I thought there were civvy pilots flying there too?

Lovely a/c for the job. Shame they couldnt stretch to the Grand.

SASless.

"Jug ears" had better not get too excited, as "Aunty Liz" tends to use her own Civvy operated 76 for helicopter jobs rather than rough it with the RAF. She uses 32 Sqn for the fixed wing stuff though (or BA).

Doesnt this scheme mirror the fixed 32 squadron aircraft??

In any event alot faster than a granada!!

Actually FortyOdd just to be pedantic, COMR stands for "Contractor Owned Military Registered"

ANOrak:)

"Aunty Liz" tends to use her own Civvy operated 76 for helicopter jobs rather than rough it with the RAF."

Only when she can't avoid using a helicopter altogether.
Her Maj isn't the best ambassador for our part of the industry. :sad:

Actually ANOrak, to be even more pedantic, I was quoting from the first post on this topic :zzz:

Any Ppruners seen these aircraft in operation around the country yet?

3 helis for 900 hours a year doesn't say a lot for the projected serviceability rate. Or are they being maintained to military peacetime ('OTT') standards by Sloane?

SHortshaft:

Ever hear of a thing called concurrent tasking!! I know the Power is quick but even it cant be in three places at once!!:hmm:

Spoke to them Wednesday - flying as a pair from Kent, over Biggin and up to the Isle of Dogs west bound on H4/H10. They even nipped east to the dome for a photo opportunity......

Did we nick those 109's from Argentina also?

How did Eurocopter lose that one? Aha.... AgustaWestland.....:E

aeromys - no, these are squeaky clean new aircraft off the production line in the last few weeks.

The two ex-Argy ones are the earlier pair of the four Army ones based in Hereford only - even their second pair were bought new from Italy. Mind you, they have a shelf-life with four NH90s en route (date?)

Aeromys
How did Eurocopter lose that one?
A contract had been agreed with a uk operator to provide three AS355N to replace the AS355F1. However once awarded the contract the operator withdrew.

thanks PP, I didn't realise there were four of those ninja 109's running around now :ouch:

Wonder why EC let that one go? Apologies If I missed an earler thread, I guess this was all decided a good year ago.

I believe that the NH90 rumor is just that; main gate selection for 8 Flight's replacements only takes place this summer, with offerings reported to include the A109/AW139 and EC635/EC655.

I/C

aeromys - yes, they were so impressed by the 109As they got from the Falklands event that it was only a handful of years after that they purchased two 109A Mik.IIs with "hot and high" features including extra oil coolers I recall. At least one of the latter saw active service in a pinkish sand colour scheme in the early 90s ;)

All four now masquerade in pseudo-civil schemes, with their mililary serials painted in unexpected places on the airframe (eg. the nose) in a colour very similar to the background it's painted on to make them difficult to identify. Here are some examples
http://www.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/open.file/621225/L/
http://www.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/open.file/865454/L/
http://www.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/open.file/609853/L/

I/C - thanks for the note on replacements.

How are these aircraft employed?
 

Help out one of your American cousins. How are these aircraft used? Assigned to and flown by the RAF, but owned & maintained by a civilian contractor? Are they mainly for peace time missions; VIP, PAX movement, light cargo? I can see the economic sense in the concept if the aircraft are primarily employed in country, but if deployed during a military action, it seems the implementation not to mention the cost would be impracticle. I've had to deal with the whole contractor on the battlefield business during my time here in the sandbox, and it can be frustrating and problematic.

bayou06. I believe your conclusions are correct. There has never been a wartime situation where the COMR (Contractor Owned Military Registered) scheme has been tested on the VIP flight - 32 (The Royal) Squadron - so unable to comment on that although I can see it fraught with the difficulties you cite.

The four special forces 109s are not operated under COMR

Ian Corrigible,

You can also throw the S76 into the 8 Flight mix for good measure.

FNW

FNW- which S-76 is that? :confused:

The one used by the RTO has a civvy reg.