Westland Puma HC2 XW224 gained
a spectacular new livery in time for its
participation in the annual NATO Tiger Meet,
which was held at Poznan -Krzesiny Air
Base in Poland from May 14 to May 25. The
Puma also carries RAF100 markings, and
commemorative decals marking the unit’s
100th birthday. The Benson-based 230 Sqn
helicopter was the RAF’s sole representative
at the event. Krzesiny is home to the Polish
Air Force’s 6 Tactical Squadron, a unit that ies
the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.
Other notable tiger-themed paint schemes
at the meet included a French Navy Dassault
Rafale from 11F with nautical themed tail
artwork and a colourful German Panavia
Tornado ECR from Luftwaffengeschwader
5 1. Adrian M BalchAbove: The Puma at Benson in Oxfordshire shortly before departing for Poland.
Crown Copyright via Adrian M Balch
This photo: Tornado 46+57 in its Tiger markings at Krzesiny. Bob ArcherSpecial Tiger Meet Liveries
RAF Trainer Retirements
Amid the high-pro le arrivals of the Lockheed Martin F-35 and
Merlin Commando helicopter, two aircraft types have quietly been
stood down by the RAF. Cranwell-based Beechcraft King Air
B200s, which were operated by 45 Sqn, were retired on March 31
and have been replaced by the Embraer Phenom 100. King Airs
had been used by the RAF for multi-engine training as well as air
experience for weapon systems operators since 2003.
Elsewhere, the Grob Vigilant T1 was formally retired after 27
years of service with the RAF on May 6. The motor glider had
primarily been used to train cadets. The last unit to y the Vigilant
was 645 Volunteer Gliding Sqn at RAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire, and the
nal ight was made by ZH207.Atlas Force Increases
Deliveries of the Airbus A400M Atlas C1 to the RAF are picking
up pace, with the latest example, ZM418, ying from the nal
assembly line at Seville-San Pablo Airport, Spain, to Brize Norton,
Oxfordshire, on May 4. This brings the total delivered to the
RAF up to 19, out of 22 on order. The previous example, ZM417,
arrived at Brize Norton on October 19 last year, and only ZM419,
ZM420 and ZM421 now remain outstanding.
Meanwhile, the RAF cleared the Atlas C1 for medical
evacuation (medevac) duties on May 23. The milestone provides
for high-dependency and highly infectious patients. The type will
now be able to carry up to 66 low- to medium-dependency, or four
high-dependency, stretcher patients. Dave AllportMILITARY NEWS
12 Aviation News incorporating Jets July 2018Eurofi ghter to Replace Luftwaffe Tornados?
Euro ghter GmbH and Airbus have
submitted a proposal to replace Germany’s
Panavia Tornado IDS/ECRs with Euro ghter
EF2000s. The Luftwaffe plans to retire the
Tornado from 2025 onward and transfer its
role to another weapon system. Since the
Euro ghter is already operated by Germany,
Airbus claims the jet could seamlessly
adopt the capabilities of the Tornado, and
purchasing an additional batch of EF2000s
would also yield cost savings in terms of
support services and training.“The Euro ghter is already the backbone
of the German Air Force and is therefore the
logical option to adopt the capabilities of the
Tornado in the medium term,” said Bernhard
Brenner, head of marketing and sales at
Airbus Defence and Space. “We have an
excellent aircraft, its production secures
important aircraft construction know-how in
Germany and, at the same time, strongly
supports European sovereignty in defence.
The successful continuation of Euro ghter
production could also lead to further co-operation with other European nations, such
as Switzerland, Belgium and Finland.”
Volker Paltzo, Euro ghter CEO, added:
“I am con dent that Euro ghter can provide
a cost-effective and attractive solution for
Germany, which will deliver every capability
and perform every mission the German
Air Force needs”. Airbus also said: “In the
medium term, the further development
of the Euro ghter will provide the
technological basis for the next generation
of European combat aircraft.”10-12_military_newsDC.mfDC.indd 12 08/06/2018 16: