Originally Posted by
possel
Just for the record, getting back on topic, the title of this thread is actually incorrect, as those Islanders are operated by the Army, not the RAF. The Brigadier mentioned is of course in the Army and the only mention of the RAF in the Mail article is that they operate from RAF Northolt.
The Northolt Islanders were ostensibly RAF aircraft (CC2s rather than the Army's AL1s and later Defenders), operated by the 'Northolt Station Flight', but as mentioned they have been retired and replaced by contractor operated aircraft, from the same facility. They are not the only 'civil' operated surveillance airraft used in the UK either. Google can tell you more, but there are good operational security reasons for the operators not to comment on them