RNAS Yeovilton shrouded in mist and the immiment retirement of the Lynx HMA8.

The 2016 Yeovilton airshow celebrated the imminent retirement of the elegant Lynx HMA8SRU from service with the Navy. This post covers some of the arrivals and departures, along with a few of the Lynx's captured during Monday's flying operation. The early morning weather on Monday helped give a different dimension to the images. 

50+67 C-160D Transall LTG63 60th Anniversary of the Luftwaffe marks.

XX453 Gazelle AH.1 Boscombe Down, today stored at Bourne Park.

Conningsby Typhoon FGR4, with no unit marks.

ZK344 Typhoon FGR4 no unit markings.

J-201 F-16AM 322 Sqn RNLAF.

J-871 F-16AM RNLAF.

FB-21 F-16BM BAF

ZH839/83 EH101 HM1 MK111, Merlin Cormorant RN.

ZF347 and ZF204 Tucano T.1 RAF.

Notable RAF cutbacks: two planes, one engine?

1017 PL. M-28B Bryza 1R 44BLotM/sie. PolNavy, Special colour scheme.

013 Casa 295M 8BLtr PolAF.

45+09 Tornado IDS TLG33 GAF.

XX205/842 CU Hawk T.1 RN.

97-0046 C-17 Globemaster 111 437AW/315/AW/AMC/AFRC.

185 Falcon 10MER FN Special marks' '100 years 1910-2010, Marine Nationale Aeronautique Navale.'

6 Rafale M 12F FN.

50+67, C-160D Transall, LTG63 GAF, performing its run and break for landing.

The Scorpion was nice to see as it continued its sales evaluation tour.

99+18 OV-10B Bronco, WGAF, civil as G-ONAA.

ZF563/VL-312 Lynx HMA8 SRU RN.

Nice to see it before it was retired to Goodwood.

ZF563/VL-312 Lynx HMA8 SRU RN.

XZ689/314 Lynx HMA8 SRU RN. 

ZZ515 Wildcat HMA2 815NAS.

Not as elegant as the Lynx, but for the future.

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.

XX162 Hawk T.1 RAF Centre of Medicine.

ZF511 Tucano T.1,

 Wfu Stored Boscombe Down.

XX154 Hawk T.1 Empire Test Pilot School, Wfu stored Boscombe Down.

RAF Chinook HC.6 RAF is one of a pair delivering troops to the plain.

ZK562 Chinook HC.6 RAF. 

ZK562 Chinook HC.6 RAF.

G-ETPH QinetiQ Airbus AS350 B3/H125.

ZZ387 Wildcat AH.1 1 Regt Army

G-ETPI QinetiQ Airbus AS350 B3/H125.

G-ETPI QinetiQ Airbus AS350 B3/H125.

Chinook

ZJ207 Apache AH.1 673(AHTU) Sqn.

ZJ207 Apache AH.1 673(AHTU) Sqn.

ZJ207 Apache AH.1 673(AHTU) Sqn.

ZJ207 Apache AH.1 673(AHTU) Sqn.

Apache AH.1 AAC.

ZZ527 Wildcat AH.1

ZA766 Gazelle AH.1 7Regt.

ZZ413 Wildcat HMA2 Royal Navy.

ZA766 Gazelle AH.1 7Regt.

ZA766 Gazelle AH.1 7Regt.

ZZ413 Wildcat HMA2 Royal Navy.

ZZ413 Wildcat HMA2 Royal Navy.

G-ETPI QinetiQ Airbus AS350 B3/H125.

Happy Days!