View Full Version : Ex Military Registration??
MightyGem
31st Jan 2012, 14:18
Just had two Hawks taxy past the office here at Hawarden. One of the registrations was XX250. A colleague states that the XX denotes an ex-RAF aircraft now owned by someone else. Not something that I've heard of, is he correct?
PS. They have pale blue and yellow stripes either side of the roundal.
StopStart
31st Jan 2012, 14:23
No he's talking hoop.
Stuff
31st Jan 2012, 14:23
A cursory glance in the logbook shows I flew XX250 on 19(F) Sqn at Valley in 2003 when it was definitely a RAF jet. No idea what happened to it since but there are a number of different XX serial Hawks in my logbook so I don't think there's any truth in the ex-RAF idea.
Someone more informed will be along in a moment...
ZH875
31st Jan 2012, 14:53
XX is a normal series of registrations for RAF aircraft. No different to most others.eg PA474,RF399 ZH875.some may be out off sequence like ZZ171 the first of the originally leased C17 aircraft.
Bob Viking
31st Jan 2012, 15:37
Still lots of XX registration Hawk T1s flying around. There were lots of XX Jags flying around as well a few years back. Gives a clue as to the vintage of the aircraft in question. Hawk T2s are all ZK___. I believe there are ZZ___ registrations for the Voyager aircraft (I'm happy to be proven wrong on this latest statement though for fear of appearing like a total nerd!).
BV:8
Still at Valley as far as I know
Hawk T.1 XX250 208 [R] Sqn 13-01-12 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40263244@N04/6694431313/)
Grobling About
31st Jan 2012, 16:05
All the above fit the convention which I believed existed that the lowest number would be 100, eg XZ100 all the way up to XZ999 then ZA100. If that's right can anyone explain why we have a Vigilant ZK005?
Pontius Navigator
31st Jan 2012, 16:11
I believe it clicks up one letter per year.
ZZ171 the first of the originally leased C17 aircraft
I wonder if that was a special because it was leased and someone also thought 17 and 1 was a career enhancing move?
BossEyed
31st Jan 2012, 16:13
It used to be that the lowest number allocated was 101.
MOD had a document somewhere that gave "the rules", but it seems this has fallen down the back of a filing cabinet at ABW.
This is the place to go (http://www.ukserials.com/) when you need fitting for your new Gieves & Hawkes anorak.
The ZZ allocation is filling up fast, and not all are on the tick - Wildcat for instance. There'll be the need for a new sequence soon, which shouldn't have been necessary.
kenparry
31st Jan 2012, 16:14
can anyone explain why we have a Vigilant ZK005?
A few years ago, someone twigged that numbers were becoming exhausted, and began to use numbers below 100 in that way, i.e. with leading zeros.
See UK Serials (http://www.ukserials.com/) for other examples.
Pontius Navigator
31st Jan 2012, 16:24
If that Anorak site is correct then there were plenty of serials left out had someone had the foresight to change the year=letter rule.
MightyGem
31st Jan 2012, 16:28
No he's talking hoop.
XX is a normal series of registrations for RAF aircraft. No different to most others
That's what I thought. Told him he was talking b******s. But, as he's ex RAF thought I'd make sure.
Kreuger flap
31st Jan 2012, 16:32
I am all excited now, as I have added XX250 to my extensive library of aircraft serial numbers.:hmm:
I can't wait to read them out to my wife on our next night in with a cup of cocoa.
handysnaks
31st Jan 2012, 17:21
Mightygem, I'm surprised at you
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/8/6/6/0551668.jpg
NutLoose
31st Jan 2012, 17:29
Still lots of XX registration Hawk T1s flying around. There were lots of XX Jags flying around as well a few years back. Gives a clue as to the vintage
Correct, not only that, the XX serial Jags carried about 100kg less fuel than the later XZ serialed ones, think the total including droppers was 4940kg on the XX and 5040kg on the XZ serialed ones.
NutLoose
31st Jan 2012, 17:32
Here you go....
Nerd yourselves to death :8
UK Serials (http://www.ukserials.com/)
MightyGem
31st Jan 2012, 17:47
I am all excited now, as I have added XX250 to my extensive library of aircraft serial numbers.http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/yeees.gif
I can't wait to read them out to my wife on our next night in with a cup of cocoa.
That's all right. Everyone needs a hobby.
MightyGem
31st Jan 2012, 17:49
Mightygem, I'm surprised at you
Yeah, I know, but I didn't want to tell an ex crab he was talking b*****s without checking. :E
airpolice
31st Jan 2012, 17:56
That's all right. Everyone needs a hobby.
Even me? ....................
RSuppards
31st Jan 2012, 20:23
The mention of XX250 triggered a long dormant memory cell. I delivered her from Dunsfold to Valley on December 4th 1978. The newest aircraft I ever flew, she had less than an hour in the F700 when I signed for her on behalf of Her Majesty. I suppose she's older than most of her pilots these days. How time flies!
NutLoose
31st Jan 2012, 20:31
RSuppards
*
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The Marches
Posts: 3
The mention of XX250 triggered a long dormant memory cell. I delivered her from Dunsfold to Valley on December 4th 1978. The newest aircraft I ever flew, she had less than an hour in the F700 when I signed for her on behalf of Her Majesty. I suppose she's older than most of her pilots these days. How time flies!
So this thread is all your fault :D:O
XV277
31st Jan 2012, 21:43
The ZZ allocation is filling up fast, and not all are on the tick - Wildcat for instance. There'll be the need for a new sequence soon, which shouldn't have been necessary.
No - they've gone back and allocated ZM for the F-35, and the latest batch of Chinooks seem to have been given in-sequence (ZK) serials for the first time in years.
Happy memories! I first flew XX250 on 21 Jan 1980 - sigh! I think all of the Bulldogs and Hawks were series "XX" at that time.
ShyTorque
31st Jan 2012, 22:32
I agree about the Bulldogs, at least all five on the UAS I flew for (late 80s/early 90s) wore "XX" reg's, including the one with my name on the engine cowling.
LateArmLive
1st Feb 2012, 14:18
including the one with my name on the engine cowling.
So you're Mr Lycoming!
and what did Mr Hartzell do wrong to get his name relegated to the propeller?
Trumpet_trousers
1st Feb 2012, 14:52
including the one with my name on the engine cowling.
So, you'll be "Dipstick" then? :E
Duchess_Driver
1st Feb 2012, 15:01
For those who really need help getting to sleep at night...
abc Military Aircraft Markings 2011: Amazon.co.uk: Howard J Curtis: Books
... must be nearly bed time!
DD
scarecrow450
1st Feb 2012, 17:08
abc Military Aircraft Markings 2011: Amazon.co.uk: Howard J Curtis: Books
... must be nearly bed time!
Please don't buy it, the new edition is out soon !!
abc Military Aircraft Markings 2012: Amazon.co.uk: Howard J. Curtis: Books
I'll get my flask and anorak !