Military Museum - Istanbul Turkey - May 2009

The Military Museum ( Askeri Muze ) is located about 1 mile north of the city centre Taksim Square area.

In the courtyard just outside the museum entrance are two aircraft - a CF-104G Starfighter and an OH-13S Sioux helicopter.



This CF-104G was built under licence in Canada for the CAF. Originally serialled 12733 it was one of 200 single seat CF-104G built in the early 1960s. In 1970 the CAF re-serialled their aircraft and this became 104733.

It served with 1 CAG operating out of the CAF airbase at Sollingen near Baden-Baden in West Germany. I saw this actual aircraft at the Greenham Common air show on 31.7.1976. At the time 1 CAG comprised three squadrons - 412 Sqd, 439 Sqd and 441 Sqd.

Canadian Starfighters were used for low level ground attack & reconaisance - their radar systems were not configured for the aerial intercepor role. Originally delivered in a shiny natural metal colour scheme they then adopted an overall dark olive green scheme and from about 1980 a grey & green camoflague design.

The image above is from the Canadian Armed Forces archive

CAF CF-104 operations ceased in 1986. Although these aircraft had accumulated many flight hours ( typically over 5,000 per aircraft ) they had also recently benefitted from an upgraded attack radar systym.

Turkey then purchased 52 former European based Canadian CF-104 comprising 46 singel seat CF-104G and 6 two seater CF-104D aircraft. The best 20 aircraft were overhauled by MBB in Germany prior to delivery with the rest being reduced to spares.

Former CAF aircraft 104733 was allocated to the Turkish 8th Jet Airbase at Diyarbakir in the South East of the country as serial 62-733 coded "8-733".

A plaque beside the aircraft states that it was passed to Turkey on 18.3.1986 with 5,408 flight hours. It was retired seven years later on 27.8.93 with 6,655 flight hours. During its service in Turkey it flew 1,247 flight hours averaging approx 178 flight hours per year during that time.




External Link to photo of CAF CF-104G 104733 taken in 1983 - the very same aircraft




Also in the entrnace courtyard is a former Turkish Army Bell OH-13S Sioux helicopter. serialled KK 10397.

The manufacurers data plate can still be found and read in the cockpit port foot well - this shows the c/n as 3959 and original US serial as 69-16381.

At odds with this is that up on the flight control panel is a Radio Callsign plate which shows serial 69-16380 - I can only assume that the flight control instrument panel has been switched at some point from OH-13S 69-16380 which I guess also went to Turkey.

If anyone has a listing of Turkish Army OH-13 serials I'd be interested, thank you.


Also at the museum is a former Turkish Army U-17 ( Cessna 185 Skywagon ) serial 13254 - this is within a southern courtyard and is surrounded by large shrubs.

Talgarth, Wales - 29.5.09

Talgarth - Home of the Black Mountain Gliding Club

Yet another new airfield for me. I stopped here late in the afternoon just as they were packing up the gliders and getting a BBQ ready. Friendly reception and permission granted to wander around once I had asked.

Europa G-DLCB minus propeller was built in 1996

Piper Pa-25-235 Pawnee G-AZPA - many of these old ag-planes found new life a glider tugs - this example was built back in 1970 and arrived at Talgarth for glider duties in 1982

This airfield is set in a very lovely location right at the foot of the Black Mountains - I'm told these offer excellent soaring conditions making Talgarth one of the best gliding locations in the UK. The club house facilities look in excellent condition too.

G-DEGZ two seater Schleicher ASK 21 this example built in 1980

G-DDVY Schempp-Hirth Cirrus c/n 52 is 40 years old being built in 1969

SZD 51-1 Junior G-CFHF c/n W-952 was one of the last examples to be built at the SZD Wroclaw factory - production continued at Bielsko-Biala

Altogether on this visit I logged 2 aircraft and 15 gliders.

Click Here to visit the Black Mountains Gliding Club website

Halesland, Somerset - 10.5.09

Halesland airfield is high up on top of the Mendip Hills in Somerset. It's not a particularly busy airfield but it is a lovely setting.



Slingsby T 50 Skylark 4 BGA 1019 coded "BKA" - this glider was built in 1962 and is exempt from taking up one of the new CAA "G-" registrations. Behind is based tug Scheibe SF25C Falke G-KWAK.



