Latest Articles
RAF P-8A Poseidon MRA1 Arrives in the United Kingdom
120 Squadron delivers the first RAF P-8A Poseidon MRA1 to the UK On the 4th February 2020, No.120 (CXX) Squadron flew its new Maritime patrol aircraft the Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1, serial number ZP801 – ‘Pride of Moray’, from NAS Jacksonville Florida to RAF Kinloss in Morayshire, under the callsign RAFAIR 7078. The arrival of ZP801 marks a new era for the Squadron, station and the Royal Air Force, as well as filling a gap in the U.K. maritime surveillance capability that has been missed since the demise of the Nimrod fleet in 2010. 120 Squadron Royal Air Force CXX [...]
NAS Lemoore – Airshow 2019
Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California, has been a key location on the map since its completion in 1961, fulfilling a requirement to support the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy. After eight years, NAS Lemoore returned to the US airshow calendar. Lockheed Martin F-35C VFA-125 Rough Raiders NAS Lemoore is firmly established and recognised as the Western Coast ‘Master Jet Base’ and home to several United States Navy (USN) strike fighter squadrons, each with their own rich history. The NAS Lemoore base is located approximately 200 miles north of Los Angeles and over the weekend of 21st and [...]
Cypriot Air Command – The Cyprus Air Force
Located just over six miles (10km) southeast of its namesake city, Paphos International Airport in Cyprus has the distinction of not only being the country's second largest airport, but the home to the entire flying element of the Cypriot Air Command. Located on the site’s northside, the military facility is called Andreas Papandreou Air Base. Commanded by Col Marios Florides, the Cypriot Air Force is the armed air wing of the Cypriot National Guard (Ethnikí Frourá). Made up of two squadrons; 450 Moira Elikopteron (M.E/P) and 460 Moira Erevnas Diasosis (MED), an attack helicopter and search/rescue squadron respectively. With 20 [...]
JASDF Iruma – Kawasaki C-1
The Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) is in a period of transition as it replaces its older aircraft with a new more modern, efficient and capable air force. One of the unsung stalwarts of the Japanese transport fleet - and celebrating 45 years of service in 2019 - is the Kawasaki C-1, which will be replaced in the coming years by the Kawasaki C-2. The drawdown of C-1 airframes has been underway since 2014, and at the time of writing, just under half of the 31 aircraft built by Kawasaki are still active. Back in the early 1960s, the [...]
Belgian Sea King Retirement
March 21, 2019 was a memorable day in the calendar for both 40 Squadron and the Belgian Air Component, as it marked the retirement of the Westland Sea King Mk 48 helicopters after 43 years of loyal service providing the Search and Rescue (SAR) capability to the people of Belgium. The baton has now formally been handed over to the NHIndustries NH90 NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) which first entered service with the Belgian Air Component on August 1, 2013. During the past six months, Mark Empson has visited Koksijde airbase; home to 40 Squadron on a number of occasions spending [...]
JMSDF Atsugi – Kawasaki P-1
The Japanese territorial waters cover a vast area around the Japanese islands. For example, Okinawa in the South to Chitose in the North is a distance of around 1400 miles in a direct line. To oversee and protect those waters the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) has utilised a fleet of around 100 Lockheed P-3 Orions since 1984. However, since 2013 the JMSDF has started to replace these ageing aircraft with its own indigenous built modern aircraft – the Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA).
RAF F-35B delivered to RAF Marham
Wednesday June 6, 2018 marked a historic event in UK Aviation, which saw the first batch of RAF F-35B delivered to RAF Marham, Norfolk. Whilst public opinion may be divided on the long awaited delivery [...]
NATO Tiger Meet 2018 Spotters Day
For aviation enthusiasts, the annual Tiger Meet exercise is one of the most anticipated military gatherings held in Europe thanks to a wide array of participating aircraft and more often than not the special schemes [...]
Navy Wings II with Threshold.aero
Following on from the highs of their Cosford Nightshoot just the week before, it was the turn of the Senior Service to take the Threshold.aero limelight. Dubbed Navy Wings II, Jamie Ewan made his way [...]
RAF Cosford Nightshoot
Having opened their 2018 season with a chance to capture one of the world’s rarest aeroplanes (the Reid and Sigrist R.S.4 Bobsleigh), it was the turn of one particular F-4 Phantom to receive the Threshold.aero [...]
RAF100 Centenary Celebrations
With April 1, 2018 marking the 100 year result of the amalgamation of the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps, Jamie Ewan looks at what the Royal Air Force has planned to commemorate, in [...]
Lightning Preservation Group Nightshoot
February. Bruntingthorpe. Lightnings. Yes, it is that time of the year again at which the Lightning Preservation Group opens their season with a dedicated photoshoot of their world-renowned English Electric Lightnings. Jamie Ewan was there and took time to chat with [...]
Spanhoe Photocall
Found in rural Northamptonshire, Spanhoe Airfield was once called home by both the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Force. Now, some 70 years after the airfield was returned to the farmers [...]
Baltic Bees Jet Team
Lying in the west of the Baltic State Latvia, the newly refurbished Jurmala Airport resides near the small historical town of Tukums. Since their inception in 2008, the Baltic Bees Jet Team have based themselves [...]
Jurmala Airport Air Zoo
Just 40 miles west of the Latvian capital Riga in the small sleepy town of Tukums sits Jurmala Airport. Once a Soviet air base, the site is now home to an interesting yet largely unknown [...]
Lightning Preservation Group – ORP Scramble
With the 2017 ‘offseason’ in full swing, November 4th saw the turn of the Lightning Preservation Group and their English Electric icons to provide an aviation solace with their annual Twilight run. Billed this year [...]
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40) ‘Rawhides’
“Here we go, here we go, here we go!” - No, not the chant from fans at a football match, but the cries emanating from the two loadmasters of VRC-40 ‘Rawhides’ sat at the rear [...]
Joint Base Andrews Air Show 2017
Situated just across the Potomac River from Washington DC, Joint Base Andrews is home to a number of units that include the Presidential Airlift Group. Over the weekend of September 16-17 though, the base opened [...]
