Air-Britain News – July 2019

NATO

It appears that the NATO E-3A fleet will receive a life extension to a

least 2035 (subject to a contract being placed with Boeing).

With three of the fleet withdrawn and in storage with 309th

AMARG, this leaves fourteen operational aircraft – I can only assume

that these will all be upgraded.

NORWAY

Serial notes – Royal Norwegian Air Force

F-35A Lightning II

Serial msn Remarks

5288 AM-17 FMS 17-5288; noted 7/5/19 at Lajes

5289 AM-18 FMS 17-5289; noted 7/5/19 at Lajes

5290 AM-19 FMS 17-5290; noted 7/5/19 at Lajes

These three were noted 7/5/19 at Lajes, Azores on their delivery flight.

POLAND

Serial notes – Polish Police

Sikorsky S-70i

Serial Remarks

SN-70XP/A-101 delivered 12/18

SN-71XP/A-102 delivered 12/18

SN-72XP/A-103 delivered 26/4/19

SWITZERLAND

Armasuisse had advised SAAB not to participate in the flight tests

planned for 24–28/6/19 to evaluate the JAS39E Gripen NG for

suitability for the next Swiss AF combat type. The reason given is that

only combat aircraft that are operationally ready in 2019 are suitable

for the evaluation.

TURKEY

Serial notes – Turkish Air Force

F-4E-2020

On 31/5/19 an F-4E-2020 operated by 111 Filo, Eskisehir air base,

crash-landed at Malatya/Erhac air base. Apparently the aircraft

suffered a collapse of its landing gear, both pilots ejected safely.

UKRAINE

The Ukrainian Ministry of Interior announced on 17/6/18 that it had

decided on purchasing thirteen Antonov An-178 medium transport

aircraft. In service date is due to be around 2022.

AFRICA

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Serial notes – Democratic Republic of Congo Air Force

Boeing 727-30

Some re-registering of Boeing 727s has taken place as follows:

Serial msn l/n Remarks

9Q-CBA 21526 1476 re-registered to 9S-CBA

9Q-CDC 18934 222 re-registered to 9S-CDC

9S-CBA was reported during April and 9S-CDC reported as such during

March 2019.

EGYPT

Serial notes – Egyptian Air Force

Kamov Ka-52

Serial Remarks

6609 111 Squadron – serial noted from photo

6616 111 Squadron – serial noted from photo

They were photographed at Wadi al Jandali.

FRANCE

At the 2019 Paris Air Show the French Minister of the Armed Forces
announced that the Falcon 2000LXS is to replace the five Falcon 200
Guardian and eight Falcon 50MS/MI currently in use with French Naval
Aviation. The Falcon 2000LXS will be named ‘Albatross’ and seven will
be initially be ordered with options held on a further six. The first three
deliveries are due during 2024 and if the option order is taken up by
2025 all thirteen aircraft should be in service by 2030.

Serial notes – French Air Force
TB-30 Epsilon
Serial msn Remarks
68 68 to F-AYAB
76 76 to F-AYCL
77 77 to F-AYJB
79 79 to F-AYOB
90 90 to F-AYXG
121 121 to F-AYYL
‘Scramble’ reports these six TB-30s as undergoing overhaul at Melun
Villaroche, France 4/19 prior to delivery to their new owners.

A further six former French Air Force TB-30s are now operated
by Apache Aviation, Dijon for flight training. The aircraft are as
follows:
80 80 to F-HEXA carries code 06
108 108 to F-HEXI carries code 01
111 111 to F-HEYB carries code 03
115 115 to F-HEYB carries code 04
129 129 to F-HEYT carries code 02
143 143 to F-HEZH carries code 05

Sécurité civile
Dash 8-Q400MR
Serial msn Remarks
F-ZBMH/75 4577 ex C-FXFK; Delivered 18/6/19
/76 4579 Noted at Toronto-Downsview as C-GFKW 5/19
F-ZBMH/75 is the first of six Dash 8-Q400MRs to be delivered, and they
will replace the fleet of Firecats by 2024.

GERMANY

Serial notes – German Air Force
EF2000 Eurofighter
Serial msn Remarks
30+48 GS033 TLG 73 – written off 24/6/19
30+55 GS039 TLG 79 – written off 24/6/19
Both EF2000s were destroyed when they collided in mid-air and
crashed in Bundesland Mecklenburg, Vorpommern, Germany. The
aircraft, of TLG 73 based at Laage Air Base, were operating an air
combat mission – both pilots ejected but one was killed.

ITALY

The Italian Air Force has ordered a further thirteen M345HET (High
Efficiency Trainer) aircraft, adding to the five already on order. The
type will replace the MB339 fleet and the Italian Air Force has a total
requirement for forty-five aircraft. It will also find its way into service
with the Frecce Tricolori.

MONTENEGRO

Serial notes – Montenegro Armed Forces
Bell 412EP
Serial Model msn Remarks
XHB307 Bell 412EP 36307 ex 36307

Bell 412Epi
Serial Model msn Remarks
XHB032 Bell 412EPi 37032 ex 37032
XHB033 Bell 412EPi 37033 ex 37033
The three Bell 412s had all been re-serialled by April 2019.