31 July 2005 - Mildenhall

The C-40B is a military version of the Boeing 737-700 Business Jet, replacing the aging fleet of C-137 aircraft for US combatant commanders. The body of the C-40 is identical to that of the Boeing 737-700, with the wings and landing gear from the larger and heavier 737-800, including winglets. It has state-of-the-art avionics equipment, integrated Global Positioning System and Flight Management System/Electronic Flight Instrument System and a heads-up display. The basic aircraft has auxiliary fuel tanks, missionized interior with self-sustainment features and managed passenger communications. The cabin area is equipped with a crew rest area, distinguished visitor compartment with sleep accommodations, two galleys and business class seating with worktables.
The C-40B is designed to be an 'office in the sky' for senior military and government leaders - communications are paramount aboard the C-40B, which provides broadband data/video transmit and receive capability as well as clear and secure voice and data communication. It gives combatant commanders the ability to conduct business anywhere around the world using on-board Internet and local area network connections, improved telephones, satellites, television monitors, and facsimile and copy machines. The 89th Airlift Wing acquired its first C-40B aircraft in December 2002, and is based at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Picture courtesy Matthew Clements

29 July 2005 - Brize Norton

Seen departing was An-30 'Clank' RA-30078, one of the 'Open Skies' surveillance aircraft operated by the Russian Federation. A photo-recce version of the An-26, the An-30 first flew in 1974. It evolved from both the An-24RT and An-26, featuring a new forward fuselage, which was redesigned to house a large, glazed nose for the navigator and a darkroom in the main cabin. The flight deck is raised to improve the pilot's view and increase the size of navigator's compartment. The dark room, film storage cupboard, survey cameras and a control desk are located in the cabin, which has fewer windows than the An-26.The crew consists of seven inluding two photographers/surveyors, although the photography can be automatic or semi-automatic. The equipment includes radiotopographic distance measuring equipment and a radio altimeter. It can undertake many kinds of geophysical, meteorological or prospecting duties.The aircraft is able to continuously photograph a nine-mile wide piece of land from about 6,095m. It is thought RA-30078 came from Pardubice in the Czech Republic and carried out an observation flight over Great Britain and Northen Ireland. Picture courtesy Neil Jones

25 July 2005 - Newark Air Museum

ENTHUSIAST DAYS at Newark Air Museum - Newark Air Museum has just announced the first dates for a series of 'Enthusiast Days' at its Winthorpe Airfield site in eastern Nottinghamshire, close to the border with Lincolnshire. Bookings are now being taken for the following dates:

Tuesday 30 August; Tuesday 13 September; Tuesday 27 September.

Places are only available by pre-booking and the all-inclusive entrance fee is £15 per person. On each day participants will be greeted with a welcome snack before being taken in small escorted groups onto various museum aircraft including: Hastings, Shackleton, Varsity, Vulcan, Canberra & Phantom Simulator. A special part of the each day will be a behind the scenes tour to see 'missing airframes', i.e. those undergoing restoration or that are in long-term storage around the site. After the tour, participants will be free to wander around the extensive museum site at their leisure. Each Enthusiast Day will be limited to just twelve participants, although further dates should be confirmed later. Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis, depending on the date on which booking forms are received, e-mail newarair@onetel.com or telephone 01636 707170 for a Booking Form today.

12 July 2005 - Waddington

Visiting was Omani Air Force BAC-111 553, connected with a ceremony at nearby Cranwell. 4 Squadron operate from Seeb AFB, Oman. Picture courtesy Jason Pountney

12 July 2005 - Lossiemouth

The second wave of an air-to-air photo mission from RAF Lossiemouth awaits clearance to take-off - 14 Squadron Tornado GR4 ZA588/BB and 100 Squadron Hawk T1A XX194/CL are joined by MiG-21MF-75 6807 from Baza 86 Aerian, Romanian Air Force. The Romanians are on exchange with the units from Lossiemouth for two weeks and will make their departure this weekend, dropping in at RIAT for the airshow. Picture courtesy Rob Donaldson-Webster

11 July 2005 - Boscombe Down

Normally based at Las Vegas, Twin Otter N94AR is owned by Twin Otter International Ltd. The company buys Twin Otters, converts them to 'Vistaliners' and leases them with full parts and technical support to airlines and tour operators throughout the world. It is thought it was involved in radar trials. Picture courtesy Tony Osborne

9 July 2005 - Duxford

Shortly after the conclusion of another successful Flying Legends airshow, Dragon Rapide G-AIYR suffered an engine fire, causing substantial damage to the starboard wing. No injuries were caused to anyone in the vicinity, Duxford's fire crews soon having the incident under control. Pictures courtesy Del Mitchell

9 July 2005 - Mildenhall

RC-135S Cobra Ball 61-2662 made a visit for an engine inspection - this is its first visit since 2003 and could well be the last. Also present were three F-16s from the 31st FW, based at Aviano, Italy. Pictures courtesy Matthew Clements

8 July 2005 - Ipswich

Making its final visit to Ipswich is adopted frigate HMS Grafton, complete with Lynx HMA8 aboard. Grafton is one of the victims of the recent round of defence cuts, her likely fate being sold to the Chilean Navy. Picture courtesy Wayne Button

7 July 2005 - Mildenhall

Two HC-130Ps passed through the 'Hall today - although it looks like any other Hercules, the HC-130P/N is an extended-range, combat search and rescue version. Its mission is to extend the range of combat search and rescue helicopters by providing air refueling - secondary mission capabilities include performing tactical airdrops of para-rescue specialist teams, small bundles, zodiac watercraft, or four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles and providing direct assistance to a survivor in advance of the arrival of a recovery vehicle. The HC-130P/N is the only dedicated fixed-wing combat search and rescue platform in the Air Force inventory. Picture courtesy Matthew Clements

6 July 2005 - Prestwick

Both Air Force Ones (28000 & 29000) were in town for the G8 summit. Pictures courtesy James Shelbourn

4 July 2005 - Waddington

We thought they'd both left for home, but thirty minutes after departure the two Turkish Air Force F-4Es that attended Waddington's Airshow returned, dumping copious amounts of fuel on the runway in the process. An incorrect flight plan was apparently the problem, the Belgians not allowing an overflight. The dumped fuel didn't seem to cause any concern as the four Romanian MiG-21s made their departure in between the two Phantoms.