Legendary Moments in Military Aviation: 2021

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Royal Air Force bid farewell to their Phantom jets at RAF Wattisham airbase July 1992.

RAF Wattisham in Suffolk appeared to be the epicentre of the bad weather across the UK in July 1992. This was the day before the official stand down of a genuinely iconic jet in British Air Force service. We arrived here to see the arrivals for an extraordinary day.

The 4th of July 1992 was officially known as the"Farewell to the Phantoms" at R.A.F. Wattisham. There was more to come of this iconic RAF aircraft. It was, in fact, the demise of 56 Squadron's Phantoms. With 74 squadrons, Phantom's continuing operations, including a mini Tiger Meet in September and before their 1st October 1992, stand down at R.A.F. Wattisham.

It is easy to find images of this legendary meeting, but few are shown of the arrivals day, which sadly made for some cancellations due to the cyclonic weather.

XT914 Z Phantom FGR.2 RAF

XT914 (Z) Phantom FGR.2 74 Squadron "Tigers" RAF.

It took off at R.A.F. Wattisham on 3rd July 1992 in appalling weather conditions.

XT914 (Z) Phantom FGR.2 74 Squadron "Tigers" RAF.

XV393 (Q) Phantom FGR.2 74 Squadron "Tigers" RAF.

This aircraft was the 1992 Phantom display jet, launched with XT914 above.

XV496 (A) McDonald Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 56 Squadron "Firebirds" RAF.

XP693 Lightning F.6 BAE.

XP693 Lightning F.6 embellished in 56 Squadrons "Firebirds" marks for the "Farewell to the Phantoms meeting."

XP693 Lightning F.6 deploys the brake chute.

J-631 and J-645 F-16A's 306 Squadron RNlAF arrived to join the FA-26 F-16A BAF.

38+42 F-4F JG71 "Richthofen" GAF. Arriving from Wittmundhaven. The coloured panels are for use when carrying out DACT exercises.

It was to join 38+53 and 38+30 F-4Fs from the newly formed JG72 "Westfalen" that arrived from Hopsten.

XX348 Hawk T.1 arrives from the 1 TWU at R.A.F. Brawdy for what also became a mini Hawk meet?

Beyond are some of the dumped ex-111 Squadron Phantoms.

XT896 (V) Phantom FGR.2 "Tiger"

On tow to the flight line.

XM192 (K) Lightning F.1A Gate guard R.A.F. Wattisham.

Having nearly dried out from Friday's rain, the Saturday morning skies were once again threatening.

For the morning, the weather held out, albeit grey and overcast.

Below are some of the assembled aircraft that celebrated this legendary day out. People always reflect on the weather if they speak or read about this event today. They should have braved the Friday?

74 Squadron's motto was "I fear no man." sadly, by the year's end, both "FireBirds" and "Tigers" would fear the scrap man!

56 sqn. Phantoms were lined up to spell XV426 (P) PHOENIX, as is their Squadron badge, a Phoenix rising from the flames...

I look here, and I'm caught by NO HOPE?

XV467 (F) Phantom FGR.2 "Firebirds" Majestic to the end!

74 Squadron's unique "Tiger" tail was first exhibited at the 1991 IAT Fairford mini Tiger Meet.

XV470 (D) Phantom FGR.2 56 Sqn "Firebirds" RAF.

Sadly, XV470 (D) Phantom FGR.2 ended up at RAF Akrotiri (BDRT) Cyprus.

XT897 (Y) 'Why indeed'? The Options for Change defence review 1991 was the culprit, leaving 56 and 74 squadrons Phantoms axed.

ZG770 (AP.) Tornado F.3 "Firebirds"

The Phoenix would rise again at RAF Coningsby with Tornado F.3 ZG770 marked for the occasion.

XP693 Lightning F.6 from BAE was also specially marked in honour of the "Firebirds".

56 Squadrons fast jets Lightning Phantom and Tornado F.3.

XT906 Phantom FGR.2 56 squadron.

XV419 (AA) Phantom FGR.2 19 Squadron, formerly from R.A.F. Wildenrath Germany and RAF Akrotiri Cyprus. X1X Squadron was retired in January 1992!

