Air International 1995-01
-
P.Jackson - Testing Times
FRA is a major contractor to the Royal Navy, providing Falcon 20s for target facilities. The aircraft will replace No 360 Squadron's recently retired Canberra T.17s from June 1995. The Hunters, although in full military markings, are also operated by FRA under contract to the RN.
The Fleet Air Arm's 705 Squadron and its Gazelle HT.2s have been maintained by Hunting since April 1, 1994.
Bristow Helicopters operates Army-owned Gazelle AH.1s for training at Middle Wallop. XZ318 is seen specially marked with company titles for a competition.
Airwork has been involved in operating aircraft on behalf of the UK forces for several decades. Seen here in 1961 at Hurn is Sea Fury FB.11 VR930 of the Airwork-operated Fleet Requirements Unit (now FRADU). This aircraft is still extant in storage with the RN Historic Flight at Yeovilton while coincidentally, the other FRU example in the background, TF956, was also operated by the Flight until its demise on June 10, 1989.
At Filton, BAe has re-sprayed Bulldogs and several types of helicopter. The new two-tone green tactical camouflage has been applied here to Wessex HC.2s and (illustrated) Puma HC.1s.
Tucano T.1 ZF376 from 1 FTS at Linton-on-Ouse in uncharacteristic pose for the camera with undercarriage lowered at altitude over North Yorkshire in October 1992. Ground support for RAF Tucano T.1s is one of a growing number of functions in the services which are steadily being contractorised.
Market testing, 1930s style. The last airworthy Blackburn B.2 G-AEBJ was one of many civil-registered aircraft operated under contract to the RAF by privately-owned Reserve Flying Schools.
Yeovilton Station Flight Chipmunk T.10 WP904 being reassembled at Kirkbymoorside in May 1986 after overhaul, strip and respray by Slingsby Aviation. The company undertook similar work on a large number of RAF, Royal Navy and Army Air Corps examples under a mid-1980s contract.
ETPS Hunter T.7A XL564 on overhaul with Airwork at Hurn during April 1991 at a time when numerous examples of the type were regularly passing through for attention.
G-BVHD is one of five Grob G 115D2 aircraft which have recently taken over from the veteran Chipmunk T.10s at Plymouth/Roborough with the Royal Navy Flying Grading Flight (RNFGF). The RNFGF has been operated under civilian contract by Airwork for several decades and this continues under Short Brothers following the latter's take-over of Airwork in November 1993.