Chipmunks at Yeovilton

RNHF Chipmunk T 10 WK608 coded "906"

A tour at RNAS Yeovilton in June 2009 found three DHC 1 Chipmunk aircraft on the base. Two of these Chipmunks belong to the Royal Navy Historic Flight ( RNHF ), the third is a privately owned Chippy painted in Porteugese Air Force colours.

WK608 Chipmunk T 10 is active with the RNHF. It offers the Historic Flight pilots an opportunity to gain training hours in a tail wheel aircraft similar to the vintage Sea Fury and Swordfish they operate. It is currently the only Chipmunk still flying with the Royal Navy.

This aircraft has construction number C1/0617 and was delivered new to the RAF in 1952. In 1966 it was transferred to the Royal Navy and flew for many years from the Roborough airfield at Plymouth as part of the Britannia Royal Navy College ( BRNC ) before passing on to the RNHF at Yeovilton.

The RNHF also has Chipmunk T 10 WB657 coded "908"- this was seen stored unairworthy in large south side hanger at RNAS Yeovilton. It was delivered new to the RAF in 1950 and has c/n C1/0096.

Chipmunk G-BARS painted as "1377" of Port AF

Also based and airworthy at Yeovilton is Chipmunk 22 G-BARS. This is flown painted in Portuguese Air Force colours as serial "1377" - note that the Port AF did indeed operate Chipmunks but not this particular aircraft ( Port AF Chipmunk serials were 1301 to 1376 - "1377" is spurious ).

G-BARS was built in 1952 as a Chipmunk T 10 for the RAF with serial WK520. After 21 years service it was sold to the civil market and became G-BARS on 26.2.1973. The civilisation process would have included replacing the cartridge starter system. G-BARS was originally owned by Hawker Siddeley at Hawarden as part of their social flying club. After passing through various other owners it arrived at Yeovilton in 1998 in the possession of well known warbird pilot John Beattie.

By 12.07 this aircraft had accumulated over 8,344 flight hours.


LINK to photo of G-BARS while based at Hawarden in the 1970s

Royal Navy Sea King HC 4 "Commando" helicopter T Shirt

This T Shirt features one of my original photo images of a Sea King HC4 in action - please click through on the T shirt above to view the range of size, style and colour options and order if you wish via RedBubble.

XZ697 Royal Navy Lynx HMA 8 visits Wells Somerset 25.2.09

I often work from home and my morning peace and quiet was interrupted by the sound and welcome sight of a RN Lynx passing very low over my house in the descent.

A quick dash upstairs allowed me to follow the Lynx as it descended towards the Wells Cathedral School grounds.

The Lynx was on a visit the the schools student Combined Cadet Force ( CCF ). I managed to get down to the school in time to have a quick look at the Lynx before it departed back to its home base at RNAS Yeovilton.

The Lynx was serial XZ697 coded "641" of the training unit 702 NAS. It has been modified to HMA 8 standard. This Lynx was built by Westlands at Yeovil as construction number WA 145 and first fly back in January 1980 - so it's now 29 years old.

It appeared in the static park at the Farnborough aviation trade show in September 1988 as a mark HAS 3 coded "602" of 829 NAS. By 1998 it had been converted to HMA 8 standard and was seen operating with 815 NAS coded "308"

This original Lynx will be replaced by the new "Future Lynx" in the next few years.

The crew allowed the school students the opportunity to climb aboard and ask plenty of questions - good PR for the Royal Navy and a good opportunity for the students to learn too.

With thanks to Wells Cathedral School and Royal Navy 702 NAS.

Yeovilton - Friday 5th October 2007

A bright sunny autumn day at VL with 5 of the based Tutors busy in the circuit.

Tutor G-BYVK of 727 sqd

About midday JEDI 1 & 2 called up declaring an emergency - one aircraft had sufferred a bird strike. A few minutes later and two Harriers could be seen approaching 09.

ZG859 lands after a bird strike

The first to land was Harrier GR9A ZG859 "91A" wearing no squadron marks - I'm told a bird hit the canopy and then the intake lip whilst over Dartmoor. Upon landing it was met by a host of fire trucks.

Harrier ZD410 in 4 sqd 95 Years c/s

It's buddy ZD410 landed a few minutes later wearing special 4sqd tail colours celebrating 95 years of 4 sqd from 1912 - 2007.


I was also lucky to see a Commando helicopter force role demo - a large number of guests assembled out the CHF hangers and watched a gun fight with flash bangs and smoke. A pair of Sea King HC 4 helicopters appeared and fast roped troops to fight back. It looked to me as if one of these troops fell very badly from a great height. An ambulance arrived and it took maybe 30 mins before the casualty was moved - let's hope he is not badly hurt.

Meanwhile the two Sea King HC4 lifted a Land Rover and trailer - the pick up point was right near me on the Southern boundary and these two fly fast and low over my head.

Sea King HC4 ZD476 "WZ" comes in to lift a Land Rover

Harrier ZD410 departs Yeovilton

Mid afternoon saw Harreir ZD410 depart leaving it's bird hit partner ZG859 "91A" at VL


After the Commando demo display Squirrel ZJ278 "78" was brought out of the CHF hanger and departed to the South.

DHFS Squirrel ZJ278

Yeovilton Show Sunday Departures 8.7.07

Yeovilton Show Departures - Sunday 8.7.07

The day after Yeovilton airshow is a chance to see some of the visitors depart. This year the French Navy contingent took the opportunity to escape across the Channel in time to be home for Sunday lunch.

Best for me was the old SA 319B Alouette 3 serial 347 c/n 2347 - what a great navy scheme too, Alouette 3s are getting to be a rarity these days.

This year the French Navy also sent a pair of Super Etendards - serial 8 was carrying an inert air launched AM 39 Exocet training round under its starboard wing.

Soon after the Little and Large pair came out - the mighty Super Frelon with his buddy the Lynx alongside, great to them alongside each other.

Yeovilton - Wed 14.3.07

Yeovilton is my local base - 22 miles from home. Usually plenty of activity although many of the based helicopters have been resident here for over 20 years so many of these airframes are very old friends indeed !

All the photos below were taken near Yeovilton viallge church which is approx midway along the runway on the south side.

Visitors - 6 RAF Tucano T1 trainers visited from their home base at Linton On Ouse in Yorkshire. All were in the black colour scheme with one example wearing squadron marks from 207 sqd.

Above - ZF137 Tucano T1 departs as c/s CORDITE wearing 207 sqd markings of 1FTS

Above - ZF491 Tucano T1 departs as c/s LOP 63 wearing generic 1FTS marks

Among the resident Lynx helicopters were active examples of both the HAS3 and the HMA8 - compare the major differences to the nose and extra lumps and bumps

Above - XZ732 Lynx HMA8DSP "673" of 702 sqd departs from RWY 22 heading South

Above - ZD264 Lynx HAS3GM "306" of 815 sqd departs as SKUA 27

Recent new residents at Yeovilton are 727 sqd with their fleet of Grob G115E Tutors - these were previously based down at Plymouth and transferred to Yeovilton in December 2006.

The Royal Navy website describes 727 sqds role as...

""727 Squadron's primary role is to grade young Naval and Royal Marine officers to assess their suitability for further training with the Fleet Air Arm. This takes place throughout the year and each student is with the Squadron for three weeks. During those weeks, he or she will fly twelve hours with an instructor before flying a Final Handling Test with the Commanding Officer""


Seen here today were G-BYVF, G-BYWM, G-BYXK and G-BYXS

727 sqd Grob Tutor G-BYVF at Yeovilton using c/s TAMAR 11 with Sea King "ZA" behind

727 sqd Grob Tutor G-BYXK at Yeovilton with just "X" on tail rather than "XK" used c/s TAMAR 15

The Royal Navy use a small number of Jetstream T3 aircraft as HMS Heron hacks based at Yeovilton.

Above - Jetstream T3 c/n 647 ZE438 "76" takes off as c/s NAVY 751

Yeovilton also plays host to a small detachment of Royal Navy FRADU Hawk up from their own home base at RNAS Culdrose. The only one seen today was XX160 devoid of any Royal Navy titles - it arrived and departed as BLUE 1.

Royal Navy Hawk XX160 was delivered to the RAF back in May 1982

For me this Hawk photo was my picture of the day - low and fast.