Latest Articles
What a M-STAR!
The sharply painted M-STAR, a 1981 built Boeing 727-2X8 began its final series of flights from Dubai to the Cotswolds on 31st January 2024, for a somewhat unknown future. Westleigh Bushell was on hand at Cotswold Airport to witness what could be the aircraft's final landing. History…. Having always been in the VIP/Business jet role, M-STAR is believed to be the lowest flight hour Boeing 727 still airworthy. The aircraft is line number 1784 and rolled off Boeing's Renton production line in 1981 wearing the test registration N4523N. The first owner flew it as N721MF from 1982 and it stayed with [...]
Westland Gazelle AH1 Swan Song
On Monday October 23rd 2023, three 665 Squadron, 5 Regiment Army Air Corps Westland Gazelle AH1s departed RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland for a short tour of UK landmarks. This brings to an end this chapter of the aircrafts UK military service life with the official end of service date being October 31st 2023. Ian Harding was on hand at one of the locations to capture the final operational moments of what many refer to as 'the chicken leg'. Additional supporting images have been provided by Mark Empson. The formation of Westland Gazelle AH1's departed at approximately 10AM local time [...]
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 XXIX Nightshoot. Mark Empson and Nick Thompson were on hand to report on the event. Much to the delight of the approximately 200 gathered photographers this event saw no cancellations from the expected participation list. That said, it was hoped that the special RAF 40th Anniversary Chinook would attend the event. Although never on the official list of attendees the aircraft went unserviceable earlier in [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
