Latest Articles
Cobra Warrior 2025-1
For many years, Lincolnshire has resonated to fast jet activity and so it was again with Exercise Cobra Warrior 25-1 planned and coordinated from RAF Waddington from February 24 to March 14, 2025. AeroResource’s Ian Harding provides a brief overview of this major international UK led exercise which since from 2022 has become a two-part spring and autumnal exercise.
RAF Puma, 54 & out
The Westland Puma HC2 currently serving with 33 and 230 Squadron at RAF Benson, and 84 Squadron at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, will be withdrawn from service on March 31, 2025. Ian Harding provides a brief review of the helicopter at the end of an illustrious 54 years operational career which commenced with the types first operational flight on September 29, 1971. Throughout this period, the Puma, its aircrew and maintainers have been deployed on numerous operations including combat operations, exercises, provided humanitarian relief, and during more recent times, provided search and rescue capability and fulfilled fire-fighting duties. The Puma had become a genuine ‘jack of all trades’ and will therefore be sadly missed.
Northolt Nightshoot XXXII
On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the 32nd edition of the RAF Northolt Nightshoot took place under near-perfect conditions. Attendees enjoyed a clear night with no rain, wind or cloud cover - even the temperature was kind! The entire AeroResource team was present to witness the impressive line-up of aircraft Phil Dawe MBE, RAF Northolt Station Commander and the event volunteers had secured for the event.
AeroResource 2024 Review
With the UK weather Gods providing just a few moments of relief from the grey skied gloom that seems to have engulfed us this winter, the AeroResource team have taken time to look back at 2024’s highlights. 2024 saw the first full year of the new writing and editorial team at AeroResource and we hope that the increased output, both here on the site and across social media haven’t gone un-noticed. We’ve covered a number of events both at home and abroad and hope to provide more articles through the coming year.
Turkish Air Force Phantom’s turn 50!
Over the weekend of November 16/17, 2024, the Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) celebrated the 50th anniversary of their F-4E Phantom Terminator 2020 in service at the Ist Main Jet Base Eskişehir; the operational home base for 111 Filo and the test unit 401 Filo. With aviation press and enthusiasts in attendance, what transpired was a truly exceptional event and Chris Lofting was there for AeroResource to provide his own personal experience of proceedings.
KC-10A Bows Out
September 26th 2024 was an emotional day at Travis Air Force Base, California, when the final KC-10A departed, marking the end of operations with the United States Air Forces (USAF). Westleigh Bushell takes a look back at the operational career of this iconic jet.
Northolt Nightshoot XXIX
As we start the transition from long summer evenings to the shorter, colder winter nights it brings with it the start of the nightshoot season. October 5th 2023 saw one of the first, RAF Northolt [...]
Royal Navy Dauphin – FOST Mission Support
A familiar sight in skies above Cornwall and Devon but less so elsewhere, AeroResource considers the unique and specialised operations of the FOST Dauphin helicopter which performs an important role on behalf of the Royal [...]
Anatolian Eagle 2023
Held in Konya, central Türkiye, since 2001, Anatolian Eagle exercises have always been well attended, both by participating nations from around the world and aviation enthusiasts alike. 2023’s edition was no exception with visiting participants [...]
301 Hikotai Phantom II F-4EJ Kai Retirement
The Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) retired its last Phrontline Phantom aircraft at the beginning of December 2020, namely 301 Hikotai and their Phantom II F-4EJ Kai’s. The last 301 Hikotai Phantom II F-4EJ [...]
JASDF RF-4 Phantom II
JASDF RF-4E 47-6905 and 57-6907 The 9th of March 2020 saw the end of an era as the JASDF RF-4 Phantom II aircraft were retired at Hyakuri Air Base after nigh on 46 years service [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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).
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 [...]
F-35A Deployment to RAF Lakenheath
Eight F-35A Lightning IIs from the 34th Fighter Squadron ‘Rude Rams’ along with pilots, maintenance specialists, security and other support personnel from the active component 34th Fighter Squadron and the Air Force Reserve's 466th Fighter Squadron, [...]
Royal Navy Lynx Retirement
Fast, sleek, agile and sporty; words which are often used to describe and sum up the Westland Lynx - a helicopter that, in March 2017, will finally reach the end of a remarkable forty-one years [...]
