Aviation News - May 2020 UK

NEXT-GENERATION EMBRAER E-JETS
T H E PA S T, P R E S E N T A N D F U T U R E O F F L I G H T
RAF IN REVIEW
Looking to
the Future
INSIGHTS
AND
ANALYSIS
KAI TAK
FLASHBACK
1970s Hong Kong Action
HERON
EXCLUSIVE EXAMINED
Long-lasting Feederliner
AIR NEW ZEALAND

MAY 2020 £4.90
LAST OF
www.aviation-news.co.uk
THE VIKINGS From Southern

NASA’s S-3B Skies to the World
Gaijin_FP.indd 1 19/03/2020 09:28:28
Contents
p38
FEATURES p16 REGULARS

16 Embraer’s E-Jet E2 Family: The Next 04 Headlines
Generation
David Willis examines Embraer’s E-Jet E2 series. 06 Civil News
22 Harrier 809: Author Insights 10 Military News

Author Rowland White reveals the fascinating 14 Preservation News
discoveries he made while researching his latest
book. 58 Airshow News
26 Air New Zealand: From Southern 62 Flight Bag
Skies to the World
Patrick Boniface looks back over the history of Air 69 Register Review
New Zealand.
74 Airport Movements
32 East German MiG-21s: Cold War 78 Air Base Movements
Fishbeds Part 2
Doug Gordon concludes his review of East German
MiG-21 operations.
p22 We are able to report that, at time of
going to press, production and despatch
of our magazine is currently not affected
38 Edelweiss Air: Blooming in
Switzerland
p54 by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
We will continue to update you as best
Jozef Mols explores the history and recent operations we can should this change. Some postal
of Swiss carrier Edelweiss Air. services may be delayed.
You can keep in touch with our latest
42 The RAF’s 2020 Vision updates and see what we are doing to
Tim Ripley reports on the latest developments in the keep distribution as normal as possible by
RAF and its future plans. visiting www.keypublishing.com/FAQs.
48 Battle of Britain Fighter Squadrons:

Five of The Few
Tom Spencer explores the part five Fighter Command SUBSCRIBE
squadrons played in the historic campaign.
AND SAVE
54 More Than Just Military: Civil A subscription to Aviation News
Aircraft at Pima offers great savings on cover price.
Joe Copalman details Pima’s civil aircraft collection. See pages 20 and 21 for details.
60 Kai Tak Flashback p60
Bob O’Brien presents a selection of Kai Tak traffic Cover (main image): An RAF operated
from the 1970s. F-35B in the hover. Taff Evans. Inset
p79 (lower left): The world’s sole remaining
64 The Last Viking: NASA’s S-3B Lockheed S-3B Viking has been flying
Tom Kaminski looks at the NASA career of the final
for NASA and is soon to be retired. NASA/
Lockheed S-3B Viking in service. Raymond Rivard. Inset (lower right): One
of the 18 Boeing 777s Air New Zealand
79 de Havilland Heron: Long-lasting
has flown. AirTeamImages.com/Florent
Feederliner Lacressonniere
Charles Woodley assesses this elegant British airliner.
WWW.AVIATION-NEWS.CO.UK 3
03_contentsDC.mfDC.mf.indd 3 31/03/2020 15:35

Coronavirus Affects
HEADLINES
Aviation Worldwide
Airlines all over the world are storing aircraft because of the fall in air travel due to the
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to coronavirus. Delta Air Lines is using Victorville in California to park a large number of aircraft.
have a severe impact on all forms of AirTeamImages.com/John Kilmer
aviation. On March 24, the International
Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated up to £75m for airlines to put on special of Canada and Viking Air, suspended
that the crisis could potentially cost charter flights. This would keep the costs manufacturing of new production Dash
the industry $252bn in lost revenue – down for passengers, who were still 8-400 and Series 400 Twin Otter aircraft
eclipsing the $7bn in losses attributed to expected to pay for the tickets home. at Viking’s facilities in Victoria, British
the severe acute respiratory syndrome Several carriers have seen the crisis as Columbia and Calgary, Alberta.
(SARS) outbreak of 2002-03. Indicative of an opportunity to phase out ageing types The UK military response has included
the fall in air travel, the US Transportation in anticipation of a fallow period following the deployment of RAF helicopters to
Security Administration screened 154,000 the pandemic’s end. For example, KLM meet any requests for assistance from
passengers on March 30, 2020, compared Royal Dutch Airlines had initially planned the NHS. This comprises three Puma
to 2.36m on the same day last year. to withdraw the final seven members of HC2s at Kinloss Barracks and a Chinook
British Airways announced suspension its once 22-strong Boeing 747-400 fleet and Wildcat at RAF Leeming, Yorkshire.
of all flights to Gatwick, the UK’s second by the end of 2021, but this was brought Chinook and Wildcat helicopters normally
largest airport, on March 31. The facility forward to March 26. based at RAF Odiham and RNAS Yeovilton
closed its North Terminal from April 1 The virus has also had an effect on the respectively will support the Southern
because of the decline in demand. London aircraft manufacturing industry. Boeing areas of the UK.
City Airport had closed to airline and stopped all production in its Seattle area In addition, the virus has affected
private traffic on March 25. plants for two weeks from March 25, in part military training exercises, with Frisian
The UK government announced that to allow a deep cleaning of its facilities. The Flag in the Netherlands cancelled, Cold
it was to charter aircraft to repatriate its 787 Dreamliner plant at Charleston in South Response in Norway cut short and Joint
citizens stranded abroad by international Carolina remained open. Airbus paused Warrior 20-1 in UK waters reduced in scale.
travel restrictions and the cutting of production at its Spanish facilities on March On March 31, the government stated
commercial flights. A memorandum of 30 to comply with local restrictions on non- that their guidance on coronavirus
understanding was signed with operators essential activities. The company’s plants precluded recreational GA flying. Aircraft
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, Jet2. in France and Spain had only reopened a maintenance could continue as long as
com and Titan Airways on March 30 to help week previously after a period of closure to social distancing and cleaning protocols
bring back people from countries including implement new health and safety measures. were followed.
Pakistan, India, Turkey, the Philippines and On March 20, Longview Aviation Capital, For the latest on airshows please see
Australia. The government has allocated parent company of De Havilland Aircraft page 58. Jim Winchester
4 AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020
04-05_headlinesDC.mfDC.mf.indd 4 01/04/2020 14:30

FLRAA Contenders Selected
The Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor. Bell The Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant. Boeing
Under the next phase of its Future Long- fleet. The service announced the contracts have a maximum cruise speed of 280kts
Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) programme, on March 16, but the value was not disclosed. (519km/h) and an unrefuelled range of at
the US Army has awarded Bell and a Sikorsky- Under the earlier Joint Multi-Role least 2,440nm (4,520km).
Boeing team Competitive Demonstration Technology Demonstration (JMR-TD) The FLRAA’s missions will include air
and Risk-Reduction (CD&RR) contracts. The programme, Bell and the Sikorsky-Boeing assault, maritime interdiction, medical
risk-reduction effort will allow the two parties team designed, built, and flew their evacuation, humanitarian assistance, tactical
to refine their designs in advance of a fly-off respective V-280 Valor tiltrotor and SB-1 resupply, and combat search and rescue.
competition in 2022 that will determine Defiant compound helicopter prototypes. The US Army hopes to have its first unit
which of the rotorcraft will replace the UH- The FLRAA will deliver significantly higher equipped with FLRAA no later than 2030.
60 Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopter performance than the UH-60. It should Thomas Newdick
UK to Leave EASA Editorial

UK Transport secretary Grant Shapps airworthiness from other countries Welcome to the May issue in the most unusual
has confirmed that the UK will leave around the world. The uncertainty that of circumstances. The whole world has been
the European Aviation Safety Agency surrounded the UK’s membership of EASA massively impacted by the coronavirus and
(EASA) by the end of this year. Speaking – following the referendum decision to aviation has been hit particularly hard.
to Aviation Week while on a trip to leave the EU in 2016 – has forced many Nevertheless, we will continue to bring you the
Washington DC, the minister said airlines to transfer their crew’s licences to latest news and great articles to enjoy, but we
membership of the organisation would other European countries, including the have had to adjust the content of the issue in
end on December 31, and the UK’s Civil Republic of Ireland. a few ways. For example we have decided to
suspend the usual listings of air events, enthusiast
Aviation Authority (CAA) would take over Since the start of its official withdrawal
fairs and photoshoots as most of these are likely
its duties gradually. from the EU in January, the UK has been to be cancelled or rescheduled. However, rest
When outside of EASA membership, considered a ‘third state’ within EASA. This assured that when events are able to be held once
Shapps said the UK would seek status meant that the UK was still bound again we will resume our listings. Another change
recognition of certifications affecting by EU law but had no part in any decision- to this issue is that the double-sided RAF poster
areas such as pilot licensing and aircraft making activities. Thomas Haynes has had to be delayed to a later edition – we will
keep you updated on when it will appear. Don’t
forget that while most of us are stuck at home at
present, you can get the very latest news on our
Ex-RAF Sea King Flies Again website, Facebook page and Twitter feed.
Also, we are pleased to report that, at the time
of going to press, production and despatch of
Aviation News is currently not affected by the
ongoing pandemic, although some postal services
may be delayed. We will continue to update you
with any changes as best we can, and you can see
what we are doing to keep distribution as normal
as possible by visiting www.keypublishing.com/
FAQs.
While I’m sure most of us would prefer to be out
and about visiting airports, air bases or museums,
with restricted movement and social distancing it
is perhaps the opportunity to enjoy the hobby in
other ways. Why not use the time to catch up on
processing digital photos or logging from previous
trips? There are still plenty of ways to indulge your
passion for aviation even in these unusual times.
Enjoy the issue.
Sea King HAR3 XZ597 made its first flight post-rebuild on March 20 in the hands of Capt Steve
Daniels and owner Andrew Whitehouse at the Historic Helicopters base near Chard, Somerset.
The aircraft, which first flew at Yeovil in June 1978 and served with 22, 78, 202 and 203 Sqns
before being retired in July 2015, joined the collection in December 2017. As G-SKNG, the Dino Carrara
aircraft is the only one of its type currently flying on the civilian register, but will soon be Editor
followed by Sea King HC4, ZA314 G-CMDO. Lee Howard
04-05_headlinesDC.mfDC.mf.mf.indd 5 01/04/2020 14:43

Mitsubishi M90 Takes Flight
CIVIL NEWS
The first production standard Mitsubishi SpaceJet M90 made its maiden flight on March 18 from Nagoya, Japan. Mitsubishi Aircraft
After years of delays, Japanese aircraft hours in the air, the narrowbody returned Hiroyoshi Takase, the captain aboard
manufacturer Mitsubishi has completed safely to the airport. FTV10’s maiden flight added: “Today’s
the maiden test flight of the first Hisakazu Mizutani, president of flight test was conducted smoothly and
production standard SpaceJet M90. The Mitsubishi Aircraft, said: “I am very according to plan. The aircraft delivered
airframer used its Flight Test Vehicle 10 pleased that FTV10, which was handed on expectations and handled just as I
(FTV10) – the first of the type to be built over from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in anticipated.”
in a final, certifiable configuration – as the January this year, successfully conducted In the coming months, Mitsubishi plans
platform for the tests. its first flight today. I would like to to continue checks on FTV10 in Japan,
The aircraft, JA26MJ (c/n 10010) express my deepest gratitude to all those before preparing for a ferry flight to its
took off from Nagoya on March 18 and who are continuously supporting the Moses Lake Flight Test Center in the United
conducted basic performance assessments programme. We are excited for this latest States, where the jet will join the remainder
in normal operating conditions over the step in the certification of the Mitsubishi of the test fleet for the final phase of type
Pacific Ocean. After approximately two SpaceJet M90.” certification. Thomas Haynes
Delta Has Big Plans for Seattle

The Pacific northwest hub of Seattle is London route from the city). In addition, seamless journey across the globe.”
set to gain both new and expanded links from June Delta is to increase frequency The Atlanta-based carrier previously
from Delta Air Lines. From June 8, new on routes to Austin and Orlando. confirmed further Seattle links with a
thrice-daily routes to Dallas/Fort Worth Tony Gonchar, Delta’s vice president new connection to Tampa and upgrades
and daily flights to Columbus, Ohio, at Seattle, commented: “Our customers’ to Anchorage, Atlanta, Boise, Boston,
are to launch using the carrier’s newly demand for new destinations… [along] Bozeman, Las Vegas and Spokane. At the
delivered Airbus A220s. Next year, the with our extensive partner service time of going to press, it is unclear how
firm intends to start flights to London/ from Seattle on Virgin Atlantic, Air the ongoing COVID-19 crisis will impact
Heathrow (rival American Airlines has France, Korean Air and Aeroméxico, the airline’s long-term expansion plans.
already announced intentions to launch a [means] passengers can expect a Thomas Lee
New Routes for flynas

Flynas is using its fleet of A320 Family aircraft
to expand its route network. AirTeamImages.
com/AirlinerSpotter
Sheikh thrice-weekly while set to launch

is a Qassim/Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz
to Sarajevo (Bosnia) service. Last year the
outfit flew a company-record of 7.6m
customers.
According to Bander Almohanna,
flynas chief executive, destinations were
specifically selected based on several
factors. These included connections not
directly served between the Middle Eastern
kingdom as well as countries that don’t
Low-cost carrier flynas is set to launch (Austria) and Tirana (Albania) in addition require prior visa procedures.
ten new destinations during the summer. to a June launch for Salalah (Oman). At the time of going to press, it was
These will be split across four Saudia Jeddah/King Abdulaziz is scheduled to unclear whether the COVID-19 outbreak
Arabian gateways from May using its link Baku (Azerbaijan) four-weekly, while will impact any of flynas’ growth plans.
Airbus A320 Family jets. Four new thrice- Batumi (Georgia) and Salzburg (Austria) The carrier currently operates a pair of
weekly routes from Riyadh/King Khalid are thrice-weekly. Dammam/King Fahd A319ceos, 21 A320ceos and six A320neos
will serve Hurghada (Egypt), Salzburg is to be linked with Batumi and Sharm el- with more aircraft on order. Thomas Lee
06-08_civil_newsDC.mf.indd 6 01/04/2020 14:17

Atlantic Airways 50 Years of Cargolux
Back to Gatwick
Atlantic Airways is to return to London/
Gatwick after a six-year hiatus for the Faroe
Islands-based carrier. The route is due to
be operated from June 23 to August 11
and flown by Airbus A320neos. Jóhanna á
Bergi, Atlantic Airways CEO, commented:
“Not only does this make our beautiful
islands more accessible to travellers in
and around London, it’s also great news Luxembourg cargo operator Cargolux has commemorated its 50th anniversary with special
for travellers using Gatwick as a hub from markings on Boeing 747-8F, LX-VCC, seen at Singapore on February 23. AirTeamImages.com/
other destinations all around the world.” Andrew Hunt
In addition to London, the firm already
Bombardier Expands at Biggin Hill

flies twice-weekly to Edinburgh – its only
other UK destination. This summer, six
countries are on its network. The carrier
is planning a direct connection between Building of a major expansion to jets in the Global 7500 class at any one
the island’s capital Vágar with New York. Bombardier Aviation’s business facility time, offering a new 25,000sq ft (2,333m2)
While no dates have been revealed, the at Biggin Hill will commence this spring. hangar and 65,000sq ft (6,039m2) of apron
airline has stated it will announce specific The new state-of-the-art Service Centre, space. According to Bombardier’s Jean-
details in due course. The company’s fleet dealing with owners of more than 30 UK- Christophe Gallagher: “Europe continues
comprises a single example of the A319ceo, registered Bombardier business aircraft to be a strong market for business aviation
A320ceo and A320neo. A further A320neo and hundreds of customers across Europe, and we are glad to show our commitment
is scheduled to be handed over soon. will be built on the east side of the airport. to customers with this important
Thomas Haynes It will have capacity for up to 14 business investment in the region”. Rod Simpson
£2m Airfield Development IN BRIEF

Fund Launched BRITISH AIRWAYS has taken back 12 domestic
slots at London/Heathrow following the collapse
of regional airline Flybe. Prior to the COVID-19
The UK government has launched an aviation careers take first flight.” The £2m outbreak, BA said they were to be used this
initiative called the Airfield Development of new funding aims to ensure airfield summer on Airbus A319-operated routes to
Fund, which is intended to increase businesses receive access to advisors, Edinburgh, Cornwall Airport Newquay and
support for airfield owners, operators, offering help on a range of legal and Aberdeen at five, four and three times weekly
local councils and associated businesses. business-related topics to support their respectively. The British flag-carrier last had
these slots eight years ago before they were
Airfields are an integral part of the £3bn future development – which could include acquired by rival Virgin Atlantic for its Little Red
general aviation sector and considered advice on science and engineering training, regional offshoot.
the grassroots of the entire aviation developing electric aircraft and preserving
sector, however many have struggled heritage aircraft. Maynard added: “We’re Dublin-based AER LINGUS has accepted the
last ever new-build Airbus A330-300 passenger
with business development and financial committed to protecting our airfields and
jet. The widebody, EI-EIN (c/n 1951), flew from
sustainability. Aviation Minister Paul easing the challenges that many businesses Toulouse to Brussels/Zaventem on February 28
Maynard said: “The UK government face. This support will help airfields prosper, to be fitted out. However, the jet has yet to start
recognises the enormous contribution creating and securing more jobs, while any fare-paying services and remains stored
smaller airfields make to the UK economy, inspiring the next generation of aviation while the COVID-19 crisis continues. The final
and to the people they serve, where many and engineering enthusiasts.” Thomas Lee factory fresh A330-200 was handed over in
October 2019 to LEVEL as, F-HLVN (c/n 1936).
Following high-profile incidents at UK airports,

London/Heathrow has installed an ANTI-DRONE
Olympic Torch 787 SYSTEM to protect it from potentially dangerous

unmanned aerial devices. Designed by UAV
detection specialists Operational Solutions, the
technology pinpoints and tracks drones in the
surrounding airspace and alerts the airport of
unauthorised use. The system works to locate the
operators as well as the device itself.
WIZZ AIR ABU DHABI plans to launch services

from this autumn. Formed through a partnership
between Wizz Air Holdings and Abu Dhabi
Developmental Holding Company, the carrier
will become one of two low-cost outfits based in
the city along with Etihad-backed Air Arabia Abu
Dhabi. Bosses at Wizz’s Middle Eastern offshoot
The Olympic torch arrived in Japan on March 20 aboard a specially marked Japan Airlines 787-8,
aim to develop a route network with A321neos
JA837J. The Dreamliner, named Tokyo 2020 Go, flew from Athens to JASDF Matsushima Air Base
both within the region and expanding into Africa
in Miyagi Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, for an arrival ceremony before it was to begin a relay and India. The company has stated it could fly
around the country on March 26. With the postponement of the games the day before, the relay more than 50 jets in the next decade.
was also shelved until a new schedule has been fixed. AirTeamImages.com/Alexandros Filippopoulos

First 787 for
CIVIL NEWS
Vistara’s first 787 at Boeing’s Everett

Delivery Center on February 27. Vistara
Vistara
Delhi-based Vistara has received its first
widebody aircraft. The maiden Boeing 787-
9, VT-TSD (c/n 66526), arrived on the sub-
continent on February 29, with a further
five set to join the fleet over the coming
months. Following delivery, the General
Electric GEnx-powered type operated
several domestic crew familiarisation flights.
On March 17, it flew between New Delhi/
Indira Gandhi and Ahmedabad/Sardar the world. We’ll use the Dreamliners to soon Haneda-Bengaluru/Kempegowda flights
Vallabhbhai Patel. However, the first fare- begin operating long-haul routes, providing with codesharing on each other’s domestic
paying rotation started two days later on authentic Indian hospitality to customers in rotations at both ends.
the New Delhi-Mumbai/Chhatrapati Shivaji a modern, global setting.” Vinod Kannan, Vistara chief commercial
Maharaj link. Following its introduction, the type is officer, said: “Japan is a strong market for
Leslie Thng, the airline’s chief executive, set to make its international debut in May, business and leisure travellers from India
said: “[The] delivery marks a new phase of subject to the status of the developing and this partnership will help us offer
growth for Vistara and unlocks our potential COVID-19 outbreak. greater convenience, ease of connection
to become one of world’s best airlines. The In other developments, Vistara and and increased choices to our customers
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is one of world’s Japan Airlines (JAL) have agreed to expand travelling to different cities in Japan.”
most technologically advanced aircraft. codesharing between their respective home Bosses at the firm expect to add at
[The] new widebody product [is] designed nations. Following its launch on March 15, least 40 Airbus and Boeing jets by 2023.
to global standards, offering the ‘new the commitment incorporates JAL’s Tokyo/ The Indian carrier launched operations in
feeling of flying’ to our customers across Haneda-Delhi service along with Tokyo/ January 2015. Thomas Lee
Iberia Slots for Volotea

Spanish carrier Volotea is set to open a host of new routes instrumental in making us an airline of reference, profitable and
and bases within the country from 2021. This follows a March with great flexibility and has been key to reach this agreement
6 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the airline with Iberia. [This] allows us to make an important step forward,
and International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG). It was especially in Spain, a market in which we are present [already].”
announced in November that IAG planned to acquire Air Europa, From the agreement, the carrier stated it could open
in a deal worth an estimated €1bn. To comply with European between two and four new bases. These would complement
Commission competition rules, IAG’s Iberia is to transfer routes the existing pair at Asturias and Bilbao in northern Spain. In
and slots to Volotea to meet the regulatory criteria. recent years the company has grown rapidly. Prior to the
Carlos Muñoz, Volotea founder and CEO, said: “When we COVID-19 outbreak, it expected to carry between 8.5-9m
started [operations] in April 2012, our experience in the industry travellers this year, operating 354 routes from 16 bases. The
allowed us to progress in a rather complex moment. [We] firm has a fleet comprising 19 Airbus A319s and 13 Boeing 717s.
focused on a niche [market] to improve the connectivity of The deal between Air Europa and IAG is still subject to final
medium-sized cities in Europe. The experience of our team was regulatory approval. Thomas Lee
New Routes for CIVIL ORDERS

Virgin Atlantic
Purchaser Aircraft Number Order Placed Notes
HNA Group A330neo 40 23 December Customer not announced at time
Virgin Atlantic has announced new routes

from Manchester and London/Heathrow
from October 2020 onwards. For the first
time, Virgin Atlantic will fly to India from
Manchester and, coupled with the airline’s
Air Busan A321neo
twice-daily service from Heathrow to
Delhi and daily service from Heathrow to
Mumbai, the airline will now offer more
than 600,000 seats per year between
the UK and India. In addition, the airline
will add a daily Cape Town service flying
from Heathrow, complementing the
existing service to Johannesburg, and
fly Manchester to Barbados three days a
week from January 2021. An extra weekly
service from Heathrow to Havana, Cuba, The first Airbus A321neo, HL8366 (MSN 9234), for South Korea’s Air Busan is shown at Hamburg/
is also being added. Thomas Haynes Finkenwerder on March 4, prior to delivery. Parent company Asiana ordered 25 of the type in
November 2015. V1images.com/Dirk Grothe

Air_Britain_FP.indd 1 20/03/2020 12:54:23
Second RAF Poseidon Arrives
MILITARY NEWS
On March 13, the RAF’s second Poseidon, ZP802, City of Elgin, arrived in the UK. The aircraft landed at Kinloss Barracks from where the type
will operate while the runway and facilities at RAF Lossiemouth are being renovated and upgraded. Crown Copyright 2020/SAC Ciaran McFalls
USAF Orders Super Tucanos

The USAF awarded a $129m contract for two Embraer A-29B Super deal with Textron on March 16. Under the contract, the USAF will
Tucano light attack aircraft to the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) acquire two Wolverines that will be delivered to Nellis AFB, Nevada.
on February 26. The Super Tucanos will be delivered to US Special These will support Air Combat Command’s (ACC) development
Operations Command (USSOCOM) at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The of operational tactics and standards and interoperability with
aircraft will be produced by Embraer in Jacksonville, Florida and then international partners. Although SNC and Textron both plan to offer
delivered by SNC. Delivery is expected by August 2024. Air Force their aircraft in response to the USSOCOM’s recently announced
Special Operation Command (AFSOC) will use the A-29s to create an plans to acquire around 76 aircraft for its Armed Overwatch project,
instructor pilot programme for the Combat Aviation Advisory mission these orders are not related to that requirement.
at Hurlburt Field. Meanwhile, the US Government Accounting Office More good news for Textron involves US State Department
rejected a protest by aircraft manufacturer Air Tractor that was approval for the possible purchase of four AT-6Cs for Tunisia.
intended to block a USAF plan to purchase AT-6 Wolverine light Along with the aircraft, the $325.8m Wolverine package includes
attack aircraft from Textron Aviation Defense under a sole source six MX-15D multispectral targeting systems, Advanced Precision
contract. The USAF had earlier rejected the AT-802U because it Kill Weapon laser-guided rockets and GBU-12 laser guided bombs.
lacked an ejection seat. Subsequently, the USAF finalised a $70.2m Tom Kaminski
Taiwanese Côte d’Ivoire Mi-8s Delivered

Hueys for
Eswatini
Formerly known as Swaziland, Eswatini
has taken delivery of a pair of UH-1H
helicopters donated by Taiwan.
The two aircraft were formally
handed over to the Umbutfo Eswatini
Defence Force (UEDF) Air Wing on
February 21 by Taiwan’s deputy defence
minister Chang Guan-chung, after they
arrived in the country earlier that month.
The ‘Hueys’ were received by King
Two Mi-8Ps, including TU-VHL, passed
Mswati III at the Lozitha Royal Palace The Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has taken
through Palma de Mallorca en route to the
outside Lobamba. delivery of a pair of second-hand Mi-8P
Côte d’Ivoire. Javier Rodríguez
Five UEDF Air Wing pilots and five Hip medium-lift transport helicopters. The
ground technicians have been trained by two aircraft destined for the Côte d’Ivoire Aérienne de Abidjan/Port-Bouët at Abidjan/
Taiwan to operate the new helicopters. Armée de l’Air (Côte d’Ivoire Air Force) Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International
The UH-1Hs are expected to be used made a refuelling stop at Palma de Mallorca Airport. These Mi-8Ps are former VIP
for missions including disaster relief and Airport, Spain on their delivery flight arriving transports. The Ivory Coast’s Escadrille
medical evacuation, as well as in support on March 13 and departing the next day. Présidentielle operated a single Mi-17 Hip-H
of the police. Taiwan decommissioned The helicopters – registrations TU-VHL in that role until it was damaged following a
its final UH-1Hs on October 30 last year. and TU-VHN – will be operated by the collision with Mi-24D TU-VHR on November
Thomas Newdick Groupe Aérien de Transport et de Liaison 27 last year. The Mi-17 was placed in storage
(Air Transport and Liaison Group) at Base after the incident. Thomas Newdick
10-12_military_newsDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 10 31/03/2020 17:35

RAAF Hornets
to Air USA
Australia’s Department of Defence plans
to sell as many as 46 F/A-18A/B Hornets
to contract aggressor company Air
USA. The private contractor aims to put
the Hornets into service as adversary
aircraft in support of US military training
contracts.
Australia had previously agreed to sell
25 retired F/A-18A/Bs to the Canadian
government. Three of the F/A-18As have
The Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) retired the last of its reconnaissance Phantoms on
already been handed over to the Royal
March 9. Hyakuri-based 501 Hikotai received the RF-4E in December 1974 and has operated 29
Canadian Air Force, which will use 18 photo Phantoms over the years. One fighter squadron, 301 Hikotai, will fly the F-4EJ until late
of the jets operationally. The remaining 2020. AirTeamImages.com/Weimeng
seven will support testing or be used as a
source of spare parts.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
originally acquired 75 Hornets and 71
Irish Air Corps PC-12NG Fitting Out
were still in service when the Canadian A Pilatus PC-12NG, wearing the US civil the contract for them signed at Baldonnel-
deal was struck. The fleet currently registration N281NG is understood to be the Casement Aerodrome on December 19,
includes 52 single-seat F/A-18As and second of three examples ordered for the 2017. They will be used for intelligence,
16 two-seat Bs, all of which are being Irish Air Corps (IAC), and is now undergoing surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
replaced by F-35As. Since entering fitting out in the US. The first example, missions, medical evacuation and logistics
service, the Hornet fleet has received N280NG (c/n 280), is already fully painted support. Each has the capacity for nine
extensive upgrades that include the but has so far only been noted flying at passengers or will be able to accommodate
installation of APG-73 radar. night. The third aircraft for the IAC is likely to two stretcher patients along with support
Air USA operates several aircraft types be N282NG, which was also still unpainted staff for the medical evacuation role. The
including Hawk Mk 67s, L-39Cs and as of mid-March. The IAC ordered three first example took to the air in May 2018
L-39ZAs, and Alpha Jet As, and has a pair of PC-12NG utility aircraft under a deal worth and arrived in the US for fitting out the
non-airworthy MiG-29UBs. Tom Kaminski around €32m, including equipment, with following June. Thomas Newdick
Helicopter School Renamed No 1 FTS

A ceremony was held recently at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, to historic name should be transferred to Shawbury to re-badge the
formally re-badge the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) DHFS so that the designation is retained in service.
as No 1 Flying Training School (1 FTS). The February 28 event In a related move, operation and upkeep of military flying at
also saw a state-of-the-art DHFS training facility formally named RAF Topcliffe, North Yorkshire, which was previously under the
by the Chief of the Air Staff, ACM Mike Wigston, as the Duke of control of 1 FTS, was transferred to 2 FTS on October 30 last
Cambridge Building, in honour of Prince William, who completed year. The airfield had been used as a relief landing ground for
advanced flying training at the Ascent Flying Training-run DHFS the Tucanos of 1 FTS but since their retirement, the only military
and was awarded his aircrew flying badge in January 2010. The operations are by 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, which as
facility houses advanced flying training devices where aircrew learn of February only had a single Viking T1 allocated, though was
many of their skills before getting airborne in the fleet of 29 Juno expected to be joined by a second. The transfer to 2 FTS (which
HT1 (H135) and three Jupiter HT1 (H145) helicopters. is headquartered at RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire) is therefore
No 1 FTS had previously flown the Tucano T1 at RAF Linton-on- logical, as 2 FTS is in charge of delivering all glider training for
Ouse, North Yorkshire, but was disbanded last October 25, when RAF air cadets.
the final course graduated and the Tucano was retired. Because it The RAF element at Topcliffe is now just a small enclave
is the RAF’s oldest training school, having formed on December located within the much larger Alanbrooke Barracks, after the
23, 1919, at Netheravon, Wiltshire, all three services agreed that the British Army took over most of the airfield in 1974. Dave Allport
Goodbye Huey
To mark the upcoming retirement of
the Bell UH-1D from the German Army
(Heer), one of the remaining helicopters,
73+08, has been painted in a special
scheme at Niederstetten Airfield, home of
the Transporthubschrauberregiment 30,
(Helicopter Transport Regiment 30). The
UH-1D entered German service in the early
1970s and was known by the nickname
‘Teppichklopfer’ (carpet beater). It is being
replaced in the search and rescue role by the
Airbus H145 LUH SAR. Michael Balter

