Aviation Event Review – RAF Northolt Night Photoshoot XVIII
RAF Northolt Night Photoshoot XVIII, the latest in the series of twice-yearly events at the historic west London station, took place during the first week of March 2015. As ever, it was organised by the irrepressible Phil Dawe and his team, and raised money for the restoration of RAF Northolt’s Battle of Britain Operations Room. Chris Wood reports.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 Event – KLM MD-11 Retirement – Enthusiast Flights
Tuesday 11 November 2014 saw KLM, the world's last commercial airline flying passenger-configured McDonnell Douglas MD-11s, bring down the curtain on the type's near 21-year service with the Dutch flag carrier and an association with Douglas aircraft stretching back...
Aviation Feature – Hellenic Air Force A-7 Corsair II Retirement – 16 & 17 October 2014
Located in the rugged, western Peloponnesus peninsula of Greece is the last operational bastion of the Ling Temco Vought A-7 Corsair II. Araxos Air Base, located approximately 37 km west of the city of Patras and the home of 116 Combat Wing Hellenic Air Force, opened its doors for two days in October for a last opportunity to witness the final throes of this classic strike aircraft prior to the official retirement of the type from Hellenic Air Force service in a ceremony to be held the following day. Tom Gibbons reports for Global Aviation Resource.
Aviation News – 65th Aggressor Squadron deactivated
The United States Air Force is about to lose a unique capability with the deactivation of the 65th Aggressor Squadron (AGRS), and its distinctive fleet of camouflaged Boeing F-15 Eagles, on 26 September 2014. Chris Wood reports.
News – POTUS arrives at RAF Fairford ahead of NATO Summit
President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, arrived at RAF Fairford last night ahead of this week’s NATO Summit.
Aviation News – The ‘Save Black Mike’ Campaign
Dave Gledhill, GAR’s resident former Phantom Navigator, explains why saving XV582, ‘Black Mike’, is so important – and what you can do to help.
Aviation News – RAF deploys its RC-135 Rivet Joint
It has been reported the RAF has deployed Rivet Joint to provide intelligence and analysis of the situation in Northern Iraq. Gordon Jones looks at the news for GAR.
Military Exercise – Red Flag 14-3
Red Flag is a programme which will no doubt be familiar to most of our readership, with GAR having covered the majority of its iterations over the last couple of years. Suffice to say, it is the world’s largest and most established air combat exercise, which normally takes place three times per year at Nellis AFB, NV. The exercise is organised by the 414th Combat Training Squadron (CTS) and attracts participation from units throughout the USAF (and other branches of the US armed services) as well as allies overseas. Paul Dunn reports, with additional reporting by Chris Wood and Rob Edgcumbe.
Aviation News – Royal New Zealand Air Force T-6C Texans transit through the UK
Two Royal New Zealand Air Force T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft arrived at London-Stansted Airport on 2 August 2014 on their delivery flight. Tom Gautier was there for GAR.
Aviation News – F-35B Successfully Completes Wet Runway and Crosswind Testing
The F-35B Lightning II has successfully completed another critical phase in its test flying programme at Edwards AFB.
Aviation News – NCAR FRAPPE and NASA DISCOVER-AQ Operations in Colorado
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is conducting a month long campaign of air monitoring in the Colorado Front Range area under the name of DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality). Paul Filmer reports for GAR.
Aviation News – Kuwait Air Force visit RAF Brize Norton en masse
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire saw two aircraft from the Kuwait Air Force (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya) Transport Fleet visiting on 3 July 2014. Ian Harding reports.
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