What will 32 Sqn do ?

[CAEBr]

Looks like the days of the 146 in RAF service are numbered. Remains to be seen when and - more importantly - if they be replaced with a permanent type or covered by a leased airframe as and when needed.

https://www.janes.com/article/91234/dsei-2019-raf-puts-bae-146s-up-for-sale

[pr00ne]

Read the article, it says that there is no intention to dispose of the aircraft or evens state an out of service date, this is merely a "market testing" exercise to determine possible future demand.

Which I suggest will be ZERO...

[VinRouge]

Read the article, it says that there is no intention to dispose of the aircraft or evens state an out of service date, this is merely a "market testing" exercise to determine possible future demand.

Which I suggest will be ZERO...

I disagree... the recycling market would be able to do great things.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1012x569/2bc86a42_1848_4ad1_b4dc_ca84f2df044c_cd9f59dd6c1805065738eca 3c3be80f0bb713ede.jpeg

Methinks someone at MoD May be worried about a Corbyn government perhaps?

[Warmtoast]

Coincidently there's a program on the box (Ch 5) next Friday 20th September at 20.15 entitled 'Secrets of the Royal Flight'

[Meester proach]

Can’t see any demand

[Davef68]

There were rumours earlier in the year about replacement aircraft - Airbus A220 was mentioned.

[Mil-26Man]

MoD said to be exploring leasing of four Gulfstream G550s

[chevvron]

There were rumours earlier in the year about replacement aircraft - Airbus A220 was mentioned.
Yes; after its appearance at Farnborough 2018, I was told by 'a person in the know' about plans to replace the '146s with A220s and posted it here but no-one else had heard.
Before this and before I retired from Farnborugh in 2008, the rumour was that 'Blair Force One' (using A320s) would at least operate in/out of Farnborough if not be based there (Farnborough's runway having longer approach lighting and declared distances plus Cat 1 ILS and IRVR on both ends) with the addition that in the new hangar complex then being built (now complete), one third had been reserved for an 'undisclosed' customer.
G550s are an alternative but a 15 year old design; could they operate from Northolt's shiny new runway though, especially if as rumoured, the LDA will be reduced? That 'soft' arrestor bed might get a bit more use anyway.

[Rigga]

I’m told the 146 is still popular in Oz...

[chopper2004]

Yes; after its appearance at Farnborough 2018, I was told by 'a person in the know' about plans to replace the '146s with A220s and posted it here but no-one else had heard.
Before this and before I retired from Farnborugh in 2008, the rumour was that 'Blair Force One' (using A320s) would at least operate in/out of Farnborough if not be based there (Farnborough's runway having longer approach lighting and declared distances plus Cat 1 ILS and IRVR on both ends) with the addition that in the new hangar complex then being built (now complete), one third had been reserved for an 'undisclosed' customer.
G550s are an alternative but a 15 year old design; could they operate from Northolt's shiny new runway though, especially if as rumoured, the LDA will be reduced? That 'soft' arrestor bed might get a bit more use anyway.

Thinking of what you said re Gulfstream G550 , am sure USAFE and USAF AMC C-37A do land at Northolt occasionally.

Cheers

[chevvron]

Course when the beancounters tot up the cost of the re-surfacing, they could declare Northolt too expensive to operate and close it; they did it at Bovingdon: re-clad the 4 hangars then closed it next year.

[VinRouge]

I expect someone will be keen to get whatever contract is available signed whilst we have a Tory government (just about). If mssr Corbyn gets in, not a chance a “VIP” jet will get signed off due to the politics of it.

Once commercial agreements are in place, a long-required replacement will be almost impossible to turn around.

[chopper2004]

I expect someone will be keen to get whatever contract is available signed whilst we have a Tory government (just about). If mssr Corbyn gets in, not a chance a “VIP” jet will get signed off due to the politics of it.

Once commercial agreements are in place, a long-required replacement will be almost impossible to turn around.

