Comet XS235 is one of only three still flying (the other two are at the RAE Bedford), and is used by the Navigation, Radio and Photographic Department primarily for navaid trials.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet 3 / 4 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1954

One of the navaid control panels in the cabin of Comet XS235, which is particularly involved at present in the evaluation of various inertial navigation systems.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet 3 / 4 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1954

The Armament Division at the A& AEE has been heavily engaged in clearing a number of new weapons options, such as Sidewinders on the Jaguar, (XZ371 of No 17 Squadron is illustrated)

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: SEPECAT Jaguar - InternationalInternational - 1969

A Jaguar GR Mk I (XX720) being hot-soaked in the A&AEE Environmental Test Centre, at the same time being subjected to solar radiation and kinetic heating.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: SEPECAT Jaguar - InternationalInternational - 1969

The Lockheed TriStar 500 will be one of the aircraft with which the A & AEE will be increasingly concerned during the next few years. Before the 1982 decision to purchase for RAF use six TriStars from British Airways, Boscombe Down flew both the TriStar 4 (shown, G-BFCD, "The Astral Rose’’) and a DC-10 to check compatibility with potential receiving aircraft (such as the Hercules illustrated). Modification of the first TriStar is now under way by Marshall of Cambridge.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed C-130 Hercules - СШАUSA - 1954Lockheed L-1011 TriStar - СШАUSA - 1970

The Westland Lynx HAS Mk 2 (XZ227, the first production example) is shown here carrying four Sea Skua ASMs during Boscombe trials; it also has been modified to have "Orange Crop" ESM in the nose fairing.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Westland Lynx - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1971

Two of the new aircraft types for the RAF with which the A& AEE is at present concerned are the VC10 K Mk 2 AAR tanker and the Nimrod AEW Mk 3 airborne early warning aircraft (illustrated are ZA141 and XZ286, the first examples of the two types respectively).

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAe Nimrod AEW - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1980Vickers VC-10 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1962

Two North American Harvard IIs, originally supplied to Britain during World War II through Lend-Lease arrangements, remain on the strength of the A & AEE and are flown regularly for general support tasks. Uniquely, they retain the overall yellow finish in which the first Harvards arrived in Britain some 45 years ago.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American T-6 Texan / AT-6 Harvard - СШАUSA - 1935

The Armament Division at the A& AEE has been heavily engaged in clearing a number of new weapons options, such as 12 1,000-Ib bombs on Tornado GR Mk 1 (XZ631, pre-production P-15).

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Panavia Tornado IDS (GR) - InternationalInternational - 1974

A Tornado canopy jettison test - rocket assisted - in Boscombe Down's blower tunnel facility.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Panavia Tornado IDS (GR) - InternationalInternational - 1974

A full scale test of a through-the-canopy ejection (from a Tornado), conducted at the A& AEE’s blower tunnel facility which can produce air streams of up to 350 kts (648 km/h).

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Panavia Tornado IDS (GR) - InternationalInternational - 1974

Much of the work of the A & AEE over the past 18 months has been concerned with air-to-air refuelling, both to prove the RAF’s new tankers and to check their compatibility with the whole range of potential receivers. Photo shows the A & AEE’s “own” Phantom, the third FG Mk I XT597, with the Hercules C.Mk 1(K) XV201.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed C-130 Hercules - СШАUSA - 1954McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.Mk I / FGR.Mk II - СШАUSA - 1964

The first of the Royal Navy's Sea King HC Mk 4s (ZA290) lifts a Sno-Cat at the A&AEE.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sikorsky H-3 / S-61 Sea King - СШАUSA - 1959

Low-temperature testing of a Sea King HAR Mk 3 (XZ585).

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sikorsky H-3 / S-61 Sea King - СШАUSA - 1959

Another recent activity has been to clear the Chinook HC Mk I (ZA671) with triple external loads

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook - СШАUSA - 1961

The apron at Boscombe Down - occupied in this picture by a number of visiting USAF F-111s as well as some of the A& AEE’s own residents - is adjacent to most of the offices and hangars, although some additional facilities are more distant. Prominent in the upper right of this picture is the Weighbridge hangar, whose dimensions were dictated by those of the Bristol Brabazon.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark - СШАUSA - 1964

The Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment is currently carrying out limited flight trials with Pucara A-515, RAF serial number ZD485. This aircraft was brought back from the Falklands aboard the Atlantic Causeway and will be flown at Boscombe by Sqn Ldrs Peart and Banfield for about 25hr. After the flying is completed it is expected that the Pucara will go to the RAF Museum at Hendon.
The A & AEE has been conducting a short handling evaluation - starting on 28 April 1983 - of one of the Ia 53 Pucara close-support aircraft captured in the the Falklands. Originally A-515 in the FAA, it has been assigned the MoD serial ZD485 for its flights in Britain.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: FMA IA.58 Pucara - АргентинаArgentina - 1969

Boscombe Down's blower tunnel facility being used to produce icing conditions on an experimental four-bladed rotor (on the Research Scout XP189) while it is photographed using the A & AEE-developed rotor-head camera.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Westland Wasp / Scout - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1958

One of the Canberras still giving valuable service at Boscombe Down is the water tanker (modified B.Mk 2 WV787) used to create icing conditions in which new aircraft - such as the BAe 146 (second Srs 100 G-SSHH ) shown here - can be tested.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAe BAe-146 / RJ - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1981English Electric / BAE Canberra B(I).8 / PR.9 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1954

Another new armament option cleared by the A & AEE is for a pair of Sidewinders on the BAe Hawk (XX160 illustrated in an early test configuration); the RAF will have 72 Hawks so modified for an emergency war role.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker-Siddeley Hawk / HS.1182 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1972

An important part of the A &AEE’s total activity, although not directly related to its primary mission of proving new aircraft, is represented by the work of the Empire Test Pilots School. Many of the ETPS aircraft now sport the MoD PE colours, including Hawk T Mk I XX343

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker-Siddeley Hawk / HS.1182 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1972

Shown wearing the distinctive MoD PE colours at Boscombe Down is the prototype Jet Provost T Mk 5 XS230, used for continuation training, support duties and by the ETPS. In addition to the types of aircraft illustrated in this article, such as the Hawk and the Jaguar, the ETPS operates a Lightning TMk 5 and Hunter T Mk 7,an Andover C Mk I and a Beagle Bassett CC Mk 1, and a full range of Service helicopters, comprising a Gazelle HT Mk 3, Lynx, Scout AH Mk 1, Sea King HAS Mk 1 and Wessex HU Mk 5.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hunting Percival Jet Provost / P.84 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1954

Now at Boscombe Down for handling and performance trials is the Tornado F Mk 2 ZA254

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Panavia Tornado ADV (F) - InternationalInternational - 1979

Weapons launching and other armament trials will be centred upon the second prototype ZA267

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Panavia Tornado ADV (F) - InternationalInternational - 1979

An important part of the A &AEE’s total activity, although not directly related to its primary mission of proving new aircraft, is represented by the work of the Empire Test Pilots School. Many of the ETPS aircraft now sport the MoD PE colours, including Jaguar T Mk 2 XX915

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: SEPECAT Jaguar T / E - InternationalInternational - 1968