thes e s pec i f i c at i ons wer e amended i n 1970, howev er ,whent hes i z eandc apabi l i t yoft heSov i et Uni on’ sgr oundf or c esandar mourbec amec l ear ,as di dt he need f or al l weat her oper at i ons .I twas s pec i f i ed att hi spoi ntt hatt he ai r c r af ts houl d be bas ed ar ound a 30mm c annon wi t h a max i mum s peed of460mph,a t ak eof fdi s t anc e of4000f t , weaponsl oadof16, 000l bs ,ac ombatr adi usofj us t under300mi l esandauni tc os tofj us t$1. 4mi l l i on. TheAX woul dbet hef i r s tUSAFai r c r af tdes i gned s ol el yf orc l os eai rs uppor t . Hal fadoz enmanuf ac t ur er ss ubmi t t edpr opos al st o t heUSAFandt wower es el ec t edwhi c hwoul dgoon t obui l dpr ot ot y pes .Nor t hr opandFai r c hi l dRepubl i c woul d wor kon bui l di ng t hei rr es pec t i v e YA9 and YA10des i gnat eddes i gns ,whi l eGener alEl ec t r i cand Phi l c oFor dwoul dbui l dandt es tt heGAU8pr ot ot y pe c annon,t her equi r ementf orwhi c hwasa4000r ound permi nut er at eoff i r e. TheYA10A f i r s tf l ew on t he10t h May1972and, f ol l owi ng t r i al s and a c ompet i t i v e /c ompar at i v e f l y of fagai ns tt heYA9A,i twasannounc edbyUSAF ont he18t hJ anuar y1973t hatt heFai r c hi l dRepubl i c ai r c r af twoul d ent erpr oduc t i on.Gener alEl ec t r i c , meanwhi l e,won t he c ompet i t i on t o pr oduc et he
Mor eGl obalAvi at i onRes our c e i nt er vi ewswi t h di spl aypi l ot s
Hel i c opt erL ii ng i nt heCi t y
A Mi dwestHel i copt er sS58Ti ndownt ownChi cago
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Ther ear emanydr amat i cusesf orhel i copt er s.Onet hati snotonl yexci t i ngt owat ch buti sal somor el i kel yt obeseenbyl ot sofpeopl ei st hel i f t i ngofequi pmentont o t her oofofbui l di ngsi naci t ycent r e.RobEdgcumber epor t sf r om Chi cago. Us i ng a hel i c opt ert ol i f tequi pmentand mat er i al mi ghts eem l i k e an ex pens i v e way t o do t he j ob c ompar edt oac r ane.I nc er t ai nc i r c ums t anc es ,t hat wi l lbet hec as e.Howev er ,i fy ouar eoper at i ngi na bus y ar ea,on a v er y hi gh l oc at i on orj us thav e mul t i pl el oads t o di f f er entl oc at i ons on a r oof ,a hel i c opt erc anac t ual l ymak eal otofs ens e. Chi c agoi sac i t yt hatwi t nes s esal otofhel i c opt er l i f t i ng. Ast hehomeoft hes k y s c r aper ,t her ear e pl ent yofbui l di ngst hatar et oohi ght oc ont empl at e t heus eofac r ane.Ev enont hel owerbui l di ngs ,i ti s of t enc heapert obr i ngi nahel i c opt er .L ar gec r anes ar eex pens i v et or entandt heyr equi r ec ar ef ul s etup. They hav et o be per manent l ys t af f ed and t ak i ng t hem apar ti sj us tass l ow. Al loft hi sr equi r esa s t r eett obepar t l yort ot al l yc l os edof fandt hec i t y c har gesal otofmoneyf ort hat . Ahel i c opt erl i f tc anbeac c ompl i s hedi nl es st hanan hourf ormos tj obsandt hec os tf r om t hec i t yf ort he br i efs t r eetc l os ur esi smuc hl ower .Cons equent l y ,i t t endst o be t he pr ef er r ed met hod. Ther e ar ea numberofc ompani est hatoper at ei nt hef i el dandi n Chi c agot hr eec ompani esar el i k el yt obec andi dat es . Whaty ouwantt ol i f twi l lbeabi gf ac t ori nwhoy ou hi r e.
