Post by viscount on Mar 8, 2009 23:15:46 GMT 1
In drizzle showers, a very pleasant day at RAF Valley 0940-1630, viewing complicated by a change of runways at 1240 from 32 to 14.
All visiting aircraft, fixed wing and rotary, now use the ramps down toward the beach and by the SAR ramps. The Hawks of 19 Sqdn how use the former VAS, the ramp best seen from the railway bridge - the scheduled Highland Jetstream (t/f Cardiff) still uses this and the small terminal just inside the gate. The parking arrangements changed late last summer to allow construction of a new MFTS building on the threshold of the disused rwy 26.
XX200/CG Hawk T.1A 100 Sqdn 1100-1310
XX329/CJ Hawk T.1A 100 Sqdn 1100-1310
ZF170/MP-A & 170 Tucano T.1 1107-1325
ZF485/485 Tucano T.1 1210-1345
ZJ244/44 Squirrel HT.2 dep 1025ish
ZJ246/46 Squirrel HT.2 dep 1025ish
ZJ253/53 Squirrel HT.2 dep 1005
ZJ254/54 Squrrel HT.1 dep 1025ish
ZJ276/76 Squirrel HT.1 dep 1010 & 1215ish-1305
ZJ813/BL Typhoon T.1A 29 Sqdn dep 1625
CE-03 EMB-145LR Belgian Air Force 1220-1320
The Belgain Armed Forces use the Sea King simulator that has been relocated from St.Mawgan to Valley, ahead of the SAR HQ being moved. The Embraer was a nice suprise visitor though!
Based helicopters noted outside:
XZ593/I & XZ599/P Sea King HAR.3 of 22 Sqdn Det.
ZJ239/R & ZJ241/L Griffin HT/1 60 Sqdn Det./SARTU
Expected this summer for SATRU are two A.139s for use on contracts training SAR crews for various overseas Air Arms under contract. When the joint 22/203 Sqdn SAR HQ is moved to Valley, the establishment will be 5 active Sea Kings and 2 in maintenance.
The based Hawks were not particularly active:
19 Sqdn: XX191, 218, 247, 250, 265, 315 & 349
208 Sqdn: XX156, 171, 175, 184, 187, 195, 234 & 325
Apparently two of the new RAF Hawks (ZK010 & ZK011) were inside the former AGWOEU hangar on engineering familiarisation. The two Hawks ear-marked for the '09 special Display colours will go into the paint-shop early March.
Finally Hunter T.8C WV395/91 still guards the gate.
All visiting aircraft, fixed wing and rotary, now use the ramps down toward the beach and by the SAR ramps. The Hawks of 19 Sqdn how use the former VAS, the ramp best seen from the railway bridge - the scheduled Highland Jetstream (t/f Cardiff) still uses this and the small terminal just inside the gate. The parking arrangements changed late last summer to allow construction of a new MFTS building on the threshold of the disused rwy 26.
XX200/CG Hawk T.1A 100 Sqdn 1100-1310
XX329/CJ Hawk T.1A 100 Sqdn 1100-1310
ZF170/MP-A & 170 Tucano T.1 1107-1325
ZF485/485 Tucano T.1 1210-1345
ZJ244/44 Squirrel HT.2 dep 1025ish
ZJ246/46 Squirrel HT.2 dep 1025ish
ZJ253/53 Squirrel HT.2 dep 1005
ZJ254/54 Squrrel HT.1 dep 1025ish
ZJ276/76 Squirrel HT.1 dep 1010 & 1215ish-1305
ZJ813/BL Typhoon T.1A 29 Sqdn dep 1625
CE-03 EMB-145LR Belgian Air Force 1220-1320
The Belgain Armed Forces use the Sea King simulator that has been relocated from St.Mawgan to Valley, ahead of the SAR HQ being moved. The Embraer was a nice suprise visitor though!
Based helicopters noted outside:
XZ593/I & XZ599/P Sea King HAR.3 of 22 Sqdn Det.
ZJ239/R & ZJ241/L Griffin HT/1 60 Sqdn Det./SARTU
Expected this summer for SATRU are two A.139s for use on contracts training SAR crews for various overseas Air Arms under contract. When the joint 22/203 Sqdn SAR HQ is moved to Valley, the establishment will be 5 active Sea Kings and 2 in maintenance.
The based Hawks were not particularly active:
19 Sqdn: XX191, 218, 247, 250, 265, 315 & 349
208 Sqdn: XX156, 171, 175, 184, 187, 195, 234 & 325
Apparently two of the new RAF Hawks (ZK010 & ZK011) were inside the former AGWOEU hangar on engineering familiarisation. The two Hawks ear-marked for the '09 special Display colours will go into the paint-shop early March.
Finally Hunter T.8C WV395/91 still guards the gate.