Legendary Moments in Military Aviation: Apache AH.1

Showing posts with label Apache AH.1. Show all posts

Friday, July 17, 2020

RNAS Yeovilton Commando Assault demonstration

After my last post, I looked closely at the" Commando Assault" demonstrations that had brought a close to this great show throughout the years. I immensely enjoyed 2016 with the arrival of the CHF Merlin Helicopters at Yeovilton. Sadly, the iconic (Junglie) Seakings had been retired by the time of the 2016 air show.

I have found through the years that by the time of this fabulous finale, the Sun and, very often, the weather are not conducive for photography. 2016, I spent several days photographing the rehearsals for this exciting climax.

Participating were the Culdrose-based Hawk as seen below, although on the airshow day, XX159 flew the mission, six Merlins, one an HC.3A and the other five all HC.3. The Army Air Corps supplied two Wildcat AH.1s and an Apache AH.1 from the ADHT.

Hawk T.1 XX205/842 CU RN getting airborne for a rehearsal day.

ZJ118/B Merin HC.3 846Sqn, RN.

ZJ995/AD Merin HC.3a RAF on the airshow day, they used ZJ994/AC.

ZJ130/O and ZJ118/B preparing to drop Commandos.

ZJ994/AC HC.3A RAF pouring on the power.

ZJ130/O Merlin HC.3 RN disgorging troops of 40 Commando.

ZZ510 Wildcat AH.1 652 Sqn AAC.

ZZ410 Wildcat AH.1 652Sqn AAC.

ZZ410 Wildcat AH.1 652Sqn AAC low pass.

ZJ223 Apache AH.1 ADHT arrives to offer support.

ZJ118 Merin HC.3 846Sqn, RN.

ZJ995/AD Merlin HC.3A, RAF.

ZJ125/J Merlin HC.3 846 Sqn, RN.

ZJ137/W arrives first, followed by ZJ132/Q with the trailer.

ZJ137/J with the Landrover.

ZJ137/W leaving the drop zone.

ZJ132/Q leaves low and fast, having delivered the trailer.

ZJ131/P 846 Sqn RN was not used on airshow day, ex RAF 28 Sqn at Benson, and today it is upgraded to an HC.4 in the grey paint scheme.

ZJ995/AD, RAF ZJ118/B, ZJ130/B RN and ZJ223 Apache AH.1 AAC.

ZJ223 leaving the formation.

ZJ130/O Merin HC.3 RN and ZJ995/AD HC.3A RAF.

All six Merlins.

ZJ131/P Merlin HC.3 RAF surrounded by the senior service

Mission over.

ZJ223 Apache AH.1 leaves us chewing grass.

Last, XX159/842 CU RN lands back at Yeovilton in a photograph that could have been the scene there ten years earlier when active Sea Harriers used that taxiway, not museum aircraft!

Happy Days!

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

RAF Boscombe Down and the Salisbury Plain Military Training area.

A visit to RAF Boscombe Down with blue skies and an afternoon visit to the Salisbury Plain Training areas.

Wiltshire is home to bases such as Boscombe Down, Middle Wallop, and the Salisbury Plain training area.

Unfortunately, they no longer are the bases they used to be in their glory days; Boscombe Down has passed into privatised hands (QinetiQ), and most of their aircraft now carry civilian markings. (Very sad). Middle Wallop has suffered from the financial cuts brandished on the Armed services; some days, you can pass it by wondering if there are any Helicopters still based there.

I digress, so here are the photographers from that trip in 2018.