12 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2008
Airs and acesAirs and aces
WHAT do you get if you mix ou mix
1,500 litres of fuel, two tonnes of
For your eyes only
dust and fi ve tonnes of peat?
Why a rousing finale to
Yeovilton Air Day, which takes which takes
SWEEPING acrSWWEEPPING acrososs the Lizars the Lizardd peninsula peninsula
place at the Somerset air station
on July 5.
on a fionn a fi n ne spring afterne spring afternonoon, this is a Merlin on, this is a Merlin
As ever the famous set-piece
didisplay only a privileged few werisplayy only a privileged few weree fortunate fortunate
commando assault – featuring ing enough to witness...enouugh to witness...
all aspects of naval aviaviation plus ... and an even fewer ‘privileged few’ have ear... and an even fewer ‘privileged few’ have earned ned
Royal Marines blowing things the right to fly this £40m airthe rright to fly this £40m aircraft craft on active duties having on active duties having
up – closes the display, bringing earnedned their ‘spurs’ after two years of intensive training.n their ‘spurs’ after two years of intensive training.
the curthe curttain doain dowwn on fivn on fivee hour hourss TTeen trainee airen trainee aircreew became ten qualified airw became ten qualified airccrreew as w as
of flying displaof flying displays from the RAF’s
they collected their wings frthey cy ollected their wings from bom business leader Sir Stuart usiness leader Sir Stuart
Eurofighter to the RN’s vintage
Rose – the man who famously turRosse – the man who famously turnened ard around the fortunes of ound the fortunes of
Swordfish and Sea Fury.
Marks and Spencer – at RNAS CuldrMarkks and Spencer – at RNAS Culdroseose..
The Sea Fury is making its first
BeforBefore the fliers and their families mustere the fliers and their families mustered in one of the air ed in one of the air
appearance in the skies under the
station’station’s hass hangars, they werngars, they were te trreeated first to a private air show ated first to a private air show
ownership of the RN Historic
from Culdrom Culdrorose-based airse-based airccraft, then the stirring sounds of the Band raft, then the stirring sounds of the Band
Flight, based at Yeovilton; it’s not
of HM Royal Marines Plymouth.of HM Royal Marines Plymmouth.
been seen flying in the UK for
And then the ‘wings parade’ rAndAd then th theth ‘w‘iings parade’ reeached its climax as pilots, observers and airached its climax as pilots, observers and aircreew w
18 years.
were fe formally prormally preesented with their flying badges or wings, with Sir Stuart telling sented with their flying badges or wings, with Sir Stuart telling
Making a re-appearance will be
the rthe reecipients that leadership and team work with everyone pulling in the same cipients that leadership and team work with everyone pulling in the same
Swordfish LS326, on displa on displayy for for
directection werion weree keys to success. keys to success.
the first time in nearly a decade st time in nearly a decade
The wings badges allow the ten successful airThe wings badges allow the ten successful aircreew w
following an extensive renovation
to leave 824 Naval Air Squadrto leave 824 Naval Air Squadron –on – the Merlin training the Merlin training
programme at Yeovilton.
formation – and move on to the frformation – and move on to the frontont-line units, 814, -line units, 814,
MeanwhileMeanwhile,, f fururther weest,st,
820, and 829 NAS (for the r820, and 829 NAS (for the recorecordd the ten ar the ten are: Lts Kare: Lts Kareen n
Culdrose hosts its air daCuldrose hosts its air dayy on on
Snel, James TSnel, James Taaylorylor, M, Matthew Blake, Dan Watthew Blake, Dan Waaskett, Ryan skett, Ryan
Wednesday July 30, with many of
McGiverMcGivernn, Alan Darlington, Andr, Alan Darlington, Andreew Birw Bird,d, Alex Kelley Alex Kelley, F, Flt lt
the aircraft seen athe aircraft seen att YeYeovilvilton also ton also
Sgt Dave Miles and Wtr Gavin Furlong) .Sgt Dave Miles and Wtr Gavin Furlong) .
If you werIf you wereen’n’t privileged enough to catch the wings parade t privileged enough to catch the wiwingsn parade
pirouetting through Cornish skies.
displaydisplay,, perhaps you wer perhaps you were one of the 200,000 or so people who e one of the 200,000 or r so ppeoplep who
Besides the full panoply of
saw 824 perform above the Thames estuarysaw 824 perform above the Thames estuary.y.
