RNAS Culdrose, UK, 1989
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After several times in England, this time in 1989 I travelled from RAF Fairford over RNAS Yeovilton down to the RNAS Culdrose my final destination. This time my good friend Alex Dietz joints me on my trip to the UK. Alex and I know each other since our service time by the Swiss Army. We both where in the same unit.
1989 war ich wieder einmal in England unterwegs und mein treuer Mazda 626 führte mich von RAF Fairford über RNAS Yeovilton zur Marinestation RNAS Culdrose. Bei diesem Trip begleitete mich mein langjähriger Kollege Alex Dietz. Alex und ich kennen uns aus unserer gemeinsamen Dienstzeit in der gleichen Einheit bei der Fliegerkompanie 21.
Royal Navy - Fleet Air Arm
Bae Sea Harrier FRS-1 XZ 495 of the 899 Sqn. This Squadron is the FRS for the Sea Harrier. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
XZ 495 + ZD 610 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Bae Sea Harrier FRS-1 ZD 610 of the 899 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Hawker Hunter GA.11 XE668 from FRADU (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Hawker Hunter T.8 XX466 from FRADU (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The Royal Navy also used the Bac Canberra here the WK 142 an TT.18 from FRADU (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Sea King AEW.2 XV664 849 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Sea King AEW.2 XV664 849 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose is located at the western end of England in Cornwall. The residential planes belonging to training units of the FAA in there colored paint schemes. To visiting this Air Base is highly recommended.
Die Marinestation Culdrose liegt am westlichen Ende von England in Cornwall. Die dort beheimateten Maschinen der Trainingseinheiten gehören zu den Farbenfrohsten der Royal Navy. Die Basis ist auf jeden Fall ein Besuch Wert.
Westland Sea King HAS. 5 XZ921 706 Sqn (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Sea King HAS. 5 XZ921 706 Sqn (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Sea King HAS. 5 XZ 921 706 Sqn (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Sea King and Nimrod (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
That Sunday morning it was raining and the black clouds didn’t gave us much hope for a good day! Alex mood sunk on a very low level. Well, I saw the whole thing not that pessimistic, since I knew from my past visiting, the British weather always showing up with some positive surprises. After a good “English breakfast” we set of to the air show.
Der Morgen an jenem Sonntag war grau in grau mit tiefhängende Wolken und Regen. Alex war frustriert, denn das Wetter ließ nichts Gutes ahnen! Doch so pessimistisch sah ich das nicht. Nach einem ausgiebigen "English Breakfast" machten wir uns auf den Weg zur Marinestation.
Bae Jetstream T.2 XX478 of the 750 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Bae Jetstream T.2 XX478 of the 750 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Weesex HAS.3 XM328 of the Base Flight RNAS Culdrose (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
De Havilland Sea Dove C.20 XK 895 the main Transport of the Royal Navy in 1989. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
De Havilland T.10 Chipmunk of the 771 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Weesex HAS.3 771 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Gazelle HT.2 705 Sqn (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The air base is located on a downhill side and the runways were just perfect to get some good pictures. Even the weather was brightening up and so was our mood!
RNAS Culdrose liegt in einem leicht hügeligen Gebiet und ist sehr gut einsehbar. Die Pisten lagen auf den richtigen Seiten, so dass wir wenigsten hier keine Abstriche in Kauf nehmen mussten. Am Horizont waren die ersten Aufhellungen sichtbar, was uns positiv stimmte und wieder Freude aufkommen ließ.
Historic Flight (Royal Air Force)
I knew from the past that the weather, especially close to the coast, can change from one moment to the other. After a while the sun came out and the dark clouds in the back were perfect to get some dramatic shots.
Ich kannte das typisch englische Wetter aus meinen früheren Besuchen und wusste auch, dass sich vor allem in der Küstennähe das Wetter sehr schnell auch zum Besseren ändern konnte. Nach einiger Zeit klarte der Himmel tatsächlich auf und gab mit den dunklen Wolken im Hintergrund einen tollen Effekt beim fotografieren.
Historic Flight (Fleet Air Arm)
Grumman Avenger TBM-3 CF-KCG from Canada (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Hawker Sea Fury T.20 WG 655 of the Historic Flight. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
De Havilland Venom Mk.6 G-GONE a former Swiss Air Force Venom. The Royal Navy never flown the single Seat Venom. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
As I mentioned before, RNAS Culdrosse is a typical training base for helicopter pilots and navigators. Colorfull training aircrafts like the Bea Jetstream and the Gazelle helicopter joint in side by side with Harrier’s, Hunter’s Seaking’s and Wessex helicopters. A special highlight was a Sea Fury, a Firefly and a Swordfish of the Historical Flight unit by the Royal Navy.
RNAS Culdrose ist eine typische Trainingsbasis, auf der vorwiegend Hubschrauberpiloten speziell in Navigation ausgebildet werden. Farbenfrohe Ausbildungsflugzeuge/Hubschrauber wie die Bae Jetstream und die Gazelle sind hier neben Harrier’s, Hunter, Seaking’s und Wessex stationiert. Ein Leckerbissen waren sicherlich eine Sea Fury, Firefly und Swordfish des Historic Flight Unit
The RAF
Bac Strikemaster T.5 XW368 6 FTS (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Panavia Toronado F.3 ZE809 23 Sqn (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 XV 168 of the RAF (former used by the Royal Navy) 12 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Especially surprising was an Acrobatic team from Morocco how participate at the show. We sort the UK is homeland of the famous Red Arrows? Or not?
Außergewöhnlich war ein marokkanisches Kunstflugteam das es nach England verschlagen hatte. Die Red Arrows sind doch Platzhirsch hier auf der Insel, oder etwa doch nicht?
Aerospatiale SA-330 Puma XW 225 of the RAF 250 OCU (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The Prototype of the WS-30 G-BKGD in the Markings of Bristow (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
In 1989 Westland tryed to sell the Sikorsky UH-60A in Europa but failed. Here ZG468
Boeing Stearman N54922 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
As usual most of the show program was flown by the Royal Navy and a Buccaneer as well as a Phantom of the Royal Air Force. I personally focused on two F/A-18A Hornets, from CV-43 USS Coral Sea, our foreign guest’s from the United States of America.
The guest's from the Coral Sea
One Hornet belonging to the US Navy (VFA-137) while the second Hornet served by the US Marine Corps (VMFA-451). During the Air show one of the Hornets performed in a flying display and showed the crowd the capability of this powerful aircraft. At this time it was not common to have special display pilots like today. Often regular fighter pilots took this part on air shows.
Mc Donnell Douglas F/A-18A VMFA-451 163131 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Mc Donnell Douglas F/A-18A VFA-132 162428 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Mc Donnell Douglas F/A-18A VFA-132 162428 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The USAFE
The peak of that day was probably the fly past of a Swordfish vintage aircraft, flagpole mounted on the aircraft with the union jack in the wind. While passing the crowd, the ground crew saluted the pilot flying this aircraft.
Finally it was a great day in good old England, even if the weather wasn’t perfect. Would I go again? YES definitely!
Den krönenden Abschluss bot ein Swordfish Doppeldecker des Historic Flight der FAA im Vorbeiflug mit aufmontierter Flagge und salutierender Mannschaft am Boden!
Trotz dem nicht optimalen Wetter war es wohl ein unvergesslicher Besuch ganz im Südwesten von England.
Strange Guests
Royal Maroc Dornier Do-28D CNA-NP (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Royal Maroc Cap-230 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Dutch Alouette III A-374 of 300 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)