G-CFTN is a Schleicher K8B built in 1961 and operated in Germany as D-8539 before being imported into the UK in 1989 becoming BGA 3515 - this is based at Halesland with the Mendip Gliding Club.


External Link to The Mendip Gliding club website

Popham - Sat 26th April 2009

Popham airfield is always worth visiting. The aircraft are easy to view and the cafe provides a good place for refeshments.

Aircraft visiting Popham usually park next to the cafe area and a request at Ops desk gave me permission to go airside for these images


M-FOUR (2) Beech G36 Bonanza this new Bonanza c/n E-3849 was built in 2008 and registered in The Isle of Man in March 2009 and replaces the original M-FOUR which was an earlier A36 version.


Visiting were a pair of Flight Design CTSW both in a white/blue/yellow colour scheme - The aircraft type was designed and built in Germany and assembled here in the UK by P & M Aviation. The CTSW fits within the MTOW 450kg BCAR Section S Microlight certification. I like this design. G-SLNT was registered on 28.2.07 with c/n 8254 and is based in Cambridgeshire.


G-OMRP is a little more recent than G-SLNT and was registered on 3.10.08 with c/n 8397 and is based in Northamptonshire.


Also on the visitors ramp was Vans RV-7 G-RVUK construction number PFA 323-14441 - this popular two seater kit aircraft was registered on 8.6.06 and first flew in 2007 and is based in Cambridgeshire. There are currently 57 examples of the RV-7 registered in the UK.



The sunny weather found resident Rearwin 8125 Cloudster G-EVLE c/n 803 parked outside its hanger. This classic pre WW2 American design was built in 1939 as NC25403 and is unique in the UK today. It was first registered in the UK as G-BVLK in 1994 before taking up the markings G-EVLE in 2003.

Bodmin, Cornwall - 11.4.09

Bodmin airfield is situated just 1/2 mile from the A30 just a couple of miles NE of the town on the edge of Bodmin Moor. The airfield has a small simple cafe with some outside tables too.

A request at the Tower gave me permission to walk around to the hangers - residents seen included

G-OTUN EV-97 Eurostar built in 2002

G-GAOM Robin DR400 Dauphin built in 1977 as F-GAOM - imported into the UK in 2005 with a nice simple "F" to "G" change

G-CWFB Pa-38 Tomahawk built in 1978 originally as G-OAAL before becoming G-CWFB in 2000 when operating with Cardiff Wales Aviation ( G-CW....... )

G-BSDW Cessna 182P built in 1976 and registered as G-BSDW in 1990

Cessna 175C Skylark built in 1961 - the 175 model had a more powerful engine than the similar looking early Cessna 172 models - only approx 2,000 examples of the Cessna 175 were built.

G-BKRH Max Brugger Colibri MB2 - this homebuilt aircraft was completed in 1988 and has visited many of the PFA fly in rallyes over the past 20 years - it was previously based at Cranfield.

G-GLKE Robin DR400 Regent looking in excellent condition, this example was built in 1992 and arrived in the UK in 2007 having previously been F-GLKE - another simple "F" to "G" revision.

G-XSAM Vans RV-9A kitbuilt aircraft completed in 2008 - the black and yellow colour scheme is similar to the current RAF training colours



G-CFJG Skyranger this ultralight aircraft design is very popular in the UK, this example was kit built in 2008.

The airfield is also home to several old Aeronca aircraft including G-BRER, G-IVOR and NC33884 plus Air Camper G-CCKR. Altogether 32 aircraft were present at the time of this visit.

Perranporth Cornwall - 18.4.09

This was a new airfield for me. Perranporth airfield is located on the North coast of Cornwall, the airfield is West of Perranporth town along the B3285 near to the village of Trevellas.

The airfield was built in 1941 during World War 2 and was home to several Spitfire squadrons. You can learn more about the history of Perranporth airfield via the link below

History of RAF Perranporth

Upon arrival at Perranporth I asked at the Control Tower for permission to walk over to the nearby new hanger - this was granted and they requested I wear a High Viz jacket. Parked by the tower itself were half a dozen small Cessna 150/172 types plus G-AZRZ Cessna U206 which was busy operating parachute jumps.



Reims Cessna F 172N G-WACL was built in 1979 and is resident at Perranporth in this attractive colour scheme. After 30 years this aircraft has flown in excess of 8550 flight hours. This aircraft is construction number c/n 1912 and was originally delivered new to the UK from the Reims factory as G-BHGG in November 1979. Initially based at Denham it became G-WACL in 1989 and spent many years operating from Booker / High Wycombe before being sold onto Exeter and then Perranporth.

