The opportunity to join a tour at Shawbury was enough reason for us to book a last-minute flight across the Channel again. We knew there wouldn't be too many new aircraft for us, but since you never know where those will end up it's easier to collect them while still in one place (and piece...). And of course there are the new A.109's that we didn't have yet, and finally it's always nice to hunt for aircraft in the UK
Wednesday evening we flew into Liverpool (at our departure airport Schiphol we got a nice American VIP C-12 76-0168 as a bonus). After picking up our rental (a way too big Peugeot 3008) we drove straight to our hotel in Shrewsbury. Next morning we reported in time at the famous parking lot opposite the gate.
RAF Shawbury
Storage hangar 1 (I didn't note the real hangar numbers, this is just a 'sequence' number):
XX319/319/CT Hawk T.1A std, 100 sq mks
ZK014 Hawk T.2 std, no mks
ZK022 Hawk T.2 std, no mks
ZK023 Hawk T.2 std, no mks
ZH812/005 Sea Harrier F/A.2 std, no mks
Hawk ZK022 was being put on a truck while we were here, made ready for transport to Warton. Later in the morning we did indeed see the truck leave (all covered up by the way).
Storage hangar 2:
XX172/172 Hawk T.1 std, no mks
XX173 Hawk T.1 std, FRADU mks, no tail
XX228/228 Hawk T.1 std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX238/238 Hawk T.1 std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX290 Hawk T.1 std, no mks, no tail
XX292 Hawk T.1W std, Red Arrows c/s, no tail
XX296/296 Hawk T.1 std, no mks
XX299/299 Hawk T.1W std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX310/310 Hawk T.1W std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX323/323 Hawk T.1A std, 19 (R) sq mks
(XW202) Puma HC.1 std, no mks
(XW218) Puma HC.1 std, no mks
ZA446/018 Tornado GR.4 std, no mks
ZA608 Tornado GR.4 std, no mks, in parts
ZE165/GE Tornado F.3 std, 43 sq mks
ZE204/FC Tornado F.3 std, 25 sq mks
ZH553/RT Tornado F.3 std, 56 sq mks
(ZJ263) Squirrel HT.1 std, wreck
The Squirrel wreckage was under a tarpaulin with small bits and pieces (including the doors coded 63) next to it.
Storage hangar 3:
XX161/161 Hawk T.1W std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX195/195 Hawk T.1W std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX200/200 Hawk T.1A std, 19 (R) sq mks
XX250/250 Hawk T.1 std, 19 (R) sq mks
XX295/295 Hawk T.1W std, 19 (R) sq mks
XX350/350 Hawk T.1A std, 19 (R) sq mks
(XW200) Puma HC.1 std, KFOR mks
ZF161/161 Tucano T.1 std, 72 (R) sq mks
ZF212/212 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZH263/263 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF268/268 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF286/286 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF315/315 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF345/345 Tucano T.1 std, 207 (R) sq mks
ZF405/405 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF416/416 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF418/418 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF446/446 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF449/449 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF487/487 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF492/492 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
Storage hangar 4:
XX160/160 Hawk T.1 std, no mks
XX248/CJ Hawk T.1A std, 100 sq mks
ZF160/160 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF163/163 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF166/166 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF203/203 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF211/211 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF242/242 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF288/288 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF318/318 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF350/350 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF372/372 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF376/376 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF380/380 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF408/408 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF410/410 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF412/412 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF414/414 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF447/447 Tucano T.1 std, 72 (R) sq mks
ZF483/483 Tucano T.1 std, 72 (R) sq mks
ZF484/484 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF486/486 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF488/488 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF490/490 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF513/513 Tucano T.1 std, 72 (R) sq mks
ZF514/514 Tucano T.1 std, 1 FTS mks
ZF516/516 Tucano T.1 std, no mks
Storage hangar 5:
XW848/D Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XW909 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XW913 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XX371 Gazelle AH.1 std, 12 Flt mks
XX383/D Gazelle AH.1 std, 666 sq mks
XX386 Gazelle AH.1 std, 12 Flt mks
XX394 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XX398 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XX409 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XX416 Gazelle AH.1 std, unknown mks (flag with light blue upper half and dark blue lower half, anyone?)
XX437 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XX438/F Gazelle AH.1 std, 666 sq mks
XX439 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XX445/T Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XX455 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XX456 Gazelle AH.1 std, 3 (V) Flt mks
XX462/W Gazelle AH.1 std, 658 sq mks
XZ291 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XZ292 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XZ296 Gazelle AH.1 std, 658 sq mks
XZ304 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XZ314/A Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XZ324 Gazelle AH.1 std, 3 (V) Flt mks
XZ338 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks, spec badge "Army Air Corps Golden Jubilee"
XZ344/Y Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZA726 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZA728/E Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZA773/F Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZA776 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZB673 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZB688 Gazelle AH.1 std, 3 (V) Flt mks
XX168/168 Hawk T.1 std, no mks
XX219/219 Hawk T.1A std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX225/322 Hawk T.1 std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX235/235 Hawk T.1W std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX351 Hawk T.1A std, no mks
ZE440/78 Jetstream T.3 std, no mks
ZA470 Tornado GR.4 std, 14 sq mks, no tail
ZA563 Tornado GR.4 std, 9 sq mks, no tail
ZD708 Tornado GR.4 std, GR.4 mks, no tail
ZD892 Tornado GR.4 std, no mks, no tail
(ZE737) Tornado F.3 std, no mks, no tail
ZG769 Tornado GR.4 std, no mks, no tail
Hawk XX225 had the tail of XX322. Interestingly, XX322 was still seen during a visit in April, but joined the Red Arrows recently and apparently did so with the tail of another aircraft.
