UK NPAS discussion thread: Mk 4
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Thread Starter
Breaking News!!!
That 'quite familiar' checkerboard signature dates back to 1988 and G-BOOV at Farnbough Air Show and appeared on virtually every UK police Aerospatiale/Eurocopter ever sold by 'DL' in the intervening years. Surprisingly it was not exactly common knowledge but he managed to slip it into most designs including POLA.
BOOV shed the checkerband when repainted into conspicuity but the point was that the majority left Oxford wearing it.
He designed that first ever UK police twin Squirrel paint scheme and decided that the checkerboard 'looked right' ..... drawn straight from the same design on his flat cap of yesteryear. The whole design was basically 'jam sandwich' police car.
BOOV shed the checkerband when repainted into conspicuity but the point was that the majority left Oxford wearing it.
He designed that first ever UK police twin Squirrel paint scheme and decided that the checkerboard 'looked right' ..... drawn straight from the same design on his flat cap of yesteryear. The whole design was basically 'jam sandwich' police car.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Thread Starter
That 'quite familiar' checkerboard signature dates back to 1988 and G-BOOV at Farnbough Air Show and appeared on virtually every UK police Aerospatiale/Eurocopter ever sold by 'DL' in the intervening years. Surprisingly it was not exactly common knowledge but he managed to slip it into most designs including POLA.
So there's no 'slipping in' been going on around in that part of the woods
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Thread Starter
Air One! Some people just won't accept that they're now part of NPAS 
Air One - the eye in the sky « Express & Star
Air One - the eye in the sky « Express & Star
Furious Twitter users replied to the officer, enraged they could find nothing better to do with their time.
There was scheduled to be a Lippitts Hill Community Engagement Meeting last night (at The Owl 
) to give some discussion on the NPAS and the operation at Lippits Hill. Much local concern about increasing helicopter numbers to be based there; anyone have any gen on this?
) to give some discussion on the NPAS and the operation at Lippits Hill. Much local concern about increasing helicopter numbers to be based there; anyone have any gen on this?
Hello John
I was hoping to have an answer to your question about the meeting at the Owl by now but unfortunately the people who live next to both the Owl and Lippitts Hill were both otherwise engaged that night and did not see it as a major issue to attend.....
They think they may know someone who attended but were not expecting a mass meeting out of the event..... They will check.
The meeting was one of a regular 'meet the people' get together's run by the Conservative Party [politics] rather than a protest meeting as such.
They see Lippitts and helicopters at 2am as a fact of life - just like living by Heathrow.
They were tickled that the question originated from Oz though [I did explain the connection]!
I was hoping to have an answer to your question about the meeting at the Owl by now but unfortunately the people who live next to both the Owl and Lippitts Hill were both otherwise engaged that night and did not see it as a major issue to attend.....
They think they may know someone who attended but were not expecting a mass meeting out of the event..... They will check.
The meeting was one of a regular 'meet the people' get together's run by the Conservative Party [politics] rather than a protest meeting as such.
They see Lippitts and helicopters at 2am as a fact of life - just like living by Heathrow.
They were tickled that the question originated from Oz though [I did explain the connection]!
The not so secret meeting
I found out more shortly after posting the above.
NPAS called the meeting of local residents but neither NPAS or the local organisers [the Conservative Party] informed the press as far as I can yet find out. [why?]
There were around 40 present out of around 100+ residences [200 people?] in Lippitts Hill and Bury Road areas [under the flightpath] and that includes the principals [police and politicians]. Richard Watson presiding.
A Back grounder for those wondering why this may matter:
Lippitts Hill Camp was created in the late 1930s as a gun site and was subsequently used as a POW camp, a Civil Defence Centre and a Cold War operations centre before the police purchased it.
Lippitts Hill Camp was purchased by the Metropolitan Police in 1960 and continued it Cold War uses for some years. Helicopters have been operating from there since 1967 and dogs and firearms training was undertaken there until local Conservative member led pressure led to their cessation. The helicopter use, which has in the past peaked at 6 airframes, continues today with three EC145 helicopters. The meeting was about a plan to increase current activity from three aircraft to four. I know that not all residents care a great deal and it seems that only attracting about 30 might support that contention.
The site is partially listed for preservation and remains the best preserved example of both WW2 and Cold War military architecture extant
Long delayed, over a year now, the National Police Air Service want to take over the Metro Police operation at Lippitts Hill. Metro are resisting for various police operational reasons.
It steps back to the usual problem of 'hands off policing'.... after NPAS move in they will be controlled from West Yorkshire and GOD will not be visiting to speak to the neighbours again.
Lippitts is miles too big [a bill] for NPAS and they will go somewhere else as the whim takes them. The Met can arguable design out their current use for the site with the new tranche of Digital Radio comms and get rid of the aerials on site and their need to continue to foot the real estate bill.
NPAS called the meeting of local residents but neither NPAS or the local organisers [the Conservative Party] informed the press as far as I can yet find out. [why?]
There were around 40 present out of around 100+ residences [200 people?] in Lippitts Hill and Bury Road areas [under the flightpath] and that includes the principals [police and politicians]. Richard Watson presiding.
