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  RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2016
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It looked like a dark cloud over the horizon. About 30 Helicopters were swarming in to the RNAS Yeovilton, also known as HMS Heron. In front the mighty Westland Commando HC.4 and behind the old but powerfull Westand Wessex HU.5. Two Hawker Harrier FRS.1 flew overhead "top cover". The Commandos brougt in the Royal Marines and the Wessex even more Marines, artillery pieces and Landrovers. It was a quite spectacular scene, but the Royal Navy liked to show the audience the power of the Fleet Air Arm which they had used to recapture the Falkland Island one year earlier.
It was the year 1983 and I was a young spotter - at that time. For me it was the most spectacular military assault I have ever witnessed. In the year 2016 I was again at HMS Heron and watched the traditional show part of the assault, of which more later.

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

British Naval aviation

The British Naval aviation is only a shadow of its former strength, but the Air Day at RNAS Yeovilton ist still one of the attractive ones in the UK. At first we saw the landing of a big American McDonnell DouglasC-17 Globemaster III. In its belly was a Baby Globmaster. The miniature C-17 has been used all across the United States to promote the Air Force Reserve and bolster recruiting efforts at air shows, parades and other community events. The 315th Airlift Wing’s mini C-17 made its first trip across the pond on 30. June and was a huge hit at Yeovilton Air Day 2016. The 315th Airlift Wing won the  “Best Static Display” award.

   

Beech Avenger (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland Wildcat (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland Lynx (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

BaE Hawk (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Westland Merlin (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Mc Donnell Douglas Phantom (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

BaE SeaHarrier (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Agusta A-109 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

Mc Donnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster III 315 AW (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Mc Donnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster III 315 AW (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Mc Donnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster III an the Mini 315 AW (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Mc Donnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster III and the Mini 315 AW  (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

Panavia Tornado (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Panavia Tornado (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Transall (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Transall (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Aerobatic Teams

Three aerobatic teams showed their performance in the sky over Somerset. The Polish Orlic team with seven PZL-130 Orlik turboprop trainers, the Royal Jordanian Falcons with a special Arab music and of course the Red Arrows from the RAF.

 
 

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Classic Military and cold war eara

In this part of the show were some very special aircraft  shown, and with this I don’t mean the very agile demonstration of the North American OV-10C Bronco. It was quite astonishing to see how fast this tiny small aircraft can roll and turn. I mean the not so specatular performance of a MIG-15UTI from the Norwegian Air Force Historical Flight and the huge De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 from the Fly Navy Heritage Trust.
It was the first time for me to watch this all weather fighter of the sixties. In today's standards the performance is not quite spectacular, but so see a second generation fighter to fly today is beautiful. The FAW.2 was in the Markings of 899 NAS which was based on HMS Eagle until July 1971. The FAW.2 was flown by former Harrier pilot CDR Simon Hargreaves.
In the colours of the 829 NAS was the very small Westland Wasp HAS.1. The paint scheme was somewhat strange with light grey patches , but this paintjob was carried in the 1982 Falklands conflict.

 
 

North Ameerican OV-10C Bronce (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

North Ameerican OV-10C Bronce (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   
  MIG-15UTI (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) MIG-15UTI (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) MIG-15UTI (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) MIG-15UTI (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)  
 

Westland Wasp HAS.1 XT787 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland Wasp HAS.1 XT787 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland Wasp HAS.1 XT787 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Warbirds

Sadly the Hawker Fury FB.11 didn’t take to the air. Other Warbirds were the Seafire LFIIIc from Air Leasing and the Corsair FG-1D from the Fighter Collection. Fittingly for a Navy airshow it was in the colours of an 1850 NAS Corsair from the Britisch Pacific Fleet.
Also present was Elly Sallingboe‘s B-17G Flying Fortress which made some nice low wing flyby’s
Hunt the Bismarck was the motto for the Fairey Swordfish LS326 of the Royal Navy Historic Flight. The Stringbag is a must on every RNAS Air Day. The highlight is always the fly by with the saluting TAG* and Observer in the second Cockpit. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight provided the pairing of Hurricane Mk IIc PZ865 and Spitfire Mk Vb AB910. They performed a formation entrance before splitting for their own solo routines. To complete the single engined warbirds lineup was Supermarine Seafire LF III PP972 in the hands of Richard Grace who flew a superb routine around the sky