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As t eadyf l ow ofbus i nes sj et shav ebeenar r i v i ngatRobi nHoodDonc as t erShef f i el dAi r por t f orwel lov eray earnow,f ort heat t ent i onofKi nc hAv i at i onSer v i c es .Gl ennBeas l eyv i s i t ed t hi si nc r eas i ngl ybus ybus i nes sf orGl obalAv i at i onMagaz i ne. Ki nc hAv i at i onSer v i c esr es i desi nHangar2atRobi nHoodDonc as t erShef f i el dAi r por thav i ngmadet hemov e f r om Gams t onAi r por t ,Not t i nghams hi r e,i near l y2010.Thec ompanyi soneofonl yt hr eeaut hor i s eds er v i c e c ent r esi nt heUK,s pec i al i s i ngi nt heCes s naCi t at i onc or por at ebus i nes sj et ,whi l eKi nc hal s ol ook saf t ert he Hawk erBeec hc r af tKi ngAi rt ur bopr op. Es t abl i s hedi n1997byownerPaulKi nc h,t hec ompanyempl oy sar ound15per manents uppor ts t af fand appr ent i c es ,hi ghl ys k i l l edt hr oughei t hermanuf ac t ur er s 'r ec ommendedc our s et y pet r ai ni ngorRAFengi neer t r ai ni ng.Thees t abl i s hmentoft hec ompanyatRobi n Hood haspr ov i ded f ors ome675 ai r c r af tpas s i ng t hr ought hehangari nt hel as tc al endary ear ,f r om ar oundt heUK,Eur ope,Amer i c aandRus s i a. The spaci oushome ofKi nch Avi at i on Ser vi cesi sHangar2 att he f or merRAF Fi nni ngl ey si t e,now Robi n Hood Doncast erShef f i el dAi r por t
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Whi l s tt oughec onomi ct i mesofl at ehav el edt oa dec l i nei nt hes al esofnew pr i v at ej et s ,t hemar k et f ort hemai nt enanc e,r epai rands er v i c i ngofex i s t i ng j et shasi nc r eas ed,wi t h many mor e now on t he s ec ond hand mar k et .A t y pi c al l y bus y Fr i day af t er noon i si n pr ogr es s as Iar r i v et o meetEd Gr i f f i t h,Mai nt enanc eManager ,and J ezMi ddel t on, Tec hni c alSuppor tManager ,t of i ndoutmor eabout t hebus i nes s . Hav i ng ac hi ev ed t he s t at us ofa f ul l y aut hor i s ed Ces s naCi t at i onAut hor i s edSer v i c eCent r ei n2008, t he c ompany hasf ul lEASA ( Eur opean Ai rSaf et y Agenc y )Par t145appr ov alont heCi t at i onandKi ng Above -BeechKi ngAi r sr ecei vi ngmai nt enancei nsi de Ai rasJ ezex pl ai ns ." We’ r enow al lundert hes ame Hangar2 umbr el l a of EASA. So t he t heor yi st hat t he mai nt enanc es t andar ds her e ar et he s ame as ev er y wher ei n Eur ope.The145i st hepar toft he r egul at i onst hatr ef er st ot he mai nt enanc e.So i n s i mpl et er msi t ’ sourgar age c er t i f i c at ef ordoi ng mai nt enanc e;wear eappr ov edt oc ar r youtwor kt he Eur opeans t andar df ort hos eai r c r af tt hatwehav eon ourappr ov al . " Themai nt enanc ec y c l ef oreac h modelofCi t at i on di f f er sanddependsuponanumberoff ac t or s ,t hes e i nc l udi ng hour s ,l andi ngs and annual c al endar i mpos ed c hec k s .Ty pi c al l yt hi sc y c l ei s bet ween 150300 hour s . The Ki ng Ai rs er v i c ec y c l ei s s omewhat di f f er ent wi t hf our ‘ phas es ’t hat ar e c ompl et edev er yt wohundr edhour soratl eas tone phas eonc eay ear .Al lf ours houl dbec ompl et edi n t he t wo y earper i od.J ezal s o ex pl ai nsa c onc ept c al l edMS3L ogi c ,whi c hbas i c al l yl ook st or educ et he numberofhour sofmai nt enanc er equi r ed and i s c oor di nat edbyamai nt enanc es t eer i nggr oupi nt he USA.I nf or mat i oni sdownl oadedi nt oadat abas ef or eac hai r c r af tandev al uat ed,al l owi ngadec i s i ont obe madeonwhatwor kneedst obec ar r i edoutandt he f r equenc y of t hat wor k ,r at her t han ‘ bl ank et ’ mai nt enanc ebei ng per f or med ev er yt i meon eac h ai r c r af t .
