Monday 11 June – Jet Provosts and C54
Two of our Jet Provosts returnfed from RAF Cosford shortly after the Vampires arrived. G-BWOT also did some circuits. The tug broke down towing back the C54, so it out on the ramp and can be photographed without the usual background clutter. A lot of people took the opportunity to have a look inside on Sunday.
Monday 11 June Norwegian Vampires
The Norwegian Historical Squadron brought their two Vampires in on Monday lunchtime from Aalborg in Denmark. They will be using North Weald once again as their base for the airshow season. The MiG 15UTI will also arrive in due course.
Sunday 10 June – 2
The inspection and group photos. The second group photo seeks to emulate the famous WW1 shot of the pilots in various attires with their dogs!
Sunday 10 June – 1
56 Squadron are North Weald’s longest serving squadron – from 1927 to 1941. In 2016 they celebrated their 100th anniversary at the Airfield. This year, to mark the RAF’s 100 anniversay in turn, Epping Forest District Council voted to confer the Freedom of the District on 56 Squadron. This was done at a formal council meeting back in April. On Sunday 10 June 56 Squadron paraded through North Weald village along with 56 Squadron, Air Cadet Corps, from Woolwich, other local ATC contingents, RAFA and RBL standards and veterans. After laying wreaths at the Debt of Honour Memorial, the parade continued with a marchpast by the Gate Guardian Hurricane, which represents a 56 Squadron aircraft from the Battle of Britain.
The Squadron then had an inspection by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant and the EFDC Chairman and the Freedom Scroll was paraded by two Air Cadets. A BBMF Hurricane also made a flypast. The two squadrons then posed for group photographs. A Community Picnic continued the activities during the afternoon. The C54 Skymaster and two Gnats were also on static display.
A huge amount of work had been done by the Ops Team and our colleagues in Grounds Maintenance to make the Airfield look immaculate on the day. A special RAF 100 flowerbed was installed by the Main Gate along with an RAF roundel next to the Gate Guardian.
Wednesday 6 June
The Jet Provost Mark 3, XN459 / G-BWOT, in the Red Pelicans scheme went out for a couple of training sorties. It is many years since I have seen this aircraft flying. Great to see it back in the air again.
Sunday 3 June
The Royal Navy Historic Flight’s Sea Fury T20 positioned at North Weald on Sunday for its display at the Fly Navy show at Old Warden. It arrived just after 0900 and departed for its display at 1630.
The Shuttleworth Piston Provost also paid us a brief visit
The Spitfire PRXI returned from its display at Rendcomb.
The red Gnat G-RORI was also out for three sorties during the day.
Wednesday 23 May – Yaks
The three Yaks – a Yak 50 and two Yak 52s – were also doing formation training. One sortie as a three-ship then a two-ship when the Yak 50 departed back to Belgium.
Wednesday 23 May Jet Provosts
The Jet Provosts were on their third day of formation flying. Unfortunately G-PROV had an a nosegear problem and only did an air test before departing back to Nottingham.
Jet Provosts Saturday and Sunday
Our local Jet Provost Mark 3, XN637 / G-BKOU, was out both days on training flights
The Squadron is holding a formation school for three days this week. Two Jet Provosts arrived to take part – former resident Mark 4 G-PROV from Nottingham and XW325 / G-BWGF from Coventry
Gnats Sunday 20 May
Another two sorties with formation missed approaches and landings for the first time.
Saturday 19 May
Speaking to Pete the Gnat Chief Engineer, the single-seater is making steady progress, but with so much paperwork to resolve there is no firm date for completion as yet.
The Gnats did three days of practice, and I was on roster for the weekend and captured the two pairs sorties plus a singleton by G-MOUR at the end of the day.
Tuesday 15 May
Our Boeing Stearman was out on a local flight in the morning.
The Hong Kong Bulldog, G-BPCL, was also active.
The Herts Air Ambulance also had a busy day.
The Spitfire PRXI was out on a funeral flypast then went off to Turweston.
Friday 11 May
Jet Provost Mark 5 XW325 / G-BWGF visited us from Coventry.
Peter Teichman also did a DA renewal display in the Spitfire.
Thursday 10 May
The Royal Navy Sea Fury T20 arrived first thing from Yeavilton for some routine maintenance, and will be with us for about a week.
A Grob Tutor – Britannia 212 – came in later to give Chris Götke a lift back to Yeovilton.
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