Blue Vixen and Sea Harrier

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/content.php3?page=5298

Jun 03

Sea Harriers Go East
Six Sea Harriers of 800 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) have just returned to Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, following a very successful exercise in Malaysia, codenamed Ex FLYING FISH.

While outbound, 800 NAS were able to make use of the RAF VC10 tanker trail, which had been established in support of the Gulf War. Consequently, the route to Malaysia took them via RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and Al Dhafri near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The Sea Harriers then routed along the east coast of India and into the unpredictable weather systems of the Indian Ocean.

The water crossing of some four hours was a hair-raising experience with moderate turbulence as the formation stuck close together through a large cumulo-nimbus, thunder cloud, were one aircraft was struck twice by lightning! Happily very little damage was done and the formation made it safely to Colombo.

The departure of the diminutive Sea Harriers from Colombo International Airport was bizarre. They followed a Thai Airways Boeing 777 to the threshold and sat there while another tropical storm blew over the airfield leaving some 11mm of rain behind in 25 minutes.

Arrival in Malaysia was reasonably uneventful. Air Traffic Controllers the world over speak English, and this includes Malaysia, even if the accent was more suited to a voice working in the local Chinese restaurants, the controllers coped well and the aircraft all landed safely.

FLYING FISH was a 3-week exercise. Ten RAAF F/A-18As, seven Malaysian MiG 29s, eight Hawk 108s and 208s, four Royal Malaysian Air Force F/A-18Ds, five RN Sea Harriers and a number of aircraft from the Singaporean Air Force took part. Each RN pilot faced the MiG 29 in combat and found the Sea Harrier to be a good match for the MiG. Thanks to the Blue Vixen radar the Sea Harrier won every time in beyond visual range engagements and also scored some notable successes when converting to the visual fighting arena.

During a 4-day break from the exercise, some squadron members travelled to Kuala Lumpur, the capital, to see the sights and some went south to Singapore. But, most were quite happy with the local beaches, restaurants and bars. The food was generally delicious and cheap and, thankfully there were few upset stomachs.

The best aspects of the detachment were the excellent support we received from the RAF and our Malaysian hosts; the opportunity to fight the very competent and professional RMAF force in their MiGs; the weather and very high standard of accommodation, and of course, the nightlife and ‘tourist attractions’. Our beach volleyball team is clearly not world class, but our footballers were victorious in all their games against the RMAF and the Australians. In brief, it was a superb detachment all round.

Jul 03
The Squadron will be at our home base in Yeovilton, recovering from the exploits of June and preparing for exercise Red Flag in the USA. We will be operating out of Nellis AFB near Las Vegas.

Aug 03
In the USA at Red Flag, flying large composite formations with multiple bogies and large complicated missions. A long tanker formation trail to and from the States will be the most painful aspect of this exercise which is quite possibly the best fighter training available anywhere in the world.

Sep 03
September will be spent taking summer leave and currency flying at our home base in Somerset