Or purchase 2nd hand from across the pond. The Mexican President is flogging off his own fleet which includes Boeing 787 Dreamliner, few Gulfatream G3/4, odd BBJ etc etc plus Airbus Helicopters AS332L1 (they also had SA330H Pumas as well) . Unit is not aprt of the air force but counted as they part of E.T.A.P.E.F or Estdado Preicdencia Mayer ...used to be known as the UTAPEF in my day as I dealt with them. The Mexican President also has his own armed protection force, I am led to believe separate from the rest of the armed forces.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mexican-president-selling-his-luxurious-presidential-plane-to-pay-for-us-immigration-deal

For a not so wealthy country, the Mexico probably comes close to their northern neighbor with large DV fleet.

Cheers

[pr00ne]

Driving past Northolt as I do most days, before the runway closure there was always an impressively large number of the larger Gulfstream and Bombardier Business jets parked up, so I don't think there is an issue with them operating from there.

[chevvron]

Driving past Northolt as I do most days, before the runway closure there was always an impressively large number of the larger Gulfstream and Bombardier Business jets parked up, so I don't think there is an issue with them operating from there.
I'm sure I read somewhere that the CAA is insisting the declared distances are reduced for civil aircraft

[NutLoose]

The 220 is the Bombardier?, snapped the dash 300 after it was painted in Airbus colours, quite a big aircraft,

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48263846426_3be8cd1942_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gwUQ4d)
A220-300 (https://flic.kr/p/2gwUQ4d) by Tony Taylor (https://www.flickr.com/photos/142550108@N08/), on Flickr

Knowing the way the MOD works I am surprised they never bought these lol

https://www.fliegerfaust.com/airbus-a220-news-2607970333.html

[Wander00]

At a slight tangent, was there a historical link that meant TQF got the 32 Sqn numberplate?

[pr00ne]

Wander00,

As it was the only Comms squadron left when TQF disbanded at Benson there was no other choice. 207, 60, 26 and 21 Squadrons having all been disbanded.

[WASALOADIE]

Wander00,

As it was the only Comms squadron left when TQF disbanded at Benson there was no other choice. 207, 60, 26 and 21 Squadrons having all been disbanded.

60 were re-roled as a SH Squadron with Wessex at Benson, then Griffin and now Juno/Jupiter at Shawbury

[chopper2004]

Laughingly or not went for a visit to Hendon, so it was nice to see red Wessex HCC.4 clean and pristine inside Hangar 3/4/5 ....

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/71396359_10157964705091490_3600141690309967872_n_fecab7a0c3d c6d800338241d76e1c1ba5ea1ed97.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1340x2000/71288716_10157964711921490_7866388621605994496_o_6d8620ab515 6b5ff30e10a0cdfe3a72d6acbf916.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/71132565_10157964711891490_1242656080228515840_o_809b8e6771f f9a6cb9a7d70f82be3c7f230aca4e.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/752x960/71713586_10157964705196490_615820313640304640_n_c1b104855564 0052405c9e5d6f8cab94ffaad7c3.jpg

[Wander00]

Re number plate - many thanks. W

[Warmtoast]

chopper 204

Laughingly or not went for a visit to Hendon, so it was nice to see red Wessex HCC.4 clean and pristine inside Hangar 3/4/5 ....

FWIW I was at Biggin Hill in April 1955 when the Queen Mum made her first trip in a helicopter to visit 600 and 2600 (City of London) Squadrons as their Honorary Air Commodore. She flew in from Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park, to Biggin Hill and return in a Westland WS-55 Whirlwind of the Fleet Air Arm.

These two photos show her arrival and departure on the station parade ground.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/541x613/queenmotherpresscutting_1268d596a608793de93835bab5f938653068 1531.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x551/bigginqueenmumvisitto615sqn_cff75e59153b80be77430276f7d6f85e 20604fcd.jpg

[MapleTopGun]

Coincidently there's a program on the box (Ch 5) next Friday 20th September at 20.15 entitled 'Secrets of the Royal Flight'

Was it any good ? Northolt was my 1st TG9 posting (& a jump seat ride on a 146 training flight was also also one of the best I had) so I got all excited about this, wanted to show my kids, but 8 days later & it's still not been posted on YouTube yet 😕 and i cant get ch05 on demand in Canada without an ip adress changing thing. I'll just have to wait longer i guess.

[Warmtoast]

MapleTopGun
Was it any good ?
IMHO program was interesting, but not too exciting.
WT