Aviation Feature – Hellenic Air Force 115 Combat Wing
Lying approximately 100 miles south of the Greek mainland in the southern Aegean Sea at the crossroads of the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa, Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and is home to 115 PM (Pterix Mahis – Combat Wing) of the Hellenic Air Force, operating the potent Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52+. Tom Gibbons reports for GAR.
Aviation Feature – RAF Church Fenton SSAFA International Air Display 12/06/83
Paul Filmer reflects on the RAF Church Fenton SSAFA International Air Display 1983, a small-scale military event which enjoyed an interesting raft of foreign and domestic participants.
Military Exercise – Red Flag 15-1
2015’s Red Flag series of exercises kicked off at Nellis AFB, Nevada on 26 January. Red Flag 15-1 is the first of four exercises planned for Fiscal Year 2015, which is Red Flag’s 40th anniversary year. Chris Wood and Rob Edgcumbe report from Nevada.
Aviation News – The Fleet Air Arm in transition
The Fleet Air Arm squadrons based at RNAS Yeovilton are now well into a period of rapid change and in the near future two of the Royal Navy’s core rotary types will be retired. Andy Aitchison guest reports for GAR.
Aviation News – Colorado ANG 140th Wing Deploys to South Korea
The Colorado Air National Guard 140th Fighter Wing, based at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, has left its home to deploy to South Korea for approximately two months. Paul Filmer reports.
Military Exercise – 11 Flottille’s Rafales work-up on R91, Charles de Gaulle
The Aéronavale’s 11 Flottille (11F) was recently deployed to the Mediterranean on board aircraft carrier R91, Charles de Gaulle, for a work-up exercise aimed at preparing the squadron for forthcoming deployment. One of the squadron’s Dassault Rafale pilots spoke to Steve Comber during a recent embark of France’s potent aircraft carrier, relating his experiences of flying and training on both the Dassault Super Etendard and the Rafale.
Aviation News – Royal Netherlands Air Force retires AB-412 and disbands 303 SAR Squadron
On 1 January 2015 the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) retired the Agusta Bell AB-412 SP SAR helicopters, followed on 15 January by the disbandment of 303 SAR Squadron after 55 years of service. Joan le Poole (Naviation.nl) guest reports for GAR and takes the opportunity to look back into the history of search and rescue operations in the RNLAF.
Military Exercise – That Others May Live: Angel Thunder 2014
In May 2014, rescue forces from around the world gathered in Arizona as part of an extensive and realistic training exercise. Making his GAR debut, Joe Copalman reports from Exercise Angel Thunder 2014.
Aviation Profile – Brian Shul, SR-71 Blackbird pilot
Brian Shul is a retired US Air Force pilot. His story is one with many twists and turns, but he has risen to prominence as a result of his time flying the SR-71 Blackbird, the photographs he took during that time and ‘Sled Driver’, the book he subsequently wrote. Rob Edgcumbe sat down with him to find out more of his story.
Aviation Feature – RAF Brawdy Open Day, 21 May 1981
Paul Filmer reflects on the RAF Brawdy Open Day 1981, an event which enjoyed some mouth-watering NATO participation.
Airshow Review – Malta International Airshow 2014
The Malta International Airshow 2014 took place over the weekend of the 27 & 28 September and proved a fitting finale to the European airshow season. Kev Wills was there for GAR.
Aviation Feature – Boneyard Memories: AMARC Davis-Monthan AFB 1987-1995
The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona has always been a Mecca for aviation enthusiasts and historians, with its living history of thousands of stored aircraft from all branches of the Department of Defense. Kev Jackson writes for GAR.
Aviation News – Portugal and Canada on Baltic Air Policing Duties at Siauliai
From 1 September 2014 until early January 2015 six Portuguese F-16AM fighters, supported by four Boeing CF-188 (F/A-18) Hornets of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), were deployed to Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania on a NATO mission to police the skies above the Baltics. Jorge Ruivo guest reports for GAR.
Aviation Feature – Edwards Air Force Base: Testing Times
Edwards Air Force Base continues to be the nerve centre of the test community. With the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter testing ramping up, the base was visited by GAR in 2014 to get an overview of current operations and units at the world-famous Californian base.
Aviation Feature – RAF Abingdon 1983-1985
Although RAF Abingdon was relatively close, we never visited much as the residents didn’t change much over the years. Paul Filmer continues his march through the archives with a look at RAF Abingdon – now Dalton Barracks – between 1983 and 1985.
Aviation Feature – Luton Airport 1978-1985
Luton Airport, being just outside London, and at that time not called “London Luton”, was always an interesting airport to visit in the late-’70s and early-’80s, albeit not a very busy one. Paul Filmer continues his walk down Memory Lane with a look at what he caught at the airport between 1978 and 1985.
Aviation Feature – Biggin Hill 1978-1986
Paul Filmer’s retrospective series continues with a look at Biggin Hill from 1978 to 1986.
Aviation Feature – London Heathrow Airport 1987
Paul Filmer continues his look at Heathrow Airport in the 1980s, with a focus on 1987’s offerings.
Aviation News – RNLAF Fokker 50s delivered to Peruvian Navy
17 November 2014 saw the departure of two former Royal Netherlands Air Force Fokker 50s from Lelystad Airport, the Netherlands, to Peru. Four Fokker 60s had already been sold to the Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Perú) in 2010. The departure of the two Fokker 50s marked the end of the long era in which the RNLAF used Fokker aircraft. Joan le Poole (Naviation.nl) guest reports for GAR.
Black Aircraft Week – Day 7
The conclusion of ‘Black Aircraft Week’ places the spotlight on the legendary Lockheed U-2.
Black Aircraft Week – Day 6
As ‘Black Aircraft Week’ draws towards conclusion, we take a look at one of the USAF’s ‘Black Projects’, the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit.
Black Aircraft Week – Day 5
Black Friday’s offering is the Air New Zealand All Blacks special scheme Boeing 777-300ER.
Black Aircraft Week – Day 4
The next instalment of ‘Black Aircraft Week’ looks at two Bristol Mercury-powered aircraft, the Westland Lysander and the Bristol Blenheim.
Aviation Feature – Bournemouth-Hurn 1985-1994
Paul Filmer’s retrospective series looks at the goings on at Bournemouth-Hurn Airport from 1985 to 1994, a period which yielded a number of interesting international visitors.
Black Aircraft Week – Day 3
‘Black Aircraft Week’ continues on GAR, with the A7 Corsair.
Aviation News – Red Bull Air Race back in 2015 with new stops in Russia, Japan & Hungary
The eight-race 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship will feature two new stops in Japan and Russia along with a return to Budapest, Hungary. The world’s fastest motorsport series will also be back at five popular locations in 2015 with stops in Abu Dhabi (UAE), Ascot (GBR), Spielberg (AUT), Fort Worth and Las Vegas (USA).
Aviation Feature – London Heathrow Airport 1986
Paul Filmer’s London Heathrow Airport retrospective series continues as he looks back at 1986.
Black Aircraft Week – Day 2
Our week of black aircraft on GAR continues, with another bona fide classic – the mighty Grumman F-14 Tomcat.
BlogGAR – Paul Dunn – Las Vegas Mix
A brief trip to Las Vegas gave Paul Dunn plenty of opportunity to get out and shoot a variety of aircraft, in some rather pleasant Autumn conditions.
Black Aircraft Week – Day 1
Everyone else is at it in the run up to Black Friday – so why not us? It’s the start of Black Aircraft Week on Global Aviation Resource.