At the beginning of July the MQ-9 Reapers from the 52nd
Expeditionary Operations Group, Detachment 2, temporarily relocated
from Miroslawiec Air Base, Poland to to Câmpia Turzii 71st Air Base,
Romania. It is actually thought the move is more permanent than
temporary as it will locate the MQ-9s closer the Sevastopol area, where
Russia’s main military forces are stationed.
The work on upgrading RAF Lakenheath’s infrastructure for the
expected basing of F-35As commenced on 15th July 2019. Once
complete RAF Lakenheath will now house two squadrons of F-35A –
this is an adjustment from the three squadrons announced earlier.
On 1st July 2019 the 21st Special Operations Squadron ‘The Dust
Devils’, was re-established at Yokota Air Base, Japan to operate the
CV-22B Osprey – the unit compliment will 10 aircraft. The unit had last
flown the MH-53M Pave Low helicopter at RAF Mildenhall, UK and had
been inactivated on 9th October 2007. Presumably the unit will taking
the five CV-22Bs operated by 353rd Special Operations Group,
Detachment 1 (see under serial notes).United States Navy
As we know the US Navy needs to replace its fleet of TH-57 Sea Ranger
training helicopters. Leornado is offering the TH-119 (AW119 Mk.2) for
the TH-73 Advanced Helicopter Training Program. N824BM (msn
14725), which is being used for testing, has received IFR certification
from the FAA – is the first single engine helicopter in many years to
achieve this, and Leornado believes this makes the type the perfect
candidate to fulfil the TH-73 role; the type is manufactured in
Philadelphia.
Finally, the US Navy has announced its purchase of a former RAF
C-130J Hercules as its new ‘Fat Albert’ logistical aircraft for the Blue
Angels demonstration team. The aircraft is due to be delivered some
time during 2020.United States Marine Corps Aviation
AAR Government Services Inc. of Wood Dale, Illinois was awarded a
contract to provide two C-40A Clipper (B737-700) aircraft for the USMC
on 27th July 2019. They are to replace the long retired C-9Bs and
delivery is expected to VMR-1, MCAS Cherry Point in September 2021.United States Army Aviation
On 12th June 2019 Boeing was awarded a contract under FY 2019
funds to convert six MH-47G Chinooks to Block II standard, plus the
supply of one new build machine. The helicopters are intended for the
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). This brings the
total orders for the Block II MH-47G to fifteen.Serial notes – United States Air Force
AC-130U Spooky
8th July 2019 marked the end of the AC-130U Spooky gunship’s
operational life when two aircraft (89-1056 and 90-0167) from 4th
Special Operations Squadron arrived home to Hurlburt Field, Florida
after completing their final combat deployment.
Serial msn Remarks
87-0128 5139 4th Special Operations Squadron – named
‘Big Daddy’ – last noted 11/18
89-0509 5228 ex 4th Special Operations Squadron; 309th
AMARG since 7/8/18
89-0510 5229 4th Special Operations Squadron – last
noted 9/18
89-0511 5230 ex 4th Special Operations Squadron; 309th
AMARG since 8/5/18
89-0512 5231 ex 4th Special Operations Squadron; 309th
AMARG since 16/1/18
89-0513 5232 4th Special Operations Squadron – named
‘Killer Instinct’ – active
89-0514 5233 ex 4th Special Operations Squadron; 309th
AMARG since 10/9/18
89-1052 5199 ex 4th Special Operations Squadron; 309th
AMARG since 19/6/19
89-1053 5201 4th Special Operations Squadron
89-1054 5203 4th Special Operations Squadron
89-1056 5205 4th Special Operations Squadron – last
noted 7/19
90-0163 5256 ex 4th Special Operations Squadron; 309th
AMARG since 22/9/15PHILIPPINESSerial notes – Philippines Coast Guard
Airbus H145
Serial msn Remarks
PCG-145 20273 Noted with test registration D-HADK at
Manching/Ingolstadt (Germany) on 19 July
2019.
REPUBLIC OF KOREASerial notes – Republic of Korea Air Force
F-35A Lightning II
Serial msn Remarks
18-005 AW-05 FMS 15-5225; delivered 15/7/19
18-006 AW-06 FMS 15-5226; delivered 15/7/19
SINGAPORESerial notes – Republic of Singapore Air Force
KC-135R Stratotanker
On 26/6/19 the Republic of Singapore Air Force ended 21 years of KC-
135R Stratotanker operations. The final operational flight was made
by 112 Squadron and the type is now replaced by the A330MRTT.
Serial msn l/n Remarks
750 18626 T0665 ex 63-8009; 112 Squadron
751 18232 T0547 ex 61-0325; 112 Squadron
752 17942 T0357 ex 59-1454; 112 Squadron
753 18633 T0672 ex 63-8016; 112 Squadron
A330-243MRTT
Serial msn l/n Remarks
760 1667 MRTT033 ex EC-333; 112 Squadron –
active
761 1762 MRTT034 ex EC-332; 112 Squadron –
active
762 1799 MRTT035 EC-336; On order
763 1822 MRTT036 EC-337; On order
THAILANDSerial notes – Royal Thai Air Force
L-39ZA/ART Albatross
Serial Code msn Remarks
365423 41121 365423 411 Squadron, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- crashed 11/7/19 during a training
flight near Chiang Mai. One pilot
was killed, and the other injured.
NORTH AMERICA
CANADASerial notes – Royal Canadian Air Force
CC-205 (Airbus C295SAR)
Serial msn Remarks
First flight as EC-005 on 4/7/19
UNITED STATES OF AMERICAIndustry news
Boeing announced that it was expecting to be awarded a multi-year
contract by United States Army – the contract is to cover AH-64E
Apache Guardian purchases between FY22 and FY26. The number of
airframes is believed to cover a mix of 600 new build and re-
manufactured AH-64E – some of which could be for Foreign Military
Sales.
United States Air Force
On 24/7/19 it was announced that the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider
stealth bomber is expected to make its first flight during December
2021.