Latest Articles
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 Navy. For those living in the United Kingdom’s most western counties, the sight of Hawk T1A’s from 736 Naval Air Squadron (based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, Cornwall) operating alongside Draken Aviation Falcon 20Cs (based at Bournemouth International Airport, Dorset) plus other NATO and foreign participants conducting Fleet Operational Sea Training (FOST) has been a familiar one for many years. Equally familiar in some [...]
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 including Azerbaijan and Pakistan drawing in plenty of enthusiasts to capture the action. This year’s access to the exercise was spread across one media day and two spotter’s days from May 8th – May 10th and, as always, excellently organised by the Turkish Air Force public affairs team. Situated at Konya International Airport, Anatolian Eagle Training Centre is one of four tactical training centres worldwide [...]
Edwards AFB Airshow & Open House 2022
Edwards AFB Airshow & Open House 2022 Edwards AFB Airshow & Open House 2022: In the 13 years since Edwards air force base last hosted an air show, a lot has changed. Fifth generation aircraft now rule the skies and innovation is driving new technologies for America and her allies. The development and testing of new technology for many years has been centred around “Aerospace Valley”, the area includes Edwards AFB, Mojave Air and Space Port and United States Air Force (USAF) Plant 42. The theme of the events taking place at Edwards AFB to celebrate the 75th anniversary of [...]
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 Kai retirement phlight was conducted on the 10th December by 07-8436, adorned in it’s blue phinale paint scheme. The 301 decommissioning ceremony was conducted on the 14th of December 2020 at the Hyakuri airbase in Iberaki prefecture. Retiring the mighty Kai Phantoms see’s an end to 48 years of phrontline phighter service, which has seen the F-4EJ providing a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) response to [...]
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 since 47-6901 was delivered in 1974. Six of the JASDF RF-4 Phantom II aircraft flew twice, in pairs, on their "phinal" day of service from Hyakuri, the six aircraft being: RF-4Es 47-6901, 47-6903, 57-6907, 57-6909 and RF-4EJs 67-6380 & 07-6433. Fittingly 47-6901 was the first RF-4E and 07-6433 the last RF-4EJ delivered to the JASDF. 501 JASDF RF-4EJ 77-6397 JASDF 501 TRS RF-4E 57-6907 JASDF [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
East Kirkby Season Finale
With the sun slowly sinking and its last light picking out the features of Lincolnshire’s flat plains, AeroResource’s Jamie Ewan made his way into the heart of ‘Bomber County’ for an evening with an aeroplane [...]