Mildenhall Spanish SAR NH90
MILITARY NEWS
Closure Paused
Since we reported the latest on RAF
Mildenhall’s closure in the last issue the
situation has changed again. The last
position was that no resident aircraft
would be leaving the base before 2027.
However, Aviation News was told
on March 11 by RAF Mildenhall: “The
European Infrastructure Consolidation
(EIC) action to divest RAF Mildenhall is
on pause until US European Command
completes a reassessment of the
previous closure decision and the US
Department of Defense makes a decision
on the future of the installation. If the
EIC programme of record continues,
the divesture date of RAF Mildenhall is Spanish Air Force SAR NH90 HD.19-16 ‘803-16’ on the apron outside the Airbus Helicopters
expected to be no earlier than 2027.” factory at Marseille-Marignane on March 10. This is the first of 12 on order and is expected to be
delivered shortly. Ejército del Aire
Dash 8 Sought for SOCOM

The US Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) Aviation Airborne Multi-Sensor Platforms (STAMP). One of the STAMP
Integration Directorate plans to field a highly modified Dash aircraft was destroyed or heavily damaged in an al-Shabaab
8 configured for special mission support operations. The terrorist attack on the Manda Bay airfield/Camp Simba in
command plans to award a sole-source contract to Leidos Kenya on January 5.
Inc for the procurement of a single Dash 8 to fulfill its DHC-8 Although no additional information about the new
Fixed Wing Mission Support Aircraft requirement. acquisition was made available, it should be noted that Leidos
The programme is managed by the US Army’s Program is the contractor responsible for the US Army’s Airborne
Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Reconnaissance Low-Enhanced (ARL-E) project. The army’s
Sensors (PEO IEW&S) Product Manager Manned Aerial eight RO-6A ARL-E aircraft are based on the Dash 8-315 model
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems (PM MARSS). The and are fitted with a number of intelligence, surveillance and
command operated two Dash 8-202s as SOCOM Tactical reconnaissance (ISR) systems. Tom Kaminski
Luftwaffe’s New A350 IN BRIEF

The REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA, one of the
two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
will reportedly become the first European
customer for Russian Helicopters’ Ansat
utility aircraft. The country’s interior
ministry is expected to acquire three
Ansats as part of a package worth €21.3m.
One will be configured for emergency
medical services and the other two for law
enforcement. Deliveries are scheduled for
2021 and 2022.
NIGERIAN AIR FORCE chief Air Marshal

Sadique Abubakar has confirmed that the
service will receive its first JF-17 fighters this
November. An initial three jets are on order.
Abubakar also noted that negotiations to
A350-900 F-WZFF will become 10+03 with acquire A-29 Super Tucanos are ongoing,
The first Luftwaffe Airbus A350-941CJ with plans for service entry by 2022.
the Luftwaffe’s VIP unit. v1images.com/Dirk
VIP transport is now wearing its full
Grothe
paint scheme and on March 20 departed The latest delivery of Rafales for the QATAR
Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport, Germany The budget committee of the German EMIRI AIR FORCE left Bordeaux-Mérignac in
France for Qatar on February 25. The aircraft
on its return to the Airbus facility at Bundestag gave approval on April 11, 2019,
in the fifth batch were twin-seat Rafale DQ
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, France. The for the purchase of three A350-900s. The
QA206 and single-seat Rafale EQs QA215
aircraft, F-WZFF (c/n 416) was originally aircraft will replace the two VIP A340- and QA227. The three jets stopped at Souda
destined for Lufthansa as D-AIXQ, but 313Xs operated by the Flugbereitschaft Bay in Greece and Incirlik in Turkey en
has been re-allocated as the first of three des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung route. Only one more Rafale DQ is still to be
for the Luftwaffe, presumably to enable (FBS BMVg, Flight Service of the German delivered to complete the first batch.
earlier delivery. Ministry of Defence). Thomas Newdick

Aerosoft_FP.indd 1 26/03/2020 11:47:41
Two-Seat Hurricane Unveiled
PRESERVATION
Hurricane ‘BE505’ in its two-seat

configuration. Darren Harbar
The world’s only flying two-seat Hurricane ‘hardware stores’, providing parts to keep In the winter of 2017/18 it was
is joining the FlyaSpitfire.com fleet for tractors and other machinery running announced that this airframe would be
the 2020 flying season. Canadian Car & on the enormous farms of the Canadian converted into a two-seat example allowing
Foundry-built Hurricane c/n CCF/R20023, prairie. However, this aircraft was lucky and the public to enjoy flights in another classic
G-HHII, is painted to represent BE505, a remained mostly intact, to be rediscovered Battle of Britain aircraft. The conversion
Mk. IIB operated by 174 Sqn from Manston, in the 1990s as an almost complete has been completed as sympathetically as
Kent in 1942. airframe with most major components in possible to the original lines of the airframe
This aircraft joined the Royal Canadian place. Returning to the UK, comprehensive and is similar to those airframes converted
Air Force and served as a home-based restoration work began in 2005 and was to two-seaters during World War Two.
fighter for the duration of the war. finished in January 2009 and this rare The Hurricane will join two-seat Spitfires
At the end of her military service she machine was rolled out in fighter-bomber MJ772, MJ627, MT818 and TE308 at Biggin
was refurbished to ‘as new’ condition configuration. Her first post-restoration Hill. For more information and upcoming
and then sold off to the private sector. flight took place from North Weald on booking details visit www.flyaspitfire.com
Many surviving Hurricanes were used as January 27, 2009. Jim Winchester
Doncaster Dove Chilean Museum

Adds Twin Otter
The Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y
del Espacio in Santiago recently took
delivery of former Chilean Air Force de
Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 935.
The airframe wears the serial number
931 but is in fact 935, the first Twin
Otter received by the South American
nation’s air force. It served from 1967 to
1998, when it was grounded following
an accident at Cerro Moreno, near
Antofagasta. An initial plan to make it
airworthy again was not realised and it
De Havilland Dove 8, G-ARUM, recently De Havilland Dove 8 G-ARUM under assembly was instead employed as a gate guardian
at Doncaster in early February. SYAM
arrived at the South Yorkshire Aircraft at El Tepual. At this point it received the
Museum (SYAM) near Doncaster. It is currently very good condition and largely complete, long nose of the -300 series, a light grey
painted as G-DDCD but the museum plans including the cockpit and cabin,” SYAM camouflage scheme and the serial 931.
to finish it as Uniform-Mike. Built in 1961, volunteer Sam Scrimshaw said. “Assembly After a period in storage at its new home,
the aircraft was owned by the National work is still ongoing, but we already have the Twin Otter is likely to be restored to
Coal Board, which regularly flew it from the wings refitted and the undercarriage its original, short-nose configuration and
Doncaster until 1984. “Despite being stored will be the next step.” Jamie Ewan www. livery. Álvaro Romero
outside for several years, the airframe is in southyorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk
14-15_preservation_newsDC.mfDC.indd 14 31/03/2020 16:03

Tomcat Gets Old Colours Back The March Field Museum’s YF-
The March Field Air Museum
has returned Grumman 14A Tomcat is now in its original
YF-14A Tomcat, 157990, early 1970s colour scheme. Scott
Plummer
to its original colours. The
eleventh of 12 pre-production commented: “In keeping with
examples built in 1970, the our commitment to respecting
jet was delivered to the the individual history of every
US Navy and used to test aircraft in the collection, we
the type’s suitability for aircraft carrier for ground-based missile development have returned the YF-14A to its original
operations on board USS Independence and evaluation. configuration and livery. After painstaking
two years later. It was retired in 1982 The airframe arrived at March, in research, the restoration took more than
with 1,264 flying hours and transferred Riverside County, California in September 700 hours of volunteer labour over a
to the Hughes Missile Systems facility at 1992 and was adorned with VF-1 Wolfpack six-month period.” Jamie Ewan www.
Pomona, California, where it was used markings. The museum’s Jeff Houlihan marchfield.org
South Australian Skytrain Takes Shape

Steady progress is being made with Built in October 1942 for the USAAF, cyclone-ravaged city of Darwin, carrying 25
the refurbishment of Douglas C-47A the Skytrain was named Irene after a crew people to safety. Since 2000, the Morgans
Skytrain, 41-18646, Irene in the Mallee member’s wife, and among other tasks have undertaken extensive restoration work.
district of South Australia. The family flew supplies to troops in Papua New Both engines were in unusable condition
team of Jeff, Ash and Marty Morgan Guinea before being allocated to the and there was significant corrosion in the
have now attached the left wing to the RAAF in 1944. Not long afterwards it was fuselage. The family needed to source
fuselage. “A lot of work was undertaken transferred to the Australian civil register many new and old stock parts and set
to get the old paint off and prepped for and converted to a DC-3 at Essendon, about reworking other items in order to
new paint,” reports Ash Morgan. “We Victoria. It flew for multiple operators overhaul the cockpit, powerplants and
added a new wingtip from old stock as including Guinea Airways, East-West airframe. The cockpit has now been
the original one was very rough. The Airlines and Trans Australia Airlines. returned to its former glory, both engines
right wing will hopefully be installed In 1974, while serving with Conair, it are operable and attention is now turning to
sometime this year.” became the first aircraft to fly out of the finishing the right wing. Phil Buckley
Red David B 18 Finally Complete

The Swedish Air Force The B 18 is now complete at the
Museum (Flygvapenmuseum) Flygvapenmuseum. Lennart Berns
near Linköping, Sweden has
completed the restoration of Saab to land wherever possible. Red
B 18B Red David. The bulk of the David belly-landed on the ice at
work was done in the 1980s after Härnösand harbour and later sank.
the bomber – the only complete It lay at the bottom of the bay for
example – was recovered from more than 30 years before being
a bay at Härnösand in 1979. salvaged in the late summer of
In recent years, the museum 1979, under much media scrutiny.
team has been focusing on The airframe was taken
recreating the aircraft’s interior to the museum where a
with instruments, controls, pilot’s The bomber was among a group of support association began
seat, bomb sight and other equipment. eight B 18Bs and a single Junkers Ju 86 refurbishment. Externally complete, it
Several components had to be built that got lost in a snowstorm during the was displayed at a celebration marking
from scratch using original documents autumn of 1946. With fuel running low, Saab’s 50th anniversary in 1987. www.
for reference. the squadron commander gave the order flygvapenmuseum.se Lennart Berns
Photoshoot Diary 2020

Due to the fast-moving coronavirus situation, Aviation News is not printing the regular listing of photoshoots
in this issue. It is likely that most upcoming events will be cancelled by the organisers, if they have not already
done so, but some could potentially take place later in the year if the situation improves. In the meantime, we
recommend you check the following websites to see the latest information on previously announced events:
www.airclipper.com www.darrenharbar.co.uk/events www.timelineevents.org
www.centreofaviationphotography.com www.northoltnightshoots.com www.threshold.aero
14-15_preservation_newsDC.mfDC.indd 15 31/03/2020 16:04

Embraer’s E-Jet
E2 Family
The Next Generation
Soon to come under Boeing’s wing, the popular Embraer E-Jet

series of regional airliners has been refreshed with more modern
versions of the E175, E190 and E195. David Willis describes the
E2 series, which is challenging Airbus in the sub-150 seat market.
E
mbraer celebrated its 50th Main photo: The prototype of the third and of the West’s commercial aircraft industry.
final member of the second-generation
anniversary in August 2019. This When Bombardier effectively gave control
E-Jets, the E175-E2, made its first flight on
year will be especially significant for of the C Series to Airbus (and rebranded
December 12, 2019, at São José dos Campos,
its commercial aviation division as Brazil. Embraer- Claudio Capucho the airliner the A220), Embraer was faced
under the terms of a strategic partnership with the prospect of competing directly
it will become Boeing Brasil – Commercial. the management will be based in Brazil with the European giant in the sub-150
Control of the Brazilian company’s and John Slattery, currently Embraer’s passenger jet airliner market. Simply
airliner business – including the Embraer Vice President, Commercial Aviation will put, Embraer needed the marketing
E-Jet programme – will transfer to the be president and chief executive officer, muscle and greater in-service support
new joint venture after approval by the operational and management control of infrastructure that Boeing could provide.
regulatory authorities. Boeing will acquire the new company will reside with Boeing. Boeing gains a family of sub-150 seat
an 80% stake in the new organisation for Creation of Boeing Brasil – Commercial airliners to pitch against its traditional
$4.2bn, Embraer retaining 20%. While is a consequence of the recent reshuffling European foe.
16-19_embraerDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 16 31/03/2020 14:24

The first E190-E2 was handed over to Widerøe on April 4, 2018. It became the Norwegian
airline’s first jet to be operated in its history. Embraer
1,000th, an E175 for Republic Airlines, was (‘generation two’), announcing details of its
delivered on September 17, 2013, less than a plan in November 2011. Key to greater fuel
decade after the first entered service. By the efficiency (and lower maintenance costs,
end of 2019, 1,746 first generation E-Jets noise and emissions) was a new engine.
had been ordered. The second generation, Proposals from General Electric (NG34),
known as the E2, consists of the Embraer CFM International (a scaled-down LEAP),
175-E2, ‘190-E2 and ‘195-E2. The trend for Rolls-Royce (based on Advance 2 studies)
airliners with a greater passenger capacity and Pratt & Whitney (PW1000G family)
eliminated consideration of an enhanced were evaluated; selection of the latter was
E170; none remained to be delivered in revealed on January 8, 2013.
early 2020. Production of both generations The PW1000G was the first high-
continues side-by-side, although the aim powered geared turbofan to be offered
is to eventually on the market.
discontinue the E1 “Embraer soon Turbofans normally
family. That may have their fans/
be some time off, adopted the tagline compressors and
however, as in recent
years the E175-E1 ‘Profit Hunter’ for turbines on the
same shaft, but
has proven popular
with US regionals
the E2 family to as the former
works best at low
seeking an efficient,
three-class, scope-
highlight the savings rotational speeds
and the latter when
compliant airliner. in operating costs” turning quickly,
Of the 185 E1s in the both sections
backlog as of December 31, 2019, all but are outside their optimum operating
four are for E175s. conditions. A reduction gearbox between
Embraer began to consider what would the two allows both to rotate at optimum
follow the E-Jet in the late 2000s. At the speeds, improving efficiency but increasing
time it was believed that Airbus and Boeing complexity. The PW1700G, with a fan
would vacate the sub-150 seat market diameter of 56in (1.42m), was chosen for
towards the end of the decade rather than the E175-E2, while the PW1900G for the
invest in replacements for the A320 and 737 E190-E2 and E195-E2 have a 73in (1.85m)
NG families. This assumption was shattered unit, both larger than the General Electric
when Airbus launched the A320neo CF34-10E of the E1s. Ground clearance
VARIANTS family – including the 124-passenger necessitates an 18in (46cm) longer trailing-
There are two generations of Embraer A319neo – in December 2010, followed by arm main landing gear.
E-Jets. The first comprises the Embraer Boeing with the 737MAX in August 2011.
170, ‘175, ‘190 and ‘195 (the -E1 suffix was Instead of opting for a new airframe, as NEW SYSTEMS
later adopted) and can be configured Bombardier had with the C Series, Embraer Embraer took the opportunity to revise
for 70-80, 78-88, 98-114, and 108-122 investigated enhancing the E-Jet with the many of the structures and systems for
passengers, respectively. The series proved aim of reducing fuel burn by 15%, initially the E2s. These included a new wing
to be popular with the world’s airlines; the as the E-Jet EV (for evolution) and later G2 and a closed-loop fly-by-wire system,
On September 12, 2019, the first E195-E2 was delivered to Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras. The Brazilian low-cost carrier has ordered 51 of the type.
Embraer/Sergio Fujiki

Swiss airline Helvetic Airways has 12 E190-E2s on firm order and took delivery of the first on October
31, 2019. They are configured in a 110-seat single-class layout. AirTeamImages.com/Jan Ostrowski
adding control of the ailerons to that for 25, 2016, and Capt Mozart Louzada, First of the cabin for the E2s, installing thinner
the elevators and rudders, and feedback Officer Gerson de Olivira Mendes and (by 1in/2.5cm) sidewalls and deeper (by
input for the pilots, with full envelope Flight Test Engineers Alexandre Figueiredo 3in/7.6cm) overhead bins, with space
protection in all phases of flight. Honeywell and Carlos Silveira, made its initial flight for IATA-standard wheeled cases. New,
supplied Primus Epic 2 avionics, with over 3hrs 20mins on May 23. It was joined high-aspect ratio wings – a total of 16ft 1in
four 13x10in (330x254mm) screens and by the second (PR-ZFU) on July 8 and (5m) longer than its predecessor’s – have
head-up display (replacing the five-tube third (PR-ZFV) on August 27, all three raked wingtips with a marked dihedral that,
Primus Epic) and a next-generation flight carrying test equipment to record various along with the higher landing gear, provide
management system. The Pratt & Whitney parameters of the flight envelope. The sufficient clearance for the engine nacelles.
AeroPower APS2600(E) auxiliary power fourth (PR-ZGQ), with a full passenger Overall, the E190-E2 is only 5in (12cm)
unit superseded the APS2300. interior, joined the flight test campaign on taller than its predecessor. Power comes
Unveiling the new family occurred at March 17 the following year. Collectively, from a pair of PW1919Gs or PW1922Gs,
the Paris Air Show, Le Bourget, on June 17, they accumulated 2,200 flight hours both rated at 90.3kN (20,305lb st) at sea
2013. Lessor ILFC was the launch customer prior to the award of type certification by level for maximum continuous use but with
for both the E190-E2 and E195-E2, with ANAC of Brazil, FAA and EASA on February the latter having more thrust available for
letters of intent for 25 plus options for 25 23, 2018. Flight testing demonstrated a take-off, mounted on redesigned pylons.
for each. (AerCap Holdings later bought reduction in fuel consumption of 17.3% Other changes include single-slotted flaps
ILFC and relinquished its launch position). compared to the E190-E1, which translates instead of the double-slotted units of the
SkyWest Inc, parent company of SkyWest to a range increase of 450nm (833km). E1 and doors for the main landing gear. The
Airlines of Utah, assumed lead for the Embraer soon adopted the tagline ‘Profit adoption of a full fly-by-wire control system
E175-E2, ordering 40 plus 60 conditional Hunter’ for the E2 family to highlight the allowed the centre of gravity to move
and purchase rights for 100 more. savings in operating costs. slightly aft, permitting a small reduction in
The E190-E2 (known for certification The E190-E2 retains the fuselage of the the span of the horizontal stabiliser.
purposes as the ERJ 190-300 STD) was E190-E1, with seating for 97 passengers
the initial focus of the development in a three-class configuration, typically FIRST CUSTOMERS
programme. The prototype (PR-ZEY) rolled 106 all-economy or 114 in a high-density Widerøe of Norway, which replaced ILFC/
out at São José dos Campos on February layout. Embraer updated the ‘look and feel’ AerCap as the E190-E2 launch customer,
received its first example on April 4, 2018.
Registered LN-WEA, the airliner arrived at
SPECIFICATIONS Bergen eight days later and completed its
Embraer 175-E2 Embraer 190-E2 Embraer 195-E2
initial revenue-earning flight on April 24
Wing span 103ft 0in (31.40m) 110ft 4in (33.72m) 115ft 2in (35.12m) with a service to Tromsø. Eleven others
Length 105ft 111/2in (32.30m) 118ft 10in (36.24m) 136ft 5¾in (41.60m) were delivered to customers by the end
Height 32ft 9in (9.98m) 35ft 1in (10.69m) 35ft 2in (10.71m) of 2019, including Widerøe’s order for
Max zero fuel weight 79,538lb (36,078kg) 102,955lb (46,700kg) 114,309lb (51,850kg) three, one for Air Kiribati, two for Helvetic
Max take-off weight 98,325lb (44,600kg) (est) 124,341lb (56,400kg) 114,309lb (51,850kg) Airways and five for AerCap, which are
flown by Air Astana in Kazakhstan. Its initial
Max landing weight 40,000kg (88,185lb) (est) 49,050kg (108,137lb) 119,050lb (54,000kg)
aircraft landed at Nursultan Nazarbayev
Take-off field length 4,495ft (1,370m) 5,479ft (1,670m) 6,463ft (1,970m)
International Airport on December 3, 2018.
Landing field length 4,413ft (1,345m) (est) 4,314ft (1,315m) 4,659ft (1,520m) As of December 31, 2019, Embraer had a
Service ceiling 41,000ft 41,000ft 41,000ft backlog of 16 for the E190-E2, plus options
Max operating speed M0.82 M0.82 M0.82 for an additional 61. In February 2014 Air
Range 2,000nm (3,704km) (est) 2,850nm (5,278km) 2,450nm (4,537km) Costa of India ordered up to 50 (25 firm, 25
options, plus up to 50 E195-E2s), but these
sales evaporated when the airline suspended
operations two years later. AerCap’s order for
25 was whittled down to just five, although
happily for Embraer the lessor transferred its
commitment to the E195-E2. Currently 144
firm orders are held for the larger variant,
plus 47 options. On November 12, 2018, it
was announced that KLM Cityhopper had
signed a firm order for 21 E195-E2 aircraft
plus 14 purchase rights; the former will be
leased from Aircastle and ICBC Aviation
Embraer’s E2 prototypes have appeared in a variety of liveries with a ‘Profit Hunter’ branding. Leasing. The deal was previously announced
The E195-E2 ‘Tech Lion’ was displayed at the Paris Air Show in 2019. Key-Dino Carrara at the 2019 Paris Air Show as a Letter of

Intent for 15 firm orders with of the E175-E2 by a year,
20 purchase rights. to the first half of 2021.
Although this target
STRETCHED 195 was officially current in
The Embraer E195-E2 (ERJ late 2019, at the time of
190-400) accommodates the first flight the test
three additional rows of seats, programme was due to
for up to 146 passengers in last 24-months, indicating
a single-class, high-density certification around
The prototype E190-E2, PR-ZGQ, in ‘Shark’
layout, but 132 is more typical, plus a cabin late 2021, with service entry soon after,
livery completed a world sales tour in
crew of three. The increased capacity was December 2018. Embraer subject to securing a launch customer.
achieved by adding fuselage The original decision to
plugs totalling 9ft 7¾in
(2.94m) to the E195-E1. Initial
E2 FIRM ORDERS (AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2019) defer service entry was
triggered by Delta Air Lines
plans for a common wing E175-E2 E190-E2 E195-E2 pilots’ acceptance of a new,
for the E190-E2 and E195-E2 AerCap 5 45 four-year contract retaining
were abandoned by early Air Kiribati 2 existing ‘scope clauses’.
2016 and a revised design, Aircastle 5 20 Scope clauses between
aerodynamically similar to Air Peace 13 the pilots’ unions and
that of the E190-E2 but with Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileras 51 employers limit the number
some structural changes and Binter Canarias 5
and seating capacity of
a new tip, increased span by aircraft that US carriers can
ICBC 10
4ft 7in (1.4m). Engine options outsource to third parties,
Helvetic 12
are the PW1921G, PW1923G as well as their maximum
or PW1923G-A, all producing Widerøe 3 take-off weight. American
21,805lb st (97kN) maximum 27 144 Airlines, Delta, and United
continuous thrust with Airlines have scope limits of
different normal take-off ratings. was cut at Embraer’s facility at Évora, 76 passengers and 86,000lb (39,010kg).
The prototype (PR-ZIJ) rolled out on Portugal in late June 2016 and assembly When Embraer launched the E175-E2
March 7, 2017 and pilots Márcio Brizola of the first (of three) prototypes began in it gambled these would be relaxed,
Jordão and José Willi Pirk, along with April 2019. When the E2 was conceived which has not happened and it currently
flight engineers Celso Braga de Mendonça airlines wanted aircraft that could take exceeds both.
and Marcos Ito, completed the inaugural more passengers and Embraer responded SkyWest Airlines is a Delta regional
flight on March 29. It was allocated to with a longer fuselage to accommodate partner. Its order, the sole commitment
aerodynamic and performance evaluation, an extra row of seats. It can carry up to 88 for the E175-E2, was removed from
while the second aircraft, PR-ZIQ, which passengers in a single-class layout with a Embraer’s backlog by September 30, 2018,
flew that November 18, was committed seat pitch of 31in (79cm), or alternatively “to comply with changes to accounting
to validating maintenance procedures 90 with 50 seats at 30in (76cm) and 40 standards” according to the manufacturer.
and the cabin fittings. Certification, again at 29in (74cm) pitch. A three-class layout Pilot contract renegotiations for United
simultaneously by Brazilian, European accommodates 80 seats, comprising 12 Airlines concluded early 2018 without any
and US authorities, was achieved on April at 36in (91cm) three-abreast, and 16 at changes to the scope clauses, while Delta
15, 2019. Compared with the E195-E1, 34in (86cm) and 52 at 30in (76cm), two and American Airlines continued to talk
Embraer claims a 25.4% reduction in fuel each side of the aisle. As business and about changes in early 2020. The future
consumption per seat and 20% lower premium economy seating brings in more of the shortest member of the E2 family
maintenance costs. revenue than economy, the three-class may well be dependent on the outcome of
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras become configuration can be more profitable than these discussions.
the initial operator, after lessor AerCap higher-density layouts. Embraer states One further addition to the E2 family
received PR-ZUU on September 12, 2019, that the E175-E2 will have a fuel burn 16% has been proposed. Brief details of the
and handed it over to the airline as PR- below that of its predecessor. Lineage 1000E2 ‘ultra-large’ business
PJN, wearing a special ‘Company Values’ aircraft based on the E190-E2, were
scheme. Three additional E195-E2s had THIRD VERSION announced at the NBAA Convention at
been delivered to AerCap by the end of DEFERRED Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 16,
2019, all entering service with Azul. Binter On December 1, 2016 Embraer 2015. Highlighted was a range 20 to 25%
Canarias accepted three into service in announced it was deferring service entry above that of the Lineage 1000E (based
December 2019, on the E190-E1)
becoming the Air Kiribati took delivery of the first E190-E2 in and lower direct
second operator. the Asia-Pacific region in December last year. operating costs.
Flight testing Embraer/Claudio Capucho While Embraer
of the E175-E2 speculated that it
(ERJ 190-500) could be available
commenced on in 2018, no official
December 12, 2019, timetable for its
when the prototype development was
(PR-ZXM) was taken released and an
aloft from São official launch is
José dos Campos, unlikely until the
commanded by E2 family becomes
Captain Mozart firmly established
Louzada. The first in the commercial
metal, a wing stub, market.

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Harrier 809
Author Insights
The author of the acclaimed book Vulcan 607,
Rowland White, has a new release looking at
the involvement of the Sea Harrier-equipped
809 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) in the Falklands
conflict. Here he shares with Aviation News
what he discovered and found fascinating
while researching and writing the book.
Above: A show of strength. Prior to heading south 809 NAS flew a photo sortie over southern
England to highlight to the Argentines what was coming their way. Phil Boyden
Above right: Author Rowland White leaning against the tail of a Sea Harrier.
Right: The cover of the new book Harrier 809.
22-25_harrierDC.mfDC.mf.mf.indd 22 31/03/2020 17:05

What was your motivation for
writing this book?
Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve had a
deep affection for the Harrier as an iconic
British aircraft – who doesn’t? It’s one of the
all-time greats, up there with the Spitfire,
Mosquito, Lancaster and Concorde in any
list of favourites. While it had always been a
star performer with the crowds, it was the
Falklands that proved it was much, much
more than a charismatic airshow novelty.
Why did you choose to focus on 809

NAS? Was it partially because of your
previous book, Phoenix Squadron? If
so, why? Above: The phoenix squadron badge of 809 NAS on the tails of the unit’s Sea Harriers. Phil Boyden
Only indirectly, insofar as I met Tim Gedge in Below: No.809 NAS pilots pose in front of their Sea Harriers on the RNAS Yeovilton flightline.
2009, who was CO of 809 NAS in 1982, soon From left to right: Dave Braithwaite, Hugh Slade, Bill Covington, Tim Gedge, David Austin, John
after Phoenix Squadron was published. I told Leeming, Steve Brown and Alastair Craig. Phil Boyden
him then that I really wanted to tell the story
of 809 in the Falklands. Nos 800 and 801 NAS
had already been written about in excellent
books by Sea Harrier pilots David Morgan
and Sharkey Ward, but 809’s story was more
unusual. [It was] a small unit of disparate
individuals, pulled together to meet an urgent
need and sent to war after less than three
weeks of intense training. It seemed to me it
had a sort of Dirty Dozen quality to it. When
809 was announced as the first Fleet Air Arm
F-35B squadron it felt as if the moment was
right. Also, 809’s pale grey Sea Harriers just
always looked really cool!
What aspects of the Sea Harrier

most impressed you in regard to the
Falklands campaign? jets using any other aircraft but the Harrier. Argentine Navy A-4 Skyhawks that had just
The Sea Harrier’s reliability, ruggedness and And yet it was the Harrier’s savage low-to- attacked HMS Ardent. In a swift, one-sided
flexibility have been long recognised. At the medium altitude performance that really fight, they accounted for the destruction of
end of the war, the 801 NAS Engineering brought a smile to my face. US Marine Corps all three of the attacking jets. Leeming had
Officer on HMS Invincible reported 99% trials showed that, with buckets of surplus been drafted into 809 NAS from an RAF
mission availability. That’s staggering! There thrust, a clean Harrier could beat a clean F-4 Harrier GR.3 squadron in West Germany.
were also numerous occasions when, had Phantom to 30,000ft by 13 seconds. By the time he was sent south, he had
the pilots been flying any other aircraft, fewer than ten hours in the cockpit of a
they’d simply have been unable to safely What is your favourite chapter in the Sea Harrier. Unable to get his Sidewinder
land and would have been forced to eject. book and why? missiles to fire, he brought down the A-4
Nor would it have been possible to reinforce It’s probably the account of John Leeming with guns at very close range, before flying
a carrier-based fast jet force with land-based and Clive Morrell’s encounter with three straight through the fireball. Aviation
No.809 NAS Sea Harriers on the ramp at RNAS Yeovilton. Phil Boyden
22-25_harrierDC.mfDC.mf.indd 23 23/03/2020 17:36