 

 

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VR930 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Vought Corsair IV KD345 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Vought Corsair IV KD345 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Supermarine Seafire LF III PP972 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

Supermarine Seafire LF III PP972 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Fairey Swordfish LS326(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Fairey Swordfish LS326(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Fairey Swordfish LS326(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Hurricane Mk IIc PZ865 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

The Helicopters and Jets

In the more modern part of the air display the the Air Day 2916 two Westland Lynx HMA.8 (ZD257 and ZD565) and two Westland Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ396 and ZZ375)showed how to blow up an enemy ship with Sea Skua Missiles. The ship was actually a part of the airfield. The Royal Navy Black Cats Display Team with two Westland Wildcat HMA.2 showed the performance of the new Wildcat compared with the old and trusty Lynx. The Wildcat is an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx and now in use by the British Army and the Fleet Air Arm. The FAA procured 34 HM.2 and the Army 28 AH.1. To compare with the Westland Lynx, the FAA ordered 60 and the Army 113 examples.
On 23 March 2015, the Royal Navy's first Wildcat HMA.2 began its initial operational deployment at sea, onboard HMS Lancaster.

 

 

BaE Typhoon ZK352 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

BaE Typhoon ZK352 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Dassault Rafale (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Dassault Rafale (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Front line fighter jets were also on show from the Royal Air Force and Aéronavale providing displays. Demonstrating its own sky tearing ability was the Typhoon Solo display (ZK352) from 29 Sqn and flown by Flt Lt Mark Long. A pair of Rafale M aircraft operated by Flotille 11F at Landivisiau showed off the French Navy's abilities

 

 

Dassault Rafale (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Dassault Rafale (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Dassault Rafale (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Dassault Falcon 10 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

Antonov AN-28 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

NH-90 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

Aerospatiale Gazelle (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland HM.2 Wildcat (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland HM.2 Wildcat  & HMA.8 Lynx Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland HM.2 Wildcat (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

Westland HM.2 Wildcat (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland HM.2 Wildcat (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland HM.2 Wildcat  & HMA.8 Lynx Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland HM.2 Wildcat (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

The Assault

The last Show Block on the Air Day is always the assault. The bad guy's sometimes called "Yeovil irregulars" or like this year "terrorists". Some of the "terrorists" captured a All Terrain Armoured Vehicle and a Lorry and took some hostages. This was the set for the assault Demo of the Royal Marines 40 Commando. The seven Westland HM.2 Merlin Helicopter used to fly the 40 Commando in. From troop transport and insertion via fast abseil to underslung loads, it was truly impressive to see the Merlins thundering about the airfield at low-level, gear up and in formation. Cover was provided by two Army Westland Wildcat AH.1s (ZZ410 and ZZ510) operated by 652 Squadron AAC and top cover was flown by a single BaE Hawk (XX159), from 736 NAS.
The Hawk as replacement for the Sea Harrier was ridiculous, but the Wildcat was well suited for the Task of suppressing enemy fire. Also in this role was a Hughes AH-64 Apache (ZJ223) from the British Army. On the rocket launcher was stenciled "GUNSHIP“. As always the good guys of the 40 Commando overwhelmed after a mock battle the "terrorits" in an impressive manner.

 

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   
 

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 
 

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

With RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2016 done and dusted, it’s clear to see why it still holds a rating as one of the biggest and best airshows in the UK. As is usually said, the Commando assault is alone worth attending the show. By the way ... arround 40'000 people watched the Air Day 2016.

 

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* TAG = Telegraphist Air Gunner