Aviation News – June 2018

Red Arrows Hawk Preserved

National Museums Scotland has acquired a

Hawk T.1A, XX308, which was flown by the

RAF’s Red Arrows. The jet trainer has been

donated by the Ministry of Defence through

RAF Heritage, and went on permanent static

display at the National Museum of Flight in

East Fortune on April 25. It is the only Red

Arrows Hawk on show in any UK museum.

Built in 1980, the aircraft was used by the

display team from 1985 until 2012.

It will sit alongside Concorde G-BOAA,

an aircraft type with which the Red Arrows

displayed on many occasions, most notably

when they flew in formation over Edinburgh

on July 1, 1999 to mark the opening of the

Scottish Parliament. The museum’s Hawk

was flown on that day by the team leader,

‘Red 1’, Wg Cdr Simon Meade.

Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National

Museums Scotland said: “The National

Museum of Flight is home to one of the

best and most varied aviation collections in

Europe, and the Hawk used by the famous

Red Arrows is a terrific addition. We are

grateful to the Ministry of Defence for this

generous donation which is sure to be

hugely popular with our visitors.”

ACM Sir Steven Hillier, Chief of the

Air Staff, said: “The RAF in Scotland has

excellent links with National Museums

Scotland. In this, the RAF’s 100th year,

we seek to commemorate, celebrate and

inspire. I can think of no better place than

the National Museum of Flight for a Red

Arrows Hawk to be displayed and help

promote these themes.”

Dambusters

Return

After an absence of three years, the RAF’s

617 Dambuster Sqn re-formed at a special

ceremony in Washington DC on April 17.

The unit – established in 1943 to attack

the Ruhr dams – is the first frontline RAF

squadron to be equipped with the Lockheed

Martin F-35 Lightning II.

The ‘stand-up’ commemoration event in

the USA featured the squadron standard

being paraded before the Chief of the Air

Staff, ACM Sir Stephen Hillier, and 617

Sqn OC, Wg Cdr John Butcher asking for

permission to re-form the unit. No. 617 will

be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk later

this year, after personnel from the squadron

have completed training in the USA. (See

last month’s Dambusters special issue for

an exclusive interview with Wg Cdr John

Butcher, and more on 617 Sqn.)

West Atlantic, the East Midlands Airport-

based cargo specialists, has received the

world’s first 737-800 Boeing Converter

Freighter (BCF). Boeing 737-800s are used

by many airlines for short-haul passenger

flights, but with a new generation of

commercial aircraft coming onto the market,

Boeing is converting existing 737-800s into

cargo carriers. West Atlantic is leasing four

of the new 737-800s; the other three will be

added to the fleet in coming months.

West Atlantic relocated its UK operation

from Coventry Airport to East Midlands last

November. The express freight company

leases hangar space close to its key

customers DHL and the Royal Mail. The

new 737-800BCF will initially operate the

twice-nightly East Midlands to Belfast route

on behalf of Royal Mail.

Neil Robinson, Corporate and Social

Responsibility Director at EMA, said: “We’re

delighted that West Atlantic is leading the

way by leasing Boeing’s new freight aircraft.

We work closely with all our airline partners

to ensure that everything is being done

to minimise the impact of our operations

on the local community. While we want to

grow the business and attract more airlines

to give a greater choice to passengers and

businesses who need goods transporting

all over the world, we’re very focused

on sustainable growth in line with our

commitment to be a good neighbour.”

West Atlantic’s Chief Executive, Fredrik

Groth, commented: “We’re excited to be

the first operator of the 737-800BCF. The

additional capacity and next-generation

efficiency offered by this new aircraft will

deliver real benefits to our customers

and we’re delighted to be at the forefront

of delivering this new technology. This

aircraft, and the additional three being

delivered to us within the next 11 months,

will be operated for one of the most

recognised global integrators within their

European Network. With the 800BCF,

we expect to improve reliability, lower

aircraft operating costs, and leave a better

environmental footprint.”

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Lockheed Martin F-16AM Fighting Falcon

FA101 has gained spectacular markings

for the 2018 airshow season. The Belgian

Air Force jet was rolled out in its new

‘Dark Falcon’ livery at Florennes Air Base

on April 23. It has also been announced

that Snr Capt Stefan Darte – known as

‘Vador’ – will be the Belgian F-16 solo

display pilot for the next three years.

Mick Balter

Spectacular Scheme

for Belgian F-

Fighting Falcon FA101 in its new ‘Dark Falcon’ markings. Mick Balter

First 737-800BCF Delivered

West Atlantic’s Boeing 737-800BCF G-NPTA at a special ceremony at East Midlands Airport on

April 20. Rob Edson/West Atlantic

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