Above left: Argentine Air Force Mirage IIIs only faced Sea Harriers once with the latter coming out on top. © Fuerza Aérea Argentina
Above right: Artwork by Keith Burns of the shooting down of a Skyhawk by John Leeming using 30mm cannon fire. © Keith Burns
Above: After the invasion of the Falklands, France withheld any further assistance for the Exocet missile. However, Argentine Navy engineers were
able to successfully marry the sea-skimming Exocet to the Super Etendard without help from the manufacturer. © Comando de Aviación de Naval
Argentina
artist Keith Burns has produced a brilliant There’s been a broad appreciation that at the RAF’s deployment of 39 Squadron
painting of it especially for Harrier 809. least one Nimrod R.1 was used in support Canberra PR.9 spy planes to South America
of the Falklands’ campaign, but even Sir from RAF Wyton. There was so much
What aspects did you find most Lawrence Freedman’s official history doesn’t rumour, speculation and misinformation
interesting when researching/ confirm it. By going through the files in the about the Canberras in 1982 that I became
writing the book? National Archives with a fine-tooth comb, slightly obsessed with uncovering the truth.
While I love ‘panning for gold’ in the archives, I found a few isolated references to the Happily, I got there in the end and it’s all in
it was, as ever, the opportunity to meet and deployment, known as Operation Acme. the book.
talk to the people involved. It’s never less They provided some fascinating details to
than an extraordinary privilege. Everyone I what had already been sketched out. What fascinating information did
met was incredibly generous with their time you uncover in your research that
and memories. It’s really only through talking What were the most interesting you didn’t know before?
to them that the story took shape. When I aspects of the Nimrod R.1 operations? The list is a very long one as I came across
begin any book, I have a broad idea of where Three things jumped out at me. The discovery fresh, fascinating snippets of information
I’m going with it, but it always morphs into that, on two operational missions, senior wherever I looked. To mention just a
something more substantial and interesting members of the Chilean Navy were on board handful of things, though:
through my conversations with those who the Nimrod. Also that, during the first mission, 1. The Argentinian Navy tried to buy
were there. The initial plan for Harrier 809 the R.1 suffered an engine failure resulting in HMS Hermes.
was a relatively short, sharp account of 809 a very hairy landing on San Felix, a remote 2. British Aerospace tried to sell the
squadron’s war. However, such was the Chilean island in the Pacific, that grounded Sea Harrier to the Argentinian Navy in
wealth of material, it turned into a bit of an the jet until a new engine and replacement the late 1970s – with Foreign Office
epic. As well as jump jets and dogfights, there main undercarriage assembly could be flown backing. Argentina wanted A-7 Corsairs
are spies, top-secret missions, ingenious out. Last, that on another Acme mission, the from the US, but eventually bought
technology, long odds, fine margins and Nimrod was forced into evasive manoeuvres Super Etendards.
exceptional skill and heroism in a story that after being intercepted by a Chilean Mirage 50 3. The RAF had hopes of acquiring a
ended up reading more like a big Tom Clancy out over the Beagle Channel. ‘flat-top’ of their own from which they
thriller than a sliver of military history. could operate aircraft outside of Navy
Are there any other stories in the control and command.
I am not aware of the details regarding book that you were particularly 4. A proposal was put forward to build
the Nimrod R1 and the Falklands pleased to uncover? a single two-seat, night attack ‘Pathfinder’
campaign being publicly revealed I think that’s got to be the first really Harrier equipped with a forward-looking
before. How did that come about? substantial account of Operation Folklore, infrared system.
22-25_harrierDC.mfDC.mf.indd 24 23/03/2020 17:36

5. The Department of Naval Air Warfare
considered using airships to provide
airborne early warning for the Task Force.
6. Farnborough’s Department of
Defensive Weapons used 1:24 scale Airfix
models of the Harrier to develop new low-
visibility camouflage.
7. MI6 wanted to sabotage Argentinian
supply flights on the ground during
stopovers in Brazil.
8. There were plans explored by
the British for taking and occupying
territory in Tierra del Fuego on the South
American mainland.
9. Every Royal Australian Air Force
Mirage III was air-tested to an altitude of
70,000ft before entering service.
10. A pair of Anglo-Argentinian World Above: Sea Harriers recovering to HMS Hermes. Crown copyright
War Two veterans from RAF Bomber
Command flew against the British during Below: An Argentine Air Force Dagger flying low among the British ships at San Carlos Water
during the landing of troops. Crown copyright
the Falklands conflict.
Were there areas you would have

liked to cover, but were not able? If
so, why? And what was the reason
they couldn’t be covered?
Harrier 809 focuses on the critical effort
at home, abroad, at sea, in the air and on
the South American mainland to protect
the two aircraft carriers – from the Exocet
threat most particularly. Because of that,
there was a good deal of material from
the last couple of weeks of the war that
I was only able to mention in passing. to use the FA.2 on QRA at RAF Leuchars fascinating search for the Sea Harrier’s
Beyond that, I became fascinated by the when Tornado F.3s were deployed to the replacement. And so much more!
development of the Sea Harrier FA.2, Gulf, and discovered that, on exercise,
Harrier 809 – Britain’s Legendary Jump Jet
[and spoke] to Professor John Roulston, formations of FA.2s had, on separate
and the Untold Story of the Falklands War
the man who designed its world-beating occasions, successfully breached the
by Rowland White (ISBN 9781787631588)
Blue Vixen radar, and the pilots who first defences of both the USS Enterprise
is published on April 30 by Bantam Press,
flew it in action as part of the Operational and FNS Clemenceau to mount mock costing £20.
Evaluation Unit. I learned more about plans Sea Eagle attacks. Then there was the
HMS Hermes with Sea Harriers and Harrier GR3s on deck, the lighter grey camouflage of 809
NAS aircraft standing out from the other aircraft. After the Argentine surrender the carrier sailed
close to the islands for the first time. Crown copyright
22-25_harrierDC.mfDC.mf.mf.indd 25 31/03/2020 17:05

Air New Zealand
From Southern
Skies to the World
Celebrating 80 years of operation this year, Air New Zealand
traces its lineage back to two airlines, one international and one
domestic, and prides itself on giving both locals and visitors “The
World’s Warmest Welcome”. Patrick Boniface takes up the story.
T
he airline we know today as Air Two hampered progress towards a regular de Havilland Fox Moths, Douglas DC-3s,
New Zealand had its beginning service, with TEAL undertaking several Lockheed Electras, Lockheed Lodestars
on April 26, 1940, when Tasman special charter and reconnaissance flights and one de Havilland Express for domestic
Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) to New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and routes, with long-range Douglas DC-
was registered in Wellington. The shares Hawaii to assist the war effort. In June 3Ds and Short Sunderland flying boats
were split in uneven portions between the 1944, TEAL crossed the Tasman Sea for for services to the South Pacific islands.
New Zealand government, Union Airways, the 1,000th time. The immediate post-war It began operations to Kaitaia, Kaikohe,
Qantas and BOAC, the last of which had the period saw the introduction into service of Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Gisborne,
largest share at 38%. Four days later, Short the Tasman-class Short Sandringham flying Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston
Empire flying boat ZK-AMA Aotearoa carried boats, allowing an increase to seven return North, Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson,
ten passengers from Auckland to Sydney, flights per week. Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill,
marking the start of flight operations. New Zealand National Airways Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika.
By August 1940, TEAL had increased Corporation (NAC) was formed from an DC-3 services were then inaugurated to
departures to three times a fortnight and amalgamation of the Royal New Zealand Norfolk Island, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the
added a connection with the transpacific Air Force (RNZAF) transport unit 40 Sqn, Cook Islands, and Rotorua was added to
flying boat route to San Francisco with Union Airways and several smaller airlines, the domestic network in 1948. The arrival
Pan American Airways. Flights continued including Air Travel (NZ) Ltd. At the start in 1949 of the Solent-class aircraft allowed
throughout the war years, albeit at a of operations on April 1, 1947, NAC’s fleet an expansion of flying boat services. TEAL
much-reduced capacity, and World War consisted of de Havilland Dragon Rapides, took over the weekly Auckland to Suva,
26-31_air_new_zealandDC.mfDC.mf.indd 26 01/04/2020 16:01

Above: TEAL started operations with Short Empire-class flying boats in 1940, followed by
Sandringhams and Solents in the post-war period. Solent ZK-AMO served until 1960, and today
is displayed at Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology. Hajo Topzand. Mar 1950. [Short
Solent ZK-AMO on water], 02-1417. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology
(MOTAT)
Main photo: Air New Zealand bought Boeing 787-9s to replace its 767-300ERs. The carrier
operates 13 of this variant of the Dreamliner. AirTeamImages.com/Andrew Hunt
Fiji service from NAC on June 6, 1950, pull out of BCPA (British Commonwealth acquired three Vickers Viscount 807s, with
adding an extra leg from Suva to Labasa Pacific Airlines), the organisation that two more added later. The first aircraft
on the island of Vanua Levu. On October controlled airlines in the Pacific. This arrived at Whenuapai in the northwest of
3, the first Wellington-Sydney service decision led to a complete reorganisation Auckland on January 10, 1958, bearing
started; initially flown twice weekly, this of air routes and saw Qantas being the name City of Wellington, but was
was later increased to four return trips a awarded the transpacific service from initially used on the Auckland-Christchurch
week. These operated from Evans Bay in Sydney to San Francisco and Vancouver. route until the airport at Wellington was
Wellington harbour to Rose Bay in Sydney. BCPA was liquidated and arrangements upgraded and reopened in 1959. From July
A flying boat service from Auckland to were made for three of its DC-6s to be 4 that year a weekly Auckland-Brisbane
the Chatham Islands via Wellington was transferred to TEAL for Trans-Tasman and service was operated by NAC as an
inaugurated on December 1, 1950. Hibiscus Route (Auckland-Nadi) services. experiment for three months.
A significant event took place on When the shareholdings were allocated TEAL was also entering the turboprop
December 18, when Harewood Aerodrome era, taking delivery of the first of its
at Christchurch was dedicated as an
international airport. The first commercial
“The 1950s were a Lockheed Electras on November 19,
which started on the Auckland-Sydney
flight followed on June 28, 1951, when a period of successful and the Auckland-Melbourne routes the
DC-4 Skymaster flew to Melbourne under following month. Obsolete aircraft were
charter from Qantas. expansion for TEAL replaced progressively. On September 15,
The 1950s were a period of successful
expansion for TEAL and NAC, adding and NAC, adding 1960, the last Solent flying boat, ZK-AMO
Aranui, returned to Auckland having made
routes across the Pacific Island chains.
These small nations came to rely on such
routes across the a final farewell flight over the 4,600-mile
(7,403km) Coral Route. Commanded
flights as they often represented their only
communications with the outside world.
Pacific Island by veteran flying boat Captain J S (Joe)
Shephard. Aranui was then presented
On December 27, 1951, the first TEAL chains.” to the Museum of Transport and
service to Tahiti, via Suva and Aitutaki in Technology (MoTaT) in Auckland. The
the Cook Islands, was started, initially on in TEAL, it was decided that the Australian same year also saw the introduction of
a monthly basis. This service soon gained and New Zealand governments should the first of the airline’s eventual fleet of
the distinction of being known as the Coral hold equal responsibility and 50% of the 31 Fokker F27 Friendships. The airline’s
Route. The Auckland-Nadi-Rarotonga shareholdings each. DC-6s were fully replaced by Electras in
route survived for more than 55 years, Another link in the domestic 1961. The major milestone of the year,
finally coming to an end in October 2007. network was added in November 1954, however, was marked on April 28, when
NAC purchased de Havilland Herons in when Wanganui Airport was officially Minister of Civil Aviation John McAlpine
1952, mainly to serve Wellington Airport, opened. In November-December announced that New Zealand had agreed
which had proved too small to safely 1956, TEAL carried more than 4,000 to purchase Australia’s half-share in TEAL
operate the larger Lodestars and DC-3s. passengers to the Olympic Games in for US$1,622,800 (£1.2m), making New
Until the new Rongotai Airport was opened Melbourne, chartering ten Qantas Super Zealand the sole owner.
in 1959, most services to the capital were Constellations and several DC-4s from Tragedy occurred on July 3, 1963, when
flown from Paraparaumu, more than 30 Qantas, Sabena and Trans Australia a NAC DC-3, ZK-AYZ, crashed in the Kaimai
miles (50km) away on the Kapiti Coast, Airlines (TAA) to meet demand. Ranges with the loss of 23 passengers and
with passengers bussed into the city. crew. Contributing factors were strong
TURBOPROPS ARRIVE winds, downdrafts and limited navigation
CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP The late 1950s was another period of equipment, which caused the crew to
As part of the policy of withdrawal expansion for TEAL and NAC, with the believe they were clear to begin their
from the pre-war empire, the British former adding a new connection between descent to Tauranga when they were still
government decided in October 1953 to Auckland and Melbourne, while the latter over mountains.

Another tragedy befell the airline on
February 17, 1979, when F27-500, ZK-
NFC, crashed into Manukau Harbour
on approach to Auckland International
Airport, killing the captain and a ground
engineer who was on the flight. Worse
was to come on November 28, when
DC-10, ZK-NZP, crashed on Mount Erebus
in Antarctica while on the last sightseeing
flight of the season. All 257 people on
The DC-3 was the backbone of NAC’s post-war fleet. In the early 1960s, half of the 28-strong board died, including 24 crew, making it
fleet were converted to ‘Skyliner’ configuration with enlarged windows, including ZK-BBJ, which the worst aviation disaster in terms of lives
flew on with other New Zealand operators until the 1990s. Bob O’Brien Collection lost in New Zealand’s history. Subsequent
inquiries blamed pilot error. A public outcry
NEW NAME 31s. Some of the latter remained in service at the initial conclusion led to a Royal
TEAL entered the jet age on February 14, until 1986 and the Argosy 222s were Commission of Inquiry which concluded
1965, when the first of seven Douglas DC-8 retired in 1990 when Air New Zealand shut in April 1981 that the accident was caused
Series 52s for the airline, ZK-NZA, made its down the flying operation but retained the not by pilot error, but a correction made
maiden flight at Long Beach, California. engineering side of the business. to co-ordinates of the flight path the night
The decision was taken to change the Air New Zealand steadily increased before the disaster, which incorrectly
name of the airline to better reflect the traffic to its core markets of the USA, directed the aircraft towards Mount Erebus.
service it provided. So, on April 1, 1965, Air the South Pacific Islands and Australia. The Commission’s report accused Air New
New Zealand was born. Mangere Airport, On September 15, 1970, the airline Zealand management of “an orchestrated
situated south of Auckland, was officially signed a deal with the McDonnell litany of lies’” which led to changes in
opened on July 20, 1965, and took over Douglas Corporation for the purchase senior management positions.
from Whenuapai as the main airport for Air of three DC-10 Series 30s. At the same On April 21, 1980, an announcement
New Zealand following a runway extension time, DC-8s were still being added to was made that the airline intended to buy
begun in 1960, which included reclaiming the inventory, with a fifth arriving on five Boeing 747-200Bs. In 1981, Air New
land in Manukau Harbour. The same day lease from United Airlines, while older- Zealand welcomed the Boeing 747 into
also saw the arrival of the first DC-8 after a generation aircraft were being phased out service, allowing the airline to open up
6,510-mile (10,477km) non-stop flight from of service, including the Electras, which new routes and network opportunities.
Long Beach. were replaced by the DC-8s. The first On June 11 that year the airline’s first
November 24 saw the first commercial DC-10 arrived in February 1975 and was commercial 747 flight was made between
flight, an Electra from Nadi, arrive at the introduced on the Auckland to Sydney and Auckland and Sydney. By the end of the
new Auckland International Airport. On Auckland to Nadi services, followed by year, the 747 was also flying to Melbourne,
December 10, a non-commercial proving Auckland to LA in April. By the end of the Brisbane, Singapore and Los Angeles. Its
flight between Auckland and Los Angeles year, the DC-10 was serving Melbourne, arrival meant the withdrawal from service
operated via Nadi and Honolulu. Within a Sydney, Singapore and Los Angeles. of the DC-10s – the last flight of the type
few months the service had been increased occurring on December 15, 1982.
to twice weekly. MERGER WITH NAC The early 1980s saw a great deal
Hong Kong, Brisbane and Singapore In 1977, Air New Zealand introduced of expenditure on new aircraft and
flights were added in 1966. On July 4, DC-8 sightseeing trips to the Antarctic. The equipment, but when the annual report
ZK-NZB, crashed in a training accident at first flight on February 15 took 235 was published in September 1982 it
Auckland, resulting in the deaths of two passengers from Auckland over some of showed a record operating loss of
members of the crew. the most beautiful, scenic and desolate $NZ90m. The following year some
Meanwhile, NAC received the first areas on the planet. The year also saw headway was made into the debt, as the
three of an eventual 37 Boeing 737s in the the start of the merger between Air New annual loss had been brought down to
autumn of 1968, replacing the Viscounts. Zealand and NAC. This was completed $NZ32.5m. The airline was also facing the
DC-3s continued to operate to provincial on April 1, 1978, and the new entity threat posed by competition from Ansett
destinations, with the last scheduled flight used the name Air New Zealand. At the Airlines in Australia, which was biting
departing on December 19, 1974. time of the merger, the combined fleet deep into both its domestic and foreign
SAFE Air, founded as Straits Air Freight comprised of eight DC-10-30s, three market share. In 1987, the New Zealand
Express in 1950, was taken over by NAC in DC-8-52s, eight Boeing 737-200s, 13 government announced that it would
1973. That year the cargo operator added Fokker F27-100s and four F27-500s. By only allow the airline’s subsidiary, Ansett
two Armstrong Whitworth Argosy 222s to October, this total had been raised by the New Zealand, to operate in New Zealand
its existing fleet of 15 Bristol Freighter Mk addition of another Boeing 737. skies if the Australian government gave Air
New Zealand the same rights in Australia.
The Australians eventually reneged on the
deal, abandoning ‘open skies’ provisions
of the 1983 Closer Economic Relations
treaty unilaterally in 1994. The next year,
Air New Zealand tried to buy a large
share of Qantas when it was floated,
but was not allowed; instead, it bought
50% of TNT’s stake in Ansett Australia for
A$475million, although control of the
airline remained in the hands of News
Corporation. Ansett Australia then had
To reflect a codeshare arrangement in the early 1970s, the airline’s L-188C Electras wore dual Air to divest itself of Ansett New Zealand to
New Zealand and Qantas titles, as seen on ZK-TEB Atarau. Bob O’Brien Collection avoid creating a monopoly.
26-31_air_new_zealandDC.mfDC.mfDC.mf.indd 28 01/04/2020 16:20

TURNAROUND
Two years later and it was a completely
different story. The 1984 annual report
showed annual revenue exceeding $NZ1bn
for the first time. Air New Zealand reported
a record net profit of $NZ133.6m. It proved
to be a good year for the company, with
the first of ten Boeing 767-200ERs added
to the fleet and the sale of old aircraft,
including two DC-10-30s that had been
leased to Lan Chile since 1982 and six 737-
200s that were to be replaced by six new In 1958, NAC introduced the first of five Viscount 807s on the main trunk routes, relegating the
737-200 Advanced models early in 1986. DC-3 to serving regional destinations. Arriving at Christchurch (Harewood) in the early 1960s is
Later in 1986, the airline purchased a 50% ZK-BRE City of Christchurch. Jim Winchester Collection
share in the Melbourne-based Jetset Travel
group of companies.
On May 19, 1987, during unrest following
Fiji’s first military coup, an Air New Zealand
Boeing 747 at Nadi airport was boarded by
a staff member of a local ground handling
company, who demanded the release of
government ministers and to be flown to
Libya. The flight crew were held hostage
in their aircraft for six hours before being
set free when the flight engineer knocked
out the dynamite-armed would-be
hijacker with a bottle of duty-free whiskey.
Following this incident, services through
Nadi were suspended. The Fokker Friendship replaced the DC-3 on the provincial routes. Wearing the interim scheme
of NAC colours and the Air New Zealand koru logo, F27-100, ZK-NAH, awaits passengers at
In September 1988, Air New Zealand
Auckland’s regional ramp. Note the symbols of predecessors TEAL and NAC under the cockpit.
bought a 50% stake in the regional carriers
Bob O’Brien Collection
Eagle Airways and Air Nelson. This was
just months before the New Zealand Siddeley 748s. Mount Cook had been equipment programme. Ansett’s aircraft
government sold Air New Zealand to a established in 1920 and, throughout were old, with some of them approaching
consortium headed by Brierley Investments the post-war years, Air New Zealand 20 years in service, and regulators had
Ltd. On December 20, Brierley took 65% progressively increased its ownership of grounded ten of Ansett’s 767s for safety
of the shares, with 30% being sold to the the smaller airline until the companies violations. To cover the loss of a third of
public, staff and institutional investors. merged on December 9, 2019. In May Ansett’s capacity, Air New Zealand provided
The remaining shares were split between 1998, an agreement was reached for the one of its own 767s and a 747, as well as
Qantas, Japan Airlines, American Airlines sale of five 747-200s to Virgin Atlantic. chartering other types from Singapore
and the New Zealand government. In 1999, the airline saw expansion Airlines, Air Canada and Emirates.
Key events from 1990 included the possibilities but also controversy over At the same time, Air New Zealand and
withdrawal of the F27 fleet after 25 Australia’s Ansett Airlines, of which Air New Ansett were haemorrhaging money and
years and the inauguration of a weekly Zealand was a part owner. Ansett’s other market share to Qantas and new entrant
Auckland-Singapore-Kuala Lumpur service owner, News Corporation, wanted to sell Virgin Blue. What was needed was a cash
using a 767-200ER. To this was added its assets, but Air New Zealand could not injection, but the New Zealand government
Dempasar in Bali and Bangkok, Thailand, afford to buy out their share. After fighting vetoed a sale of controlling ownership to a
as new destinations. The following year off takeover bids from Singapore Airlines foreign airline with Deputy Prime Minister
saw a new 747-operated route to Nagoya and Qantas, Air New Zealand decided to Jim Anderton saying: “The idea of selling
in Japan and another to Taiwan using buy Ansett’s holdings and try and integrate our national airline to anyone would be
767s. The following year, the airline them. In February 2000, it bought the an anathema.” This was despite Air New
received its first 747-400 and began Australian carrier at a high price. Zealand being 49.9% foreign-owned
replacing the 747-200. Seven more -400s The cost meant Air New Zealand already. However, Singapore Airlines took
followed, the last in 1998. couldn’t finance Ansett’s needed re- a 25% stake in Air New Zealand in 2000,
A new service was introduced to
Kansai International Airport at Osaka
from September 1994, with a schedule
of six flights per week, including three
flights via Brisbane. Later in September,
the airline announced an increase in its
services between Auckland and Honolulu,
Los Angeles and Australia to cover the
shortfall of capacity due to the departure
of Continental Airlines from the New
Zealand market.
MOUNT COOK MERGER

In 1995, Air New Zealand bought seven The first of seven DC-8-52s entered Air New Zealand service in 1965. They were retired in 1984,
of an eventual 37 ATR 72 turboprops to except for one that was converted to a freighter and retained until 1989. Here, ZK-NZE taxies
replace Mount Cook Airlines’ Hawker onto a stand at Sydney. Bob O’Brien Collection

Eagle Airways, which operated a total of
six from 1991. Both fleets were replaced by
Beech 1900Ds from 2002. Eagle Airways
bought its first EMB-110 Bandeirante in
1980 and would eventually operate 11 of
the type.
Two days after the September 11 attacks
on New York and Washington, Air New
Zealand posted a massive slump in trade.
So bad were that year’s results – a loss
of $NZ1.425bn – that a recapitalisation
plan was formulated. The New Zealand
government effectively baled out the
The 737-200 was introduced by NAC in 1968, which became the first operator outside the US and airline to the tune of $NZ885m (£429m).
Europe. After the airline merger in 1978, the fleet gradually adopted full Air New Zealand livery. The downturn in commercial flying
Nordham hushskits were fitted in the mid-1990s, as can be seen on ZK-NAT. Bob O’Brien Collection lasted for a few months before people
returned to the skies, but not in the
numbers they had previously. In July 2002,
the Airbus A320 was selected as the aircraft
to replace the 767 and 737 on short-haul
international sectors. Of the 13 acquired,
ten were to be on lease. The accounts for
the year showed significant improvements,
with an operating profit of $NZ39m, but
also a net loss of $NZ319m.
On June 30, 2004, Air New Zealand
started its first new international route
in eight years: a non-stop flight from
The koru symbol is a stylised fern frond often used in Maori art. Air New Zealand adopted it with
Auckland to San Francisco. Later the
the introduction of the DC-10-30 in 1973. ZK-NZQ is pictured at Sydney in 1981. Bob O’Brien same year, the New Zealand High Court
Collection blocked a bid by Qantas to buy 22%
of the airline. The following month,
but after the New Zealand government for airlines in the region and Air New Singapore Airlines sold its remaining
was forced to bail out the airline and take Zealand was no exception. One day in shares in Air New Zealand.
majority ownership in 2001, Singapore October saw Air New Zealand experiencing Flights to Shanghai commenced in
Airlines stake was diluted to 6.3% in the its busiest day at Sydney International November 2006, with Beijing following
recapitalisation exercise. Airport in 60 years, with 30 flights taking on July 18, 2008. The latter route only
Meanwhile, the Air New Zealand home visitors to the games. remained for four years before being
board decided to spend more money to terminated in July 2012. The previous
finance the purchase of 32 new aircraft, HARD TIMES month, Air New Zealand resumed flights
with assistance from Singapore Airlines. In February 2001, the airline bought 16 to Bali following political troubles. It also
The situation spiralled out of control new Beech 1900D aircraft to replace added routes to Australia’s Sunshine Coast
rapidly and, on September 10, 2000, Air Metroliners and Embraer Bandeirantes that summer and by doing so became
New Zealand offered to sell its shares in that were being used on provincial routes. the first international airline to serve four
Ansett to Qantas for just A$1, an offer the Twelve Metroliners had been bought by destinations in Queensland.
Australian airline declined. subsidiary Air Nelson between 1987-90. When the 6.3 magnitude earthquake
Air New Zealand shares were suspended Two were later transferred to subsidiary struck Christchurch on February 22, 2011,
and Ansett entered voluntary Air New Zealand drafted
administration on September in all available aircraft and
13. At one stage, New personnel to airlift stranded
Zealand Prime Minister tourists and refugees out of
Helen Clark, on her way the battered city. In 2015,
back to New Zealand from an alliance between Air
the Middle East, found her New Zealand and Singapore
aircraft blockaded on the Airlines was established,
Melbourne Airport apron by with each airline operating a
laid-off Ansett workers, who daily return service between
refused to allow the jet to Christchurch-Singapore and
take off. Eventually, a Royal Auckland-Singapore.
New Zealand Air Force P-3 The airline has operated
Orion had to be dispatched a total of 18 Boeing 777s.
to bring her home. The first -200ER arrived on
The task of rescuing the October 27, 2005 and the last
airline from near collapse fell -300ER on August 8, 2018.
Five 747-200s bought in 1981-82 were
to Ralph Norris, former head of ASB Bank. In December 2015, a direct connection
replaced by eight 747-400s (pictured) from
One of the first moves was to reconfigure 1990. The ‘Pacific Wave’ livery was introduced
between New Zealand and Houston, Texas,
Air New Zealand’s domestic service to a in 1996 and was superseded by the silver fern was inaugurated flying up to five times
lower cost airline with no business class scheme from 2013, the latter doing away a week. This move meant that Air New
or meals. The Sydney Olympic Games in with the airline’s traditional teal blue trim. Zealand now reached five North American
September-October 2000 was a godsend AirTeamImages.com/Europix cities; Los Angeles, San Francisco,

Vancouver, Hawaii and airline’s 777-300ER or 787-9,
Houston. The expansion of and two narrowbody aircraft
services included a direct link like the A320 or A321neo at
to Buenos Aires – the airline’s the same time. The two-year
first foray into the South construction programme is
American market – with expected to start towards
the maiden flight landing at the end of 2020.
Ministro Pistarini International On May 27, 2019, Air
Airport on December 2, 2015, New Zealand announced
following a 12-hour flight an order for eight 787-10s
from Auckland. with the first joining the
Codeshare arrangements fleet in 2022. In addition to
were agreed in 2015 with the eight firm orders there
Air India, Air China, Cathay are options to increase the
Pacific and United Airlines. number up to 20. These
Regional services are operated under the
Elsewhere, it was announced that Air New Air New Zealand Link branding by ATR 72
new long-haul aircraft will replace Air New
Zealand would fly direct to Vietnam with and Q300 turboprops, such as ZK-NEH, Zealand’s fleet of eight 777-200ERs, which
a thrice-weekly 767-300 service between still wearing its old livery on approach to will be phased out by 2025.
Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Wellington in late 2019. Jim Winchester In late 2019, the airline publicised plans
Nhat International Airport on a seasonal to fly thrice-weekly to New York with
basis, operating from June to October in Another new route to Taipei was 787-9s from October 2020, but also made
2016 (later dropped in September 2018). announced in February 2018, with the first the decision to withdraw its daily Los
Loss-making routes continued to be flight landing the following November, Angeles-London service the same month.
cut from the schedule, including those but the regional Kapiti Coast service Dropping the North Atlantic service allows
served by the 19-seat Beech 1900Ds. was suspended in April through lack of Air New Zealand to focus its attention and
These aircraft were replaced with an initial passengers. Air New Zealand’s continued resources on its key Pacific and North
order for 17 more economical 50-seat push into the North American market saw American markets.
Bombardier Q300s to be used on the the establishing of a 15-16-hour nonstop The coronavirus has had a significant
regional routes operated by Air Nelson, service between Auckland and Chicago’s effect on the airline, which announced on
which had been fully owned by Air New O’Hare Airport in November 2018 in March 16 that it would reduce its long-
Zealand since 1995. In November 2014, the association with United Airlines; this thrice- haul capacity by 85% over the coming
airline announced a $NZ600m investment weekly service is operated by 787-9s. months, and would only operate a minimal
in 15 new 68-seat ATR 72 turboprops. schedule to allow New Zealanders to
While regional services seemed to be NEW AIRBUSES return home and to keep open trade
in relative decline, new destinations The seven-year Trans-Tasman alliance with corridors with Asia and North America.
continued to be added. Virgin Australia ended in 2017 and Air New The last NZ1 service from London to
The final 747-400 revenue flight took Zealand subsequently inaugurated two Auckland via Los Angeles left on March
off on September 10, 2014, and in April routes to add an extra 15% capacity. That 23, and although the route is due to
2017 Air New Zealand bid farewell to the year was a significant one because it saw continue until October. By March 25 this
767-300ER, which had been in service the first of the airline’s A320neo aircraft amounted to two Auckland-Hong Kong
since 1991. Its place in the fleet was taken arrive. This was followed the following year and three Auckland-Los Angeles flights a
by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners – the airline by the A321neo. In total, the airline has 11 week. At the time of going to press, the
being the launch customer for this version. of both types in service and another nine reinstatement of other long-haul services
The last of 13 Dreamliners was delivered in on order. was scheduled for June 30. Trans-Tasman
September 2018. In the spring of 2019, the airline capacity has been reduced to seven return
Additional flights to Samoa were announced an ambitious project to build services per week between Auckland and
added in June 2017, as was a service the world’s largest single-span timber the main eastern Australian cities, with
from Auckland to Tokyo/Haneda, with arch aircraft hangar at its engineering base other routes suspended until June 30.
the inaugural flight on July 21. This was in in Auckland. With an area 107,640sq ft Domestic flights have been cut by 30%,
addition to the airline’s service to Tokyo’s (10,000m2), Hangar 4 will be large enough though all destinations are continuing to
Narita airport. to house a widebody aircraft, such as the be served.
The Airbus A321neo was introduced on services to Australia and the Pacific in late 2018. At least one aircraft of each type in the fleet
has been painted in overall black since 2011 as part of a long-term sponsorship deal with the All Blacks national rugby team. Airbus
26-31_air_new_zealandDC.mfDC.mfDC.mf.indd 31 01/04/2020 16:21