Storage hangar 6:
XX379/Y Gazelle AH.1 std, 658 sq mks
XX399/B Gazelle AH.1 std, 666 sq mks
XX442/E Gazelle AH.1 std, 666 sq mks
XX460 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks, BATUS c/s
XZ294/X Gazelle AH.1 std, 658 sq mks
XZ295 Gazelle AH.1 std, 12 Flt mks
XZ303 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XZ311 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XZ323 Gazelle AH.1 std, 666 sq mks
XZ328 Gazelle AH.1 std, 666 sq mks
XZ331/D Gazelle AH.1 std, 666 sq mks
XZ337/Z Gazelle AH.1 std, 658 sq mks
XZ341 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XZ343 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XZ349 Gazelle AH.1 std, 658 sq mks
ZA775 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZB665 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZB674 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZB679 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
ZB690 Gazelle AH.1 std, no mks
XX190/CN Hawk T.1A std, 100 sq mks
XX226/226 Hawk T.1 std, FRADU mks
XX232/232 Hawk T.1 std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX239/239 Hawk T.1W std, 19 (R) sq mks
XX240/240 Hawk T.1 std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX284/CA Hawk T.1A std, 100 sq mks
XX309 Hawk T.1 std, spec c/s
XX311/311 Hawk T.1 std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX325/325 Hawk T.1 std, 208 (R) sq mks
XX345/CE Hawk T.1A std, 100 sq mks
preserved:
XR516/V Wessex HC.2 pr gate, 60 sq mks
XT773 Wessex HU.5 dump, no tail, also mkd 9123M
XV123 Scout AH.1 pr, no mks
Squirrel hangar:
(ZK199)/99 Squirrel HT.1 G-DOIT
(ZK200)/00 Squirrel HT.1 G-CEYO
Both in full mil c/s with mil reggie applied but taped over with civil registration. I understand they are ready to fly but still waiting for the paperwork......
Also in here was a covered Suirrel wreckage which should be ZJ259.
"Display" hangar:
KG651 Dakota III pr
XX431/CU-43 Gazelle HT.2 pr
EM840 Tiger Moth II pr
Operational/visiting:
(ZF124?)/L Sea King HC.4 (848 sq?)
ZG820/I Sea King HC.4 (848 sq?)
ZR324 A.109E DHFS
ZR325 A.109E DHFS
ZK067 Bell 212 no mks
G-CFXE/A Bell 212 to become ZK206, test running outside, full mil c/s including code A on nose and tail
When we left the base, around 12:45, another green Sea King arrived. I know it's a long shot, but anyone for its serial?
Operational Squirrels:
ZJ243, ZJ248, ZJ251, ZJ256, ZJ257, ZJ262, ZJ264, ZJ265, ZJ267, ZJ268, ZJ269, ZJ270, ZJ271, ZJ272, ZJ273, ZJ274, ZJ275, ZJ276, ZJ277, ZJ278, ZJ279, ZJ208
Operational Griffins:
ZJ234/S, ZJ235/I, ZJ236/X, ZJ237/T, ZJ238/Y, ZJ241/L, ZJ707/O, ZJ708/K
Not seen was grey ZJ704, has this returned to Cyprus?
All in all a nice visit again, and with a bit of patience (and luck...) we could graph both new A.109's as well.
When we were finished we quickly drove off, towards Lichfield.
Whittington Barracks, Lichfield (52 39 25 N, 1 46 31 W)
ZE413 A.109A GIA, no mks
XR601 Scout AH.1 GIA, no mks (F8/608 on plate in cockpit, F8/1609 on plate on rear cabin)
XT466/X-V Wessex HU.5 GIA, what squadron markings are these?
The Wessex and Scout are temporarily parked near the gate and are easily visible from outside. The Agusta is parked between some buildings to keep it out of sight.... The registration has been taped over, and the c/n plate has been removed from the cockpit. But they forgot to remove the call plate from the cockpit as well.....
The helicopters (and the military vehicles parked next to them) are used to train medical services on how to load and unload patients on stretchers. The barracks are undergoing some renovation work, therefor the choppers have been parked "out of the way", but they will move in the future. Thanks again Ian!
And one more stop was made before we had to return to the airport.
National Paintbal Fields, Basset's Pole (52 35 28.5 N, 1 46 51 W)
XP350 Whirlwind HAR.10 pr, fake camo c/s
Reception was very friendly here, and it was no problem to have a look at the chopper. A nice ending of a day out in the UK!
As always, corrections, additions and comments are very welcome.
That's all folks!
Frank Mink & Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation