Wattisham Airfield Army Air Corps Visitors Open Day - 9th March 2011

Three times a year, the Army Air Corps at Wattisham Airfield hold visitor open days where invited members of the public and groups of aviation enthusiasts are escorted into the camp for a briefing in one of the hangars into the equipment used and operations carried out by the AAC at the former home of the Royal Air Force at Wattisham in Suffolk. 

With the departure of No. 56 Squadron flying the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 in July 1992 and No. 74 Squadron with its F-4J(UK) and FGR.2 Phantoms in October 1992, RAF Wattisham was stood down as an RAF base on the 31st October 1992. In March 1993 the Army Air Corps moved in and Wattisham Airfield is now part of the 16th Air Assault Brigade, based at Colchester, and home to 3 Regiment, AAC, 4 Regiment, AAC, flying the Agusta-Westland Apache AH1 helicopters, along with 7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and 132 Aviation Supply Unit, Royal Logistics Corps. The RAF is still in residence at Wattisham with a pair of Sea King HAR3A Search & Rescue helicopters of B Flight, No. 22 Squadron and situated near the threshold of runway 23. Based in the Northern HAS Site is the Suffolk Police Air Support Unit flying a Eurocopter EC.135.

The coach we were in pulled up at Gate 1 to Wattisham Airfield just after one o’clock. We were directed to park to one side as civilian personnel and vehicles for the visit were still being booked in. Following a Land Rover of the Army Regimental Police, the convoy snaked around the station roads and parked up between 1 and 2 hangars. We were given a brief outline of the afternoon events by the Apache pilot in-charge and as the hangar visit was due to start at two o’clock we had the opportunity to view the aircraft collection of the Wattisham Airfield Museum. With an Army escort on board, the coach made its way to the southern end of the airfield. We passed the rather large and sprawling 7 Battalion REME building, where the Apache is repaired and maintained, and then turned left into the South Hardened Aircraft Shelter area that used to be home to No. 56 Sqn. We exited through a side gate onto the airfield perimeter road and drove passed the end of Runway 05 as we headed towards the Northern HAS area that used to be home to No. 74 Sqn. 

We pulled up out side one of the HAS shelters that had its steel reinforced doors open to be greeted just inside by a Hawker Hunter FGA.9 stripped of all its paintwork. XG194 was delivered to the RAF in October 1956 and was one of 22 Hunters that had an all over black colour scheme and known collectively as the Black Arrows. XG194 was the lead aircraft when flown by Air Commodore Roger Topp, Commanding Officer No. 111 Sqn at RAF Wattisham, who performed a 22 aircraft loop at the Farnborough Air Show in July 1958. In 1991, this aircraft was painted up for training purposed to represent a Warsaw Pact aircraft that had defected, with a Soviet style camouflage and red star on the tail and other cosmetic changes to make it more representative of a Sukhoi SU-22 FITTER. After serving its purpose, it was left outside for many years at North Luffenham until November 2009 when it was transported to the Wattisham Airfield Museum. XG194 is to be returned to its all black colour scheme and has been named ‘Blackjack’ by the museum after the ‘Blackjack Red One’ call sign used by AC Topp during the record breaking loop at Farnborough.

Also in the HAS was the nose of former EE Lightning F3/XP743 in the markings on No. 56 Squadron. Delivered to the RAF in February 1965 it was struck off charge in January 1975 and sold for scrap. The nose was saved and spent its time with No. 351 Squadron Air Training Corps, Burton on Trent, before arriving at the museum in 2009. There are also two Army Air Corp Aerospatiale SA.341 Gazelle AH1 helicopters on display. XX380 is the more complete airframe and was delivered to the AAC in November 1974. In January 2005 went to RAF Shawbury for storage and in July 2008 was moved to Wattisham for display purposes. XX444 was delivered to the AAC in April 1976 and is less than complete. Apart from several aero engines there was also an outer wing panel of a Phantom lying on the ground and a Phantom tail fin that had at one time been attached to XT974 of No. 111 Squadron propped against the side of the shelter.

Following our visit to the museum it was back to No. 2 hangar and a well-earned comfort break, once we found the toilets. The visit proper started at two o’clock when we were all called together at the chairs that had been set out in front of a soft top lorry that had its side screen rolled up and a projector screen set up inside. We had a short briefing, with Powerpoint slides, on Wattisham, the history of Wattisham and why and what the Army Air Corps were doing there. Basically AAC Pilots are trained to fly the Apache at Middle Wallop and come to Wattisham to learn how to fight in them.

With over 100 guests from various groups and societies on the visit, we were split up into manageable parties to view the various displays set up around the hangar with about 10 minutes allocated to each display then we all moved around one. Our little group started out at the small arms display where two versions of the SA80 assault rifle were available to ask questions about and to handle along with a General Purpose Machine Gun and a couple of side arms. We then moved on to aircrew clothing and survival equipment that is supplied and maintained courtesy of the Royal Air Force. After our allotted time it was on to the Tea Bar where for a modest donation, hot and cold drinks and an assortment of cakes were provided. Raffle tickets were also being sold for charity for a couple of teddy bears and there were also some AAC/Apache related books and DVDs for sale. Back at the lorry, an Apache pilot was giving a briefing, with more Powerpoint slides, on daily routine, flying etc having recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan.

 

It was outside now as No. 22 Squadron, RAF had parked up one of their specially marked '70 Years Of Life Saving' Sea King helicopters with the aircrew on hand to answer questions. Back inside the hanger the 10 minutes allocated to each display was beginning to fracture, as everybody wouldn’t be able to make it around the hangar before four o’clock deadline. The groups had the opportunity to split up and go see whatever they wanted to. 

I missed out the Fire Section Display and the Communications Tent and made straight for the two Apache helicopter at the far end of the hangar. ZJ169 had canopies open and access panels dropped and was loaded with weapons on the stub wings with a couple of AAC armourers on hand to explain what was what and how it was used.

 
Across the hangar floor from it was ZJ222 that had engines removed and panels missing and steps leading up for cockpit access with a couple of REME engineers on hand to explain the intricacies of keeping an Apache helicopter serviceable. The afternoon tour finished around four-fifteen with us all seated together again at the lorry for a debrief, but without a Powerpoint display this time, and a question and answer session before the winners of the raffle tickets were announced.

A very informative afternoon and it was nice to get up close to a pair of Apaches without barriers around them but difficult to photograph as the ‘Visitors’ would invariably wander into shot, right in front of you, even though you were holding a camera to your face. Patience was the order of the day with a bit of a wait till they moved on or find something else to photograph and come back. Although there was white light in the hangar, it was still a bit dark inside but easily compensated for in processing by shooting in RAW using a Sony A550 with a Sony 11-18mm wide angle lens attached to the front and hand holding the camera with shoulder brace fixed. Manually adjusting the ISO between 400 & 800 to keep image noise to a minimum and shutter speeds at 1/10 and above and control the aperture for depth of field.

The visit was arranged by the Force Development Squadron at RAF Wyton as part of our ongoing MOD Training and Development plan.

RAF Northolt Night Shoot VIII – 20th January 2011

Once again RAF Northolt played host to a gaggle of aviation photographers as it held the first night shoot of the new year on a glorious, if a bit cool, evening towards the end of January. Unfortunately the majority of the small collection of invited Royal Air Force aircraft slowly dropped out leading up to the evening due to being re-tasked or mechanical problems but the night shoot was saved by the French and Martin-Baker.

 

At Northolt the dispersal is split in two. One part is used for civilian Business Jets and the other by our hosts No 32 Squadron. We are usually not allowed to photo anything in the Biz Jet area but this evening was an exception as a Swedish AF Gulfstream and a Danish AF Challenger that had been visiting the station were preparing to depart.

 

From the Military Air Transport Flight School, Avord AB in central France, the French Air Force sent a twin turboprop Embraer EMB-121AA Xingu 095/YM(121095) which are used in the training role for transport and for the French Navy, maritime patrol aircraft crews.

What more than made up for the lack of airframes for me was the chance to photograph at night the all black Martin-Baker Gloster Meteor T7(MOD)/WA638, normally based at Chalgrove Airfield, Oxfordshire. This is a hybrid aircraft with the body of a T7 and the rear fuselage of an F8, to overcome ‘snaking’ at high speed, and originally know as a ‘Meteor 7½’. This aircraft is probably the oldest Meteor flying in the world having been delivered to the RAF in November 1949 and WL419, the silver & dayglo Meteor T7(MOD) also used by Martin-Baker, delivered in August 1952

 

No 63 Sqn RAF Regiment put in an appearance with their ‘Big Boys Toys’ in the shape of a Jackal, the sandy coloured one, and a Panther control and command vehicle and the Fire Section had their big red MFV 2 on display again.

 

During the night shoot a 32 Sqn HS125 CC2 and an Agusta A109 helicopter returned to base with the helicopter sitting for a few minutes with rotors turning for the benefit of the photographers.

 

 

 

Another excellent evening out despite the no shows. Many thanks to Phil, Lee and the volunteers for their time and organising the night shoot and the Station Commander, Group Captain Tom Barrett and the rest of the personnel at RAF Northolt for putting up with us all again and look forward to Night Shoot IX sometime in March.

 

 

Further images can be seen at the ‘More Northolt VIII Photos’ link on the right.

Royal Air Force Museum Hendon – 15th January 2011

With a night photo shoot taking place at RAF Northolt on the 20th January, what better place to brush up my skills on long exposure photography than the rather dark interior of the original World War One Belfast Truss hangars and the even darker Bomber and Battle of Britain halls of the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon. Since my last visit, the hoardings have been taken down from around the Grahame-White Watch Tower and there have been a couple of new aircraft arrivals and as the museum was closed for the week previously for the annual spring cleaning, hopefully some dust free aircraft. 

The first thing you notice on entering the site is the grey coloured ex Royal Air Force of Oman Hawker Hunter FR.10, that used to sit in the long grass by the side of the Grahame-White Factory, is now mounted on some poles as a gate guard opposite the main museum entrance. It was originally built for the RAF in 1956 as an F.6/XF426. 

Having obtained a tripod pass from reception in the main entrance to the Milestones of Flight building, I headed back outside towards the Grahame-White Factory. To the right there is a new building in the form of the relocated Grahame-White Watchtower, originally built in 1911, now attached to the G-W Factory. When officially opened to the public in the spring of 2011, it will house exhibits about the history of Hendon Aerodrome and the upper floors will recreate Claude Grahame-White’s original offices. 

GRAHAME-WHITE FACTORY

One thing I like about the G-W Factory is that some of the aircraft on display tend to be moved around from time to time and are in a different position from my last visit. This trip was no exception as some had been moved to allow access to the far wall as there is now a long shed, built in keeping with the period, behind the brick built Watchtower. Although not open to the public yet it can be viewed from inside the G-W Factory. At the moment the Sopwith Tabloid and the yellow Bleriot XXVII along with a few engines are on display. Normally I go for low level shots but with wide-angle lens and the camera pointing upwards, it tends to induce lens flare from the ceiling mounted lights. For this visit to the Museum I had a wander around with the camera fixed on the tripod at eye level, which I haven’t tried in a long time.

MILESTONES OF FLIGHT

Still no Milestones in there and there are still 3 civilian registered aircraft taking up valuable space and two of which had nothing to do with the Royal Air Force.

BOMBER HALL

Taking up temporary residence in the Bomber Hall, is Percival Prentice T1/VS618(G-AOLK) looking somewhat lost parked in the space left by the Wellington which is now at Cosford. I last saw this Prentice in the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at RAFM Cosford at the start of last year when it was still in its civilian markings. The Fairey Battle 1/L5343 is now back together again but still parked up against a wall with blue ceiling supports in front of it spoiling the view from the public side. Very much like the Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b/A6526 parked opposite to it. One thing I did notice was that there seemed to be more lights on than usual although still pretty dark inside.

  

HISTORIC HANGARS

A new addition to the central area between the two hangars is PANAVIA Tornado F3/ZE887 of No 111(F) Squadron, RAF Leuchars. When serving with 43(F) Squadron at Leuchars in 2008, ZE887 was given a black painted fin and spine and tail codes of GF for the Squadrons Latin motto ‘Gloria Finis’ (Glory Is The End) and the words ‘Fighting Cocks’ on top of the fin and was used on the air show circuit. Following the draw down of the F3 fleet, ZE887 was transferred to Treble One Squadron in 2009 and on the 4th March 2010, made its final flight. In September 2010, after having parts removed to keep the rest of the F3 fleet flying, ZE887 was moved by road to St Athan and finally arriving at Hendon on the 18th October 2010. Supermarine Spitfire Vb/BL614 has now been given more prominence as it’s displayed in its own space in front of the Phantom and Tornado.

 BATTLE OF BRITAIN HALL

The one building that can really test your night shooting skills especially when it can be that dark inside that the Auto Focus can find nothing to focus on. ‘Top Tip’ – Shine a torch on subject so Auto Focus can see something to focus on, press shutter release part way for Auto focus to focus and then all the way for shutter release and then turn off the torch. If you’re not sneaky enough though, be prepared for a tap on the shoulder by a member of staff and told not to do it again. Fortunately for this visit the film show that they have every half-hour was not taking place and the seating area was taped off. To compensate, they nearly had all the lights on and I think it’s the first time I’ve managed to photograph the port side of Supermarine Spitfire I/X4590 and the rear fuselage of Heinkel He111H-20/701152.

A new addition to the BoB Hall and positioned next to the Sunderland is Sea Plane Tender ST206. This type of tender would have been used in the 1930s to ferry passengers and crews out to flying boats at rest on the water. This particular type of launch was developed by TE Lawrence, of Lawrence of Arabia fame, into a fast response rescue boat from a British Power Boat Company design when he joined the RAF Marine Section and using the name TE Shaw in 1925.

THE TECHNICAL PHOTOGRAPHY BIT:

When I travel down to London on the train then the underground I like to travel light. I use a smaller camera bag and less kit and I generally carry a lightweight tripod. This time I used my larger and slightly heavier aluminium tripod. The disadvantage of the lightweight tripod is that as my Sony A550 doesn’t have a mirror lock and when the shutter is released the mirror flips up causing a slight shake, which the lightweight tripod can sometimes exaggerate. Even when outside, the slightest breeze can easily shake the set up. To overcome this problem, I generally don’t fully extend the legs which then give extra rigidity to the tripod but which in turn limits the height you can take photos from. I was shooting in RAW so I could have extra control when processing the images with the ISO fixed at 200 and using a Sony 11-18mm wide angle lens with the ‘Steady Shot’ turned off and using a remote shutter release cable. I had the camera set on Manual and using Aperture settings of between F8 & F11, so I could get good depth of field, and setting the shutter speed myself so I could either lighten or darken the image depending on the artificial light that was available. I was using the histogram on the live view screen to ensure an even curve so as not to blow out the shadows or highlights.

Further images can be seen at the ‘More RAFM Hendon Photos’ link on the right.