You can see a good photo of G-WACL wearing its previous sky blue colour scheme applied when it operated with Wycombe Air Centre at Booker- ie WAC"L" below

Previous Colour Scheme of G-WACL


The new hanger is sub divided with three doorways. A chat with a resident pilot resulted in permission to enter the hanger. There were numerous interesting aircraft types to be seen although with just one external door open the hanger was rather dark for photos.


The hanger included the very sleek moulded composite G-JBAS Lancair 200 - this aircraft was kit built and completed in 2003. Powered by a Continental 0-200 engine this design came to market in 1985.

Update 29.12.09 - I have received an email from the Slater family which built this aircraft with more details of this aircrafts history - The aircraft was purchased as a kit from Lancair in 1988-1989, the aircraft is belived to be Lancair kit number 069. The PFA in the UK assigned it aircraft project number PFA 191-11465 - Mr Slater says - "" ( Lancair ) they totally re-jigged the tooling soon after this one, you can see a difference in the mass balance weight shape on the later ones. ""

Thanks to Mr Slater for this feedback.


Cessna T303 N289CW can be seen behind the Lancair.


Official Lancair Website



Wearing a Cornish flag on the tail is Bolkow Bo 209-160FV Monsun G-EFJD c/n 126. This aircraft was first registered in the UK recently in October 2008. It was built in Germany back in 1971 and was imported from Germany as D-EFJD - a nice simple paint change, from "D" to "G".

MBB built 102 production examples of the Monsun before MBB ceased the production of fixed wing aircraft in 1972 to concentrate on their successful helicopter designs ( MBB Bo 105 etc ). There are currently 11 examples of this type shown as registered on the UK "G-...." register.

Other interesting types in the modern hanger included G-CCJL Super Marine Spitfire Mk 26 as "PV303" coded "ON-B", L-4B Cub G-BHVV as "31430" in an olive USAAC colour scheme plus another similar Cub G-AKIB as "480015" coded "M-44".

Modern light aircraft included Skyranger G-CDWB, CTSW G-LCKY and brand new RV-8 G-GUNZ which I was told was awaiting first flight.

The hanger also included American registered Liberty XL-2 N576XL, Cessna T303 Crusdaer N289CW, Beech 76 N741D and red & white Hughes 269 N994K.

G-APIZ Turbulent

It was good to see Turbulent G-APIZ looking in excellent condition at RAF Shawbury on 19.3.09.

This small but elegant French designed Druine D.31 Turbulent aircraft was built by Rollason Aircraft and Engines Ltd ( RAE ) at the old Croydon airfield back in 1957. Altogether Rollason built approx 30 Turbulents. Note that Stark Flugzeugbau of Germany also built a version of this aircraft in the late 1950s.

I believe this is the oldest Turbulent still airworthy today in the UK. The aircraft has the PFA c/n PFA 478.

It is powered by a Volkswagen 1600 engine and has flown approx 225 hours by December 2007.

This aircraft was involved in a major accident in 1963 at West Clandon and was subsequently cancelled from the CAA register in 1965. It was restored to the register in 1987 after rebuild and was based at White Waltham during the 1990s.

Great to see this aircraft in such good shape.

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.

Bristol International Airport - Lulsgate 2.3.09

Ryaniar 737-800 EI-CTB departing runway 27 at Bristol on 2.3.09

A quick visit up to Lulsgate on a reasonable Spring day allowed me to catch up with some new Easyjet and Ryanair aircraft. Bristol is a Easyjet hub with approx 11 different aircraft based - Ryaniar are also operating more flights out of Bristol and most days you can see 4 or 5 of their aircraft too.

EI-DYO taking off - I like the red underbelly light reflection on the engine

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.

RNAS Yeovilton - Wed 21.1.09

A brief stop at RNAS Yeovilton produced these two images




Royal Navy Sea King HC4 ZF124 "L" of 845 Sqd - the low winter sun really shows off the details in the colour scheme. This Sea King c/n WA974 was delivered new to the Royal Navy in 1987 and initially served with 772 Sqd based at RNAS Portland coded "24.