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Av i at i onmus eumsar emuc hr ar eri nAs i at hani nEur opeandt heUS,bei ngmai nl yl i mi t edt o nat i onalc ol l ec t i ons .Oneoft hel onges tes t abl i s hedandmos ti nt er es t i ngoft hes ei st heRoy al ThaiAi rFor c eMus eum atDonMuangABi nt henor t her ns ubur bsoft heThaic api t alBangk ok . PaulDunnv i s i t sf orGAM. TheRoy alThaiAi rFor c ei soneoft heol des tai rar ms i n Sout hEas tAs i a,t r ac i ng i t shi s t or ybac kt ot he es t abl i s hmentoft heAr myAv i at i onUni ti n1913at Sr a Pat hum Ai r f i el d, a f or mer r ac ec our s e. The s wampyl andatSr aPat hum waspoor l ys ui t edf or oper at i onss ot henas c entav i at i onc omponentwas mov edt oDonMuangi n1915. Today ,t heRTAFc ont i nuest ooper at ef r om t heeas t s i de ofDon Muang,wi t ht he wes ts i de bei ng a c ommer c i alai r por t .Upunt i lt heopeni ngoft henew Suv ar nabhumiAi r por ti n 2006,Don Muang was Bangk ok ’ s mai ni nt er nat i onalai r por t ;now i tonl y s eesdomes t i cs er v i c es . DonMuangi shomet ot heRTAFheadquar t er sand al s ot he RTAF Ac ademy .Fl y i ng uni t sc ons i s tof t r ans por tandVI Ps quadr onsoper at i ngav ar i et yof t y pes ,i nc l udi ngt heC130Her c ul es .Ther ei sal s oan aggr es s ors quadr onf l y i ngt heF5E.
Gi v ent hel ongoc c upat i onoft heai r f i el dbyt heRTAF, i ti sa f i t t i ng l oc at i on f ort he RTAF’ sc ol l ec t i on of hi s t or i cai r c r af t .Ac qui s i t i onofai r c r af tandar t ef ac t s f ort hemus eum begani n1952,butt hes i t edi dnot open t ot he publ i c unt i l1969 when t he pr es ent mus eum bui l di ng wasc ompl et ed.Todayt heRTAF Mus eum s t andsoutasamaj orc ol l ec t i onofai r c r af t , whi c hi nc l udess omeex t r emel yr ar et y peswhi c har e nott obef oundi nanyot hermus eumswor l dwi de. Ent r anc ei nt ot hemus eum i sf r om t hebus yPhahon Yot hi n Road, and t he f r ont of t he mus eum i s domi nat ed bya l ar ge s t at ue ofFi el d Mar s hal lHi s Roy alHi ghnes sPr i nc eChak r abongs eBhuv anar t ,one oft hef ounder soft heAr myAv i at i onUni ti n1913and a huge i nf l uenc e on t he ear l y dev el opment of av i at i oni nThai l and.Thes t at uei sf l ank edbyapai r ofNor t hr opF5Fr eedom Fi ght er s ,at y peoper at ed byt heRTAFf ormanyy ear s .Oneoft hes ei sanF5B modelc ar r y i ngas pec i alr et i r ementc ol ours c hemet o
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