Military Jets Photography: June 2015

2011 08 02 Spotting EHGR

In the South of The Netherlands you can find Gilze-Rijen AFB, home to 298, 300 and 301 squadron. 298 squadron flies the CH-47D Chinook, 300 squadron flies the AS.532U2 Cougar and the SA.316B Alouette III while 301 squadron is equiped with the AH-64D Apache.

AS532U2 Netherlands Air Force S-441

PC-7 Netherlands Air Force L-03

C-130H Netherlands Air Force G-988

2011 07 18 Spotting Brize Norton

RAF Brize Norton was opened in 1937 as a training station for the RAF. By 1950 elements of Strategic Air Command (SAC) was based at RAF Lakenheath, RAF Marham, and RAF Sculthorpe. The increasing tension of the Cold War led to a re-evaluation of these deployments. By 1953 SAC bombers began to move further west, behind RAF fighter forces, to Brize Norton, RAF Greenham Common, RAF Upper Heyford, and RAF Fairford. The station was transferred from USAFE to SAC effective from 8 December 1952. 3 The station was assigned to the 7th Air Division and operated by the 3920th Air Base Group, which was renamed as the 3920th Combat Support Group, and then the 3920th Strategic Wing in 1964. The 3920th ceased operations in 1965.
10 Squadron reformed in 1966 with the Vickers VC10 C.1, a RAF version which was a standard VC10 with the Super VC10 wings, tailplane and engine as well as a strengthened floor. 14 were produced which were later modified with underwing AAR refuelling pods to refuel two aircraft at once. The C.1 type was changed to C.1(K) to reflect this new tanking capability. On 14 October 2005, 10 Squadron was disbanded, the aircrew and aircraft were merged with 101 Squadron.
101 Squadron reformed at Brize Norton on 1 May 1984, it previously operated the Avro Vulcan and participated in the Operation Black Buck missions of the Falklands War. 101 Sqn flew converted civil VC10s, heavily modified and updated by British Aerospace for military service between 1983 and 1993. Of the 39 airline aircraft acquired by the RAF, 13 were converted, while the remainders were used for spare parts. These converted VC10s were all 3-point tankers; capable of refuelling one aircraft (typically another large aircraft) using the main hose or two smaller aircraft using the underwing pods. The variants were known as K.2, K.3 and K.4.
Following the Falklands War, the RAF found itself lacking in the strategic transport capabilities required to sustain the expanded military presence there. As a result 216 Squadron was reformed at Brize Norton in November 1984, initially flying six ex-British Airways TriStars, followed by three more from Pan-Am.
With the closure of RAF Lyneham taking place in late 2011, the repatriation of British personnel was relocated to Brize Norton on 8 September 2011. To accommodate the repatriation services, a purpose-built centre has been constructed, and an exit gate has been refurbished, formally named the Britannia Gate.
Brize Norton is already a major airbase for the RAF's transport fleet. However, the end of flying from RAF Lyneham in September 2011 will signal Brize Norton becoming the sole "Air Point of Embarkation", the main operating base for RAF air transport and in-air refuelling aircraft, and home to 15% of RAF uniformed manpower. All the RAF's fixed wing transport assets will then be consolidated at Brize Norton, with the transfer of the entire Hercules force, together with the entry into service of the Airbus A400M and the Voyager.
To accommodate this expansion (with the number of aircraft stationed at Brize Norton increasing from 28 to 67), a major infrastructure redevelopment, "Programme Future Brize" was established in 2009. The project involves the overhaul of virtually every element of the airfield's infrastructure, including IT, engineering, housing and personnel.
The Hercules fleet at RAF Lyneham officially moved to Brize Norton on 1 July 2011. The final four aircraft flew to the station, conducting a flypast over Wiltshire. Group Captain John Gladstone, Station Commander of RAF Lyneham, flew the lead Hercules, which carried the standards of the Hercules squadrons. These were presented to the Station Commander of RAF Brize Norton, Group Captain Dom Stamp in a welcoming ceremony

VC.10C1K Royal Air Force XV108/Y

Tristar C2 Royal Air Force ZE704

Hercules C4 Royal Air Force ZH873/873

2011 07 18 Departures RIAT Fairford

On the Monday I went again to Fairford to witness the departures.

A-10C USAF 82-0649/SP

Lynx HMA8SRU Royal Navy ZD266/426

Merlin HC3 Royal Air Force ZJ124/H

SA330B French Army 1510/DBJ

SA341M1 French Army 4059/GBF

Jas-39C Swedish Air Force 39200/200

Tornado GR4 Royal Air Force ZG750/128

Squirrel HT1 Royal Air Force ZJ265/265

Chinook HC2 Royal Air Force ZD574/DB

CH-53G German Army 84-72

A-10C USAF 82-0646/SP

Tornado ECR Italian Air Force CSX7047/RS-05

Hawk Mk65 Saudi Air Force Saudi Hawks

Sea King HAR3 Royal Air Force XZ592/H

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-87

C-130H Omani Air Force 502

Griffin HT1 Royal Air Force ZJ239/R

Typhoon FGR4 BAe Systems ZJ700

Vulcan B2 Vulcon To The Sky Trust G-VLCN

Voyager KC2 Airbus Military EC-335

Apache AH1 Royal Amry ZJ232

Lynx AH7 Royal Army XZ612

AS555N French Air Force 5387/UY

L-100-30 Saudi Air Force HZ-128

Typhoon T3 Royal Air Force ZJ802/QO-B

Tornado GR4A Royal Air Force ZG713/128

Hawk T2 Royal Air Force ZK025

MC-130H USAF 88-0195

F-16CJ USAF 91-0352/SP

Sea King ASaC7 Royal Navy XV656/185

C-130J-30 Italian Air Force MM62193/46-59

Meteor T7 Privatly owned G-BWMF

Il-76MD Ukrainian Air Force 78820

Su-27UB Ukrainian Air Force 75bl

Tornado GR4 Royal Air Force ZA600/EB-G

MC-130P USAF 66-0220

C295AEW Airbus Military EC-295

RC-135V USAF 64-14844/OF

M346 Alenia Aermacchi CSX616

2011 07 16 RIAT Fairford

During the weekend of the 16th of july the largest European airshow was held in the United Kingdom, The Royal International Air Tattoo. Every year this airshow is held in july on a large military airfield near Oxford. The show is build up around various themes every year, this years theme's were:
40th Anniversary of the Air Tattoo
2011 saw the Air Tattoo celebrate a remarkable milestone, the 40th Anniversary of the Air Tattoo. First staged in 1971 at North Weald airfield with just over 100 aircraft taking part, the Air Tattoo developed rapidly from these small beginnings, fired on by the energy and enthusiasm of the unpaid volunteer team that created it, coupled with its perceived benefits by those air arms that chose to have their aircrew and aircraft take part. It became the International Air Tattoo in 1976, and in 1996, recognition of its unique international status was given by Her Majesty The Queen, when it became the Royal International Air Tattoo. Between 1973 and 1983 the Air Tattoo was held at Greenham Common, before moving to RAF Fairford in 1985. During its 40 years, the Air Tattoo has hosted aircraft from some 51 countries, as well as heads of air arms from many more nations.
STAR 11 (Strike, Attack and Reconnaissance)
The Air Tattoo's operational theme has always been selected with relevance in mind to ensure that those military units fortunate enough to participate, derive good value from doing so whilst at RAF Fairford. Given the ongoing multi-national operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere across the globe, STAR 11 (Strike, Attack and Reconnaissance) was the chosen theme for 2011. However, with modern warfare becoming increasingly demanding and commanders needing a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the battlefield before engagement, ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) will be an integral part of STAR 11. Everything from satellite communications to swing-role fast-jets, from UAVs and stand-off reconnaissance platforms to battlefield helicopters and their ground based supporting systems will be included, as we look from current operations to the future of battlefield surveillance and intelligence gathering, close air support and precision strike capabilities.
TIGER 50
RIAT 2011 was proud to host a celebration marking the 50th Anniversary of the NATO Tiger Association, following on from the Tiger Meet to be held at Cambrai, France in May 2011. Officially formed in 1961 to foster good relations between NATO Squadrons, the NATO Tiger Association has gone from strength to strength. Its guiding principles remain the same to this day – the improvement of solidarity between NATO members; the creation and maintenance of team-spirit between participating members; and the exchange of experiences in line with the military goals of NATO. The Air Tattoo first became involved with the Tiger Association in 1977 when it offered RAF Greenham Common as the public front of the formal Meet planned for the previous week at RAF Upper Heyford. Perhaps the Air Tattoo's most significant contribution to the Association is the Silver Tiger Trophy, which was gifted to the Tigers in 1977, and is awarded annually to the squadron that has the best overall performance during a NATO Tiger Meet. Tiger squadrons (NATO and otherwise) were invited to participate with suitably decorated aircraft and displays to celebrate 50 years of this most significant association.