When RNAS Portland was closed and 772 Sqd disbanded it joined the Commando helicopter fleet at Yeovilton. In recent years 845 Sqd have operated on deployment to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Sea King in the background is the very old XV676, coded "ZE" - this MK6CR aircraft is an old HAS 6 version and still has its float sponsons but has lost all its ASW kit and is now used as a flight trainer for the busy HC4 fleet, taking some of the hours off the frontline HC4 helicopters. XV676 delivered to the RN way back in 1970.



Hawk T1A XX198 is now almost 31 years old having been delivered to the RAF back in April 1978. I first saw it at RAF Valley in August 1981 when it was serving with 63 Sqd of 2 TWU coded "198" painted in green/grey camoflague.

Today it flies with the Royal Navy FRADU based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall - some Royal Navy Hawks used to carry "Royal Navy" titles but these have now gone. It was busy flying circuits this morning using the local call sign "YEOVIL 61". FRADU usually have a couple of RN Hawks detached to Yeovilton and they operate from the old Sea Harrier apron on the south side of the airfield.

RAF Jaguar GR3A XZ117

This picture is my Xmas 2009 treat for you.

RAF Jaguar GR3A XZ117 coded "ES" in 6 Sqn colours is shown here overshooting RNAS Yeovilton back in November 2006 just a few months before the type was withdrawn from RAF use. Although wearing 6 Sqn colours this aircraft was operating with the QinetiQ test fleet at Boscombe Down.

I love the way the undercarriage gear is turning as it rotates to fit into the wheel well.

The Jaguar entered service with the RAF back in 1973 and this particualr Jaguar was built at BAe Warton and first flew on 29.4.1976 and so is 30 years old in this photo. The aircraft has a build number of S 118 - UK single seater 118.

XZ117 was modified to Jaguar GR3A standard and this included updating the aircraft's twin Adour turbofan engines with the Mk106 engine so giving greater fuel economy and more power in high ambient temperatures.

I first saw this Jaguar when it was brand new as it was displayed in the static park at International Air Tattoo held at RAF Greenham Common on 31.7.1976 - at that time it was coded "E" of 41 Sqn.

Link to photo of XZ117 41 Sqn "E" taken at RAF Greenham Common on 31.7.1976

XZ117 - RAF Service

first flew 29.4.1976
delivered to RAF 28.5.1976
seen with 41 Sqn coded "E" 31.7.1976
seen with 54 Sqn coded "GG" in 1992
seen with 6 Sqn coded "EP" 23.7.1999
seen with 41 Sqn coded "FB" in 4.2006
seen with QinetiQ coded "ES" 6.11.2006 and 29.6.2007
believed withdrawn from use and parked at Boscombe Down by 2007




The Jag fleet was finally from the RAF in 2007.

RAF Fairford - Exercise Crown Condor

RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England awoke from its usual sleepy state to become home to an active Deployed Operating Base ( DOB ) in October 2008.

At the end of September 2008 the first members of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing ( EAW) arrived at RAF Fairford from their home base at RAF Lossiemouth in Morayshire to take part in Exercise Crown Condor. The Tornados from Lossie were joined by Gripens from Sweden keen to participate in such an exercise.

140 EAW lead by Wing Commander Torben Harris will have the duty to bring “fast jet power” to bear once they complete this years training of which Exercise Crown Condor is the final part of their working up period. As from 1st January 209 140 EAW will be on a 12 month period of alert duty to provide the fast jet EAW response should it be needed, ready to deploy overseas at short notice.

For the purpose of this exercise 140 EAW deployed to the normally vacate southern dispersals at RAF Fairford away from the main hangers and comfortable infrastructure across the runway.

This area was to represent a disused bare base and the job of 140 EAW was to turn this austere environment into a fully functioning fast jet operating base. It took the team 12 days to set up from scratch a secure tented city with four large temporary dispersal hangars up and erected before the first jets arrived.

Everything had to be put in place ranging from the basics such as securing a supply of fresh water through to providing catering and accommodation for almost 1,000 deployed personnel ( including approx 100 from Sweden ) to ensuring the safe and secure operation of fast jets with secure tactical communications, portable control tower, fuel and weapon stores plus a field hospital.

Once the Deployed Operating Base ( DOB ) had been built and was operational the air component of Exercise Crown Condor arrived. This involved deploying 12 ( Bomber ) Sqn with eight Tornado GR4 aircraft down from RAF Lossiemouth.