XV404 (I) Phantom FGR.2, an ex-19 squadron aircraft, was seen here on the charge of 74 Squadron.

XV408 Phantom FGR.2 former 92 Squadron.

38+30 and 38+53 F-4F's from the newly formed JG72 "Westfalen" at Hopsten, formerly known as JaboG36.

770132 'CR' F-15A "Wolfhounds" 32nd TFS USAFE.

XX337 (K) Hawk T.1 151 Squadron RAF Chivenor.

XX174/174 Hawk T.1 Flying Training School 4.

XX249 Hawk T.1 Flying Training School 4.

XX289 (289) Hawk T.1 63 Squadron RAF Chivenor.

XW438 (B) Jet Provest T.5B Flying Training School 6 RAF Finningley.

ZG725 (J) Tornado GR1A 13 Squadron RAF.

ZE836 (AS) Tornado F.3 56 (R) Squadron RAF Conningsby.

Happy memories, indeed!

Monday, November 1, 2021

Paris flypast 2021 practise day at Orléans-Bricy (BA123)

Orléans/Bricy airbase BA123 on Monday the 28th of June, the first aircraft observed was a departing CL415 from the 'Securite Civile', Not exactly what I expected early Monday evening ahead of the Tuesday's practice for the 'Paris defile' (Paris flypast). I had a bad feeling about its departure.

A quick look across the ramp revealed two Alpa jets from the "Patrouille de France." Closer were a Dash 400Q and B200 from the "Securite Civile."

Fingers crossed then for the Tuesday practice of the 2021 "Paris Defile" (Paris flypast).

Tuesday, the 29th of June, saw fine rain and threatening skies across the flat countryside surrounding BA123. This photo was taken after the departure of both the Dash 400Q and B200.

And yes, the flypast practice had been aborted due to the inclement weather conditions.

0033/F-RBAI A400M (Atlas)from ET01.061 'Toraine' VB101 'Tete de Hibou' at Orléans/Bricy holds for departure.

As 0033/F-RBAI A400M gets airborne, the sky shows why there will be no practice that day or, in fact, the following.

745/CV DHC-6-300 ET03.061. 'Poitou' F121 'Hibu aux Ailes éployées sure un Croissant de Lune' C/S F-RACV departs, and so did we for 48 hours!

Take two, Thursday morning, the 1st of July 2021. By 8.00 a.m., the Gendarmerie was taping off an area alongside the Rue du Bourg that is directly under the approach for runway 27.

Minutes later, we had our first arrivals and game on!

E149/8-RS Alpa jet E EE03.008 'Côte d'Or' SPA57 'Mouette de passant au natural' C/S F-UHRS arriving from Cazaux.

E46/8-RF Alpha Jet E EE03.008 'Côte d'Or' SPA57 'Mouette de passant au natural' C/S F-UHRF.

05/709-FG PC-21 EAC 00.315 arriving from BA709 at Cognac/Châteaubernard.

13/709-FO PC-21 EAC 00.315. Sadly, the P-21s are not yet? Wearing individual squadron markings.

04/709-FF PC-21 EAC 00.315.

07/709-FI PC-21 EAC 00.315. Two of the BA709 PC-21s have now formed a new aerial demonstration team.

F-ZBPP Eurocopter EC145 Sécurité Civille.

1372/F-WWRC TBM-940 SOCATA destined for the l'Armée de l'Air. This aircraft was part of the DGA-EV 60th anniversary (1961-2021), which supplied five aircraft types to the flypast.

1372/ F-WWRC TBM-940. The order for four TBM-940 will allow the DGA to carry out the same missions as their TBM-700s and carry out instruction flights as part of the training provided by the flight school of test and acceptance, all with the added benefit of not having to borrow aircraft from other services.

0727/JDD Eurocopter E135T2 Gendarmerie.

2897/F-ZAJB H225LP DGA-EV C/S FZAJB.

2897/F-ZAJB H225LP seen landing at Orléans?Bricy.

The DGA-EV 60th anniversary participants really made the trip worthwhile.

80/BY TBM-700A DGA-EV C/S F-ZVBY.

5119/61-PC C-130H departs Bricy.

