North Weald Diary 2018

Sad news for the start of 2019 – It appears The Squadron has shut its doors

Moggy

Thanks for the many updates YR and the others be great to see a 2019 thread started 🙂

Saturday 29 December

Jet Provost Mark 4 XR673 / G-BXLO departed for Tatenhill after routine maintenance. It was due to leave a couple of weeks ago, but both the potential crew ferry aicraft went tech.

The construction of the new NPAS helicopter hangar and base facility is now underway and is due to be completed next Augast. In the meantime the police helicopters are using us for regular training, including fast roping.

Thanks to everyone who has takien an interest in North Weald over the past year. Our latest newsletter still has some copies available. If anyone wants a copy PM me and I can post one out.

On Friday 26 October an Army Air Corps Apache helicopter callsign Scarecrow / ZJ231 came in from Wattisham for some circuits on Runways 02 and 30 before departing to Gravesend

Its in store pending a move to a French museum.

Seen images of Vampire T11 XD459 at North Weald now. Unsure what the plan is for it though.

A Chinook helicopter, Vortex 427 / ZH775, arrived from Linton-on-Ouse as part of a navigation exercise at lunchtime on Friday 12 October. The crew from 27 Squadron wanted some bacon sandwiches before they departed for the next stage of their flight to Woolwich in east London, then returning to their base at RAF Odiham. Their flight had started from Oban in Scotland.

A Scout in for maintenance was also out in the sunshine.

A couple of Mustang shots from the Jet Fest Saturday

A visitor from Headcorn on Sunday 7 October was Percival Proctor RM221 / G-ANXR

The Spitfire also went off to Wellesbourne Mountford

Hope the nose wheel on the JP5 sorted itself out while taxying!

Lovely photos ,am i the only one that thinks the twin seater gnat is much nicer looking than the single seater 🙂

Final selection from last Friday and Saturday.

North American P-51D Mustang 472035 “Tall In The Saddle” (G-SIJJ) – Hangar 11 Collection – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

North American P-51D Mustang 472035 “Tall In The Saddle” (G-SIJJ) – Hangar 11 Collection – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

North American P-51D Mustang 472035 “Tall In The Saddle” (G-SIJJ) – Hangar 11 Collection – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

IMG_2239 by DanB, on Flickr

IMG_2254 by DanB, on Flickr

BAC Jet Provost T.5 XW325 (G-BWGF) – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

BAC Jet Provost T.5 XW325 (G-BWGF) – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin G-DLFN – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin G-DLFN – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

BAC Jet Provost T.5 XW325 (G-BWGF) – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Hindustan Gnat F1 E2961 (G-SLYR) – Gnat Display Team – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Hindustan Gnat F1 E2961 (G-SLYR) – Gnat Display Team – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Hindustan Gnat F1 E2961 (G-SLYR) – Gnat Display Team – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Westland Scout AH.1 XW283 (G-CIMX) – Army Air Corps Historic Flight – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

BAC Strikemaster Mk.82 425 (G-SOAF) – North Wales Military Aviation Services Ltd – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

BAC Strikemaster Mk.82 425 (G-SOAF) – North Wales Military Aviation Services Ltd – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.80A (G-RSAF) – North Wales Military Aviation Services Ltd – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.80A (G-RSAF) – North Wales Military Aviation Services Ltd – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Folland Gnat T.1 G-MOUR / XS102 (XR992) – Gnat Display Team – North Weald, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

IMG_2341 by DanB, on Flickr

Congratulations to all pilots, owners and ground crew of the assembled aircraft at North Weald for this weekends Jet Fest. I do not under estimate the the time and effort it must take to move these aircraft around. Maybe I am not the only person who found it difficult to get the best shots ? As the sun moved around things improved but several of the aircraft were parked rather close to each other and the camo Strikemaster was complete out of view. Whilst I am not in a position to criticise I feel it would have been better if the empty space further down the cross runway had been used for some parking. The Hunter was parked in a most unusual location, again given the available space could have been better positioned. Hopefully the aircraft owners will consider repeating this event next year and again a big thank you all the owners who want to share their aircraft with us earth bound photographers.

T V, No,and yes…when the paperwork =MTOW,then ….

I’ve read that Jaguar XX841 is now at North Weald. Anyone know what the plan is for the aircraft?

Has this Gnat F1 flown yet following restoration, or is it still undergoing checks?
Its really significant that a fighter variant Gnat is flight worthy again in the UK.
Can’t wait to see it.

Saturday 29 September. Jet Fest Gnats

Good day out today. A little slow on jet movements as the ground crews had to relocate the entire lot halfway across the airfield and that was going on for a long time. Talking to the engineers tonight, they’re shattered, and they’ve got another day with potentially more flights to look forward to tomorrow, so please do go along and support their event.

Hangar 11 were an added bonus today, so started the day helping Peter and his crew reshuffle the hangar to get the Mustang out to go to Kemble.

A selection of random shots follows. Still more to process from the last two days.

North American P-51D Mustang 472035 “Tall In The Saddle” (G-SIJJ) – Hangar 11 Collection – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

North American P-51D Mustang 472035 “Tall In The Saddle” (G-SIJJ) – Hangar 11 Collection – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

North American P-51D Mustang 472035 “Tall In The Saddle” (G-SIJJ) – Hangar 11 Collection – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Gnat by DanB, on Flickr

Hindustan Gnat F1 E2961 (G-SLYR) – Gnat Display Team – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

North American P-51D Mustang 472035 “Tall In The Saddle” (G-SIJJ) – Hangar 11 Collection – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

North American P-51D Mustang 472035 “Tall In The Saddle” (G-SIJJ) – Hangar 11 Collection – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Folland Gnat T.1 G-RORI / XR538 – Gnat Display Team – North Weald, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Folland Gnat T.1 G-RORI / XR538 – Gnat Display Team – North Weald, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Folland Gnat T.1 G-RORI / XR538 – Gnat Display Team – North Weald, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Folland Gnat T.1 G-RORI / XR538 – Gnat Display Team – North Weald, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Folland Gnat T.1 G-RORI / XR538 – Gnat Display Team – North Weald, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

IMG_2320 by DanB, on Flickr

BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.80A (G-RSAF) – North Wales Military Aviation Services Ltd – North Weald Airfield, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

Then on to the night shoot. The Herts Air Ambulance returned while this was going on and lit up the Gnats with its searchlight.

The classic jets were lined up on the Hangar 2 Apron ready for the night shoot as the sun went down.

Friday 28 September. There were arrivals during the day for the Jet Fest and night photo shoot.