RNAS Yeovilton – 31st March – More FRADU action – 14 images

Following on from [url=http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=107937]Tuesday’s visit to RNAS Yeovilton[/url] I had the opportunity of a return trip for a couple of hours on Thursday 31st!
The weather appeared to have stayed in situ, no change from the dull grey conditions, albeit providing slightly better light.

The FRADU had already launched two previous sorties prior to my arrival just before midday, but the dispersal still contained five Hawks awaiting their next flights…

Clearance granted, XX169 leads XX281 out to Runway 27…

…and they were joined by XX205 for a 3-ship launch.
It was at this point I became the subject of the Guard Dog patrolling the perimeter with its handler, so I missed the take-off!
Being half deaf, I don’t even remember hearing it!

Two of FRADU’s Hawks are permanently ‘detached’ to Naval Flying Standards Flight (Fixed Wing) – NFSF(FW) at Yeovilton. XX159 and XX217 are its two assigned airframes at present and are shown just after start-up.
Unfortunately XX217 developed a problem, and the sortie was scrubbed. XX159 has now also lost two ‘key’ words on its rear fuselage in addition to the 0 from the fin…

FRADU Hawk XX337 then returned from an earlier sortie!

Grob G-BYVF was buzzing the circuit, and performed some energetic approaches…

…its place in the overhead was taken by G-BYVK later…

At 1340hrs XX169 and XX281 re-appeared over the airfield following the completion of their tasking…

As was the case on Tuesday, the RAF decided to make an appearance, this time it was Hawk XX202 from RAF 100 Sqn at Leeming…

XX205 then returned to the fold too…

The Leeming aeroplane was positioned on the end of the line…

“I counted them all out, and I counted them all back in again.” 1-2-3-4-5. 6-7??!!
Note to the right of images, two NFSF(FW) pilots walking out for another bash at their sortie. The FRADU engineers had readied XX337 as a substitute for the ‘sick’ XX217, which is awaiting a tug to pull her into the hangar.

As always, I must thank the man Ralph at FRADU for his information, and to the airfield security man for calling off the dog (great bloke, very friendly)…
I hope to be back at VLN at some point next week, in the hope of photographing every FRADU Hawk that made the trip up from Culdrose.
Some sun and blue sky would be great also. 😉

Comments/criticism on the images are very much appreciated, either on board or via PM.

Many thanks for looking…

Mark