A Back grounder for those wondering why this may matter:
Lippitts Hill Camp was created in the late 1930s as a gun site and was subsequently used as a POW camp, a Civil Defence Centre and a Cold War operations centre before the police purchased it.
Lippitts Hill Camp was purchased by the Metropolitan Police in 1960 and continued it Cold War uses for some years. Helicopters have been operating from there since 1967 and dogs and firearms training was undertaken there until local Conservative member led pressure led to their cessation. The helicopter use, which has in the past peaked at 6 airframes, continues today with three EC145 helicopters. The meeting was about a plan to increase current activity from three aircraft to four. I know that not all residents care a great deal and it seems that only attracting about 30 might support that contention.
The site is partially listed for preservation and remains the best preserved example of both WW2 and Cold War military architecture extant
Long delayed, over a year now, the National Police Air Service want to take over the Metro Police operation at Lippitts Hill. Metro are resisting for various police operational reasons.
It steps back to the usual problem of 'hands off policing'.... after NPAS move in they will be controlled from West Yorkshire and GOD will not be visiting to speak to the neighbours again.
Lippitts is miles too big [a bill] for NPAS and they will go somewhere else as the whim takes them. The Met can arguable design out their current use for the site with the new tranche of Digital Radio comms and get rid of the aerials on site and their need to continue to foot the real estate bill.
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: UK
Age: 47
Posts: 1,595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know if it has already been mentioned but the 145s were/are slated to be spread around the country once NPAS get their hands on them, so my local ASU tells me. And I imagine that will mean a 135 will go into Lippits which I would have thought makes things quieter for London....
Also I was told Boris is fighting for his helicopters.....I hope that's true...
I personally wish the guys and girls not to be taken over by NPAS.......
It's a serious set up that.
Also I was told Boris is fighting for his helicopters.....I hope that's true...
I personally wish the guys and girls not to be taken over by NPAS.......
It's a serious set up that.
I will say its a strange plan - this removal of the 145s.
Here we have a unit - the ONLY UK unit - that is equipped and training to undertake the rappel and winch role with a specific aircraft type [arguably the only one able to reasonable undertake the role in UK police service] and they are to be cast to the three corners of the UK to people who will certainly not be able to do the training but available for 'instant' recall to the Capital when the anti-terror wheel comes off.
Let us hope that the terrorists that surely will hit London announce their plans well in advance.
Therein may lie the NPAS flaw - the very real worry in Whitehall that London air support is being sacrificed on the West Yorkshire altar.
Here we have a unit - the ONLY UK unit - that is equipped and training to undertake the rappel and winch role with a specific aircraft type [arguably the only one able to reasonable undertake the role in UK police service] and they are to be cast to the three corners of the UK to people who will certainly not be able to do the training but available for 'instant' recall to the Capital when the anti-terror wheel comes off.
Let us hope that the terrorists that surely will hit London announce their plans well in advance.
Therein may lie the NPAS flaw - the very real worry in Whitehall that London air support is being sacrificed on the West Yorkshire altar.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Thread Starter
Is it fair to lay that or anything NPAS onto West Yorkshire?
Seems like they were sold a flanker and have ended up with a 'Sweeney' like department.
Seems like they were sold a flanker and have ended up with a 'Sweeney' like department.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Thread Starter
PAN, any contacts at Elstree that may have heard something
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think it was politics that killed off the Elstree/Wytin trial.
There was also on some occasions a lack of pilot/aircraft/both.
The feedback was on the whole very good with some good results......
Henlow is currently being being put to good use by the Flying Club, so no bats yet.....
There was also on some occasions a lack of pilot/aircraft/both.
The feedback was on the whole very good with some good results......
Henlow is currently being being put to good use by the Flying Club, so no bats yet.....
Cabby - I'm sorry, I missed which country you were talking about?
Anyway:
(a) The UK doesn't have a growing police aviation market - in fact it has the opposite.
(b) Avincis is owned by an American conglomerate of Bankers - no wonder Bond have loads of money behind them.
(c) There isn't ANY money to be made in police ops!! Bond know that and are staying well clear. Having said that - I meant w.r.t. operating the fleet as opposed to suppying equipment. That is why UK police air ops will remain in the hands of the government for the foreseeable future. [Unlike HEMS/AA - which is commercial and Bonds domain].
Other than that - good post!
Anyway:
(a) The UK doesn't have a growing police aviation market - in fact it has the opposite.
(b) Avincis is owned by an American conglomerate of Bankers - no wonder Bond have loads of money behind them.
(c) There isn't ANY money to be made in police ops!! Bond know that and are staying well clear. Having said that - I meant w.r.t. operating the fleet as opposed to suppying equipment. That is why UK police air ops will remain in the hands of the government for the foreseeable future. [Unlike HEMS/AA - which is commercial and Bonds domain].
Other than that - good post!
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Age: 60
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
on
6 Posts
Talking to a cop in Liverpool yesterday. They requested a helicopter and got one......... from Wolverhampton!!!
Could this be the job???????
Could this be the job???????
