Air-Britain News – August 2019

Serial notes – Royal Saudi Air Force

F-15SA Strike Eagle

Serial Remarks

12-1050 Noted RAF Lakenheath 29/7/19

12-1051 Noted RAF Lakenheath 29/7/19

12-1052 Noted RAF Lakenheath 29/7/19

12-1076 Noted RAF Lakenheath 29/7/19

12-1077 Noted RAF Lakenheath 29/7/19

12-1078 Noted RAF Lakenheath 29/7/19

All six arrived on their delivery flight to Saudi Arabia – the serials are

of course FMS serials and not Royal Saudi Air Force serials.

ASIA PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA

Serial notes – Royal Australian Air Force

F/A-18 Hornet

On 5th July 2019 77 Squadron celebrated 77 years of operation with a

‘double seven’ formation flight comprising of the following 16 F/A-18B

Hornets:

F/A-18A Hornet

Serial msn Remarks

A21-6 287 77 Squadron – 7/19

A21-7 292 77 Squadron – 7/19

A21-14 353 77 Squadron – 7/19

A21-15 361 75 Squadron – 7/19

A21-18 382 2 OCU – 7/19

A21-20 462 77 Squadron – 7/19

A21-22 476 75 Squadron – 7/19

A21-23 483 77 Squadron – 7/19

A21-25 496 2 OCU – 7/19

A21-33 569 77 Squadron – 7/19

A21-39 657 77 Squadron – 7/19 (special markings)

A21-43 689 77 Squadron – 7/19

A21-45 722 77 Squadron – 7/19

A21-47 741 77 Squadron – 7/19

A21-56 824 2 OCU – 7/19

F/A-18B Hornet

Serial msn Remarks

A21-114

Pilatus PC-21

Serial msn Remarks

A54-029 262 ex HB-HWC; ‘Roulettes’ marks; noted at

Adelaide 17/2/19 on delivery flight

A54-030 263 ex HB-HWD; ‘Roulettes’ marks; noted at

Darwin 17/3/18 on delivery flight

operating Air Tractor AT-802. 100 Squadron, which absorbed 135
Squadron, has relocated to Hatzor Air Base, but it is not clear where
249 Squadron has moved to.

Serial notes – Israeli Air Force
F-35I Adir
Serial msn Remarks
925 AS-17 FMS 17-5324; First flight 26/4/19
926 AS-18 FMS 17-5325; First flight 24/5/19
Both aircraft were seen at Lajes, Azores 13/7/19 whilst on their
delivery flight.

QATAR

Serial notes – Qatar Emiri Air Force
Rafale DQ
Serial Remarks
QA202 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 3/7/19
QA203 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 3/7/19
QA204 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 5/6/19

Rafale EQ
Serial Remarks
QA211 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 5/6/19
QA216 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 5/6/19
QA217 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 3/7/19
QA218 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 5/6/19
QA219 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 3/7/19
QA220 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 5/6/19
QA221 Departed Bordeaux/Mérignac 3/7/19
QA222 Noted Bordeaux/Mérignac 17/5/19
QA223 Noted Bordeaux/Mérignac 17/5/19
QA224 Noted Bordeaux/Mérignac 17/5/19

Pilatus PC-21
On 10/7/19 the Qatari Ministry of Defence announced that two aircraft
had collided. It appears that the aircraft involved were two PC-21s
from Al Zaeem Mohamed Bin Abdullah Al Attiyah Air College, based at
Al-Udeid air base.

SAUDI ARABIA

It is reported that Saudi Arabia may be nearing a deal to purchase an
unspecified number of V-22 Ospreys. They have been in discussion
since late 2014 over purchasing the type.
The Pentagon is offering an advantageous price under a multi-year
procurement contract if a deal is done by December 2020 – so watch
this space.

F-16SA Strike Eagle 12-1051 ‘Retro65’ of Royal Saudi Air Force at Lakenheath on 29th July 2019 during its delivery flight. [Colin Johnson]