East German MiG-21s
ColdWarFishbeds
PART 2
The East German Air Force’s MiG-21s were key to the defence of the
GDR. Doug Gordon continues the story of their Cold War operations
and hears how it might have fared against its Luftwaffe counterparts.
O
ne day in the autumn of 1976 Main photo: A MiG-21M takes off with SPRD-99 considered more appropriate considering
Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Rocket Assisted Take Off (RATO). It would the short target detection distance.
be used for MiG-21 combat missions from
Volksarmee (LSK-NVA) MiG-21 Air-to-ground tactics were also practised
short concrete or grass runways. Two rocket
pilot Michael Wegerich was by the MiG-21 squadrons, though not
booster rockets were mounted on each side
on a training flight to practice daytime of the fuselage and dropped after launch. Dirk with the same intensity as the interceptor
interception. He was vectored to what Paatz. mission, which was paramount. Pilot
he was told was an unknown target. The Leutnant Ron Triegel particularly enjoyed
aircraft to his surprise turned out to be Operations against helicopters were an this aspect of training at the range regularly
a MiG-23. Unknown to Michael and his important part of the training undertaken used by the LSK at Jerischke. He recalls:
squadron, the MiG-23 had been flying by the pilots. Tactics were developed and “One of the training requirements besides
with fighter wing (Jagdgeschwader) JG practised regularly, usually against a Mi-4, the air-to-air stuff was to qualify in the
9 at Peenemünde for two years. There Mi-8 and occasionally a Mi-24, which air-to-ground attacks using S-5 unguided
was great secrecy within the LSK and flew at an altitude of 300m (984ft) at a rockets in UB-16 or UB-32 launchers. I
throughout the Warsaw Pact forces – speed of 68-75mph (110 to 120km/h). The loved this sort of training during the L-39
pilots and other personnel operated intercepting MiGs usually flew in pairs at an [Albatros trainer] phase and scored quite
strictly on a need-to-know basis. This was initial minimum height of 700m (2,297ft). well. However, since it was not the norm
to avoid the inadvertent dissemination Having located the target helicopter the to employ live weapons, the preparation
of information regarding the structures, MiGs would dive at a speed of 700 to phase a day before was completely filled
capabilities, plans and intentions of the 800km/h (435-497mph) and attack in with excitement and rigorous discipline,
forces, as well as details regarding modern line astern and open fire with cannon at because at the end of that day, the pilots
weapons and command systems. Such a height of approximately 600 to 700m assigned for the live shooting campaign
secrecy, though deemed essential, had (1,969-2,297ft). Although it was possible had to pass quite challenging test questions
the drawback of the possibility of shooting to attack helicopters with R-3S missiles, before being allowed to fly the next.
down one of your own aircraft. cannon and unguided rockets were We normally flew to the range, which in
32-36_mig21_part2DC.mfDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 32 26/03/2020 10:57

our case was pretty close to our main Above: Positioned in one of the many dispersal areas at Preschen, this MiG-21MF is fitted with
base, either in two- or four-ships, split a 800 lit fuel tank under the fuselage and 490 lit tanks on two pylons on each wing. Udo ‘Sadzu’
Sadzulewski
the formation on approach and started
initially with two or three dry runs before Below: For practice intercept sorties the MiG-21SPS was fitted with the R-3U monitoring pod
switching ‘Master Arm’ to the hot position. which simulated an attack and recorded all the details for later analysis. Michael Wegerich
The usual procedure to shoot unguided
rockets was the standard range pattern,
which allowed for accommodation of four
jets simultaneously and enabled the pilots
to achieve the required 20-30° dive angle.
The S-5 rockets had a very short burning
time and their flight path started dropping
downwards shortly after launch. As a result
it was almost impossible to follow the flight
path of the rockets to check for the impact
points. Doing so would have definitely led
to busting the minimum safety altitude.”
The development of the two-seat trainer
version began in 1959 and the first variant,
the MiG-21U (Mongol), which was based on
the MiG-21F-13 and could carry the same
armament as the Fishbed-C, entered service
with the LSK in 1965 with training wing
Fliegerausbildungsgeschwader 15 (FAG 15)
at Rothenburg. Subsequent deliveries were
made to the fighter wings.
The ’U was followed into service
between 1968 and 1970 by the MiG-21US.
(Mongol-B). This aircraft was used as a The squadron would be evaluated on and what kind of modification that was,
trainer for the ’PFM and ’SPS and had the the number of targets shot down and by because he’d never seen anything like ours
R-11F2S-300 engine and blown flaps. For what means, the overall quality of the unit before. No wonder, he was far too young to
pilots destined to fly the latter, this trainer management, and the appropriateness and know our old MiGs. Our brand-new looking
was an invaluable aid. The MiG-21UM, also accuracy of the tactical decisions made. aircraft were already 18 years old!
codenamed Mongol-B, entered the LSK For three months prior to the “The requirements were high. Everyone
inventory between 1971 and 1978. deployment all pilots in the squadron were was under a certain pressure to succeed.
stringently tested in high- and medium- Anyone who failed once or twice and
TRAINING IN RUSSIA level interception; and so were the aircraft did not reach the required standards was
Every few years all squadrons and their that they flew. Out of the 50 MiG-21SPS stamped as mediocre or weak and was
pilots had to detach to Astrakhan in examples assigned to JG 1, 12 would no longer among the nominees. The
southern Russia to qualify in live firings with be selected for the deployment. And of evaluation of the flight data recorder and
guided missiles against real targets, in this all the pilots on the wing, only the most gun cameras was carried out during the
case Lavochkin LA-17 unmanned remote experienced would go. This evaluation was preparatory flights, not by the squadron,
controlled vehicle. Prior to 1986 Warsaw one that would not be allowed to fail! Maj but by the flight department of the staff
Pact pilots were detached to Astrakhan to Wegerich: “All 12 aircraft were taken out of to ensure an objective evaluation and to
fly Soviet aircraft. When Michael Wegerich service in good time, thoroughly repaired exclude manipulation. Also violations of
(now a major) led 2 Sqn of JG 1 the and repainted. The machines prepared specifications and safety regulations were
3,300km (2,051 miles) to Astrakhan in the in this way were a pleasure. They looked severely punished in the preparation phase.”
summer of 1986 it was the first time that a as new and flew like that, although some The deployment started early one
unit of the LSK had deployed with its own aircraft were almost as old as our youngest morning with a unannounced alert. All
aircraft, its own weapons and equipment pilots. On one of the stopover airfields in the pilots were in their cockpits and ready to
and its own technical, flying, flight control Soviet Union, one of us was asked by a Su- go within 30 minutes. The 12 MiG-21SPS
and GCI personnel. 24 pilot if our MiGs were the most modern took off for their first stop at Preschen,

This MiG-21M of TAFS-47 taking off from Preschen is carrying a CLA-87
reconnaissance pod under its port wing. Udo ‘Sadzu’ Sadzulewski
to operate from the permanent airfields.

Consequently the units had alternate
bases from which they could operate –
for example, JG 1’s MiGs could use an
auxiliary airstrip in the forest near Alteno
around 80km (50 miles) south of Berlin,
comprising a prepared runway and grass
strips. In addition the wings would also
practise landing on motorway sections
(Autobahnabschnitten or ABA). The section
of the autobahn that JG 1 used for training
purposes was the ABA Forst, a 3.3km (2.1
mile) stretch between Cottbus and the
A Lavochkin LA-17K unmanned aerial target at Astrakhan. The LA-17 first flew in the mid-1950s Polish border, which it crossed near the
and remained in service until the late 1980s. Michael Wegerich town of Forst. The ABA was closed for two
to three weeks, taken over by the LSK, and
on the Polish border, home of JG 3. The a bunch of people had already gathered prepared for aircraft operations.
relatively uneventful journey to Astrakhan there. They had followed the direct hit, The dispersal bases were not only used
was via Tscherljany, Starokonstantinow and which was quite rare, on the radio receivers for routine training purposes, but also
Kramatorsk (all in Ukraine) and Salsk (Russia). or at the radar screens. Often the La-17 was for Gefechtsflugtag exercises designed
The day after arriving at the base the only damaged, lost its height or spiralled to test the squadrons under wartime
squadron was hard at work. There were out of control, so an AAA battery had to combat conditions. Squadrons could be
briefings by the Soviets in charge of the be used before the Lavochkin left the deployed monthly at very short notice
facility and later, practice intercepts against shooting range. When I left the cockpit, the and were required to have all 12 of their
various targets including MiG-23s. After comrades cheered me.” aircraft armed and at Readiness State 1
several days of evaluations, and with all the All five LA-17s allocated to the (Bereitschaftsstufe 1) within three hours.
squadron pilots successfully checked out, squadron were shot down during the The dispersal base at Alteno was used by
the live firing against the LA-17s began. period of the deployment at Astrakhan other units as well as JG 1, mainly by JG
Michael Wegerich was the first pilot and the unit returned to Cottbus with a 3 at Preschen due to its proximity.
to ‘hunt’ the LA-17. Armed with two R-3S ‘Very Good’ rating. The then Oberstleutnant (Lt Col)
missiles, his aircraft, 560, took off and he Wegerich recalls a particular
was followed by two more MiGs whose task DISPERSAL training event when he
was to shoot down the LA-17 if he failed. If One of the most important aspects of was 2 Squadron
they in turn failed to kill the target then that a MiG-21 wing’s training concerned the commander
role fell to a Russian anti-aircraft unit some dispersal and decentralisation of aircraft, at Cottbus. “An
200km (124 miles) north of Astrakhan. In the aircrew and support staff. In the event exercise had begun,
event, Michael’s flight was successful and he of hostilities breaking out with NATO all 12 aircraft were
scored a direct hit on the target. forces it was considered paramount that on Readiness Stage
He recalled arriving back to the base. air operations in defence of the country 1. It was 10pm when
“When I rolled back to my parking spot, should not be compromised by any inability the readiness was
A MiG-21MF under tow at Preschen. The NVA received its initial example of this variant in 1972. It was
the first variant to be delivered in a camouflage scheme. Michael Wegerich.

to me the combat readiness of 12 aircraft
in three hours. It is exactly 23:30 – repeat!’
I repeated the order. There could not be
questions, they were superfluous. The order
was exactly what we should have been
prepared to do, according to the squadron
[standing orders], however we had never
trained for this exercise at night and within
the short time schedule.”
In the event, within the prescribed time,
12 MiG-21s were refuelled and armed with
live missiles at Readiness Stage 1 at Alteno,
even though the support convoy had to
travel the 30 miles (50km) from Cottbus to
the airstrip by road.
THE ENDGAME
Prior to the official reunification of Germany
in October 1990, LSK operations with
the MiG-21 units were suspended. The
Having returned from a successful training mission, MiG-21U, 247, is inspected by a technician. Diensthabendes System (Duty System/DHS),
Michael Wegerich the equivalent of NATO’s quick recation
alert, was finally stood down on September
29, 1990. Following reunification, work
began to get rid of the MiG-21s now in
the inventory of the Luftwaffe. Around 150
examples found their way into museums,
but by 1993 they were the only ones
remaining of the 560-plus operated by the
LSK over the years, the rest of the survivors
being scrapped. There were approximately
285 MiG-21 pilots still on duty in 1990,
but only 11 pilots were retrained to fly the
McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom. Over
250 MiG-21 pilots were fired after October
Between 1968 and 1970 the MiG-21U was followed into service by the MiG-21US. This aircraft
1990 and faced an uncertain future.
was used as a trainer for the MiG-21PFM and MiG-21SPS and had the R-11F2S-300 engine and
blown flaps. Michael Wegerich
Although the MiG-21 was tested in
many war zones throughout the world
suspended and live missiles were removed duty staff went to rest. At about 11.30pm during its long career, thankfully it never
from the aircraft. That meant possible night the telephone in the command post rang. saw combat in Europe during the Cold
operations or flights in the early morning It was the wing commander, Col Kernchen, War. But how would it have fared against a
hours were to commence. The squadron who said: ‘Attention: You are to move the NATO force? Retired pilot Oberstleutnant
was still fully occupied, but those not on the squadron to the airfield at Alteno and report Karl Körschner flew the type for 25 years
The next two-seater variant was the MiG-21UM, which entered

service with the LSK between 1971 and 1978. Here, 231, taxies
prior to taking off from Preschen. Udo ‘Sadzu’ Sadzulewski

When the Bundeswehr took over the MiG-21
squadrons it lost no time in giving the aircraft
new serial numbers and tail insignia. This MiG-
21UM at Preschen now carries the Luftwaffe
code 23+59. Udo ‘Sadzu’ Sadzulewski
after joining the LSK in 1964. We will give so no MiGs would have got airborne before that because some F-4Fs would have
him the last word as he recalls an event in the strike. However, the former East German managed to destroy the runway with
1989 when pilots from a Luftwaffe F-4F personnel worked out the flight duration their Maverick missiles, the MiGs would
fighter-bomber squadron arrived at Holzdorf of the F-4s to the point where their bombs not find it so easy to return to their base
to see how JG 1 would react to a strike or missiles could be deployed against the without any losses. And what if the F-4Fs
on the base by Phantoms: “I was with the airfield and found that they would have had destroyed the entire runway and it
squadron commander and pilots of the F-4F been detected by air defence radar 15 to 17 was unusable? Again, the pilots received a
squadron in the control tower. After the minutes beforehand. code word and all landed left and right of
demonstration started, the F-4 squadron the runway on the grass. Körschner added:
commander asked how many planes were
being used on that day. The answer was 36.
“After less than 12 “The F-4 pilots did not know that we could
land on grass because their landing gear
He then asked, ‘And how long does the flight minutes, 36 MiG-21s was not designed for it. We told them we
shift take?’ He was told eight hours, because also used motorways during exercises.
this was a so-called combat flight day. The were in the air” The [F-4F] squadron commander said:
next question was: ‘And how many planes ‘We have not been told the truth – it was
do you have ready at the end of the shift?’ A code word was sent to the leaders always claimed that you only had scrap.
The answer again was 36. He asked how we of the MiG-21 squadrons, which triggered We would take-off, fulfil our mission and
managed that and was told that back-ups a combat launch. At Holzdorf the take- then fly back, drink coffee and everything
would be available in the event of aircraft off could be made on the main runway would be OK.’” Körschner concludes that
becoming unserviceable, and that defects in pairs, grass tracks on both sides of the if there had been a war with the West the
would be rectified immediately – there were main runway, and on the auxiliary runway underestimation of the East German MiG-
always 36.” Körschner also recounted how with a take-off interval of 15-20 seconds. 21s in his opinion would have meant that
the F-4F squadron commander said that an After less than 12 minutes, 36 MiG-21s NATO aircrew “would have paid dearly for
attack on the airfield would be a surprise and were in the air. The Luftwaffe pilots said it in wartime.”
Around 150 East German MiG-21 ended up in museums, such as this example in the Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica at Cuatro Vientos in
Madrid. AirTeamImages.com/Serge Bailleul

037_AN_May_20_ad.indd 1 31/03/2020 15:08:42
Edelweiss Air
Bloomingin Switzerland
Swiss carrier Edelweiss Air started 25 years ago with just
one aircraft, and now flies to the Americas, Asia, Africa and
throughout Europe. Jozef Mols examines the secret of its success.
E
delweiss Air was established in McDonnell Douglas MD-83, HB-IKM, Switzerland to the Maldives, using an A330-
Bassersdorf, Switzerland, on which was obtained from Meridiana and 200. The leased aircraft (HB-IQZ) would
October 19, 1995, by travel company would stay with the fleet until April 1999. serve until November 2010, when it was
Kuoni Reisen AG and businessman Soon after, a second MD-83 (HB-IKN) was sold to Brussels Airlines. It was replaced by
Niklaus Grob, who became the first CEO of added. It remained in the fleet until February another aircraft of the same type (HB-IQI),
the airline. The company’s name is derived 1999. Finally, a third MD-83 (HB-IKP) joined which remained in the fleet until January
from the Swiss unofficial national flower, Edelweiss in February 1997, which would 2017. By then, all A330-200s had left the
the edelweiss. serve till March 1999. During this start-up fleet, to be replaced by two larger A330-
It was Kuoni’s intention to operate its period, the airline mainly concentrated on 300s. In January 2002, Karl Kistler took over
own flights, related to the holiday products destinations around the Mediterranean, as CEO of the airline.
sold by the travel group. On receiving the transporting Kuoni’s clients on holiday. For seven consecutive years (2001-
green light for flight operations, the first Thanks to the good results obtained during 2008), Edelweiss received the gold Travel
service took off on this period, the MD-83s could be replaced Star award from Travel Inside magazine for
February 10, 1996. by more modern equipment. Three Airbus its excellent achievements. In November
At that time, the A320-200s were purchased from the 2008, Edelweiss was sold by Kuoni Reisen
airline only manufacturer in 1999. to Swiss International Air Lines, in exchange
had one On November 21, 2000, Edelweiss for sales rights on hotel capacities via
aircraft: the operated its first long-haul flight from the Swiss sales network. As Swiss
38-40_edelweissDC.mfDC.mf.indd 38 30/03/2020 11:04

The airline began operations with a single MD-83 in February 1986.
This is that first aircraft at Zürich a few months later. Marc Hasenbein
International had been acquired by the class, with fully reclining Thompson took place at the same time the aircraft
Lufthansa Group earlier, Edelweiss became ‘Vantage’ seats. A new Economy Max were undergoing C-check overhauls.
a member of a large airline group. In 2009, cabin was added to the airliners, where A year later, the airline transported 1.1m
Edelweiss transported 703,000 passengers passengers could enjoy an extra 6in passengers, with a load factor of
– nearly 25% more than in 2008. On May (15cm) of legroom; the 84%, and announced its plans
31, 2010, Edelweiss began flights to Calgary conversion to expand its aircraft fleet.
and Vancouver, Canada. Four A340-300s were
leased from parent
NEW CEO, companies Swiss
NEW AIRCRAFT and Lufthansa,
In September 2014, Bernd Bauer for delivery
became the new CEO of between 2017
Edelweiss. The same year, and 2018. Also a
the long-haul fleet single A320-200
received a new was added.
interior in In 2016,
business Edelweiss
started up twice-
weekly flights from
Zürich to Mauritius
with A330-300s. The
same year, a service was
added between Zürich and
Edinburgh, Scotland, with the
same frequency.
In 2000, Edelweiss Air leased an A330

to open up new routes to long-haul
destinations including Mauritius, Cancun,
San Diego and Buenos Aires. There are
currently two examples of the aircraft in the
fleet. AirTeamImages.com/Carlos Enamordo
38-40_edelweissDC.mfDC.mf.mf.indd 39 31/03/2020 17:08

Backbone of Edelweiss Air’s fleet is the A320 servicing the short- and medium-haul destinations.
AirTeamImages.com/Florent Lacressonniere
In 2017, Edelweiss further expanded

its long-haul network by putting Costa Edelweiss Airbus A330, HB-IQI, lifting from
Rica, Cancún in Mexico and San Diego, Phuket in Thailand. AirTeamImages.com/TT
California, on its route map and increased
its short- and medium-haul fleet with the
addition of three A320s from Lufthansa
acquired via lessor the Macquarie Group.
For the summer of 2018 the airline
increased its network by 20% and added
11 new destinations, meaning its network
involved 62 airports in 28 countries.
From November 2018 until January
2019, Edelweiss operated flights from
Zürich to Colombo in Sri Lanka. At the
same time, Buenos Aires was added as
a destination. It is expected the new
service will bring some 26,000 Swiss
tourists to Latin America annually. Two MARKET SUCCESS to keep these aircraft flying or whether
weekly services were recently being Bauer is proud of the good co-operation they should be replaced by more modern
operated by A340-300s. between his airline and the travel agencies types. The A340s, obtained from Swiss, will
Also, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam (two and tour operators. In Switzerland, remain in the fleet for a longer period of
weekly flights by A340-300) and Varadero, Edelweiss has a share of more than 50% time as Edelweiss needs this type of aircraft
Cuba, (one weekly A330-300 flight) were in the leisure market. to serve some of its
added. Finally, there were new services to According to Bauer, “In Switzerland, destinations, such
Orlando, Florida, and Denver, Colorado, Edelweiss’ long- as Buenos Aires.
with the Seychelles showing up on the haul flights have a Edelweiss has a share The carrier’s current
route map in September. Originally, the
Seychelles flights were planned to be
load-factor of more
than 80% – flights to of more than 50% in fleet comprises ten
A320s and a pair
seasonal, but after signing a three-year
marketing agreement with the Seychelles
Colombo even reach
90%, and the same
the leisure market.” each of A330s and
A340s.
Tourism Board, it was decided to operate is true on the Costa Rica route. In 2019, Edelweiss has had to cancel numerous
them on a year-round basis. Edelweiss received its tenth Airbus A320 flights due to the COVID-19 outbreak,
With this expansion, the airline offered and, in May, began offering a direct flight though has also operated a number
flights to 70 holiday destinations in 34 between Zürich and Tirana in Albania. The of special charter flights to repatriate
countries in 2019. By the end of the year, A320 fleet will be kept in the air until at stranded tourists.
the company had 1,002 staff members, least 2022 or 2023. In the meantime, the Once the coronavirus emergency is
including 218 pilots, 662 cabin crew and airline is observing changes in the market over, Edelweiss will be in a position to
122 ground staff. and will decide at a later date whether bloom again.
Further expansion of the Edelweiss fleet took place in 2016 with

the leasing of four A340-300s. AirTeamImages.com/Andres Meneses
38-40_edelweissDC.mfDC.mf.indd 40 30/03/2020 11:05

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The RAF’s
This year, while
the Royal Air
2020
Force is marking
the 80th
anniversary of
the Battle of
Britain, the service
is working to
Vision
ensure it is fit to
fight 21st century
opponents. Tim
Ripley reports.
A
s the world’s first ever independent Above: Two Poseidons have now arrived at Tornado GR4. From March 2019, when the
air arm, the RAF has led the way Kinloss Barracks in Scotland. By the end latter jet retired from service, the Typhoon
of 2021, the full fleet of nine should be
in many aspects of air warfare. For took on sole responsibility for maintaining
operational from nearby RAF Lossiemouth.
example, a radar-based air defence a continuous presence in Cyprus as part
Niall Paterson
network gave the RAF an advantage against of Operation Shader, flying strike missions
Hitler’s Luftwaffe in 1940 during the Battle has been steadily learning how to exploit against so-called Islamic State-linked
of Britain. the potential of its first combat aircraft targets in Iraq and Syria. At the same time,
In the third decade of the 21st century incorporating low observable technology. the Typhoon force has sustained quick
the RAF is still striving to remain in the first In April 2019, 617 Sqn took its F-35Bs reaction alert (QRA) commitments in the
division of air forces by fielding the most to RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus and then flew UK and the Falkland Islands. Typhoons have
advanced air warfare technology and leading several sorties over Syria and Iraq under the also filled NATO air policing tasks in Iceland
the world in combat tactics and procedures. banner of Operation Shader. and Eastern Europe.
During the past year the RAF has taken its RAF F-35Bs flew across the Atlantic in
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning combat October to join the Royal Navy’s Westlant EYES IN THE SKY
jets to an operational theatre for the first 19 exercise and then embarked on HMS The RAF intelligence, surveillance,
time, and flown them from the deck of Queen Elizabeth for the first time. RAF targeting, acquisition and reconnaissance
Britain’s newest aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Marham’s jets returned to the 65,000-ton (ISTAR) force remains highly active as part
Elizabeth. It has also taken delivery of its first carrier in UK waters this February enabling of Operation Shader in the Middle East,
Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and re- instructor pilots of 207 Sqn to gain their and around Europe supporting NATO
capitalised its training fleet with new aircraft deck landing qualifications. At the same allies. Outside the US, the UK has some
and helicopters. In early March Britain’s time 617 Sqn took Lightnings to Nellis AFB, of the most flexible and effective ISTAR
‘new’ government announced an integrated Nevada to make their RAF debut in Exercise platforms, so they are much in demand by
defence and security review to look at the Red Flag. By the end of 2019 the RAF had operational commanders.
future direction of the RAF and the other taken delivery of 17 F-35Bs, and 31 more Even though Islamic State fighters have
armed services. are under contract to be delivered by 2025. been defeated in Syria, RAF Raytheon
For the seven frontline squadrons Sentinel R1 airborne stand-off radar and
FAST JET FORCE equipped with the Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint electronic
After the delivery of the first F-35Bs to 2019 was a busy year as the type took over intelligence gathering aircraft have been
RAF Marham, Norfolk in 2018, the RAF many roles previously filled by the Panavia regular visitors to RAF Akrotiri and Al Udeid
42-46_raf_overviewDC.mf.indd 42 26/03/2020 13:15

The first students began training on the Beechcraft Texan T1 at RAF Valley, Wales, in October 2019. Crown Copyright 2019
Airbase in Qatar over the past year. At include the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail airborne that have introduced the Airbus A330
the same time the Beechcraft Shadow R1 early warning aircraft from December 2023 Voyager, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and
multi-sensor ISTAR aircraft has also been and the new General Atomics Protector Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas
reported to be operating in Northern Iraq UAV from 2024. into service while older aircraft have been
and Eastern Syria, as well as at home on However, it has since emerged that to retired. As well as regular tasking a Voyager
counter-terrorist tasks. A launch-and- find the money to buy this new equipment is held ready to assist with QRA in the UK
recovery element for the RAF General the RAF will have to retire some existing and another supports the Typhoons in the
Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial capabilities over the next two years. All Falklands. An A400M is also detached to
vehicle remains at Ali al Salem Airbase the Sentinels will be retired in March 2021 RAF Mount Pleasant for search and rescue,
in Kuwait, controlled remotely from RAF without replacement and the Boeing transport, and maritime patrols.
‘During the past year the RAF has taken its Lockheed Martin F-35B
Lightning combat jets to an operational theatre for the first time and
flown them from the deck of Britain’s newest aircraft carrier.’
Waddington in the UK and Creech AFB E-3D Sentry AEW1 airborne early warning The defence review in 2010 ordered
in Nevada. The Sentinel and Rivet Joint radar aircraft will be taken out of service the retirement of the Lockheed Martin
have also been in heavy demand to fly in December 2022, leaving a year’s gap C-130J Hercules fleet but this was reversed
surveillance missions along Russia’s borders when the RAF will have no airborne early by the 2015 review, although with only
to monitor troop build-ups in the Crimea, warning capability. 14 airframes retained in service from an
Baltic Sea and Kola Peninsula regions. original fleet of 25. The crewing levels
There was a major boost for the RAF AIR TRANSPORT AND across the Hercules force were criticised
ISTAR Force with the delivery of the first HELICOPTERS in a board of inquiry report by the Defence
Poseidon to Kinloss Barracks in Moray The Air Mobility Force at RAF Brize Norton, Safety Authority into the loss of a C-130J
in February 2020 – the full fleet of nine Oxfordshire remains one of the busiest in Iraq in 2017. This prompted RAF Air
aircraft is expected to have taken up elements in the RAF, sustaining air force, Command to order an uplift in Hercules
permanent residence at its home base navy and army units deployed around the manning from 20 to 28 crews in 2019.
at RAF Lossiemouth, Moray by the end world. It has benefited from procurement It emerged late last year that the Ministry
of 2021. Planned additions to this force programmes over the past two decades of Defence is to sell off the four BAe 146s
The Raytheon Sentinel R1 standoff radar platform is scheduled

for retirement in early 2021 with no plans for a replacement.
Crown Copyright 2017

The Boeing Sentry AEW1 will leave service in December 2022, but its successor, the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, will not arrive until a year later. Crown
Copyright 2012
used by 32 (The Royal) Squadron at RAF been maintained in the Afghan capital, occasions to perform such tasks as
Northolt for VIP and command support Kabul, supporting the NATO training and helping to reinforce flood defences and
operations. A procurement exercise is under assistance mission. The recent peace deal build up faltering dams due to extensive
way to select a replacement but it is not with the Taliban calls for NATO troops to flooding around Britain. Since July 2018
known when a decision will be announced. withdraw within 14 months and among the Chinook Force has also had sustain a
The RAF’s support helicopters, the them the UK forces, including the Puma detachment of three helicopters in Mali in
Chinook HC5/6/6A and Puma HC2, detachment, if the militants uphold their the northwest of Africa, supporting French
remain under the command of the tri- side of the agreement. troops fighting militants. This is on top
service Joint Helicopter Command. Since Over the past year the Chinook of the enduring mission in the Falkland
March 2015 a detachment of Pumas has force has been called upon on several Islands by two Chinooks, providing
Typhoons deployed to RAF Leeming,

North Yorkshire, in March and the air force
successfully completed a NATO capability
evaluation (CAPEVAL). Crown Copyright 2020

Four more Airbus Jupiter
HT1s have been ordered
for the Defence Helicopter
Flying School (now renamed
No 1 Flying Training School),
which will bring the total in
service to seven. Taff Evans
mobility for the British Army garrison in to turn around this situation, 22 Group set intense scrutiny. Although it is early days,
the South Atlantic. about instigating mitigation measures to the central role of the Royal Navy’s aircraft
reduce the backlog in the training pipeline. carriers means that maritime airpower will
TRAINING FLEET BOOST Fast jet and helicopter students have been be at the heart of the future RAF, with the
In early 2019 the RAF-led Military Flying sent to train with the USAF and US Army, Poseidons having an important mission
Training System (MFTS) came in for serious while multi-engine pilots have been trained protecting UK carrier battlegroups from
criticism from the National Audit Office with civilian flight academies in the UK. The hostile submarines.
spending watchdog, parliamentarians and Hawk T1s of 100 Sqn at RAF Leeming have Filling the gap in overland surveillance
the media for the large number of pilots also been called into this effort, taking on caused by the loss of the Sentinel has
and aircrew ‘on hold’ waiting to complete some of the fast jet training burden. caused the RAF to look at purchasing
their training. The final piece in the MFTS an expanded sensor package for the
The current defence secretary, Ben recapitalisation project was put in place in Protector or adding overland capability to
Wallace revealed in late 2019 that the RAF October 2019 when the last Short Tucano the Poseidon.
alone was suffering from a shortage of 250 T1 course was run at RAF Linton-on-Ouse Ending the UK’s combat involvement
pilots as a result of the problems in the and the first students started training on in Iraq and Afghanistan has reduced
MFTS. These stemmed from the MOD not the Beechcraft T-6 Texan at RAF Valley. the need for helicopters to support the
funding the extra trainers, simulators and To increase the capacity of the Defence army, so Chinook and Puma numbers
instructors needed to train the personnel Helicopter Flying School (which was are expected to be up for reduction. The
to fly the new aircraft ordered in the 2015 renamed No 1 Flying Training School on Puma force is already scheduled to go out
defence review and the formation of February 28) at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, of service in 2025 so its retirement might
additional Typhoon squadrons. four more Airbus H145 Jupiters were be brought forward. Because it is not
At the same time many of the new ordered in January 2020. cleared to operate from ships owing to its
fixed-wing training aircraft, helicopters and high centre of gravity it has less utility in
simulators ordered to recapitalise RAF 22 RAF FUTURE maritime scenarios.
Gp’s legacy equipment had not yet been The next defence review is likely to put The intention to buy 138 F-35Bs looks
delivered or fully entered service. To try many of the RAF programmes under unlikely to happen because of the costs
RAF Lightnings recently travelled to the US to participate in Exercise Red Flag at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Crown Copyright 2020