5119/61-PC C-130H from ET02.061 C/S F-RAPC.

133/30-GL Rafale 'C' EC02.030 leads the practice along with Rafale 'B' 324/30-HW.

R211/64-GK C-160R EEA01.054 'Dunkerque' C/S F-RAGK takes pride in place in the flypast.

Next were fast jets from the DGA; two Alpha jets flank 501 Mirage 2000B of the DGA-EV C/S F-JTX. This was the Rafale nose cone aircraft.

E-3F 204/36-CD heads up 4 Mirage 2000-5s and a Mirage 2000C.

Left to right.

Mirage2000C 124/115-YT EC02.005 'Ile de France'.

Mirage 2000-5's from GC01.002 'Cigognes'.

38/2-EI, 55/2-EU, 40/2-EX, and 67/2-MH.

E-3F 204/36-CD EDCA02.036 'Berry', SAL257 'Masse d'armes'.

6x Mirage 2000D from BA133 at Nancy/Ochey, all units are represented, and two aircraft have no marks.

The fighter groups are without their Tanker aircraft.

6x Rafael over the top.

109/4-IM Rafale 'C' ETR03.004 'Acquitaine' heads up...

142/30-GU Rafale 'C' EC03.030 'Lorraine' and 102/30-EF Rafale 'C' EC02.030 'Normandie-Niemen'.

Last wave top to bottom.

328/4-IC Rafale 'B' EC01.004 'Gascogne'.

132/30-GK Rafale 'C' EC03.030 'Lorraine'.

314/4-HP Rafale 'B' EC01.004 'Gascogne'.

E2C Hawkeye '2' + 8 Rafale M's. Aéronavale.

Rafale 44 leads 16, 3 and E2C, 2. Aéronavale.

Falcon 50 and a pair of Atlantic ATL-2's Numbers 13 and 4. Aéronavale.

0073/F-RBAN A400M (Atlas) from Bricys ET01.061 'Touraine'.

071/62-IE CN235M ET01.062 'Vercors' from Evreux. One CN235M (unknown).

5890/61-PR KC-130J ET02.061 'Frache-Compte'.

5890/61-PR KC-130J ET02.061 'Franche-Compte' Armée de l'Air.

F-ZBFK Beech B200 Séurité Civil.

45/F-ZBMF Canadair CL-415 Sécurité Civil.

Practise finished team leaders return to Bricy for the de-brief.

E80 (BO) Alpha Jet E DGA-EV.

E8 (BQ) Alpha Jet E DGA-EV.

668/3-IG Mirage200D EC01.003 from Nancy-Ochey.

109/4-IM Rafale 'C' ETR03.004 'Acquitaine' Armée de l'Air.

344/4-FK Rafale B EC01.004 'Gascogne' SPA37 'Charognard' St Dizier.

One not identified earlier.

16 Rafale M from 12F at Landivisiau.

What a great moment 501 Mirage 2000B from the DGA-EV has to go around again due to runway congestion.

5 Falcon 50MS cutting short for a fast landing.

5 Falcon 50MS 24F from Lann-Bihoué Aéronautque Navale. Just a friendly aircraft?

501 Mirage 2000B on finals.

108/115-LC Mirage 2000C EC02.005 'Ile de France'.

13 Atlantic ATL-2 Aéronavale. Making a steep approach ahead of some heavy aircraft.

13 Atlantic ATL-2 Aéronavale, from 21F at Lann-Bihoué.

5890/61-PR KC-130J ET02.061 'Franche-Comte'.

0073/F-RBAN A400M (Atlas) ET01.061 'Touraine'.

Beech 350ER/ACSR VADOR from SAL259 at Evreux.

F-ZBFK Beech B200, Sécurité Civil at Nîmes/Garons (Groupenment des Avions Bombardiers d'Eau)

45/F-ZBMF Canadair CL-415, Sécurité Civil at Nîmes/Garons (Groupenment des Avions Bombardiers d'Eau).

R211/64-GK C-160R EEA01.054 'Dunkerque' C/S F-RAGK.

The rotary participants now have their moment to practise. Some years, they practice before the fast jets and transports and others after. It is just great to see so many aircraft types flying.