RNAS Yeovilton – Thurs 7th April – 21 images

Following yesterday’s visit to RNAS Yeovilton, and with the weather looking again promising, I decided to give it another go.
Armed with information that another 3-ship would be departing at 0855hrs, I waited patiently at Pyle Lane for the departure. Nothing happened, so at 0925hrs I decided to shoot around to the field at the end of Runway 27 to see what, if anything was occurring on south dispersal.
As I approached Speckington Lane, the 3-ship took off. Insert expletives here.

(1 to 3) I returned to Pyle Lane via Ilchester and waited for them to return… usual suspects again 🙂

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(4 to 5) Pyle Lane allows you to see and potentially photograph the egg whisks much more easily. I thought I heard a once familiar sound earlier in the day, and then I was treated to a once-familiar scene. A nostalgic 3CBAS departure (albeit played by 847NAS and 671 Sqn AAC)

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(6 to 8.) 848NAS, unbeknown to me were staging a Graduation event during the morning, which involved a demonstration by two Sea Kings. Superb 🙂

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9. I thought the Visitor allowance had been used with the Gazza, but no… An Army Air Corps Islander/Defender arrived…

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10. I moved back around to the end of Runway 27 during the afternoon for the final FRADU sortie of the week. Previously undergoing some maintenance, T.1A XX316 made an appearance for the first time!

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(11 to 13). It was joined by compatriots XX169 and XX159 (now with FRADU from NFSF(FW)) for the departure…

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14. Grob traffic began to pick up during the afternoon, with G-BYXK strimming around the edges of Yeovilton…

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(15 to 16). The Hawks recovering back to base…

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17.. XX169 landing following what could turn out to be its final FRADU tasking flight… it is scheduled to be flown to RAF Shawbury for long-term storage sometime in the next week.

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18. The FRADU dispersal shot!

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