Retirement of the Puma HC2, the oldest
aircraft in frontline RAF service, may be
brought forward once UK forces have left
Afghanistan. AirTeamImages.com/Chris Procter
involved and the future of the RAF’s unmanned future in April this year the RAF 2019 the RAF seconded a test pilot to join
combat air capability seems to be lying intends to stand up the experimental 216 the Virgin Orbit project that envisages
with the Tempest project. BAE Systems and Sqn to procure and operate a swarm of using a converted Boeing 747 airliner,
a consortium of companies are working unmanned aerial vehicles. dubbed Cosmic Girl, as a launch platform
on a demonstrator project and the future Senior RAF officers are taking the for space vehicles.
combat aircraft needs to be ready to lead in directing Britain’s efforts to co- The RAF has always been at the cutting
replace the Typhoon at the end of the ordinate current and future military space edge of equipment and tactics and is
next decade. The new aircraft is expected operations. This includes replacing the UK’s looking to embrace the latest technologies,
to be able to fight as part of a team of existing constellation of communications including the opportunities that space
manned and unmanned aircraft. As part satellites and moves to acquire new space- offers. The sky is no longer the limit for the
of efforts to prepare the ground for this based intelligence gathering systems. In RAF in the 21st century.
The remaining RAF C-130J Hercules are expected to stay in RAF service until 2035. Here, one is about to take on fuel from a Voyager tanker. Crown
Copyright 2018

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1138 PCP digi specials fp.indd 43 06/02/2020 15:33

BattleofBritain
FighterSquadrons
Five of The Few
The RAF’s Fighter Command fielded 66 squadrons during the Battle
of Britain, but their fortunes were very different. Tom Spencer
explores the part that five of them played in the historic campaign.
T
he Battle of Britain was fought southeastern England to quieter areas in night attacks. When He 111s of I and II/
between July and October 1940 the north to rest and re-equip while others KG 4 raided East Anglia on the night of
and of the 66 squadrons that from the adjacent 12 Group regularly June 18 several 19 Sqn Spitfires scrambled
flew with Fighter Command flew in support. Here, Aviation News for the first major nocturnal action of the
during that period the vast majority flew looks at five of these squadrons, whose war. Fg Off Johnnie Petre attacked Obltn
the iconic Hurricane (35) and Spitfire (19). efforts, victories and losses represent von Arnim’s He 111 5J+AM along with a
Nine flew Blenheims on night fighter or the challenges faced by all of those who Blenheim from 23 Sqn and their combined
coastal fighter duties and two operated fought in the Battle of Britain. fire brought the bomber down, though
the Defiant, while a solitary squadron used Petre’s aircraft was hit by return fire and he
the obsolescent biplane Gladiator for 19 SQUADRON baled out badly burned. Further south Fg
the defence of the Plymouth Naval Base. Based at Duxford, Cambridgeshire with Off George Ball spotted another Heinkel
Most squadrons were rotated through Spitfires under Sqn Ldr Phillip Pinkham, 19 in searchlights and two bursts sufficed to
the cauldron of the 11 Group area of Sqn helped counter the Luftwaffe’s early send the bomber into the Thames Estuary.
Sgt Bernard Jennings of 19 Sqn takes off from Fowlmere (which is near Duxford and was used to disperse aircraft) in Spitfire I,
X4474/QV-I, on September 21, 1940. When flying this aircraft six days later, he destroyed a Bf 109. 19 Sqn Records
48-52_five_of_the_fewDC.mfDC.mfDC.mf.indd 48 31/03/2020 11:04

Later that month led ‘B’ Flt into the
three cannon-armed escort whilst the OC
Spitfire Ibs arrived for led ‘A’ Flt in a furious
trials but the guns head-on attack
were plagued with which broke up the
frequent stoppages. formation. Brothers
Patrols from Duxford destroyed a Dornier
continued and with by his favourite
the Battle of Britain method: “The best
at its height (from thing to do was take
mid-August to them head-on and
mid-September) the go straight through
squadron became part the formation. I
of the controversial would press home
Duxford ‘Big Wing’. the attack until I
On September 15, now commemorated as Above: Spitfire I, X4179/QV-E, of 19 Sqn thought a collision was almost inevitable.”
runs its engine before another patrol from
Battle of Britain Day, it was heavily engaged. The squadron then hit the Junkers Ju 88s
Fowlmere in September 1940. 19 Sqn Records
As a huge Luftwaffe formation approached of II./KG 76 as they bombed West Malling.
London, 19 Sqn’s Spitfires attacked, among Below: The Hurricanes of 32 Sqn are readied On returning to Biggin Hill, 32’s pilots
them that of Sgt David Cox, who recalled: “I for their next sortie from Hawkinge (used as a claimed a Bf 110, two Ju 88s and no fewer
got on the tail of one ’109 but he half-rolled forward operating location), situated on the than seven Dorniers destroyed. During
away. As he passed above me and climbed, cliffs above Folkestone, on July 29, 1940. 32 a later sortie led by the OC, six Bf 109s
Sqn Records
I turned, and climbing steeply, came up were claimed in a fight over central Kent.
underneath him and gave him a couple to its spiritual home at Biggin Hill, Kent. However, five Hurricanes had also been
of bursts, stalling as I did so. When I came From here it was well placed to meet the lost during the day.
through the cloud I noticed a fire which I Luftwaffe attacks that began the Battle of Although 32 Sqn continued in action for
found to be his wreckage about five miles Britain and was one of the units that took another week, after almost two months of
east of Crowborough.” the full brunt of the heavy fighting of July heavy action it was exhausted. On August
The same day Sqn Ldr Brian Lane, 19’s and August. For 32 Sqn the battle began 25 it flew its final sorties over the southeast
new OC, got into a tight turning fight with on the afternoon of July 3 when three during which it lost two more pilots to
another Bf 109, admiringly noting of his Hurricanes shot down a Dornier Do 17, the deadly Bf 109s. Then on August 28, 32
opponent: “That German pilot certainly and two days later Plt Off Rupert Smythe Sqn was withdrawn north to Acklington,
knew how to a handle a ’109 – I have never despatched two Bf 109s over the Straits Northumberland to rest and rebuild having
seen one thrown about as that one was; I of Dover. claimed 48 destroyed but having lost 20 of
felt certain that his wings would come off It was the start of an intense period of its own.
at any moment. However, they stayed on, action, the squadron’s first loss occurring
and he continued to lead me a hell of a when Flt Sgt Guy Turner baled out badly 65 SQUADRON
dance as I strove to get my sights on him burned after combat with marauding Bf Coastal shipping off the south coast
again.” Sqn Ldr Lane claimed a ‘probable’ 109s on July 19. The following evening Fg came under Luftwaffe attack for
shootdown of his foe. Off John Humpherson claimed a Stuka much of July 7, three days before the
Flt Sgt George Unwin also had a torrid and the OC damaged three more but was recognised start of the battle. In the
time with the escorting fighters: “I don’t then obliged to crash-land after being evening Spitfires from 64 and 65 Sqns
know how many Messerschmitts there hit by the escorting fighters, which also scrambled from Hornchurch, Essex
were but fortunately, as I say, I got away killed Sub Lt Geoffrey Bulmer. Time and against a formation of Dornier Do 17Zs
with it. I didn’t even get a hole in me. I again 32’s Hurricanes scrambled against of KG 2 that was attacking a convoy.
must have had a guardian angel with me large formations of enemy aircraft and as However, off Folkestone the 65 Sqn
that day. I had survived simply because the August progressed it was often to defend patrol was bounced by Messerschmitt
Spitfire could sustain a continuous rate of Fighter Command’s vital radar sites and Bf 109s of JG 51 and three Spitfires
turn inside the Me 109E without stalling.” airfields, including its own at Biggin Hill. and their pilots went down. Three 109s
Although there was still much hard No.32 Sqn’s heaviest action of the Battle were claimed, including two by Flt Sgt
fighting for the squadron, at the end of the came on Sunday, August 18. Sqn Ldr Mike William Franklin, who chased his first
battle against seven losses it had claimed Crossley had recently become OC and victim almost to France. The following
60 destroyed. at lunchtime 32 was scrambled against a day 65’s officer commanding (OC) Sqn
large raid and in good visibility at 15,000ft Ldr Desmond Cooke was killed off Dover
32 SQUADRON the serried ranks of Dornier Do 17s of I & in Spitfire K9907 and replaced by Sqn
After action over France in early June, 32 III./KG 76 and the escorting Messerschmitt Ldr Henry Sawyer, though he too was
Sqn under Sqn Ldr John Worrall returned Bf 110s were spotted. Flt Lt Peter Brothers killed in August. On July 9, 65 Sqn used

Spitfire I, R6714/YT-M, of 65 Sqn scrambles
Manston in Kent as a forward base and so
from Hornchurch on August 13, 1940. It
145 SQUADRON
was right in the forefront of the fighting crashed in October, resulting in the death of
In June, 145 Sqn, flying Hurricanes from
in the coming months. Daily patrols and Sgt Ian Pearson. Author’s collection Tangmere under its new OC, Sqn Ldr
combats continued throughout July with John Peel, saw action over the Channel
a number of clashes with Bf 109s such as victories, eight of them credited to Flt Sgt against probing sorties by the Luftwaffe.
on July 24 when one from III/JG 26 was Franklin who was its top scorer, against The enemy’s first major attack on the
shot down over the River Medway. 15 losses. Channel convoys that marked the start of
The following month opened the Battle of Britain came on July 7
quietly, but on August 5 the famous when, during a standing patrol over
Spitfire test pilot Jeffrey Quill joined a convoy, Peel and Plt Off Ernest
the squadron on secondment Wakeham shot down a shadowing
from Supermarine for a period of Dornier Do 17P of 2(F)./123. Luftwaffe
‘operational familiarisation’. The pressure on Channel convoys
relative lull proved deceptive for in the and naval bases continued for the
late morning of August 8, 41, 64 and rest of the month with 145’s pilots
65 Sqns engaged a strong sweep by seeing much action. On July 11, in a
Bf 109s of II and III/JG 51 and III/JG combined attack with 238 and 601
26 over Kent. In heavy combat 65 lost Sqns, Plt Off Jas Storrar and Flt Lt
Sgt David Kirton and Flt Sgt Norman Roy Dutton each claimed a Heinkel,
Phillips over Manston in K9905 and although Peel had to bale out of
K9911 respectively for no claims. P3400. He was rescued by the Selsey
August 12 was a better day, lifeboat. At the end of the month
however, with Plt Off Ken Hart, 145 Sqn moved into the satellite
Plt Off Paddy Finucane and Flt Sgt strip at Westhampnett from where it
Bob McPherson each destroying continued in the thick of the action
a Bf 109, with five probables and over the south coast, although the
four damaged also claimed without following month started badly. On
loss. Sqn Ldr Arthur Holland took August 1, Sub Lt Ian Kestin, on loan
command on the following day and from the Fleet Air Arm, was shot
in a battle over Dover on August 16 down in P3155 off Hastings by the
the squadron lost Fg Off Lawrence rear gunner of an army co-operation
Pyman in K9915 but claimed four On August 8, 1940, Plt Off Peter Parrott of Henschel Hs 126.
more enemy aircraft destroyed. William 145 Sqn shot down a Ju 87 Stuka that crash- Uneventful patrols then followed
Franklin claimed two and Jeffrey Quill landed on the Isle of Wight. P L Parrott until August 8 when Convoy ‘Peewit’
another; he shared a came under
Heinkel 111 on August unprecedented
18 and returned to heavy attack and
Supermarine the 145 was the first
following week. squadron into action.
The squadron South of the Isle of
continued to be Wight its Hurricanes
heavily engaged with waded into a large
Luftwaffe raids for force of Ju 87
the rest of the August Stukas, breaking
but after two months up the attack. In
of intensive combat three intense battles
it was withdrawn through the day it
to Turnhouse near claimed four of the
Edinburgh for a rest escorting Bf 109s and
on September 1 and Flying 145 Sqn Hurricane I, P3221/SO-K, on five dive-bombers
did not return south until November. August 8, 1940. Flt Lt Adrian Boyd claimed five destroyed, but for the loss of four of
During the battle 65 Sqn claimed 31 victories. F Twitchett its own pilots. Flt Lt Adrian Boyd flying

Plt Off Rupert Smythe taxis for take-off at
P3221/SO-K claimed five during the day
Hawkinge. He was shot down and wounded
264 SQUADRON
including one in bizarre circumstances. on August 24, 1940. 32 Sqn Records In mid-July as the enemy air attacks on
He reported: “I then went into attack two southern England intensified, the Defiants
more Me 109s, one of which half-rolled on October 12. In a hectic fight Plt Off of Sqn Ldr Phillip Hunter’s 264 Sqn had
on his back and dived straight into the sea Paul Rabone destroyed a ’109 and Fg Off moved south from Kirton in Lindsey,
without my having opened fire. It seemed Mike Newling got a probable but Sgt John Lincolnshire to Hornchurch in Essex.
that his control was locked and he thus Wadham flying V7426 was killed and Sgt However, when the similarly equipped
failed to pull out of his dive.” During the Peter Thorpe baled out wounded. 141 Sqn suffered catastrophic losses on
massive attack at 1630hrs by 82 escorted There were further engagements July 19 it was withdrawn back to Kirton
Stukas, S2+LM of 4./StG 77 fell to Plt Off through the month with 145’s last big in Lindsey. However, it was decided they
Peter Parrott who recalled: “I followed action in the Battle of Britain being over should join the fight and so on August 22,
as it flew on towards the Isle of Wight the Isle of Wight on October 27 when four 264 Sqn flew back to Hornchurch in the
after pulling out from its attack. We were Hurricanes went down with one pilot killed. cauldron of the southeast and established
very close to the sea and its only evasive The squadron claimed 28 victories in the a forward base at Manston. Early on
action, apart from flying low was to make battle but had suffered 26 losses. August 24 three sections took off but were
a series of gentle turns each way.” recalled only to be scrambled once
It had been a significant defeat for again when Manston was attacked
the Luftwaffe, albeit at heavy cost by a formation of Ju 88s. With the
to Fighter Command, but 145 Sqn fighters unable to join up, a series
received many congratulations for of individual emgagements ensued
its efforts. Further attacks against as the bombers flattened out from
Portland and Dover came three their dives and three were shot
days later when four Hurricanes and down by Sqn Ldr George Garvin,
two pilots were lost to marauding Sgt Ted Thorne and Plt Off David
Bf 109s and the OC was wounded. Whitley, while Plt Off Eric Barwell
There were just two victories. Worse claimed an ‘He 113’, He wrote:
followed the following day during “I followed them down and was
attacks on Ventnor radar site and attacked by five He 113s [actually
Portsmouth when three pilots were Bf 109s – author]. I got astern of
killed against the solitary Ju 88 of the He 113s and fired 120 rounds
KG 51 shot down by Flt Lt Dutton. at the second. It immediately burst
Since the beginning of the month, into flames and dived into the
despite having taken a heavy toll sea.” However, three Defiants were
on the enemy, 145 Sqn had lost 13 lost, including 264’s inspirational
aircraft and 11 pilots so on August 14, commander, Philip Hunter who
OC John Peel led his exhausted unit was last seen chasing the bombers
north to Drem in Scotland to rebuild. towards France. It was a huge blow
Having rested and worked up its new to the unit.
pilots, on October 9 Peel led 145 Sqn In mid-afternoon seven Defiants
back to the heart of the 11 Group took off as bombs were actually
area at Tangmere. The battle was dropping on the airfield from a
past its peak but Luftwaffe attacks formation of bombers with a Bf
continued, often by fighters on a Flt Lt Peter Brothers claimed eight victories 109 escort. Sqn Ldr Garvin and Flt
freie jagd (fighter sweep) and one such was when flying with 32 Sqn during July and Lt Terry Welsh each claimed a Ju 88, the
engaged over Kent by 145’s Hurricanes August 1940. Via T Holmes latter recalling: “I sighted 13 Ju 88s in line

A formation of 264 Sqn Defiants. The unit claimed 15 victories in the Battle of Britain. The type’s only weapons were located in the turret. A W Hall
astern formation. I picked out a straggler near Herne Bay a ’109 closed on them and about twenty or thirty large Heinkels flying
and carried out a beam attack and then Barker shot it down. Despite these losses, in sections of three, line astern. My gunner
attacked another from the front. I was 264 remained in good heart. began to fire.” However, the escort force
then attacked by two Me 109s. I returned August 28 was to be the squadron’s too their toll: “I had felt jolts or rattles on
their fire and one aircraft shuddered and last active day during the Battle, however. my own aircraft. I flicked over and spiralled
broke off the engagement.” Fg Off Michael At 0830hrs the squadron intercepted 20 for the ground in a controlled blackout.
Young found a solitary He 111 which he The engine died so we dodged between
destroyed in an overtaking attack. It had
been a tough day, however, with four crews
“I would press poles, crashed through the brush and
landed comfortably on the verge.”
lost. Replacements were quickly delivered home the attack Plt Off Desmond Hughes neatly
and late in the morning on August 26, 264’s summarised events: “During the week we
Defiants intercepted a formation of Do until I thought a were at Hornchurch we lost five pilots
17s heavily escorted by Bf 109s at 12,000ft and nine gunners. The losses included
between Herne Bay and Deal. The escorting collision was the squadron commander, the squadron
fighters climbed and fired upon the Defiants
and that of Flt Lt Arthur Banham, having almost inevitable.” commander designate and both flight
commanders killed or wounded.”
destroyed a Dornier, was set on fire. The It was the end for the Defiant as a
pilot bailed out but gunner Sgt Barrie Baker Heinkel 111s with a strong escort near day fighter, the concept of the two-seat
did not escape. Plt Off Desmond Hughes Folkestone. The Defiants were soon split ‘turret fighter’ where all the weapons
and his gunner downed two Dorniers. Sgts up and several were shot down including were concentrated in the turret having
Ted Thorne and Fred Barker also claimed a that crewed by Plt Off David ‘Bull’ Whitley been brutally disproved in the Battle. The
brace of bombers but were then hit by the and his gunner Sgt Bob Turner, who were type was switched to night fighting with
escort. When preparing for a forced landing killed. Plt Off Jim Bailey said: “There were some success.
Defiant L6996/PS-L prepares to scramble from Hornchurch on August 25, 1940. In the background is L7021/
PS-H, in which Plt Off Kenner and Sgt Johnson were shot down three days later. Ministry of Information

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147 Pacific Hell Spec fp.indd 95 12/03/2020 11:45

More Than Just Military
Civil Aircraft at Pima
The Pima Air & Space Museum is world famous for its huge
variety of military aircraft, but in recent years the collection
has expanded to include more and more civil types, from
Cessnas to 747s. Joe Copalman investigates Pima’s civil side.
D
riving along Valencia Road, Main photo: Though still a relatively new largest collections of preserved civilian
just east of the Interstate 10 in airliner, Boeing donated the second aircraft in the world, from its smallest exhibit
Tucson, Arizona, it is hard – if not 787 Dreamliner built for the type’s test – a Starr Bumble Bee – to its largest – a
programme to the Pima Air & Space Museum
impossible – to pass the Pima Boeing 747-100.
in 2015. Scott Youmans/PASM
Air & Space Museum without performing This point is reinforced by James Stemm,
a double-take at the sprawling collection Dreamliner tucked in among all those old PASM’s Curator of Collections, who told
of aircraft on display. Just beyond the aircraft?” Yes, it is. Aviation News: “We are not a military
massive tails of the B-47, B-36 and three One of the common misconceptions museum. We have the military aircraft, we
B-52s parked along the museum’s northern about the Pima Air & Space Museum (PASM) do exhibitry about the military and about
perimeter, an astute observer might take is that, because it is located directly adjacent how the military has used aviation, but we’re
note of the tail with a much more modern to Davis-Monthan AFB and the 309th really a technology museum.”
design, emblazoned with the letters ‘ANA,’ Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Though PASM’s collection started with
the insignia of Japanese passenger carrier Group (AMARG) ‘Boneyard’, it is devoted military aircraft from the Davis-Monthan
All Nippon Airways. Is that a Boeing 787 exclusively to air force or military-specific ‘Boneyard’, it quickly started adding civilian
aircraft. In fact, PASM boasts one of the aircraft after opening to the public in 1976.
The museum has three Lockheed Constellations on display, including this former airliner in TWA markings. PASM
54-57_pimaDC.mfDC.indd 54 26/03/2020 17:16

Left: Pima’s Beechcraft Bonanza was previously
owned by Marion Rice-Hart, who flew the
aircraft across the Atlantic at age 74, then
made the crossing six more times. Scott
Youmans/PASM
Below left: The Martin 404 was a short-haul

airliner from the 1950s through to the 1980s.
Scott Youmans/PASM
Over in excess of 40 years of acquisition,

PASM amassed the largest collection of
military aircraft in the United States, with
many types being represented by multiple
variants. As Stemm explained: “We have
most of the significant American military
types from the 1940s through the 1970s,
so finding things we don’t already have is
getting tricky.”
One of the goals of the museum is to
tell the story of aviation’s evolution through
comparative technology, and civilian aircraft
help PASM do it much more broadly. The
Lockheed Constellation, McDonnell Douglas
DC-10, Sud Aviation Caravelle and 787 were
all solutions to the problem of moving large
groups of people from point A to point B
relatively quickly, but are four vastly different
designs utilising different construction
materials, propulsion and aesthetic
philosophies. “Our real goal is to make sure
that we represent all the major aspects of
aviation technologically,” Stemm elaborated.
BUILDING A CIVIL
COLLECTION
Acquiring civilian aircraft presents numerous
challenges that PASM’s curatorial team
does not usually encounter when sourcing
military aircraft. As Stemm explained:
“Once they are done with something, the
government doesn’t necessarily have an
economic interest in finding something
else to do with it. So it’s easier to get them
to consider preserving things, compared to
somebody who, when they’re done with
their Cessna, can sell it on.”
As a result, many of PASM’s civilian
designs have come from military or
government stocks. Of the three 707
With only 53 built, the Beechcraft derivatives on display, two came from the
Starship was not a commercial
US Air Force and the third from NASA.
success. PASM’s example is one of
Likewise, the museum’s Beechcraft King Air
the few intact Starships remaining.
Scott Youmans/PASM
– one of the most popular twin-turboprops
in the world – is a TC-12 Huron variant
The 747 was long one of the museum’s top acquisition priorities. GE’s -100 engine test bed, N747GE, was added to the collection in November
2018. John Bezosky/PASM
54-57_pimaDC.mfDC.indd 55 26/03/2020 17:16

One of the rare types on display at Pima is used by the US Navy to train pilots and
this Australian-built Government Aircraft naval flight officers. Even the museum’s
Factory N22S, N6328, which served recently acquired Cessna 172 was actually
with the US Customs Service for border government surplus from the Holloman AFB
surveillance. Scott Youmans/PASM aero club.
For non-military or government aircraft,
PASM relies on them being donated or, in
certain cases, purchasing them to display.
“Acquisition of the civil [equipment] is harder
than the military,” Stemm told Aviation
News, “because you have to convince
somebody that it’s in their economic
interest to let us have it, instead of selling
it for parts or scrap or whatever. With the
smaller stuff – the civil types –it’s [up to]
individuals to donate them to us.”
Explaining how the larger aircraft are
acquired, Stemm said: “The bigger stuff like
airliners are donated either by manufacturers
or by airlines or other users who are done
with them. If it’s big and it has to be brought
in by air, we fly them into D-M [Davis-
Monthan AFB, just north of the museum]
and we tow them across Valencia Road.”
HEAVY METAL – PASM’S

AIRLINERS
With only ten years having passed since
the type’s first flight, the 787 is easily
PASM’s most contemporary aircraft on
display, and will likely remain so for years
to come. Its size and sleek, futuristic lines
make it stand out from the bona fide relics
of aviation history – aircraft that became
museum pieces only after fading from
operational relevance. Built in 2009, PASM’s
787, N787EX, serial number ZA002, was
the second Dreamliner prototype, which
Boeing flew extensively during testing of the
type between 2009 and 2011. After being
stored in Palmdale, California, once testing
wrapped up, Boeing donated the aircraft to
the museum in 2015.
The 787 is just one of several modern
airliners the museum has acquired recently.
In December 2012, Boeing donated a 737-
Above left: Back in 1963, Learjet’s Model 23

pioneered an entirely new class of aircraft
known as business jets. Scott Youmans/PASM
Left: Touted as being easy to fly when it was

first marketed in the early 1970s, the quirky
McCulloch Super J-2 autogyro only saw
limited success as a recreational rotorcraft.
Scott Youmans/PASM
Joining PASM’s collection in September 2018 was the first Boeing 777 produced, donated by the manufacturer. John Bezosky/PASM
54-57_pimaDC.mfDC.indd 56 26/03/2020 17:16

Left: Pima’s Bede BD-5 MicroJet remains one
of the most popular aircraft in the museum,
with many patrons recognising the type from
the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. Joe
Copalman
Below left: Donated by the manufacturer

in 2012, Pima’s 737-300, B-2921 in China
Southern Airlines colours, was the first of
several Boeing airliners to join the collection
over the past decade. Joe Copalman
was one of the first prominent African-

American glider competition champions in
the 1970s. So that’s really cool to have.”
Another civilian aircraft with a fascinating
history is the museum’s Beechcraft
Bonanza, which was owned by a woman
named Marion Rice-Heart. Stemm
explained: “She was 54 when she learned to
fly in 1946. She bought the Bonanza in 1961
and flew it over every continent on Earth
except for Antarctica. She made the first of
seven solo transatlantic flights in 1966 at the
age of 74. She flew until she was 87.”
Pop-culture fame is another draw
“Our real goal is to

make sure that we
represent all the
300 that had just been retired from service
with China Southern Airlines, beginning a
start getting into composites and that sort
of thing, that’s where it gets tricky.”
major aspects of
relationship that has yielded several other
acquisitions. Following the arrival of the 787
The museum maintains one aircraft
in a semi-operational status: the DC-10.
aviation.”
in 2015, the next major airliner acquisition James Stemm said: “We’ve maintained with PASM’s civilian aircraft. One of the
was a DC-10 used as a flying eye hospital by the electrical systems and everything museum’s most popular aircraft, the Bede
Orbis, which PASM accepted in November operational in that because we do tours BD-5J, is also one of its smallest. As Stemm
2016. The first 777 ever produced – 777- inside it. You need to have power to get explained, “The MicroJet gets a lot of
263 B-HNL – joined PASM’s collection in DC-10 doors open, so we have to keep that attention from people because it was in the
September 2018, while November that one working.” James Bond movie Octopussy.”
year saw the museum secure a Boeing 747 More than anything, Stemm finds that
(N747GE) used as an ex-General Electric EXTRAORDINARY personal connections are what make
engine test bed. STORIES PASM’s civilian types appeal to the broadest
The museum’s recent influx of airliners is While notable for setting technological or segment of the museum’s visitors: “We
largely the result of a relationship between commercial benchmarks in the aviation find that a lot of people actually connect
PASM and Boeing. Stemm told Aviation industry, some of the civilian aircraft in better to the civil stuff, because it’s either
News: “That’s all been thanks to Boeing PASM’s collection are even more interesting something that they learned to fly in
going to bat for us, either internally with on account of the history of the specific themselves or have flown around with
their own accountants or with airlines.” airframe. One such aircraft, a Schempp- someone who owns one.”
While acquiring civil aircraft presents Hirth SHK-1 glider, has a particularly Pima Air & Space Museum has an
more challenges than military aircraft, intriguing story. As Stemm explained: “It was impressive collection of civil aircraft to go
restoring and maintaining them is generally owned by a man named Dan Pierson, who along with its military exhibits and so has
easier. As Stemm explained: “They’ve got something for all tastes.
fewer exotic materials in them. When you
Airworthy aircraft donated to the museum are often flown to

Davis-Monthan AFB and then towed across Valencia Road in
coordination with the air force. Here, the museum’s DC-10 –
a former Orbis flying eye hospital – is towed across the road
in November 2016. PASM
54-57_pimaDC.mfDC.indd 57 26/03/2020 17:17

COVID-19 Causes Cancellations
AIRSHOW NEWS
and Postponements
The biennial Farnborough International

The coronavirus pandemic and the gradual 9, 12 and 15, respectively. The Aero Expo at
Airshow has become one of several trade
shutdown of most public gatherings, from Friedrichshafen, Germany (April 1-4) was
shows to be cancelled because of the
sports tournaments to weddings, has coronavirus. Key-Dino Carrara initially postponed to an indeterminate
inevitably had the same effect on major date, but subsequently cancelled for
aviation events planned for the UK this than cancel it: “We are actively looking to this year. On March 22, the Amicale
summer. On March 20, the organisers of the see if it would be possible to resurrect the Jean-Baptiste Salis, which organises the
Royal International Air Tattoo, scheduled RAF Cosford Air Show in September, but warbird airshow at La Ferté Alais, France,
for July 17-19, announced its cancellation, only should the situation and availability postponed the May 30-31 edition, but was
saying that with the crisis worsening they of supporting services permit.” Like other yet to decide between new dates in July or
had concluded that the most prudent events, they are offering customers who October.
course of action was to cease any further have pre-purchased tickets the option of a Amid the general cancellation of
planning to deliver the event. Later the same full refund or carrying the ticket over until airshows in the USA, the Experimental
day, the Royal Navy International Air Day at the rearranged date, which has still to be Aviation Association’s Sun n’ Fun
RNAS Yeovilton scheduled for July 11, and decided. Aerospace Expo at Lakeland, Florida has
the Farnborough International Airshow (July The European Business Aviation been tentatively rescheduled from March
20-24) followed suit. Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) 31-April 5 to May 5-10. Of course, this
The cancellation on March 17 of scheduled for Geneva, Switzerland over could still change, and the EAA said it
Duxford’s Air Festival (May 23-24) was an May 18-20 was cancelled on March 15, would make a final decision on April 17.
unsurprising development as museums followed three days later by the ILA Berlin Aviation News has chosen not to print
were already beginning to announce Air Show (May 13-17). The NATO Tiger Meet its usual airshow calendar pages this
closures and the IWM shut all of its in Beja, Portugal, has been put back from month. Although not every event listed for
museum sites on the same day. May 10-20 to July 5-17. Although primarily the next three months had been cancelled
At the time of writing (in late March), the a military exercise, Tiger Meet 2020 is due at the time of going to press, the situation
organisers of the RAF Cosford Air Show to include an airshow (originally May 17) is so fast moving that readers are advised
– originally due to take place on June 14 and two spotters days (May 14 and 20). to check the status of airshows with
– have said they intend to postpone rather These have also been rescheduled, to July individual venues. Jim Winchester
Tunisian Show Takes Off

One event notably has taken place, the see aircraft used by the Tunisian Air included the Solo Turk Turkish F-16
inaugural Tunisia International Aerospace Force, which is still largely equipped with display, the Saudi Hawks aerobatic team
and Defence Exhibition (IADE), at Djerba- US types of 1960s vintage, plus a few and several static displays from the US
Zarzis International Airport, over March transports and trainers of Eastern Bloc military including two F-16s and a P-8
4-8. It provided a rare opportunity to origin. International military participants Poseidon. Jim Winchester
58_airshow_newsDC.indd 58 31/03/2020 14:39

