They'll have to. It would cost too much to change the cover of the F700.
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No reason why they should. We had instructors at Oakington on Meteor T7s who had flown them as Meteor F4s.
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They'll have to. It would cost too much to change the cover of the F700. |
Originally Posted by ShyTorque
Can anyone say for certain if the HC2 airframes will retain their original military registration numbers when they go back into service?
This photo shows the first HC2 to be handed over, carrying "F-ZWDD" test marks as well as its original HC1 "XW216" serial. http://www.key.aero/central/images/news/5350.jpg I can't see the aircraft being re-serialed again at this stage. |
All Chinooks retained their original reg during the Mid Life Update (MLU)in the 90's, I'm sure the Puma will retain their's during their ELU!
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The only reason for the French registration is to allow civil pilots to complete flight checks after the mods have been embodied. (I have changed Dutch Mil Registrations for UK Flight testing for the same reason)
It is illegal to fly civil pilots on (foreign) military registered aircraft. So technically, someone in MOD knows all about this and someone at ECUK probably coordinates the required changes. |
Rigga - it is not illegal for foreign civilians to fly 'our' military equipment. The pilots just have to be approved by the MAA (this activity for test and evaluation used to be carried out by D Flying/Flight Test Div which is now subsumed into the faceless animal that is the MAA).
This aircraft is F-regd as the military EC(Fr) activities at Marignanne is regulated by the French mil regulator and requires all aircraft to have a F-reg. The first 2 aircraft as I recall we be constructed and tested at EC(Fr) with the rest at EC(Ro). EC(UK) will put the UK 'eyes only' equipment on board and test and provide RTS recs. For EC(Fr) activities, the UK serials should be 'clearly obscured' as they eloquently put in their regulations however this does not appear to be the case here - ho hum. When the aircraft are at EC(UK) they will be operated under the UK mil reg as this activity now comes under the auspices of the MAA. Clear as mud eh? |
Although this photo was obviously taken in the UK so the French registration should have been removed, unless it was on the delivery flight from France perhaps.
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Judging by the number of XW 216s spread around the aircraft it looks like they are all being dismantled and are making sure they connect the rights bits for each aircraft.
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Anyone know the latest about this project? I have had a good trawl online but it seems to have gone very quiet! Are the trials for release to service complete? Anyone know if they have received the cabs on the fwd fleet?
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The OCF followed by front line crews are due to start flying at Benson in July.
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And this was the aircraft that Swiss Des would have scrapped?
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A noticeable lack of presence at the Queen's birthday fly past A noticeable absence from the Leuchers Air Day. What's happened? Fitting Makilas to Puma is nothing new and fitting glass cockpits and various other bits is not rocket science. Not only that Odious could not be bothered to send a Chinook up there either
Should tens of thousands of people make an effort to go to Leuchers to see the Royal Air Force then the Royal Air Force can make an effort too. |
I live almost next door to the secret Oxonian rotary base and I have not seen a Puma in ages. What are all the squadron guys/gals doing all day?
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A noticeable lack of absence P1 |
Edited Damned wireless keyboards,
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It has nothing to do with the RAF sending Pumas/Chinooks to the Leuchars Air Show, the decision rests with JHC.
Airborne Artist, there have been Pumas flying in and out of Benson almost daily for at least the last month and on at least a weekly basis for the past few months. The RWOETU have been flying since last year and the first bunch of QHI/QHCIs have recently qualified. |
Not only that Odious could not be bothered to send a Chinook up there either The downside of being able to land on a football pitch is that we get called on to support a large number of smaller airshows, village fetes etc around the south of the UK where the rotary wing presence is felt more and they quite simply cant get bigger aircraft on the ground. It's good for the locals and the image of the RAF but is a drain on crews (more so engineers). Yes, well and truly a bite but just because you don't see aircraft at Leuchars dont rudely assume that it was because they "could not be bothered" to send aircraft up. |
It's wasn't rude, or an assumption. They couldn't be bothered.
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Ignorance of the highest order
Sorry Fareast driver, but I am going to bite.
The Chinook is currently going through an update of the aircraft whilst maintaining operational capability - what other force does that? And I am not talking about a pod here or there - an entire new cockpit with a complete overhaul of the SOPs. So I apologise if a Chinook could not be "bothered" to turn up to the Leuchars air day. 10 are on ops in Herrick and the rest of the fleet are on Salisbury plain practicing for said op. Where was the Typhoon for Odiham Families day? Or are they that busy? Probably not. If there is one force that is bothered, it is the Chinook force. I still cannot believe why you would make such a comment apart from wanting to make me bite - which you have succeeded very well.:= Now go away from my screen little man.....:ugh: |
Fareastdriver - might be worth thinking before you open your mouth and let your belly rumble. The CH47 is going through a huge amount of turmoil and still working incredibly hard, Air Shows are an expensive luxury, which , while great for PR and morale, are not operationally essential. The CH47 has displayed at several air shows around the country this year, as best they could fit into another busy year (and won most of the display awards too - well done Piggy and the boys!) but they can't be everywhere so dry your eyes and stop being rude - please. :ok:
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There are only three Air Force Board sponsored air shows, and next year it is probable there will be only two. In 2013 the displays of Hawk, King Air, Tutor, and Tornado role demo were all withdrawn. It is not unreasonable to expect the RAF air shows to have 100% primacy over the remaining display assets. No-one would argue that Leuchars is a fair slog for a helicopter, however the transit flights could easily have included training inclusive of Spadeadam EW range and some fighter evasion with the abundance of Typhoon flying that took place this weekend. To have not a single JHC asset at Leuchars is a reflection of who pulls the helicopter force strings these days, and there is more to JHC than Chinook alone.
"Where was the Typhoon on Odihams familys Day". Is not the way it works, neither does 'mates rates'. I appreciate though that one would like to think it could work that way, as indeed it once did. There is evidence that such a system influences international participation at UK air shows but that is compromised by a lack of appetite for public displays across the board. Thankfully is is yet to be as bad as in the USA these days. |
AL1. I am told that Apache was scheduled but Cx due Wx. Which of course is entirely reasonable as the rain on friday was far from nice, and TAF poor for Saturday, although CAVOK prevailed for much of the day.
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TM,
ET at weekends? Might upset the locals and make an interesting phone call to LF Ops....though I did arrange an affil sortie for the RTB with a Jag at the airshow party at Waddington one year...should have been a pair but someone had flattened the battery on his jet cranking the canopy to show 'interested tax payers' the cockpit . It was like clubbing a seal though.... Perhaps after events in the past, the Typhoon force has 'there be dragons' marked on their maps re the Odiham MATZ...:eek: |
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