These aircraft quite regularly transit through R.A.F.Mildenhall, I video'd one there on at least two separate occasions some 5 years ago, and they have been back several times since.

So was the aircraft, which wasn't operated by people who weren't there in Somalia, a Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star?

Not during my time there which was dec 92- june (I think) 93. There were some don't ask those guys any questions types, but during my time they were in EP-3'S a Kingaire and a few helo's.

If it wasn't.....it sure looked like one!


YO-3A


Since it was outside the hanger in the daylight......I have to assume they did not care for people to know of their presence. The ramp was in direct observation from the high ground inland of the Airport. Actually....it was in direct fire from the high ground specifically the "Soap Factory". The Ramp was littered with spent rounds.

Yes, I went ditch diving on many occasions when the local ruffians send rounds our way. SAS, what time frame was this aircraft there? I left long before the party ended.

Trick question.....uhm.....errrrr.....about mid-summer '94 as I recall.


South African friend, ex-RAF, accosted me one morning on the ramp....inquired why I walked off from him everytime he spoke to me. He thought perhaps he had offended me somehow I guess. Upon a moment's thought I realized what was going on....everytime he wanted to stand and talk while we were getting ready to fly....I would walk over behind a helicopter so it was between me and the Soap Factory.

When I told him what I was doing and to accept my apologies for giving him reason to question my relationship with him....he very smartly (British usage of the word...) stepped over to where I was.

Seems he got plugged once before in NI flying a Wessex.

SASless - could it have been a Schweizer RG-8? (SA 2-37A). The CIA are reported to have used those.

It was a YO-3 for sure.

RG-8A would seem more plausible than a YO-3A:


Or maybe it was an Auror...............aargh! Black Discovery outside....:uhoh:

Beags.....it may be more plausible to you....but I was there, in person, seen it with my own two eyes, and thus am far better suited to identify what was there in front of me. Do you not agree looking at the palm of your hand and guessing falls short of being there and seeing it?

The NASA YO-3 was/is still around, but I presume that would be a bit high profile for Mogadishu at that time!

So are you saying that it was the (NASA) YO-3A rather than the RG-8A? Your earlier post wasn't that clear to me.

There is a WB-57 being restored currently at KAPA. Last I saw it was still in green primer too.

Beags....I am saying it was a cleverly Camo'ed YO-3....who owned it I have no idea....there were no markings on it. The folks who ran it lived in a bunch of nice RV Trailers up on the dunes overlooking the Ocean and seemed to hold a lot of communion rituals each day. I reckon they were Christians who enjoyed action.

I think the YO-3As went on the surplus list after VN and went to a number of agencies. The Culinary Institute might have been interested in the potential of the special prop and drive system as a basis for a blender.

YO-3A

Ok, someones gonna have to go to the reunion and get the details.

I nominate City of Flight.....her beguiling charming smile could melt the coldest heart!

Agreed! Off she goes...

The UK's sole flying Canberra PR9 BTW has lost it's hemp PR scheme and has been rolled out in the scheme she would have worn opon entering service..


Stunning

Aviation News: New colours for Midair Squadron?s Canberra PR9 XH134 / G-OMHD | GAR

Aurora
 

Not sure if it would be more appropriate to start a new thread as the last dozen posts have not been about the B57.

Lots of chatter about smaller kites involved in supposedly similar tasks.

I think it was Beags who mentioned the thing not made in Switzerland.

I think he may refer to this:

Aurora Flight Sciences - Home

Same was exhibited at Helitech at Duxford and some of the kit from it at DSEI last time.

I understand we had a few in the UK with Military registration and roundels for a while.

We have had a few similar things such as those assembled in Bembridge with strange lumps and bumps that have been recorded.

Drag