Pima_FP.indd 1 30/03/2020 09:21:38
Kai Tak Flashback
Hong Kong’s former international airport was always a great
place to see a wide variety of long-haul and regional airliners.
Bob O’Brien presents a selection of Kai Tak traffic from the 1970s.
Above: Korean Air Lines ordered its first Airbus A300s in 1975 and eventually operated more than
40 of the type. Pictured on final approach to Kai Tak in December 1979, HL7224 was the third to
be delivered to the airline. All photos Bob O’Brien Collection
Below: Using Boeing 727s, All Nippon Airways began international services in 1971 on the route
between Tokyo and Hong Kong. The airline operated the 727-200 Advanced from 1969-1990.
Above: One of six McDonnell Douglas

DC-10-30s to serve with Philippine Airlines,
RP-C2003 turns onto the final runway
heading at Kai Tak in October 1977.
Left: Parked beside the HAECO (Hong Kong

Aircraft Engineering Company) facility in
1976 is Air India Boeing 707-300, VT-DSI
Lhotse.
Right: British Airways Super VC10, G-ASGP,

arrives at Kai Tak in December 1977. Sold to
the RAF as ZD242 in 1981, it became the first
K4 tanker conversion.
60-61_kai_takDC.mfDC.mf.indd 60 30/03/2020 10:57

Trident 2E G-BBVT stopped at Hong Kong on delivery to
China in October 1976. It became B-282 with CAAC (Civil
Aviation Administration of China).
Right: Over the years, Garuda operated

a fleet of 11 McDonnell Douglas DC-8s,
six of them Series 50s, such as PK-GEB
Gajahmada seen in June 1975.
Below right: Wearing ‘California Here

We Come’ titles in December 1978 is
Singapore Airlines Boeing 727-200
Advanced, 9V-SGD. The slogan also
appeared, more appropriately, on
some of SIA’s 747s and DC-10s.
Seen at Hong Kong in October 1977, China Airlines Boeing 707-300, B-1826, was written off in a
landing accident in Manila, the Philippines, in March 1980.
60-61_kai_takDC.mfDC.mf.indd 61 30/03/2020 10:58

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outdated weapon Two campaign. A run through ofaaircraft Beaufi ghter, captioned on page 218 as a
fo weiv a sevand ig kelsewhere,
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types and
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is regrettable that some photographs
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the scanned
merits of dimensions, rather than from beingof more than seven
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raw-retni dna British ylrae s’interests
nordauqs
unitU-boat
the dropped the vital
threat. TheTallboy
German depend ondisasters,
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However,Through theproved Cold War, IX Squadronin operated the Avro Lincoln and and regular airfield by life, as time well as more harrowing imagesthem of crashed
neves nasonar ht erom gnieless b morf naht rehtaperformance r ,snoisnemidwas denovertaken
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English
eff ective Electric
than expected Canberra, andbefore
surfacereturning to Avro with
by American the Vulcan.
competitors The and, in some cases, burning bombers. Those fortunate enough to
.dlo sedand aced deliveries
lennosrebegan p nordainuq1942 s hcih after
w no dnepeBritain d yobllaand T lateach
iv ehtother. deppoWhen rd tinu
latter gave
attack made way
the to the Panavia
U-boat invisible Tornado alsoas the unit once
produced a again
loss of took
overseason live in or around
production delays,Norfolk will enjoy the possibility
Vengeances the Shackleton of spotting
entered a familiar
service
yfitnedi ot tneiciffus tub ,kaew yllareneg era snoitpac ehT seye eht hguorht detneserp si yrots eht daetsni tub – )ot gniklat si eno
toa pioneering role,night.
introducing the swing-wing strike aircraft into RAF airfi eld, pub or other location. This is a book to be dipped into at
yit,
lpm especially
is lliw srat om hguohtla ,deconfi
edaer tsWolf-pack tcipedenced stinuineBritishht dnacivil snoaircraft.
itacol were
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hT .wercin dn1951,
uorg ditnwent a werficrrst ia ttonethereffid fo
service.
tactics There are hair-raising accounts from crews involved in the leisure, rather than read cover to cover.
yticitoverwhelmed
semod fo senconvoy ecs era erehT .shpaFurther rgotohpchapters eht ni dedetail brosbhow a eb Far East. home squadrons of.eCoastal vitamrofni
Tornado’s first combat operations over Iraq in 1991 and coverage of Published by Fonthill Media; ISBN9781781553565, available from
ehsarc fo segami gniworrah erom sa lthe
descorts. lewVC10, sa ,efTrident
il dlefirianda raBAC luger1-11 dna dnaThe nlocaim niL owas rvA etohtprovide
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oAnti-submarine
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p etihwwas dna an excellent, kurescue
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improved radar and radio Horton graduated onto the Supermarine Spitfi re in June 1949,
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submarines andfrom Focke Osprey
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fo Condor t sesiThe rpmoc yllaitnesse hcihw Air Force squadrons flying on Subject matter, as always with
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fact that
also,9orders it is written by RAF authority Andrew all Thomas, with cover in his speciality and Horton was posted to the Middle East with k
208 o oB
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S eAllies eht otno d theetaothers
udarg covered
not roH devoted to each and there are 33 the dramatic to the highly
artwork
and Germans. by Mark The Postlethwaite
capture of and colour
bases this profiles
book are by Chris analysed.
skilfully Thomas, Squadron.
black-and-white photographs. samusing.
amohT werdnA :yb nettirW
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allFrance
under the Norway careful editorial guidance of Tony Holmes, will add up in to His was a fascinating
succeedstime, in for the RAFThe wasground transitioning99.31£task to:ejets
cirP
dinetalumucand ca eh ,61 kM denigne-nilreMHelicopters
radically eht morf noare gnnotivoM forgotten
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recommendation
increased enough for many readers. and he made the change from piston power to the Gloster Meteor
,81 kMU-boat .RF dna ranges,
91 kMbut .RPthe eht no srchapter
uoh erfitshowing ipS sih fhow o ytirthe ojam British
eht resurrecting the reputation sti ni 22of 1 rebmuninsheat i yerpand sO m humidity
orf eltit w isenotn sihT
For those not familiar with the Aircraft of the Aces, this would be an FR.Mk 9, gleefully noting that he flew faster in a Spitfi re than he was
eadvent
macebofecmore nassLiberators
iannocer cand ihpargotohP settled .denigfor ne licensing
noffirG mAmericaneht fo htob the almost forgotten Vengeance.
eht dna seires forgotten,
secA eht fonor tfariscrthe
iA dSouth
emialcca
excellentflying
Catalina first volume. Dealing with thetypes, Supermarine Spitfire inwith its permitted to text
in the Meteor. Horton gives engaging recollections of
802 htiw tsboat aE eevened
lddiM ethe ht ot detsop saw nplus ot rojoint
H dnventures
a ytilaiceps sthe ih The jacket says it all:
revoc htiw ,samohT werdnA ytirohtua FAR yb nettirw si ti taht tcaf African Air Force, the only
last year of service
odds. The ebb and flow of combat over Northwest Europe, it abounds
French. Concorde is covered, with artwork, flying in the relative freedom of the immediate post-war world and the
.nordauqS ,“Their
samohachievements
T sirhC yb selfihave orp ru been
oloc dna eother tiawhtuser eltsoof P the
kraM ‘Shack’.
yb kroThree wtra
isphotographs
well
stej odescribed
and first-hand
t gninoitisand
accounts set into Andrew
t saw FAR eht rof a,emagnifi
narillustrated mit gnicent
Thomas’s
tanictechnological
saf a saw siH
excitement
oignored,
t pu dda lfalsifi
of service
liw ,sed emor
life.
loHscornedynoT fo ever ecnadiugappendices
lairotide lufcover erac eoverseas
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authoritatively
with 33 researched narrative. The beautifully rendered profiles Thisbut is ahere, bookfrom written by someone who was there, and his
roe teblack-and-white
M retsolG eht otand rewtwo op notsip m feat orfwhose
egnahdevelopment
c eht edam ecosts h dna since eyewitness
.sredaer ynamoperating rof hguonunits, e noitaaproduction
dnemmocer
– 36 altogether
colour photographs, – illustrate
seven Mks VB, VII,far
maps IXoutweighed
and XVI, and its are complete
commercial passion
accounts for and flying and the Spitfire in particular, shines through.
saw eh naht erfitipS a ni retsaf wefl eh taht gniton yllufeelg ,9 kM.RF offi cial records, is
na eb dluow siht ,secA eht fo tfarcriA htiw railimaf ton esoht roare list and accidents. There F 87
withdiagrams,
and extensive captions. An appendix detailing individual pilot scores, Although it repeats a couple of photographs and would benefi t from
fo snoitcelloplus cer g three
nigag colour
ne sevart ig not rorevenues.
H .roeteIllustrated
M eht ni owith t dett93 imblack-
rep their
sti nfulli erand fitipStrue enirstory.”
amrepuS eht htiw gblack-and-white nilaeD .emulov tand srfi t62nelcolour
lecxe
a bibliography and comprehensive index round off another superb tighter editing in places, this modest book is recommended as an
ht dna dlrow raw-tsop etaidemmi eht fand-white
eplates. o modeerf photographs. evitaler eht ni gniyfl ,Published
krowtra htiby w sPendnu& obSworda ti ,eporuE tsewhphotographs. troN revo ecivres fo raey tsal
package from
Published by Osprey Osprey. Publishing: Published engaging, illuminating and entertaining read.
.efil eby civThe
res History
fo tnemPress: eticxe Aviation:
s’samISBN9781526704566;
ohT werdnA otni tes stnuoccPublished a dnah-tsby rfi dGrub
na shStreet:pargotohp
Published by Osprey
ISBN9781472836038; Publishing Ltd; ISBN9781782003380, Published bywww.pen-and- Robert Davies; ISBN9781291969085, available from
sih dna ,ereht available saw ohwfrom enoemo ISBN9780750993029;
s yb nettirw koob a savailable i sihT seavailable
lfiorp derfrom edner yllufituaeb ehT .evitarrISBN9781911621331; an dehcraeser ylevitavailable atirohtua
available from www.ospreypublishing.com
www.ospreypublishing.com www.lulu.com
.hguorht senihs ,ralucit rap ni erfifrom tipS e www.thehistorypress.co.uk
ht dna gniyfl rof noissap etsword.co.uk
elpmoc era dna ,IVX dna XI ,IIV ,BV sfrom kM etwww.grubstreet.co.uk
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36 62 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft November 2014
AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020
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62_flightbagDC.indd 62 moc.ulul.www moc.gnihsilbupyerpso.www morf elba26/03/2020 liava 15:21
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The Last Viking
NASA’s S-3B Tom Kaminski examines the NASA career of
the final Lockheed S-3B Viking in service.
D
Main photo: The NASA Viking on approach to
esigned originally to hunt 159746 and 160583 were transferred to
Air Force Plant 42 during an October 2010
submarines in the Cold War, the NASA. These were to be used for ground
visit to NASA Dryden’s Aircraft Operations
Lockheed S-3 Viking proved to be Facility in Palmdale, California. NASA/Raymond
testing of equipment and as a source of
a versatile aircraft, a trait that NASA Rivard spare parts.
recognised and sought to capitalise on. It NASA’s flying Viking, BuNo 160607 (c/n
has been using one of these former US Navy warfare platform. Between July 1987 394A-3187), first entered service as an
aircraft for a range of airborne testing and and September 1994, 119 Vikings were S-3A with the US Navy’s VS-28 on August
research work for which it has proved adept. upgraded to S-3B standard, which placed 7, 1978. It later served with several fleet
The aircraft in question BuNo 160607, more of a focus on the aircraft’s abilities squadrons including VS-22 and VS-27. It
now N601NA, is one of 187 S-3As produced against surface vessels. It also assumed was converted to an S-3B in 1988, and was
by Lockheed at its Burbank and Palmdale, the role as an aerial tanker. Additionally, subsequently flown by VS-24 and VS-41,
California, facilities. The type, known 16 examples were adapted for electronic before being assigned to test duties with
affectionately as the ‘Hoover’ due to the intelligence gathering (ES-3A) and six VX-1 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland in
vacuum-like sound of its twin General aircraft were modified for carrier on-board June 1995. The jet was then transferred
Electric TF34-GE-400 turbofans, first delivery (COD) missions as US-3As. to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft
flew on January 21, 1972 when the YS-3A Retirement of the US Navy’s last frontline Division’s Naval Force Aircraft Test Squadron
prototype took to the air. S-3Bs took place on March 31, 2009, when (NFATS) at Patuxent River in 2000. Its final
The initial S-3A entered service with air sea control squadron VS-22 stood down naval assignment coincided with the re-
anti-submarine squadron VS-41 at NAS at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. That year designation of NFATS to VX-20 in May 2002.
North Island, California, on February 20, three Vikings were assigned to air test and It was retired by VX-20 at the Maryland
1974. Developed as a replacement for evaluation squadron VX-30 at Naval Base air station in 2003 and it was struck off
the Grumman S-2 Tracker, the Viking was Ventura County – Point Mugu, California. charge and removed from the naval aviation
designed as a carrier-based anti-submarine The unit retired the type in 2016 and aircraft inventory in March 2004.
64-68_nasaDC.indd 64 01/04/2020 15:25

The last operational S-3B taxies past the NASA Flight Research Building at the John H Glenn
Research Center. NASA
Lockheed S-3B BuNo 160607 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CV 59) while assigned to air anti-submarine
squadron VS-30 in November 1991. Immediately prior to its transfer to NASA, the jet was operated by the US Navy
air test and evaluation squadron VX-20 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Author’s Collection
VIKING BASE the centre hopes to make all three of facility at Cecil Field Airport and the US
The aircraft was then assigned to NASA’s examples operational. Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southeast
John H Glenn Research Center (GRC) at NASA saw the potential of the S-3B as a at nearby NAS Jacksonville, Florida.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport useful asset because of its endurance and Approximately 4,000lb (1,814kg) of
in Ohio on August 13, 2004. The centre’s ability to conduct high-fast and low-slow unneeded military equipment was removed
small fleet of aircraft supports scientific missions in what GRC’s Chief of Aircraft to reduce weight and maintenance
research and aeronautical testing in Operations James ‘JD’ Demers called a costs. The aircraft was transformed into a
areas such as aircraft propulsion, icing, “niche” part of the flight envelope that state-of-the-art research vehicle capable
communications and materials. It is one includes speeds from 120-420kts and of supporting a wide variety of science
of four NASA centres that undertakes altitudes up to 40,000ft. It was envisioned and aeronautical test missions. As part
aeronautical research along with the Ames it would facilitate research into areas such of the modifications it was equipped
Research Center and Armstrong Flight as in-flight icing, aircraft communications, with a Garmin GNS 430 GPS navigation
Research Center in California and the next generation (NEXGEN) airspace and system, which was common with the
Langley Research Center in Virginia. other Earth science-related areas. By the centre’s T-34Cs, Twin Otter and the now-
The GRC’s Aircraft Operations Office time the aircraft entered active service, retired Learjet 25. That system has since
maintains and operates its allocated however, the agency had decided to been upgraded to the Garmin GTN 650,
aircraft and has capabilities to modify them transfer the in-flight icing testing to which also has an Automatic Dependent
for test and research work. The centre’s NASA’s DC-8-73. Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) capability.
inventory comprises the Vikings, a de Viking N601NA was delivered to the Other equipment the aircraft received
Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and Cleveland facility in December 2007 after included new radio control panels,
three Beechcraft T-34C Turbo Mentors. receiving extensive modifications and weather radar and an updated transponder.
Two of the T-34Cs are currently airworthy undergoing depot-level maintenance at Through a partnership with the FAA, the
and engaged in flight research. Ultimately, the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems aircraft was also equipped with Inmarsat
64-68_nasaDC.indd 65 01/04/2020 15:25

Three Vikings that were operated by the US Navy’s air test and evaluation squadron VX-30 at
lower section of the aft fuselage provide
Naval Base Ventura County/Point Mugu, alongside N601NA in September 2014. This unit was the
last US Navy squadron to fly the Viking. US Navy/Vance Vasquez the ability to deliver dropsondes in support
of atmospheric testing. The aircraft can
SwiftBroadband (SBB) global area network and associated wiring was removed provide 115vac, 60Hz, 115vac, 400Hz and
commercial satellite communications which freed up around two-thirds of the 28vdc power for airborne experiments.
equipment that permits crew and S-3B’s main avionics bay. The additional The modifications make it easy to install
researchers to transmit/receive voice space permitted a set of 19in (48cm) equipment for in-flight evaluations. Much
communications and data. wide avionics racks to be installed that of the flight testing carried out at GRC
In military service the S-3B was provide space for experiments and test and is intended to prove to industry and the
operated by four crew comprising of recording equipment, as well transformers Department of Defense that technology
a pilot, co-pilot/tactical co-ordinator and rectifiers that delivered laboratory developed in laboratories is viable and can
(COTAC), sensor operator (SENSO) and a grade electrical power. be released for real-world use.
tactical co-ordinator (TACCO) that were In addition to its ability to carry
seated on Escapac IE-1 ejection seats. For UNVEILING experiments internally, the S-3B can use
NASA operation the seats were deactivated, NASA formally unveiled the Viking at the the GRC-developed Highly Adaptable
and the associated pyrotechnics were Cleveland facility in January 2008. The Multi-Mission Experimental Research
removed following a risk assessment. S-3B has typically flown around 60-80 (HAMMER) pod. Originally carried by the
Now with non-functioning ejection seats hours annually in support of the NASA US-3A operated in the COD role, the
for safety reasons some limitations were Airborne Science and Aviation Safety
placed on the Viking’s flight envelope. Programs. In preparation for flight testing,
However, according to Demers the it has also spent a significant amount In July 2010 N601NA conducted a satellite
option to reactivate the systems remains a of time conducting ground tests and communication (SATCOM) research flight that
involved it flying over Cleveland in Ohio. NASA
possibility “in the event that a specific high- receiving modifications to support the
risk experiment requires that capability”. flight test programmes. The Viking has
Additionally, equipment at the SENSO and a useful payload of 12,000lb (5,443kg)
TACCO stations was removed and replaced and a mission duration of five to seven
with test stations that allow researchers/ hours. Demers described it as a very
engineers to connect laptop computers cost-effective platform to operate and
via a Mil-Std-1553B high-speed data bus he added: “the neat thing about the S-3
so that they can operate and monitor the is it does have military manoeuvrability
systems being tested and communicate with a huge payload capability. It was built
with the ground. to hang things off of so it really easy to
The modifications were intended engineer something on to it.”
to reduce costs, take out components It has two under-wing pylons wired
with high failure rates that could not be for electrical power, with Ethernet
obtained or were not deemed necessary connections and are each rated for a
to the NASA mission. Much of the aircraft’s maximum load of 2,500lb (1,134kg). In
carrier-centric avionics, weapons systems addition, sonobuoy chutes located in the
NASA sent N601NA to the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture airshow at Wittman
Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 2018 to mark the aircraft’s 40th anniversary. David F
Brown
64-68_nasaDC.indd 66 01/04/2020 15:25

modified cargo pod can accommodate
a maximum weight of 1,025lb (465kg).
Prior to flight testing aboard the Viking,
each experiment undergoes a safety and
airworthiness review.
The Viking also supports the US Air
Force Research Laboratory at Wright-
Patterson AFB, Ohio, by conducting aerial
evaluations of materials and projects
developed under its supervision. Due to the
AFRL not having its own flight test assets it
often relies on GRC for that capability and
the S-3B has supported numerous projects
for the organisation. For example, the
Multi-mission Advanced Sensor Testbed
(MAST) pod was developed by Boeing’s
Argon ST subsidiary and the AFRL, which
can provide earth and fire mapping. Viking N601NA has been used for a wide variety of projects, including gathering information on
Support for NASA’s Earth Sciences harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie. NASA
Division, which is managed by the Science
Mission Directorate (SMD), has involved with studies of harmful algae blooms in engaged in the development and testing
the Viking undertaking missions such as for Lake Erie using a hyperspectral imager of advanced communications equipment
the Great Lakes Environment Assessment sensor and miniature spectrometers. That that will be used to communicate/control
& Monitoring (GLEAM) programme with project was conducted for the US Naval unmanned air systems (UAS) operating
an experimental suite of instruments Research Laboratory (NRL) and the NOAA’s within the NEX-GEN National Airspace
capable of measuring water quality from Great Lakes Environmental Research System (NAS). Under the Unmanned
the air. The GLEAM project was a joint Laboratory. Although the GRC continues Aircraft Systems Integration in the National
effort between GRC, National Oceanic and to support that mission the equipment has Airspace System (UAS-NAS) project, NASA
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and been transferred to the Twin Otter. is identifying, developing and testing the
the Ohio Aerospace Institute. Similar efforts Over the past five years the Viking technologies and procedures that will
were carried out when the Viking assisted (along with a T-34C) has primarily been permit UAS to have routine access to
64-68_nasaDC.indd 67 01/04/2020 15:25

NASA’s S-3B displays its naval heritage by
deploying is tail hook during a display at
AirVenture in July 2018. David F Brown
airspace alongside manned aircraft. The piloted Ikhana aircraft took off from their service lives or will require complete
S-3B tested systems over varied terrain Edwards AFB, California and carried out overhauls. NASA received a large cache of
such as mountains, farmland, urban areas its first mission in the NAS without a safety spare parts to support the aircraft; plus, ten
and over bodies of salt and fresh water chase aircraft. S-3As, 15 ES-3As and 82 S-3Bs are currently
throughout the US. This involved around NASA’s research centres have routinely stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, though their
30 sub-projects intended to ensure that operated both current and retired US value to NASA’s Viking is limited by the
the communication equipment was military aircraft for many years and have same service life considerations. Demers
reliable, robust and secure from hacking become skilled at maintaining aircraft that said the aircraft’s retirement date could be
and other problems. For this work the often have on-off configurations. extended slightly, if required to support a
Viking flew more than 80 missions. The Viking was designed with a 23,000- specific project. However, the phase-out
NASA’s Ames Research, Armstrong Flight hour service life and NASA’s aircraft is is now imminent and could occur as early
Research and Langley Research Centers relatively young, when its total flight time of as April and NASA is currently determining
also work on the UAS-NAS project. It is around 11,000 hours is taken into account. what future capability is needed to replace
part of the agency’s Integrated Aviation Despite the low number of flight hours, the Viking. In the interim, the T-34Cs and
Systems Research Program (IASP), which retirement had been planned for March this Twin Otter will likely assume additional
is managed by the Aeronautics Research year. The date was primarily driven by the duties. Demers is hopeful that once the
Mission Directorate (ARMD) in Washington need to replace several large and expensive last Viking is finally retired, its historical
DC. The project achieved a major success life-limited components, such as canopies significance will ensure N601NA finds a
on June 12, 2018, when NASA’s remotely and engines that are nearing the end of new home as a museum piece.
On entering service with NASA N601NA still wore its US Navy tactical grey paint scheme. NASA
64-68_nasaDC.indd 68 01/04/2020 15:25

Register Review
REGISTER REVIEW BY STUART MCDIARMID

The latest changes on the UK, Irish, Isle of Man and Guernsey registers.
The latest Airbus A350-1000 to join British Airways is G-XWBE. AirTeamImages.com/Sierra Bravo
RESTORATIONS
REG’N MODE(S) TYPE C/N OWNER G-HAWC 4079C0 British Aerospace Hawk T1 312166 L39 Aviation Ltd, St Athan,
Vale of Glamorgan
G-BZEI 405F35 Agusta A109E Power 11056 FB Heliservices Ltd,
Bournemouth, Dorset G-HETY 407880 Aeropro EuroFOX 912 (built LAA 376- Yorkshire Gliding Club
by RA Cole) 15612 (Proprietary) Ltd, Sutton
G-CGAZ 40600C P & M QuikR 8436 SE Lyden, (Terrington St.
Bank, North Yorkshire
Clement, Norfolk)
G-CICJ 406A7A Sikorsky S-92A 920212 Bristow Helicopters Ltd, G-HITA 40771F Airbus AS350B3 Ecureuil 8635 Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd,
Aberdeen International, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Aberdeenshire G-HLYF 40796E Airbus A321-211 6639 jet2.com Ltd, Leeds-
Bradford, West Yorkshire (NB)
G-EMHB 404DAC Agusta A109E Power 11111 FB Heliservices Ltd,
Bournemouth, Dorset G-IALC 40533C Aérospatiale AS355F2 5463 Alkaline UK Ltd, Lympne
Ecureuil 2 Industrial Estate, Lympne, Kent
G-FBHA 406421 Agusta AW139 32183 FB Heliservices Ltd,
Bournemouth, Dorset G-JDHN 404074 Rotorway Executive 162F 6324 JN Price, (Hereford,
(built by RF Rhodes) Herefordshire)
G-NCFC 4010FD Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk 38-81A0107 NJ Butler, Fordoun,
Aberdeenshire G-JEOL 4078F3 Slingsby T67C 2099 London Transport Flying
Training Ltd, Fairoaks, Surrey
2-BTTB TBA Boeing 737-85R 42805 Fly Aircraft Holdings
Eighteen Ltd, (stored G-LATO 407989 Cessna 680A Citation 680A0237 Zenith Aviation Ltd, Biggin
Woensdrecht, Netherlands) Latitude Hill, Greater London
G-LFLF 40799F AutoGyro MTOSport 2017 RSUK/ CJ Adey, (Cheltenham,
(assembled by Rotorsport MTO2/012 Gloucestershire)
UK Ltd)
NEW REGISTRATIONS
G-LRNC 402A81 Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II 28-7816255 Aviation Advice and
REG’N MODE(S) TYPE C/N OWNER
Consulting Ltd, (North
G-CLJV 40796D Kubicek BB30Z 1694 Loogo SRLS, (Villabassa, Moreton, Oxfordshire)
Italy)
G-LYFT 4079E2 Magni M24C Orion Plus 24-20-2506 L Baring, Cascais, Portugal
G-CLKI 407971 Airbus BK117D-2 20309 Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd, (assembled by Magni
Oxford, Oxfordshire Gyro Ltd)
G-CLKO 407972 Airbus BK117D-2 20310 Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd, G-MERR 40747A Cessna 550 Citation Bravo 550-0874 XJC Jets Ltd, Southampton,
Oxford, Oxfordshire Hampshire (NB)
G-CLLU 4077B6 University of Southampton ULTRA TDP- University of Southampton, G-NXTE 4079RC Sharp Nemesis NXTE (built 001 Rolls-Royce PLC,
ULTRA-UAS 001 (Southampton, Hampshire) by Electroflight Ltd) Gloucestershire
G-CLLW 4079E1 Boeing PT-17 Kaydet (officially 75-2118 TW Gilbert, Enstone, G-OLED 4079CF Aeropro EuroFOX 912(S) LAA 376- SJM Ledingham, (Temple
registered as an A75N1) Oxfordshire 15688 Sowerby, Cumbria)
G-CLLZ 4079E4 MBB Bolkow Bo105P 6039 AB Airflight GmbH, G-OVEY 4079CB Van’s RV-7 LAA 323- M Covey, (Witchford,
(Düsseldorf, Germany) 15557 Cambridgeshire)
G-CLMG 4079E5 Alisport Silent-IN 014 OJ Anderson, Bellarena, Co. G-POWW 400A30 Airbus A321-211 2060 Hagondale Ltd. London
Londonderry Stansted, Essex (operated by
G-CLML 4079CA Skystar Kitfox Mk.7 PFA 172D- GT Leedham, (Netherseal, Titan Airways)
14391 Derbyshire) G-PWFW 4079B6 Tecnam P2010 Twenty-Ten 099 PA and FC Winters, Alderney,
G-CLMM 4079D8 Cameron Sport-70 12345 Cameron Balloons Ltd, Channel Islands
(Bristol) G-TTNK 40792E Airbus A320-251N 9551 British Airways PLC, London
G-CLMR 4079DB Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar PFA 315- CM James, (Chartham Heathrow, Middlesex
14607 Hatch, Kent) G-UZMH 407838 Airbus A321-251NX 9214 easyJet Airline Company
G-CLNZ 4079C8 TLAC Sherwood Ranger ST LAA 237B- P Nicholls, (Ellesmere, Ltd, London Luton,
15568 Shropshire) Bedfordshire (NB)
G-CLOZ 4079DE KFA Explorer LAA 417- P Marden, (Hersham, Surrey) G-XIIO 4078E2 Schempp-Hirth Ventus-3T 081 TS SG Jones, (Membury,
15662 Berkshire)
G-CLXW 407905 Schempp-Hirth Ventus-T 086 TS JS McCullagh, (Kingston Upon G-XWBE 4078B8 Airbus A350-1041 386 British Airways PLC, London
Thames, Greater London) Heathrow, Middlesex
G-DAAS 40793D Airbus BK117D-2 20311 Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd, G-YNJA 4079EA Flylight Skyranger Nynja LS BMAA/ CA Green, (Pewsey,
Oxford, Oxfordshire 912S(1) HB/724 Wiltshire)
G-EGPF 407839 Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III 28R-7837213 Abbotsinch Aviation Ltd, EI-EIN 4CAA41 Airbus A330-302 1951 Aer Lingus Ltd, Dublin, Co.
Glasgow, Renfrewshire Fingal
G-EBNA 407934 Embraer Phenom 300E 50500551 ENB Aviation Ltd, (Douglas, EI-GPO 4CAA54 ATR 72-212A 1315 Stobart Air Unlimited
Isle of Man) Company, Dublin, Co. Fingal
G-GHSV 4079E9 Beech 200 King Air BB-622 Atlantic Bridge Aviation Ltd, EI-GRE 4CAAA9 Boeing 737-804 ACS Aero 1 Beta Ltd, (stored at
Lydd, Kent St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan)
G-GOSP 4079E6 Agusta AW109SP Grand 22259 Castle Air Ltd, Trebrown, EI-GRX 4VAB37 Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP 172S8611 Waterford Aero Club Ltd,
New Liskeard, Cornwall Waterford, Co. Waterford
69-72_registerDC.mf.indd 69 31/03/2020 10:58

EI-GRZ 4CAB16 Airbus A320-216 5906 Macquarie Aircraft
Acquisitions (Ireland) Ltd, PREVIOUS IDENTITIES
Toulouse-Francazal, France REG'N P.I. REG’N P.I.
EI-IIN 4CAB11 Bombardier Global 5000 9445 Airlink Airways Ltd, Moscow- G-BZEI ex ZR325 G-UZMH ex D-AVXI
Vnukovo, Russia
G-CICJ ex 5N-BPC G-XWBE ex F-WZGP
EI-LRD 4CA9CB Airbus A321-253NX Aer Lingus Ltd, Dublin, Co.
Fingal G-CLKI ex D-HADR EI-EIN ex F-WWCH
EI-STU 4CAAAB Boeing 737-4M0 29204 ASL Airlines (Ireland) Ltd, G-CLLW ex N66576 EI-GPO ex G-FBXD
Dublin, Co. Fingal (NB)
G-CLLZ ex 86+39 (German Army) EI-GRE ex PK-TSH
M-AGIC 43E8DE Dassault Falcon 2000EX 105 Avtorita Holdings Ltd,
Farnborough, Hampshire G-CLMG ex 59DAC (French EI-GRX ex G-MRPT
Ultralight sequence)
M-ALCB 424B66 Pilatus PC-24 167 Sunseeker Aviation Ltd, EI-GRZ ex F-HZPG
Bournemouth, Dorset G-EGPF ex SE-GVV
EI-IIN ex N445PT
M-PECL 43EA1D Bombardier Global 6000 9596 Pacific Energy Company Ltd, G-EHMB ex ZR324
Lagos-Murtala Muhammed EI-LRD ex D-AVZP
G-FBHA ex ZR283
International, Nigeria EI-STU ex VP-BKW
2-FGCA TBA Boeing 737-81M 34242 Klaatu Aircraft Leasing G-GHSV ex F-GJSV
M-AGIC ex M-JETZ
(Ireland) Ltd, (for FlySafair, G-GOSP ex N109GN
Johannesburg, South Africa M-ALCB ex HB-VZO
as ZS-FGC) G-HAWC ex XX342
M-PECL ex C-FWPF
2-HEVE TBA McDonnel Douglas MD-87 49829 Jet Express Holdings Ltd. G-HITA ex G-CLBW
2-BTTB ex VT-TGF
(stored Chalons sur Marne- G-HLYF ex OE-IDR
Vatry, France) 2-FGCA ex A4O-BJ
G-IALC ex G-VVBA
2-HJKL TBA ATR 42-500 561 ELIX Assets 5 Ltd, (Dublin, 2-HEVE ex ZS-TRJ
Co. Fingal) G-JDHN ex G-FLIT
2-HJKL ex HK-5219
2-LONG TBA Airbus A320-232 2401 Wells Fargo Trust Company NA, G-JEOL ex PH-SGG
2-LONG ex TC-JUI
St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan G-LATD ex N23CR
2-OFUS ex N287TB
2-OFUS TBA Cirrus SR22T Private, Guernsey
G-LRNC ex G-BOFZ
2-PASC ex 9M-NRG
2-PASC TBA Diamond DA 40D Star TDi D4.286 Tesla Aviation Ltd, Castellon-
G-MERR ex G-XJCI
Costa Azhar, Spain 2-ZGAA ex Z-GAA
2-ZGAA TBA McDonnell Douglas 48410 Pegasus Aviation IV Inc, (stored G-POWW ex G-TCDA
MD-11F at Dubai World Central, Dubai, G-TTNK ex F-WWDL
United Arab Emirates)
G-BMPS Strojnik S-2A 045 Cancelled as Permanently WFU

(no UK Permit to Fly issued,
believed not completed)
G-BOFZ Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II 28-7816255 Re-registered as G-LRNC
G-BPJW Cessna A150K Aerobat A150-0127 Cancelled as Permanently WFU
(Permit to Fly expired 30.08.13,
last noted Beverley Airfield), East
Riding of Yorkshire 05.19)
G-BRSO CFM Streak Shadow (Modified) PFA 062- Cancelled as Permanently WFU
10491 (Permit to Fly expired 14.11.03,
last reported stored in Falmouth,
Airbus A321, G-POWW, is a new addition to the Titan Airways fleet. Cornwall area 07.16)
Keith Burton
G-BVRH Taylorcraft BL-65 1657 Cancelled by CAA (CofA expired
23.09.06. last reported stored
near Crawley, Hampshire 10.16)
CANCELLATIONS
G-BXGD Sky 90-24 067 Cancelled as Permanently WFU
REG’N TYPE C/N REASON (CofA expired 05.10.16)
G-ARIH Auster 6A 2463 To Czech Republic as OK-AOP G-BXSU TEAM MiniMax 91A PFA 186- Cancelled as Permanently WFU
G-BAPP Evans VP-1 Series 2 PFA 1580 Cancelled as Permanently WFU 12357 (Permit to Fly expired 26.04.11,
(Permit to Fly expired 18.08.13, last reported stored in Falmouth,
last reported stored in Falmouth, Cornwall area 07.16)
Cornwall area 07.16) G-BZFK TEAM MiniMax PFA 186- Cancelled as Permanently WFU
G-BEKM Evans VP.1 PFA 7025 Cancelled as Permanently WFU 12060 (Permit to Fly expired 09.09.08,
(Permit to Fly expired 23.03.95) last reported stored in Falmouth,
Cornwall area 07.16)
G-BFOP Jodel D120 Paris-Nice 32 To Iceland
G-CCAR Cameron N-77 464 Cancelled by CAA (CofA expired
G-BHED Reims Cessna FA152 Aerobat 0359 To Poland
02.06.05)
G-BIOC Reims Cessna F150L 0848 To Hungary G-CCZK Zenair CH.601UL Zodiac PFA 162A- Cancelled as Permanently WFU
G-BITK Clutton FRED Series 2 PFA 029- Cancelled as Permanently WFU 14270 (force-landed in a field near
10369 (no Permit to Fly issued, last Popham, Hampshire 15.07.16)
reported stored in Falmouth, G-CDRZ Kubicek BB22 395 Cancelled by CAA (CofA expired
Cornwall area 07.16) 04.12.15)
G-BJBM Monnett Sonerai 1 PFA 015- Cancelled as Permanently G-CENV P & M Quik GT450 8275 To Republic of Ireland
10022 WFU (Permit to Fly expired
25.09.12, last reported displayed G-CGAZ P & M QuikR 8436 Cancelled as Permanently WFU
at Cornwall Aviation Heritage (but restored again later in month)
Centre, Newquay Cornwall) G-CHCK Sikorsky S-92A 920030 Cancelled as Permanently
G-BKFI Evans VP.1 Series 2 PFA 062- Cancelled as Permanently WFU (parted out at Aberdeen
10491 WFU (Permit to Fly expired International 02.20)
28.01.17, last reported displayed G-CIEC SAAB 2000 2000-037 To USA
at Cornwall Aviation Heritage
Centre, Newquay Cornwall) G-CILR Guimbal Cabri G2 1090 Cancelled as Destroyed (badly
damaged in electrical fire on
G-BKVF Clutton FRED Series 3 PFA 029- Cancelled as Permanently WFU ground at Wycombe Air Park,
10791 (no Permit to Fly issued, last Buckinghamshire 22.07.19)
reported displayed at Cornwall
Aviation Heritage Centre, G-CJOP Centrair 101A Pegase 101066 To Czech Republic
Newquay Cornwall) G-CKRO Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus T 185 To Germany
G-BMIY Oldfield Baby Great Lakes PFA 010- Cancelled as Permanently WFU G-CKZN Bombardier CRJ900 15237 To Estonia as ES-CAN
10194 (no Permit to Fly issued, believed
G-CLAB Boeing 747-83QF 60119 To Bermuda as VP-BIN
not completed)
G-CLAE Boeing 747-4EVF 35170 To Luxembourg as LX-NCL
G-BMKP Cameron V-77 724 Cancelled as Permanently WFU
(CofA expired 07.08.93) G-CLBW Airbus AS350B3 Ecureuil 8635 Re-registered as G-HITA

G-TCXB Airbus A330-243 948 To Cayman Islands
G-USTS Agusta A109A II 7275 Cancelled as Permanently WFU
(CofA expired 143.09.18, used
as film prop at White Waltham,
Berkshire 01.20)
G-USTY Clutton FRED Series 3 PFA 029- Cancelled as Permanently WFU
10390 (Permit to Fly expired 23.09.13,
last reported stored in Falmouth,
Cornwall area 07.16)
G-VVBA Aérospatiale AS355F2 Ecureuil 2 5463 Re-registered as G-IALC
G-WLKI Lindstrand LBL 150A 1140 To Romania
This Boeing 737-800 formerly flew with Jet Airways as VT-JFJ, then G-XAIM UltraMagic H-31 31/11 To Austria
became 2-TJFJ before assuming G-DRTL. It will be joining Jet2.com. G-XJCI Cessna 550 Citation Bravo 550-0874 Re-registered as G-MERR
Mark Empson EI-ESR Boeing 737-8AS 34995 To Turkey as TC-JZJ
EI-EXA Boeing 717-2BL 55172 To USA as N728BC
G-CLGA Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II 28-8316001 To USA as N8275V EI-EXJ Boeing 717-2BL 55176 To USA as N730BC
G-COAI Cranfield A.1 001 Cancelled as Permanently WFU EI-FBJ Boeing 717-2BL 55177 To USA as N734BC
(No Flight Declaration 26.01.16)
EI-FID Boeing 737-8AS 44694 To Malta as 9H-QAT
G-DDGX Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus 75 619 Cancelled as Destroyed
(crashed on take-off at Usk, EI-FIE Boeing 737-8AS 44695 To Poland as SP-RKN
Monmouthshire 27.07.19) EI-FIH Boeing 737-8AS 44697 To Malta as 9H-QAX
G-DDLY Eiri Avion PIK-20D 20509 Cancelled as Permanently WFU EI-FIJ Boeing 737-8AS 44699 To Malta as 9H-QAY
(CofA expired 30.09.16)
EI-FIK Boeing 737-8AS 44700 To Malta as 9H-QAZ
G-EZEB Airbus A319-111 2120 Cancelled as Destroyed (flown to
St Athan 03.12.19 for parting out) EI-FIL Boeing 737-8AS 44702 To Poland as SP-RKO
G-FBXD ATR 72-212A 1315 To Republic of Ireland as EI-GPO EI-FIM Boeing 737-8AS 61576 To Malta as 9H-QBB
G-FDZE Boeing 737-8K5 35137 To Belarus as EW-543PA EI-FIN Boeing 737-8AS 44701 To Poland as SP-RKP
G-FLIT Rotorway Executive 162F 6324 Re-registered as G-JDHN EI-FIR Boeing 737-8AS 61578 To Poland as SP-RKR
G-HATB AutoGyro MTOSport RSUK/ Cancelled as Permanently WFU EI-FIS Boeing 737-8AS 44704 To Poland as SP-RKS
MTOS/061 (Permit to Fly expired 27.11.19) EI-FIT Boeing 737-8AS 44703 To Malta as 9H-QBH
G-HBMW Robinson R22 0170 Cancelled as Permanently WFU EI-FJA Boeing 737-8JP 39419 To South Korea as HL8380
(CofA expired 08.02.16. Was
based in Germany) EI-FJB Boeing 737-8JP 42081 To Sweden as SE-RPR
G-HFLY Robinson R44 Raven II 11876 To Austria as OE-XDL EI-FJD Boeing 737-8JP 41143 To Sweden as SE-RPS
G-KIRC Pietenpol/Challis Chaffinch 1008 Cancelled by CAA (no UK Permit EI-FJL Boeing 737-8JP 42073 To Sweden as SE-RPK
to Fly issued, last reported at EI-FJO Boeing 737-8JP 42076 To Sweden as SE-RPF
Barton Ashes, Crawley Down,
Hampshire 04.15) EI-FJP Boeing 737-8JP 42077 To Sweden as SE-RPG
G-KURK Piper J3C-65 Cub 11527 Cancelled by CAA (Permit to Fly EI-FJS Boeing 737-8JP 41153 To Sweden as SE-RPJ
expired 29.06.17) EI-FJT Boeing 737-8JP 42079 To Sweden as SE-RPH
G-MAJE BAe Jetstream 4100 41007 Cancelled as Destroyed (CofA EI-FJV Boeing 737-8JP 42080 To Sweden as SE-RPL
expired 24.02.17, parted out at
Humberside, North Lincolnshire) EI-FMK ATR 72-212A 1297 To Brazil as PR-PDO
G-MAJH BAe Jetstream 41 41010 Cancelled as Destroyed (CofA EI-FOE Boeing 737-8AS 44713 To Malta as 9H-QBQ
expired 13.04.17, parted out at EI-FOF Boeing 737-8AS 44716 To Malta as 9H-QBR
Humberside, North Lincolnshire)
EI-FOJ Boeing 737-8AS 44722 To Malta as 9H-QBV
G-MISK Robinson R44 Astro 0520 To USA as N883SR
EI-FOK Boeing 737-8AS 44719 To Malta as 9H-QBW
G-MMMN Solar Wings Panther XL-S PXL843150 Cancelled as Permanently WFU
(Permit to Fly expired 16.07.04) EI-FOO Boeing 737-8AS 44724 To Malta as 9H-QCA
G-MNWB Thruster TST 086-118-UK- Cancelled by CAA (Permit to Fly EI-FOS Boeing 737-8AS 44727 To Malta as 9H-QCD
001 expired 03.01.95) EI-FOV Boeing 737-8AS 44725 To Malta as 9H-QCF
G-MRPT Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP 172S8611 To Republic of Ireland as EI-GRX EI-FOY Boeing 737-8AS 44728 To Malta as 9H-QCG
G-MVIV Thruster TST Mk.1 8108-TST- Cancelled as Permanently WFU EI-FRI Boeing 737-8AS 44733 To Malta as 9H-QCO
108 (Permit to Fly expired 24.06.01)
EI-FRJ Boeing 737-8AS 44734 To Malta as 9H-QCP
G-MWMM Mainair Gemini Flash IIA 800-0890-7- Cancelled by CAA (Permit to Fly
W593 expired 16.06.19) EI-FRK Boeing 737-8AS 44735 To Malta as 9H-QCQ
G-MZIE Pegasus Quantum 15 7359 Cancelled as Permanently WFU EI-FRL Boeing 737-8AS 44741 To Malta as 9H-QCR
(Permit to Fly expired 09.06.13) EI-FRR Boeing 737-8AS 44739 To Malta as 9H-QCV
G-MZKZ Mainair Blade 1137-0298- Cancelled as Permanently WFU
EI-FRS Boeing 737-8AS 44745 To Malta as 9H-QCW
7-W940 (Permit to Fly expired 07.08.04)
EI-FRW Boeing 737-8AS 44748 To Malta as 9H-QCZ
G-NCFC Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk 38-81A0107 Cancelled by CAA (but restored
again later in month) EI-FTC Boeing 737-800 44753 To Malta as 9H-QDD
G-OHYE Thruster T600N 450 0042-T600N- Cancelled by CAA (Permit to Fly EI-FTH Boeing 737-800 44758 To Malta as 9H-QDI
098 expired 31.07.19)
EI-FTI Boeing 737-800 44759 To Malta as 9H-QDJ
G-ORAF CFM Streak Shadow PFA 161A- Cancelled by CAA (Permit to Fly
11627 expired 01.11.00) EI-FTK Boeing 737-800 44761 To Malta as 9H-QDL
G-PBYY Enstrom 280FX 2077 To New Zealand EI-FTM Boeing 737-800 44763 To Malta as 9H-QDN
G-PUMB Aérospatiale AS332L Super Puma 2075 To Canada as C-GRGJ EI-FTR Boeing 737-800 44767 To Malta as 9H-QDR
G-RNBW Bell 206B JetRanger III 2270 Cancelled as Permanently WFU EI-FTS Boeing 737-800 44768 To Malta as 9H-QDS
(Permit to Fly expired 11.04.17, EI-FTT Boeing 737-800 44769 To Malta as 9H-QDT
parted out early 2019)
EI-FTV Boeing 737-800 44770 To Malta as 9H-QDU
G-SDCI Bell 206B JetRanger II 925 Cancelled as Destroyed (CofA
expired 24.07.12, last reported stored EI-FTZ Boeing 737-800 44773 To Malta as 9H-QDX
at Thruxton, Hampshire 09.16) EI-FWD Sukhoi RRJ-95B 95105 To Malta as 9H-SJD
G-TCDA Airbus A321-211 2060 Re-registered as G-POWW EI-FWE Sukhoi RRJ-95B 95117 To Malta as 9H-SJE
G-TCDV Airbus A321-211 1972 To Cayman Islands EI-FZK Boeing 737-800 44783 To Poland as SP-RKI
G-TCDX Airbus A321-211 1887 To Cayman Islands as VP-CCG EI-FZM Boeing 737-800 44785 To Poland as SP-RKK
G-TCDZ Airbus A321-211 1006 Cancelled as Permanently WFU EI-GDC Boeing 737-800 44800 To Malta as 9H-QAU
(CofA expired 07.12.19, flown London
EI-GDD Boeing 737-800 44802 To Malta as 9H-QBA
Gatwick to Castellon-Costa Azahar,
Spain 29.10.19 for parting out) EI-GDE Boeing 737-800 44803 To Malta as 9H-QBC

EI-GDF Boeing 737-800 44801 To Malta as 9H-QBF
EI-GDG Boeing 737-800 44804 To Malta as 9H-QBG
UPDATES & CORRECTIONS
REG'N DETAILS
EI-GDY Boeing 737-800 44818 To Malta as 9H-QEC
G-AKPI Manufacturer officially changed to Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Ltd 05.02.20
EI-GDZ Boeing 737-800 44820 To Malta as 9H-QED
G-BDTV Became D-EDTV 26.11.19
EI-GGN Airbus A330-202 489 To Qatar (but actually became
9H-PTN) G-BIZE Became D-EOMR 17.10.19
EI-GID Embraer 170 17000111 Cancelled at Owner’s Request- G-BUVN Became PH-PMV 2019
Removed from Service (last G-BZXN Type officially changed to a Jabiru SPL-450 20.02.20
reported stored at Tarbes-
Lourdes, France 10.19) G-CFWI Became F-HVEL 04.02.20
EI-GIZ Airbus A320-214 2180 Cancelled as Removed from G-CIEX Became ZU-ROJ 03.12.19 (officially cancelled to Hungary 15.05.19)
Service (parted out at Cotswold G-CIPE Type officially changed to a Boeing A75L-3 21.02.20
Airport)
G-CKSU Type officially changed to a Boeing A75N-1 10.02.20
EI-GJA Boeing 737-800 44819 To Malta as 9H-QEE G-CLFT Became N261VS (officially cancelled to Turkey 25.05.19)
EI-GJD Boeing 737-800 44821 To Malta as 9H-QEG G-CLNE Became D-KPLZ 18.12.19
EI-GJG Boeing 737-800 44829 To Malta as 9H-QEJ G-CLYE Type officially changed to an LS4-A 24.02.20
EI-GJJ Boeing 737-800 44831 To Malta as 9H-QEL G-DGIV Became D-KXMM 10.10.19
EI-GJK Boeing 737-800 44825 To Malta as 9H-QEM G-DONS Became YU-LAW
EI-GJP Boeing 737-800 44834 To Malta as 9H-QEP G-ECNX Became D-ECNX 18.12.19
EI-GKK Airbus A320-214 3289 To Germany as D-ANNA G-ERKN Became ZT-REY 24.02.20
EI-GOG Airbus A319-112 2774 To Lithuania G-GAED Became PH-BAG 19.11.19
EI-GOH Airbus A319-112 2139 To Lithuania as LY-RAM G-GAEF Became PH-BAN 11.19
EI-HEA Airbus A330-322 116 To Hong Kong Special Administrative G-HTEC Became VH-ENO 13.02.20
Region of the People's Republic of G-ICMX Became D-ENKN 19.12.19
China as B-LDO
G-MCLN Became D-EMKK 21.11.19
EI-LIN Airbus A320-232 4493 To Austria as OE-IEV
D-MZCJ Became LZ-MZC 13.01.20
EI-LIX Airbus A320-232 8604 To Austria as OE-IES
G-OBNA Became D-GATM 06.11.19
EI-RJO BAe Avro RJ85 E2352 To Canada
G-OOJP Became D-ETEK 19.12.19
EI-SLT ATR 72-201 389 To USA as N816HC
G-ORJW Became D-ERJW 19.11.19
M-ABEF ATR 72-202 470 Cancelled as Dismantled (parted
out Las Palmas 2015) G-TCDJ Became OE-IKL 11.12.19
M-ABMN Embraer 190 19000483 To Bolivia as CP-3142 G-TCDW Became F-WTAH 12.19
M-ABMO Embraer 190 19000488 To Bolivia as CP-3145 G-VICM Became F-GSCM 01.08.19
G-VTEW Became D-3833 15.11.19
M-ALAY Gulfstream G550 5391 To Switzerland as HB-JQQ
G-WYDE Became D-8220 21.11.19
M-AYBE Gulfstream G280 2010 To USA as N514FC
M-OEPL Became F-HECR 31.01.20
M-CPRS Embraer Legacy 650 14501160 To France
M-OUNT Became F-HSBR 01.20
M-EASY Learjet 35A 35A-341 To USA as N277MK
M-PIRA Became PH-JRC 2019
M-JETZ Dassault Falcon 2000EX 105 Re-registered as M-AGIC
2-ACGA Became VP-CGA 29.01.20
M-JSEG Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3+ 525B0476 To USA as N230JS
2-ATLN Became 9M-JOG 19.02.20
M-OUNT Dassault Falcon 7X 175 To France as F-HSBR
2-TAXI Became D-GSSW 05.11.19
M-OUTH Diamond DA42 Twin Star 42.AC082 To USA as N482TS
2-VAZV Became VP-BGP 08.19
M-PCPA Gulfstream G550 5225 To Switzerland as HB-JWY
M-PIRA Embraer Legacy 600 14501016 To Netherlands as PH-JRC
M-PIRE Piaggio P180 Avanti 1042 To USA as N478TL 2-LIFE Eclipse EA500 000023 To USA as N71FE
M-TECH Bombardier Challenger 350 20621 To USA as N555AD 2-PAOK Airbus A330-203 834 To Jordan as JY-JVB
M-YVVF Bombardier Global 6000 9590 To Luxembourg as LX-GLX 2-SEXY Agusta A109E 11010 Re-registered as 2-GIGI
2-ABAC Boeing 737-86J 30501 To USA 2-TJFJ Boeing 737-8AL 39059 To United Kingdom as G-DRTL
2-ACGA Boeing 737-8AL 39055 To Cayman Islands as VP-CGA 2-VBNM Boeing 737-86N 32682 To Brazil as PR-GZW
2-ATRA ATR 72-212A 1318 To Trinidad & Tobago as 9Y-TTI 2-WORK Boeing 737-3L9 23718 Cancelled as Withdrawn from
Service (last reported stored at
2-ATRC ATR 72-212A 1133 To Trinidad & Tobago as 9Y-TTF Lasham, Hampshire)
2-BTTC Boeing 737-85R 39070 To Israel as 4X-EKK 2-YALA Bombardier CRJ200 7486 To France
2-DOLU Beech 58 Baron TH-1440 To Switzerland
Key: NB – Nominal Base
2-FGCA Boeing 737-81M 34242 To South Africa as ZS-FGC
A place name in brackets relates to the owner’s address as where the aircraft is based is unknown.
2-GDDC Cessna A185F Skywagon 652 To USA
2-JMMF Boeing 737-86J 30499 To USA as N471BS Note: The photos featured were taken before restrictions on movement were imposed.
Eclipse EA500 2-LIFE has now taken up a US

registration and wears N71FE. James Ronayne

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671 AFI promo fp.indd 91 15/10/2019 16:27
Airport Movements
AIRPORT MOVEMENTS COMPILED BY CARL HOPE
A round-up of notable aircraft visiting UK airports.
Western Global Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, N542KD, arriving at Doncaster Sheffield Airport on March 14. Clive Featherstone
ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL LSP A321-271NX Turkish Airlines f/v. 14/1 PH-EXM E190-E2 Widerøe type f/v. 11/2 N81GJ Learjet 35A.
5/2 F-HTTO Global 5000; F-HTTL Challenger 650. E175STD KLM Cityhopper f/v; SP-LMB E190STD LOT 12/2 C-GKFJ Challenger 604; 9H-FGV Phenom
8/2 5N-BPC S-92A returned to Bristow Helicopters. f/v. 15/1 N193LS Gulfstream G650ER. 16/1 AP-BMS 100; D-ACNN CRJ900LR Lufthansa for painting.
10/2 LN-AWC Learjet 45; OE-FBD Citation 610 777-3Q8(ER) Pakistan International Airlines f/v; 13/2 D-IAAB Phenom 100. 14/2 D-IPVD CitationJet
Mustang. 12/2 HB-KRJ TBM 930; G-FBXA ATR 2-JRSY Legacy 500 also 20th; OO-CLA CitatuinJet 525A CJ2; LN-WEC E190-E2 Widerøe.
72-600 delivered to Loganair; D-CGAA & D-CEFO 525C CJ4; PH-TXA Citation 510 Mustang. 17/1 18/2 D-ACND CRJ900LR Lufthansa for painting.
Citation 560XLS+. 14/2 D-IFIS CitationJet 525A 9H-QAN 737-8AS Malta Air f/v; EC-NEA A320-271N 20/2 OE-FDT Citation 510 Mustang; D-CPMU
CJ2+. 18/2 ZM334 & ZM336 Phenom T1s 45 Vueling f/v; OE-LWO E195LR Austrian Airlines f/v; Learjet 60. 22/2 PH-EZZ E190STD KLM Cityhopper,
Sqn, RAF both o/s. 24/2 VQ-BXG Falcon 8X. 25/2 SP-RKF 737-8AS Ryanair Sun f/v; HA-BES Hawker Leeds diversion. 25/2 OE-GPS Citation 550 Bravo.
G-FBXB ATR 72-600 delivered to Loganair; ZM337 850XP. 19/1 A6-BMD 787-10 Etihad Airways f/v 26/2 N67WV Gulfstream G650ER. 27/2 RA-76511
Phenom T1 45 Sqn, RAF. 26/2 HB-VTW Citation Manchester fog diversion; OE-LXE A320-216 Il-76TD-90VD Volga-Dnepr Airlines. 29/2 C-FEMC
525M2; 9H-GIO CitationJet 525 CJ1; D-IATE Austrian Airlines f/v; SP-ESE 737-8Q8 Enter Air; Learjet 40
Cessna F.406 Air-Taxi Europe. 28/2 CS-LTI Citation A7-TAA Global 6000 Qatar Executive, Liverpool fog
680A Latitude NetJets. diversion. 20/1 OE-LXC A320-216 Austrian Airlines EXETER AIRPORT
f/v; D-CUUU Citation 560XLS+. 21/1 OE-LOZ A320- 2/1 OO-FPE CitationJet 525B CJ3. 5/1 OO-PCI
BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT 232 Laudamotion f/v. 22/1 2-CLEV CitationJet & OO-PCK PC-12s; LX-FPF CitationJet 525B
1/1 I-ADJX E195LR Air Dolomiti f/v; OE-LWK E195LR 525A CJ2; D-CGBR Learjet 55. 23/1 CN-GMT CJ3+. 9/1 PH-JWL Falcon 2000LX. 11/1 A9C-BAH
Austrian Airlines f/v; SP-ESB 737-8Q8 Enter Air also Gulfstream G450; D-CHZF Citation 550 Bravo; Gulfstream G550 Bahrain Amiri Flight. 13/1 2-EMBR
2nd. 2/1 OE-LWJ E195LR Austrian Airlines f/v; SP- OE-LTF Gulfstream G650ER. 24/1 9H-QEN 737-8AS Phenom 300 also 17th. 17/1 ZJ227 & ZJ223 Apache
ESA 737-9Q8 Enter Air also 11th; SP-RKA & SP-RKD Malta Air f/v; D-AINV A320-271N Lufthansa f/v; OE- AH1s 673 Sqn, AAC. 18/1 F-HCDM Cessna F.182Q.
737-8AS Ryanair Sun both f/v. 3/1 CS-LTI Citation LWI E195LR Austrian Airlines f/v; CS-LTG Citation
680A Latitude NetJets; OE-FMT Phenom 100 also 680A Latitude NetJets Europe; N656TT Gulfstream GATWICK AIRPORT
13th. 4/1 EC-NGC 737-809 AlbaStar ops for Tui. 5/1 G650ER. 26/1 OE-LWP E195LR Austrian Airlines f/v; 1/2 VP-CMB Gulfstream G550 f/v. 5/2 OY-GDA
LN-TUM 737-705 SAS f/v; OE-LWH E195LR Austrian N127RR Gulfstream G450. 27/1 D-BUBI Challenger E195LR Great Dane Airlines f/v. 6/2 N534RV Hawker
Airlines f/v; SP-ENV 737-8BK Enter Air. 6/1 D-CAWO 300; D-IEAH Beech C.90A; N888ZF Gulfstream 800XP medical flight f/v. 11/2 G-UZMH A321-
Citation 560XLS+. 7/1 SP-ESB 737-8QH Enter Air G650ER. 28/1 EC-MNR CRJ1000 SAS f/v; EI-GPN 251NX easyJet on delivery from Finkenwerder. 13/2
also 9th. 8/1 OE-LWD E190LR Austrian Airlines f/v; ATR 72-600 Stobart Air f/v; D-COZY Phenom 300; CS-PHM Phenom 300 NetJets f/v. 14/2 HA-LTC
PH-BCL 737-8K2 KLM f/v; SP-KPR & SP-KPZ Saab D-FABS PC-12 also 29th. 29/1 OE-GMM Citation A321-231(SL) Wizz Air f/v. 15/2 HB-JBI A220-100
340As Sprint Air; N178PT Gulfstream IV. 9/1 OE- 680 Sovereign. 30/1 D-CHRA CitationJet 525C & HB-JCT A220-300 Swiss both f/v. 18/2 ES-SAM
LOR A320-214 Laudamotion f/v; UR-CQD An-26B CJ4; D-CUGF CitationJet 525B CJ3+; D-IOBB A320-232 SmartLynx Estonia ops for Norwegian f/v.
Vulkan Air also 18th & 24th; CS-DGW CitationJet CitationJet 525 CJ1+. 19/2 N671UA 767-322ER United Airlines, Heathrow
525B CJ3 also 21st & 23rd; D-CIFM Citation 680 diversion f/v. 20/2 CS-TJQ A321-251NX TAP Air
Sovereign+; F-HALG Falcon 2000LXS; N651CH EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT Portugal f/v. 22/2 HB-JCJ CS300 Swiss f/v. 23/2
Gulfstream G650; OE-GBE Gulfstream G100; OE- 1/2 D-CHZF & S5-BSA Citation 550 Bravos; CS- TC-ANA A319-115CJ Albanian Government f/v. 25/2
GPS Citation 550 Bravo. 10/1 9H-QDG 737-8AS TFR Learjet 45. 2/2 OE-GPS Citation 550 Bravo also C-GOIH A321-271NX Air Transat. 28/2 C-GKKN
Malta Air f/v; D-CAWR Citation 560 Encore+. 11/1 7th; D-ISLT CitationJet 525A CJ2+. 4/2 D-CGEP 787-9 West Jet.
SP-RKB 737-8AS Malta Air f/v. 12/1 OE-LWF E195LR Gulfstream G150. 5/2 HB-IGV Falcon 50EX. 6/2
Austrian Airlines f/v; D-CYES Learjet 35A; 252 D-ACNH CRJ900LR Lufthansa for painting. 7/2 HEATHROW AIRPORT
CN235-100MPA 101 Sqn, Irish Air Corps. 13/1 TC- 2-RBTS CitationJet 525B CJ3.10/2 LN-WEB 3/2 7T-VKT 737-7D6C Air Algerie f/v. 5/2 A6-EVK
A380-842 Emirates f/v. 9/2 SP-LSG 787-9 LOT
Embraer Legacy 600, ES-ERA, visited f/v. 10/2 B-2077 777-F6 China Cargo Airlines
Birmingham Airport on March 7. f/v; CS-TRH A330-343E Orbest op for LATAM
John Mason f/v; YR-BGK 737-800 TAROM f/v. 12/2 G-XWBE
A350-1041 British Airways on delivery. 14/2 CS-TJQ
A321-251NX TAP Portugal f/v; SX-NEB A320-
271N Aegean Airlines f/v. 15/2 A6-EPV 777-300ER
Emirates. 16/2 A6-BMA 787-10 Etihad Airways
f/v; SX-NEA A320-271N Aegean Airlines f/v. 17/2
N7777Q BBJ1 f/v. 19/2 TC-LSL A321-271NX Turkish
Airlines f/v. 22/2 A6-EQD 777-300ER Emirates f/v.
74_76_airportsDC.mf.indd 74 30/03/2020 15:10