Fleet Air Arm airpower past and
As we rAs we reeported last month, the 824 chaps and chapesses ported last month, the 824 chaps and chapesses
present,present, there will be a mix of
practised for Southend air show by conducting winching drills with prapr ctised for Southend air show by conducting winching drillls with
displays ys in the air and on the in the air and on the
a lifeboat fra la ifeboat from Falmouth (something normally performed by 824’om Falmouth (something n normally performed by 824’ss Sea SeSea
ground, including Messerschmitt
King ‘cousins’ frKing ‘cousins’ froom 771 NAS).m 771 NAS).
Bf108s (forerunners of the
Practice makes perfect and so it was that an 824 cab performed with a RNLI Practice makes perfect and so it was that an 824 cab perfformeded witw h a RNR LI
legendary Bf109), a Sopwith
boat on both days of the curtain-raiser to the display season.boat on both days of the curtain-raiser to the displayay ses asonn.
Pup and Pup and Tririplane (the laplane (the latter were
Indeed, the weather in Southend favourIndeed, the weather in Soututhenend fd avoured lifeboat cred lifeboat creews morewws mmore than airmen – e ththan aira menme –
flown with distinction by naval al
most displays wermost ddisplays were cancelled, including the RAF Red Arre cancelled, incncluluding the RRAF Red Ar A roows; conditions, in Fws;s; conc ditionio s, in FAAA AA
aviators over the Westerestern Front),
parlance, werparlance,e weeree described as ‘marginal’. desscribedd as ‘m‘margginanal’.
the Army’s Blue Eagles helicopter
Nevertheless, an estimated 200,000 people braved the inclement Essex weather NevNe ertrtheleless, a an estimated ed 2000,0000 peope le e brbraved the iinclement n Essex ex weather
display team, a Boeing 767 a Boeing 767
over the two days of the showoover tthe two days y of the show.
airliner and the Royal Jordanian “Hopefully the public will now r“Hopefully the public will now rereemember the Merlin as an imprmember the Merllin in as an impmpreessive helicopter ssive helicopter
FFaalconslcons.. – and one of the only air– and one ofof the oeonly aia rccraft to actually go flying during both days of the event,” raft to actuallyy gogo flf ying during both daysa of the event,”
Yeovilton tickets (£20 for said 824 NAS instructor Lt Nick Bates who was airborsaid 824 NAS instructor Lt Nick Bates ws ho was airbornne at Southend.e at Soouthu ende .
adults and OAPs, £7 for You can see the Merlins ‘strutting their stufou can see the Merlins ‘strutting their stuff’f’ at RAF Wat RAF Waaddington air show near ddington air show near r
children) are available on Lincoln on July 5-6. Lincoln on July 5-6. 6
08445 781 781 or from www. 824 wer824 were not the only naval helicopters in the skies of Essex that weekend; the e not the oonly naval helicopters in the skies of Essex that weekend;d tht e
ticketzone.co.uk. Discounts are Black Cats, the LBlack CatC s, the LyLynx display team frnx display team from Yeovilton, also headed down the Thames eovilton, also headed down tht e Thama es es
available if you buy in advance. estuary to Southend.
Culdrose ticket prices range On their way back to Somerset, they jinked up the Thames escorting the first On their way back to Somerset, they jinnked up the Thames escorting ththe ffirsr t t
from £5 for children to £30
copies of the new James Bond novel copies of the new James e Bond nd ovevel l Devil May CareDevvil il May Care to HMS Exeter ( toto HMH S Exete er (see page seee pap ge ge e
for families (two adults, t twwoo
11).
children) and again substantial
PicturPictP ure: LA(Phot) Carl Osmond, RNAS Culdre: LA(PhotPh ) CaCarl Orl Osmonnd, RNAS Culdrrooosee
discounts are available by calling
08708705 321 321 or the 05 321 321 or the TicTicketzone ketzone
site above before July 1 before July 16.6.
0012_NN_July.indd 112_NN_July.indd 1 220/6/08 12:52:300/6/08 12:52:30
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