To help represent the fact that multi national operations are now often the norm overseas the Swedish Air Force ( Flygvapnet ) were invited to participate and deployed with seven JAS 39 Gripen aircraft from 171 Sqn at Ronneby airbase in southern Sweden. These first jets arrived at RAF Fairford on 2^nd October 2008 with the exercise itself running from 6^th – 16^th October 2008.

Deployed Tornado GR4/GR4A aircraft at Exercise Crown Condor table

ZA473 no Code 12 Sqn

ZA543 Code "FF" 12 Sqn - Special 12 Sqn tail markings 1915-2005

ZA556 Code "047" - no Sqn markings

ZD843 Code "106" 15 Sqn

ZD847 Code "108" - no Sqn markings

ZD850 Code "111" - no Sqn markings

ZG727 Code "126" and "AJ-J" 617 Sqn markings - Note GR4A

ZG729 Code "127" 13 Sqn markings - Note GR4A

The Swedish deployment was led by Lt Col Anders Segerby wing commander of F17 Wing based at Ronneby. Among his flight crews were pilots who had recently returned from the JAS 39 Gripen deployment to Red Flag at Nellis AFB USA in August 2008.

The primary mission of 171 Sqn is reconnaissance and air to surface operations. The unit converted from the JA 37 Viggen in 2002 when they received their first JAS 39A / B Gripens – these were replaced with the more advanced JAS 39C / D aircraft in 2004.

Deployed JAS 39C / D Gripen aircraft at Exercise Crown Condor table

39209 JAS39C code "209" 2 missile markings under cockpit

39210 JAS39C code "210" PRI tail marking - Priority use re flight hours

39221 JAS39C code "221" Small “Red Flag” badge on tail

39229 JAS39C code "229"

39230 JAS39C code "230" PRI tail marking - Priority use re flight hours

39267 JAS39C code "267"

39823 JAS39D code "823"

The aircraft and crews from 171 Sqn are part of the Swedish Air Force Rapid Reaction Unit ( SWAFRAP ) and are earmarked as part of the EU Nordic Battle Group formed to support European Union-mandated military action if required and kept at short deployment notice.

Halesland airfield - Sat 20.9.08

This grass airstrip is my local airfield - it is high up on the Mendip Hills about 6 miles West of Wells, just north of the village of Draycott.

Since my last visit many of the resident gliders have now applied CAA "G-........" registrations - outside on this beautiful afternoon were,


Slingsby T 50 Skylark BGA 1019 coded "BKA" - this old glider is exempt from having a "G-....." registration.



G-CFVC is a Schleicher AS K13 formerly BGA 3550 owned by resident Mendip Gliding Club


G-CJAR coded "P3" is a Schempp Hirth Discs BT - this lovely glider has a pop up sustainer engine to maintain flight if needed - seen here being washed prior to dismantling into a trailer. The pilot tells me he operates this glider from both here and Usk in South Wales.


The hanger had 2 gliders and one Fournier motorglider ( G-AVWY ) - this is Schleicher K8B G-DDOY formerly BGA 2307 - this is based and belongs to Mendip Gliding Club. Note that the tailcode of "DOY" was previously "DQY" when it operated as a BGA glider.

Compton Abbas airfield 13.9.08

Compton Abbas is one of the most beautiful airfields I've visited in the UK, perched high up on top of the hills just south of Shaftesbury. Viewing is easy with good public access and good cafe too.


DH 82A Tiger Moth G-AOIL c/n 83673 is based at Compton Abbas. It is painted in its old Royal Navy colour schem as XL716 and flies air experience flights and was busy on this sunny day with several passengers. The aircraft was built during World War 2 in 1940 by Morris Motors and was delivered to the RAF as T7363. It was registerd onto the civil register in August 1956 as G-AOIL. However just two months later it was sold to the Royal Navy and became XL716.


Eventually the aircraft was withdrawn by the Royal Navy and reverted to the civil registration G-AOIL. By December 2007 this aircraft had flown over 2930 hours.


Another vintage aircraft at Compton is Aeronca 7AC Champion G-ATHK in a lovely red colour scheme.




This aircraft is c/n 7AC-971 and was built in 1946 by Aeronca in the USA and registered as N82339. It was imported into the UK and first registered as G-ATHK in 1965. By December 2006 this aircraft had flown over 7395 flying hours.