Eurofighter_fp.indd 1 11/09/2019 14:13:48
AIRPORT MOVEMENTS COMPILED BY CARL HOPE
Belgian Defence - Air Component C-130H Hercules, CH-13, 650. 13/2 OE-GMF Citationjet 525B CJ3+; N307LC
about to touch down at Cambridge City Airport on March 12. Falcon 7X; CN-RBS Hawker 900XP; N818TH
Matt Varley Falcon 900EX; TC-CMC Falcon 7X. 14/2 ES-FOX
Legacy 650.15/2 65001 Legacy 650 Kazakhstan
National Guard. 16/2 9H-FCM Lineage 1000;
LX-FLG PC-12. 17/2 VQ-BXG Falcon 8X; HB-JWY
Gulfstream G550; N848BC Falcon 7X, Farnborough
diversion. 18/2 D-CPSH Citation 560XLS+; HB-GSF
Beech 350C. 19/2 OE-HVV Challenger 350. 20/2
N626Z Falcon 7X. 22/2 9H-SSU Global Express
6000. 25/2 N776BT Gulfstream G450; D-AGGL
Global 6000; D-IMPG Beech C.90GTx. 26/2 TC-
RSD Learjet 45. 27/2 T7-CJK Global Express 6000.
29/2 T7-SFG Global Express 6000.
23/2 9H-VCC Challenger 350 VistaJet f/v; SE-ROH Phenom 300; F-HSFJ Citation 680A Latitude n/s. MANCHESTER AIRPORT
A320-251N SAS; TC-LLH 787-9 Turkish Airlines 3/12 OE-FZE Citation 510 Mustang. 4/12 HA-JEV 1/2 HB-JXQ A320-214(SL) easyJet Switzerland f/v.
f/v. 24/2 D-AIXO A350-941 Lufthansa f/v; OE-LZC Citation 650 III; D-CHIP CitationJet 525B CJ3+ also 2/2 S2-AJS 787-8 Bangladesh Biman f/v. 3/2 EC-
A320-214 Austrian Airlines f/v. 25/2 D-AFBS Legacy 5th; SE-RIZ & SE-RMR Citation 560XLS; OY-RUZ NFK A320-271N Vueling f/v; 9H-QCF 737-8AS Malta
650 f/v. 26/2 D-A320-271N Lufthansa f/v; D-AIXK A320-232 Danish Air Transport n/s; N3755P L-100- Air f/v; CS-EFF Citation 560XLS+ f/v. 4/2 C-GDGO
A350-941 Lufthansa f/v. 27/2 G-TTNK A320-251N 30 Prescott Support n/s also 6th-8th; EI-PRO Challenger 300 f/v. 5/2 ZM333 & ZM335 Phenom
British Airways on delivery; N611TX Falcon 900EX AS365N; N550PL Gulfstream G550. 5/12 D-CHZF T1s 45 Sqn, RAF both f/v. 7/2 9H-QCQ 737-8AS
f/v; N673HA Gulfstream G650 f/v; N24976 787-9 Citation 550 Bravo. 6/12 LX-MIC Falcon 2000S n/s. Malta Air f/v; SP-RSZ 737-8AS Ryanair Sun f/v;
United Airlines f/v; SX-NEO A320-271N Aegean 7/12 D-IROL Do.228-202 Business Wings; OK-VAN ES-SAT A320-214 Smartlynx Estonia f/v, op for Tui;
Airlines f/v. Phenom 100; UR-CNN An-12BK Cavok Air dep 9th; 2801 A319-115X 241 dlt, Czech AF f/v. 8/2 A6-EGM
OO-WEG Challenger 350 n/s. 8/12 SP-TTA Beech 777-31HER Emirates, Glasgow diversion due to high
2/3 4X-ERC 787-8 El Al f/v. 3/3 EI-LRD A321-253NX 400XP. 9/12 OE-LYY A319-132 Eurowings. 10/12 winds. 9/2 A7-APG A380-861 Qatar Airways f/v,
Aer Lingus f/v. 4/3 G-FBJE E175 Flybe f/v; HB-JVS OE-LYX A319-132 Eurowings; D-ITRA CitationJet Heathrow diversion, due high winds. 10/2 S2-AJU
E190AR Helvetic Airways op for Swiss f/v. 5/3 SE- 525 CJ1; D-CUGF CitationJet 525B CJ3+; D-CGAA 787-8 Bangladesh Biman f/v; TC-NBH A320-251N
ROU A320-251N SAS f/v. 7/3 B-2977 Gulfstream Citation 560XLS+. 12/12 N301SR BBJ1. 13/12 PH- Pegasus Airlines f/v; EI-STP 737-4Q8SF ASL Ireland
G650ER f/v. 8/3 CS-LTG Citation 680A Latitude HXB 737-8K2 Transavia. 14/12 PH-TXA Citation 510 f/v, East Midlands diversion due to snow; N94FT
NetJets f/v; HB-JVV E190LR Helvetic Airways op for Mustang; F-HGPE Phenom 300 n/s; OK-BII Beech Gulfstream G280 f/v; 97-0401 C-37A 99th AS, 89th
Swiss f/v; SE-ROL A320-251N SAS f/v. 9/3 G-TTNL 400A; ZS-NEX 767-35DER Aeronexus n/s also 22nd; AW, USAF f/v. 11/2 D-AIEE A321-271NX Lufthansa
A320-251N British Airways on delivery f/v. 11/3 D-BFIL Legacy 450 also 15th. 17/12 33/XA TBM f/v. 14/2 A7-BEX 777-300ER Qatar Airways f/v;
ES-ACI CRJ900ER Xfly op for SAS f/v. 12/3 9H-CFL 700A ET00.043, French AF. 18/12 T7-BBC Premier 9H-QCS 737-8AS Malta Air f/v; 9H-QDJ 737-8AS
Learjet 40 f/v; B-8260 Gulfstream G550 f/v; EP-IEF 1A n/s. 20/12 SP-ESA 737-8AL Enter Air n/s. 21/12 Malta Air f/v; LY-COB A320-232 Getjet Airlines
A320-211 Iran Air f/v. 13/3 B-8197 Global 6000 HB-JSK Global 6000; D-CAWO Citation 560XLS+; f/v, op for TUI. 15/2 A7-BEK 777-300ER Qatar
f/v. 14/3 CS-LTB & CS-LTJ Citation 680A Latitudes M-PORT Global 5000 new resident; LX-MIA & Airways f/v; 9H-QCJ 737-8AS Malta Air f/v; HB-JXR
NetJets both f/v; B-3098 Embraer Legacy 650 f/v; D-AFUN Legacy 650s; UR-CKL An-12BK Cavok Air, A320-214(SL) easyJet Switzerland f/v; F-HJFP
N3333U Global 5000 f/v. test flew after repairs following ground accident on PC-12 f/v. 16/2 EC-KXN 747-4H6 Wamos Air op for
30/9, dep 27/12. 23/12 D-CSCB Citation 560XLS+. TUI; 9H-AOE HondaJet. 17/2 A7-BEN 777-300ER
LEEDS/BRADFORD AIRPORT 24/12 D-CRON Citation 560XLS. 26/12 N885AR Qatar Airways f/v. 19/2 TC-LSL A321-271NX Turkish
12/1 N535RV Hawker 800XP. 14/1 HA-LYN A320- Gulfstream G550 n/s. 28/12 N818ME Gulfstream Airlines f/v; 9H-QDR 737-800 Malta Air f/v; OY-GDA
232(SL) Wizz Air, Doncaster Sheffield diversion. 15/1 IVSP. 29/12 HS-WEH Gulfstream V; D-IEKU E195LR Great Dane Airlines f/v. 20/2 SP-RKP 737-
N56EL Gulfstream G450; F-HLPM Falcon 2000LX. CitationJet 525A CJ2; D-CROG Phenom 300. 800 Ryanair Sun f/v; LX-FPF CitationJet 525B f/v.
16/1 9H-CFB PC-24; 277 AW139 301 Sqn, Irish 21/2 A7-BEV 777-300ER Qatar Airways f/v; SP-RKS
Air Corps. 17/1 D-CPMU Learjet 60. 22/1 D-IAAS LONDON LUTON AIRPORT 737-800 Ryanair Sun f/v. 22/2 9H-QCV 737-8AS
Phenom 300; SP-LMC E190STD London City 4/2 C-GKFJ Challenger 605; N724AG Gulfstream Malta Air f/v; D-AIRV Legacy 650E f/v. 23/2 9H-QBR
diversion. 27/1 I-TOPD Beech 400A; N850SF TBM 650; N904DS Gulfstream 650ER; B-00777 A319- 737-8AS & 9H-QBW 737-8AS Malta Air, both f/v.
850. 28/1 066 Xingu EAT00.319, French AF. 133CJ. 5/2 TC-LHO Falcon 7X; OE-IIX Challenger 24/2 A4O-SF 787-9 Oman Air f/v; 9H-QBN 737-
605. 8/2 OH-TRG PC-12. 9/2 D-CQAB Learjet 45. 8AS Malta Air f/v. 25/2 N840AN 787-9 American
LIVERPOOL AIRPORT 10/2 N15GX Global XRS; OE-IKX Gulfstream G450; Airlines f/v; ET-AXW Dash 8-Q402NG Ethiopian
1/12 LN-WEA E190-E2 Widerøe. 2/12 N355EE VP-CMB Gulfstream G550. 12/2 N817KA Challenger Airlines, delivery flight; LY-LTA Hawker 800XPi
f/v. 27/2 9H-QAZ 737-8AS & 9H-QDN 737-800
Malta Air, both f/v. 28/2 CS-TJQ A321-251NX TAP
Air Portugal f/v; D-AINW A320-271N Lufthansa f/v;
9H-QBV, 9H-QEN, 9H-QBQ, 9H-QEC & 9H-QAS
737-8AS Malta Air all f/v; N670EE Praetor 600 type
f/v. 29/2 TC-JNT A330-303 Turkish Airlines f/v;
9H-QCX 737-8AS Malta Air f/v.
Key: f/v first visit; n/s nightstop; o/s overshoot.
Note: The photos featured were taken before

Gulfstream G550, B-8256, of Hanergy Jet was seen at Birmingham Airport on February 20. Ian
restrictions on movement were imposed.
Simpson
With thanks to. D Apps, D Bougourd, S Boyd, J Brazier, N Burch, P A Clarke, I Cockerton, KW Ede, M Farley, N French, P Gibson, G Green, J Gregory, I Grierson,
D Haines, M Harper, G Hocquard, S Lane, G Morris, S Morrison, R Roberts, RJ Sayer, A Smith, D Turner, Blackpool Aviation Society, Solent Aviation Society/‘Osprey’,
South Wales Aviation Group, CIAN, GSAE, The Aviation Society, EGPE ATC, www.dtvmovements.co.uk, Aerodata Quantum Plus and RHADS.
74_76_airportsDC.mf.indd 76 30/03/2020 15:10

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AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020 77
May_20_Classified.indd 77 31/03/2020 09:57:47

Air Base Movements
AIR BASE MOVEMENTS FROM MAR WWW.MILITARYAVIATIONREVIEW.COM
A selection of the most interesting aircraft to visit air bases in the UK recently.
One the three USAF Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirits, 82-1070 Spirit of Ohio, that deployed to
MOD BOSCOMBE DOWN RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire from March 12-20. Peter R Foster
18/2 ZH901 Chinook HC1 arrived from Fleetlands
for modifications and trials. Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron 12/2 ZK310, ZK324, ZK337 ZK360 & ZK424
during crash rescue training. Typhoon FGR4s 2(AC) Sqn, RAF. 13/2 ZK317,
RAF BRIZE NORTON ZK435 & ZK437 Typhoon FGR4s 12 Sqn, RAF. 3/3
22/1 177705/AL-E CC-177A 429 TS, RCAF n/s. RAF CRANWELL ZK334 Typhoon FGR4 2(AC) Sqn, RAF; ZK430
30/1 68-10337 U-2S 99th RS, 9th RW, USAF o/s. 14/2 147/XS TBM 700A ET41, French AF. Typhoon FGR4 12 Sqn, RAF.
6/2 ZZ507 Shadow R1+ 14 Sqn, RAF n/s. 7/2 RAF FAIRFORD RAF MILDENHALL
164995 C-130T VR-53, USN dep 9th. 9/2 10+23 18/2 08-6205 MC-130J 67th SOS, 352nd SOW, 3/2 63-13188 C-130E 222 Filo, Turkish AF dep
A310-304 FBS, German AF; MM62228 KC-767 14° USAF o/s. 24/2 07-7191 C-17A 437th/315th AW, 6th. 5/2 08-6203 MC-130J 9th SOS, USAF
St, Italian AF; 97-0401 C-37A 99th AS, 89th AW, USAF; 08-6207 MC-130J 67th SOS, 352nd SOW, n/s. 6/2 G-273 C-130H-30 336 Sqn, Royal
USAF n/s. 10/2 G-988 C-130H 336 Sqn, Royal USAF o/s. 26/2 68-10336/BB U-2R 1st ERS, 9th Netherlands AF n/s. 17/2 CE-03 ERJ145LR 15
Netherlands AF, dep 14th; G-273 C-130H-30 336 RW, USAF n/s. Wing, Belgian Defence – Air Component also
Royal Netherlands AF. 14/2 G-781 C-130H 336 21st; 54+13 A400M LTG62, German AF; 023
Royal Netherlands AF; 3085 A319CJ Czech AF. RAF LAKENHEATH C-295M 8 BLTr, Polish AF n/s. 20/2 026 C-295M
17/2 CH-13 C-130H 15 Wing, Belgian Defence 4/2 G-273 C-130H-30 336 Sqn, Royal Netherlands 8 BLTr, Polish AF n/s. 21/2 54+06 A400M LTG62,
– Air Component. 25/2 101 Falcon 10MER 57S, AF. 13/2 18-1942 C-37B 89th AW, USAF n/s; 84- German AF; 168204 UC-12W VMR-4, USMC. 27/2
French Navy. 26/2 KAF327 KC-130J 41 Sqn, 0087 C-21A 76th AS, 86th AW, USAF. 18/2 83-0077 169534 KC-130J VMGR-252, USMC also 28th;
Kuwait AF. 28/2 166762/BH KC-130J VMGR-252, KC-10A 60th/349th AMW dep 20th; 29/2 62-3514 T-235 KDC-10 334 Sqn, Royal Netherlands AF
USMC. KC-135R 141st ARS, NJ ANG. o/s. 29/2 12-5768 HC-130J 71st RQS, USAF n/s.
RAF CONINGSBY RAF LEEMING RAF SHAWBURY

5/2 The fuselage of Typhoon T3 ZJ807 dep by Arriving for a NATO Capability Evaluation 25/2 XX168 Hawk T1, XX188 Hawk T1A & XX178
road to Boscombe Down for use by the Joint (CAPEVAL) were: Hawk T1W all dep by road to DSAE Cosford.
RAF VALLEY
27/2 ZZ381 Wildcat HMA2 815 NAS, RN emergency
diversion en-route to HMS Prince of Wales, dep 2/3.
RAF WADDINGTON
5/2 XE688 Hunter T72 HHA o/s also 26th o/s.
6/2 93/XL TBM 700 ET43, French AF, 12/2 105/
XK TBM 700 ET43, French AF. 26/2 ZP801/01
Poseidon MRA1 120 Sqn, RAF o/s.
AAC WATTISHAM
28/2 83+07 & 83+19 Lynx 88As MFG3, German
Navy.
US Marine Corps Lockheed Martin KC-130J, 169534, of VMGR-252 on finals to RAF Mildenhall on
RNAS YEOVILTON
28/2 83+07 & 83+19 Lynx 88As MFG3, German
March 22. Matt Varley
Navy.
Note: The photos featured were taken before restrictions on movement were imposed.
Key: n/s night stop; o/s overshoot
78_airbase_movementsDC.mf.indd 78 01/04/2020 12:20

de Havilland Heron
Long-lastingFeederliner
The Heron was a pioneering commuter aircraft.
Charles Woodley assesses this elegant British airliner.
D
Main photo: Sea Heron CC.4, XM296, was the
esigned for simplicity as a ‘feeder price of £35,000, plus the cost of the radio
‘Admiral’s Barge’ for Flag Officer Naval Air
liner’ to connect smaller airports Command (FONAC) who oversaw the Fleet
equipment of choice. Accommodation
with bigger hubs, the DH 114 Air Arm. Key Collection was provided for up to 14 passengers (or
Heron was on de Havilland’s 17 if no toilet facilities were provided), and
drawing boards at the same time as the The Heron 1 was of a rugged and it was designed to be flown by two pilots.
smaller, twin-engined DH 104 Dove. The simple construction, with a fixed tricycle Production aircraft had a strengthened wing
Heron was basically a scaled-up, four- undercarriage. The first aircraft was originally spar and were designated as Heron 1Bs.
engined partner to the Dove and, in terms fitted with a completely horizontal tailplane After seven examples had been completed
of the market place, was intended to fill the but, after 180 hours of flying, this was at Hatfield, production was switched to de
capacity gap between that model and the replaced by one with marked dihedral. As Havilland’s Chester plant.
war surplus C-47 Dakotas in widespread use. de Havilland manufactured the airframe,
The Heron incorporated many Dove engines and propellers itself, it was able INTO AIRLINE SERVICE
components and was to be powered to offer the Heron 1 for sale at an initial Strenuous efforts were made to persuade
by four de Havilland the UK state airline,
Gipsy Queen 30 piston British European Airways
engines. However, de (BEA), to become the
Havilland did not think launch customer for
the market was ready the Heron. However,
for both new designs, the carrier was under
so development of government pressure to
the Heron was put on order the Miles Marathon
hold until the Dove was instead, though after
launched successfully in trials BEA deemed the
1945. Then, in 1949, the type not suitable which
go-ahead was given to opened the door to
revive the shelved design. the Heron. While the
The prototype Heron 1, The prototype Heron, G-ALZL, first flew in Marathon situation
G-ALZL, took to the air at Hatfield on May October 1950 and ended its career with evolved BEA did take the prototype Heron,
10, 1950, under the command of Wg Cdr Danish operator Cimber Air in 1973. Note the G-ALZL, on loan for a series of trials during
Geoffrey Pike, before appearing at that fixed landing gear of the Series 1 aircraft. de 1951, using it on some of the Croydon-
year’s Farnborough Air Show. Havilland Channel Islands scheduled services and
79-82_heronDC.mfDC.mf.mf.indd 79 31/03/2020 16:50

flying it into the tiny airstrip serving the Isles
of Scilly.
The long-awaited order from BEA was
finally placed in November 1954, for two
Srs 1Bs used on routes linking the Scottish
Highlands and Islands. The aircraft were
fitted with 14 seats for the scheduled
services, but could be speedily converted
for ambulance work, with the cabin able to
accommodate two tubular stretchers and a
The Heron prototype was painted in BEA colours during a period of trial services in 1951, but nursing attendant.
never actually belonged to the airline. de Havilland The first ‘Hebrides’ class Heron, G-ANXB,
was delivered to Glasgow on February 12,
1955, and, along with G-ANXA, took over the
air ambulance duties from DH 89A Dragon
Rapides from March 4 that year. The aircraft
were crewed by two pilots and a volunteer
nurse from Glasgow General Hospital,
with the cost of the flights covered by the
Scottish Health Service. On April 1, 1955 the
Herons also took over the scheduled BEA
services from Glasgow to Tiree and Barra,
with the landings at Barra being made on
Traigh Mohr beach and being timetabled
as “subject to tides”. A third example,
G-AOFY, was added in 1956, but was
tragically lost with all three crew members
while attempting to land at Islay on an air
ambulance mission on September 28, 1957.
In a reorganisation of BEA in 1971 these
Herons were assigned to the BEA Scottish
Airways division. The last BEA scheduled
When this photo was taken in 1954, de Havilland’s Hatfield factory, Hertfordshire, was busy
service to be operated by the Heron took
building Comets and Vampire trainers alongside Heron 1s. The aircraft in the foreground
place on March 30, 1973. The type was
became G-ANNO with Vickers Armstrongs. Key Collection
replaced on this work by Short Skyliners and
the air ambulance contract was taken over
by Loganair.
However, the initial orders for the Heron
were placed by overseas airlines. The first
to be delivered went to the New Zealand
operator National Airways Corporation
(NAC), whose first 1B, ZK-AYV, entered
service on March 26, 1952. In August
1952, the Norwegian airline Braathens
commenced Heron services from Stavanger
to Oslo and Trondheim. The French carrier
UAT ordered nine examples for feeder
services connecting with the airline’s
forthcoming Comet 1 long-haul jet routes,
while Japan Air Lines took three aircraft.
The largest order was placed by Garuda,
The Luftwaffe used a pair of Heron 2Ds in the VIP role, transporting the West German chancellor for 14 aircraft for services linking Jakarta
and other dignitaries. de Havilland with numerous Indonesian islands. The
first UK Heron operator was Jersey Airlines,
which used G-AMYU Duchess of Jersey to
inaugurate Jersey-Gatwick services on May
9, 1953.
One of the longest-established British
operators was Morton Air Services, which
flew both Doves and Herons. On September
30, 1959, the airline’s Heron 1B G-AOXL
operated the last scheduled service out of
Croydon Airport on the day of its closure.
The Heron departed for Rotterdam at
1830hrs and later returned to Gatwick,
Morton’s new base.
SECOND GENERATION
Built in 1957 for Indian Airlines, VT-DHH was later converted to Saunders ST-27 standard and In 1952, de Havilland announced the
served Canadian Operator City Express until 1989. de Havilland developed Heron Srs 2, incorporating various
79-82_heronDC.mfDC.indd 80 31/03/2020 10:43

Above left: The Ghana Air Force was one of many to adopt the Heron as a VIP transport and liaison aircraft and operated three examples from the
late 1960s. BAE Systems/Ron Smith
Above right: The Queen’s Flight operated four Herons, one of which was assigned to the Duke of Edinburgh. Jeremy Hughes
improvements, the most significant being bought eight for flights within the mainland operated shuttle services linking naval bases
a fully retractable undercarriage. Although and to link Madrid with Casablanca, the throughout the UK until retired in late 1989.
this added to the aircraft’s weight, it gave Canary Islands and the Balearics. The Indian Herons provided commercial service
improved fuel consumption and boosted Airlines Company and WAAC of Nigeria also in over 40 countries and were used by 13
the cruising speed by 20mph (32km/h). The acquired Srs 2s examples for feeder services military air arms. In an attempt to prolong
prototype, G-AMTS, made its maiden flight throughout their home countries. The final the service life of their examples some
on December 14, 1952 and series production Heron built was G-AVTU, a Srs 2D that was companies had them re-engined with
featured several sub-variants. The Heron delivered to Hatfield in January 1968 to modern US powerplants. Japan’s Toa Airways
2C had a strengthened wing spar and fully work within the Hawker Siddeley Aviation had five Srs 1Bs fitted with Continental IO-
feathering propellers, while the 2D had its communications fleet and later served in 470-D flat six engines by the Shin Meiwa
maximum weight increased to 13,500lb Puerto Rico with Prinair. company, and in Australia the Alice Springs-
(6,123kg), and the 2E was a one-off 12-seat based Connellan Airways adapted its fleet
VIP model built for Ferranti in 1958. ‘The Heron was of eight Srs 2s to Lycoming power, using
The first production Srs 2 to fly was 2B Riley conversion kits. The most prolific
G-ANOL, the 52nd example to be built. awarded the highest Heron operator was Prinair, which at its peak
This aircraft was fitted out in an eight-seat
executive layout and then sent off on a accolade when Srs flew 28 examples, several of which were
converted to Lycoming power using the
North American sales tour. The first Heron
to enter service on that side of the Atlantic
2s were chosen Riley kits before the carrier collapsed in 1985.
Across the Atlantic a more ambitious
was the very smart Srs C2, XG603, which
was delivered to Washington in mid-1954
to replace Vickers re-working was carried out by Saunders
Aircraft, based at Gimli in Manitoba, Canada.
for use by the British Joint Services Mission, Vikings in the RAF The Saunders ST-27 comprised redundant
which liaised between American and British Heron Srs 2 airframes – their fuselages
forces in the USA, and would later serve the Queen’s Flight.’ lengthened by 8ft 6in (2.59m) to provide
Air Attaché in Saigon. accommodation for up to 23 passengers.
e contract was taken over by Loganair. LONG CAREER The wing was rebuilt around a redesigned
The Heron was awarded the highest In total, 149 Herons were built, comprising main spar and other modifications resulted
accolade when Srs 2s were chosen to the prototype, 51 Srs 1Bs and 97 Srs 2s. in a lengthened nose to incorporate radar
replace Vickers Vikings in the RAF Queen’s Of these, 70% were exported, going to and a reshaped tail fin. The Gypsy Queen
Flight and four were eventually delivered. operators in 30 countries. After production piston engines were also replaced by two
Heron C.3, XH375, was selected as the ended, the Heron continued to enjoy a 750shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprops
personal aircraft of the Duke of Edinburgh long career finding many new operators and the first ST-27 took off on May 18, 1969.
and was handed over to him on May 18, 1955 throughout the world. Within the UK these Thirteen conversions were completed,
by Sir Geoffrey de Havilland. This aircraft, included Dan-Air Services, Channel Airways, and the ST-27 served with the Colombian
which was flown extensively by the prince, Cambrian Airways, Silver City Airways, airline ACES as well as small Canadian and
carried a fuselage cheat line in Edinburgh British United Island Airways and the Royal Caribbean regional operators, but global
Green, as opposed to the Royal Blue applied Navy. Five ex-airline Srs 2s served with sales prospects were hampered by the
to the other Queen’s Flight Herons, C.4s 781 Naval Air Squadron as Sea Heron C.1s lack of US certification. Another drawback
XM295 and XM296 and CC.4, XR391. The along with one ex-Queen’s Flight aircraft was the dwindling number of available
type served the Flight well until replaced by as a Sea Heron C.4 and another ex-RAF retired Herons and their correspondingly
Hawker Siddeley Andovers from 1971. example as a Sea Heron CC.4. These were high selling price, and so the company
The Srs 2 also attracted sales from based at HMS Heron (RNAS Yeovilton), and decided to construct a completely new
airlines and corporate design, the ST-28. This
clients, with the first was designed to comply
production machine with US regulations and
going to Saudi Arabia’s featured four-bladed
Prince Talal al Saud as propellers and enlarged
SA-R5. Other executive passenger cabin windows.
customers included Rolls- The prototype, C-FYBM-X,
Royce, the Shell group, made its maiden flight
Vickers-Armstrong and on July 18, 1974. Work
the Governor-General of on a production batch
the Belgian Congo. Early Chester-built Heron 2D, VH-CLY, was of 15 started, but shortly
airline purchasers included Braathens, converted to Lycoming power in Australia and afterwards the provincial government of
which already operated Srs 1Bs, THY of served with Northern Airlines from June 1980 Manitoba withdrew its financial support and
Turkey and Jersey Airlines, another existing until February 1981 when the carrier ceased no more ST-28s were built. The last serving
Srs 1B user. The Spanish carrier Aviaco operations. Bob O’Brien Collection ST-27s were retired in the early 1980s.
79-82_heronDC.mfDC.indd 81 31/03/2020 10:43

Above: SkyWest’s C-FXOK was the second of 12 Saunders ST-27 conversions with two Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprops replacing the original Gipsy
Queen piston engines. Note the lengthened nose and taller tail. Bob O’Brien Collection
Below: Painted as Heron 1 G-AOXL, the last aircraft to fly out of Croydon Airport, Srs 2D, G-ANUO is displayed outside the old terminal building in
South London. Key Collection
IN PRESERVATION original Jersey Airlines colours. The last Another example is on display outside
There are four Herons remaining in the airworthy example of the type, it has the former terminal building at Croydon
UK. G-AORG, a flown infrequently in recent years. The Airport. When the building was restored,
civilian Srs 2 other three are on display with Series the former Shell executive Heron 2D
that later 2D G-AOTI part of the de Havilland G-ANUO was repainted in Morton Air
served Aircraft Museum at London Colney in Services livery as G-AOXL, the Heron 1B
as a Sea Hertfordshire. The Newark Air Museum that operated the last airline service out
Heron (XR441) in Nottinghamshire has Heron 1B of Croydon, and is currently mounted on
is based at G-ANXB still wearing its BEA a plinth in flying attitude outside Airways
Coventry in its Scottish Airways livery. House for all to admire.
The next issue will be on sale on May 21, 2020*.

*UK scheduled on sale date. Please note that the overseas deliveries are likely to be after this date.
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04-05_headlinesDC.mfDC.mf.indd 4 01/04/2020 14:30

UK to Leave EASA Editorial

04-05_headlinesDC.mfDC.mf.mf.indd 5 01/04/2020 14:43

Delta Has Big Plans for Seattle

New Routes for flynas

Sheikh thrice-weekly while set to launch

6 AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020

06-08_civil_newsDC.mf.indd 6 01/04/2020 14:17

Bombardier Expands at Biggin Hill

£2m Airfield Development IN BRIEF

Following high-profile incidents at UK airports,

Olympic Torch 787 SYSTEM to protect it from potentially dangerous

WIZZ AIR ABU DHABI plans to launch services

06-08_civil_newsDC.mf.indd 7 01/04/2020 14:18

Vistara’s first 787 at Boeing’s Everett

Iberia Slots for Volotea

New Routes for CIVIL ORDERS

Virgin Atlantic has announced new routes

8 AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020

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USAF Orders Super Tucanos

Taiwanese Côte d’Ivoire Mi-8s Delivered

10 AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020

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Helicopter School Renamed No 1 FTS

10-12_military_newsDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 11 31/03/2020 17:36

Dash 8 Sought for SOCOM

Luftwaffe’s New A350 IN BRIEF

NIGERIAN AIR FORCE chief Air Marshal

12 AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020

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Hurricane ‘BE505’ in its two-seat

Doncaster Dove Chilean Museum

14 AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020

14-15_preservation_newsDC.mfDC.indd 14 31/03/2020 16:03

South Australian Skytrain Takes Shape

Red David B 18 Finally Complete

Photoshoot Diary 2020

14-15_preservation_newsDC.mfDC.indd 15 31/03/2020 16:04

Soon to come under Boeing’s wing, the popular Embraer E-Jet

16 AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020

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16-19_embraerDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 17 31/03/2020 14:24

18 AVIATION NEWS MAY 2020

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Visit the website for our full range of

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185 AN Bundle dps MAY20.indd 21 31/03/2020 14:55

Right: The cover of the new book Harrier 809.