Post by viscount on Mar 9, 2010 22:34:30 GMT 1
Encouraged by sunny, clear and light winds from the east weather forecast, and information from www.valleyaviationsociety.co.uk forum that Valley on Monday played host to visits by ZH864/65 Merlin HM.1, ZJ129/N & ZJ131/P Merlin HC.3, CS-DMZ Beech 400 and go-arounds by ZH889 Hercules C.5 and ZH555/PT Tornado F.3 QinetiQ 'Blackbox', decided that I needed another visit there to look for myself - and hope for a equally good day!
Arrived at the north end 0920, to find 31 (landing from the SE) was the active runway, so drove around, only for the active to change to 13 (landing from the NW) at 1120. Left around 1650.
CS-DMZ Beech 400 Net Jets night stop on VAS & dep 1209
G-BTXG Jetstream 32 Highland dep 0932 on the schedule to Cardiff (locally refered to disrespectfully as the "Cardiff bomber").
G-FPLB King Air 200 Calibration aircraft 3 x local flights (no idea where it went), on ground 0943-1034, 1130ish-1253 & 1555-1618, parked on VAS.
ZD379/27 BAe. Harrier GR.9 no sqdn markings G/A 31 at 1107
ZG859/91 BAe. Harrier GR.9 1 Sqdn engine flash G/A 31 at 1107
XX258/CE BAe. Hawk T.1A 100 Sqdn, 1130ish-1440, parked on VAS
ZJ278/78 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS 1440-1520, parked on VAS
Resident helicopters:
XZ587/C, XZ590/F, XZ597/M all yellow Sea King HAS.3, all 3 active
ZJ239/R & ZJ241/L both Griffin HT.1 DHFS, both active
ZR326/F & ZR327/B both AW.139 DHFS/FB Avn., both active
Resident Hawks:
24 different aircraft noted active. Many performed 3 sorties during the day. Two Hawk T.2s: ZK011 and ZK026 flew sorties in both am and pm. Although the '10 season aerobatic aircraft are still in the paint shop, XX201 flew a practice aerobatic routine late afternoon.
19 Sqdn marks: XX178, 188, 191, 204, 247, 265, 283, 313 & 319 (= 9)
208 Sqdn marks: XX156, 171, 174, 175, 187, 194, 201, 220, 231, 234, 238, 245 & 307 (= 13)
Sorry, no call-signs as my airband scanner decided not to work and no amount of coaxing worked this time!
Another enjoyable day at Valley, although the promise of the morning fell a little flat during the afternoon.
Arrived at the north end 0920, to find 31 (landing from the SE) was the active runway, so drove around, only for the active to change to 13 (landing from the NW) at 1120. Left around 1650.
CS-DMZ Beech 400 Net Jets night stop on VAS & dep 1209
G-BTXG Jetstream 32 Highland dep 0932 on the schedule to Cardiff (locally refered to disrespectfully as the "Cardiff bomber").
G-FPLB King Air 200 Calibration aircraft 3 x local flights (no idea where it went), on ground 0943-1034, 1130ish-1253 & 1555-1618, parked on VAS.
ZD379/27 BAe. Harrier GR.9 no sqdn markings G/A 31 at 1107
ZG859/91 BAe. Harrier GR.9 1 Sqdn engine flash G/A 31 at 1107
XX258/CE BAe. Hawk T.1A 100 Sqdn, 1130ish-1440, parked on VAS
ZJ278/78 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS 1440-1520, parked on VAS
Resident helicopters:
XZ587/C, XZ590/F, XZ597/M all yellow Sea King HAS.3, all 3 active
ZJ239/R & ZJ241/L both Griffin HT.1 DHFS, both active
ZR326/F & ZR327/B both AW.139 DHFS/FB Avn., both active
Resident Hawks:
24 different aircraft noted active. Many performed 3 sorties during the day. Two Hawk T.2s: ZK011 and ZK026 flew sorties in both am and pm. Although the '10 season aerobatic aircraft are still in the paint shop, XX201 flew a practice aerobatic routine late afternoon.
19 Sqdn marks: XX178, 188, 191, 204, 247, 265, 283, 313 & 319 (= 9)
208 Sqdn marks: XX156, 171, 174, 175, 187, 194, 201, 220, 231, 234, 238, 245 & 307 (= 13)
Sorry, no call-signs as my airband scanner decided not to work and no amount of coaxing worked this time!
Another enjoyable day at Valley, although the promise of the morning fell a little flat during the afternoon.