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Scramble 468
operated by 19(R)sq, under control of 4FTS. On 24 November
2011, this squadron was re-numbered to 4(R)sq. This squadron
nowadays still is the sole operator of the Hawk T2 fleet, albeit
it was recently re-designated 4sq when the RAF decided to
stop using the Reserve Squadron designations.
Multi-Engine Flying Training
Seven Beech B200 and three Beech B200GT aircraft were
delivered as of end-2003. Initially these aircraft operated using
civilian registrations but they took up military registrations
as of end-2005. All aircraft were assigned to 45(R)sq at RAF
Cranwell. The last aircraft was retired in March 2018.
Ascent also subcontracted Elbit Systems and KBR to supply
new aircraft for this role. Five Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft
were ordered. The first aircraft was delivered in July 2010, and
the last example arrived at RAF Cranwell in January 2018. All
five initially were allocated British civil registrations. These
were all cancelled in March/April 2018, and the aircraft took
up their military identities.
It must also be mentioned that the students undergoing
multi-engine training will first go through a short lead-in
training phase using Prefect T1 aircraft which are co-located
at RAF Cranwell.
Rotary Wing Training
A fifteen-year contract to provide rotary wing training
courses was awarded to FBS Helicopters in October 1996. This
is a joint-venture between Flight Refueling Aviation, Bristow
Helicopters and SERCO. At RAF Shawbury, the Defence
Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) was established and daily
operations were subcontracted to FB Heli Services. In total
eleven Griffin HT1, twenty-eight Squirrel HT1 and twelve
Squirrel HT2 helicopters were purchased. The majority
of the fleet was located at RAF Shawbury, but the Squirrel
HT2 helicopters were mainly used by 670sq at AAC Middle
Wallop. Also the Search And Rescue Training Unit (SARTU) at
RAF Valley used a few Griffin HT1 helicopters. This unit was
re-named 202(R)sq op 29 April 2016.
Due to delays in the UK MFTS training helicopter acquisition
programme, the contract with FBS Helicopters was extended
until March 2018. Ascent was selected in 2016, to provide the
new training helicopters and associated training courses.
Twenty-nine H135 (Juno HT1) helicopters were ordered
with Airbus in 2016. RAF Shawbury remains in use as the
main helicopter training base, but a number of Juno HT1
helicopters is expected to be located at AAC Middle Wallop.
The British military Search and Rescue organization was
dismantled and outsourced to private contracts. Only a
limited number of British military aircraft therefore still
undergo training for these specific skills. Only three H145
(Jupiter HT1) helicopters were therefore purchased. All three
use RAF Valley as their base of operations.
Rear Crew Training
The Royal Navy operated a fleet of Jetstream T2 aircraft to
provide training to future rear cabin crew, or in the term used
by the Fleet Air Arm observers. The aircraft were assigned to
750NAS at RNAS Culdrose and the fleet was reduced in size
in 1999. Retirement for the remaining aircraft came in 2011,
after four Beech 300ER (Avenger T1) aircraft were taken on
charge as replacement aircraft. These aircraft are owned by
Ascent, but flown with military registrations.
The rear crew training course actually starts at RAF Barkston
Heath with a short introduction phase using Prefect T1
aircraft. Once completed the students complete their course
with 750NAS at RAF Culdrose.
Retirement of the older aircraft
The previous description on the UK MFTS is now nearing
completion of the implementation phase. With the exception
of the T-6C Texan II, virtually all new aircraft have been
delivered and the majority of the older aircraft have been
retired or re-allocated. What follows next is an overview
of all individual aircraft involved, starting with the older
models which are being retired.
Beech B200 / B200GTAll the Beech B200 aircraft used in the aircrew training pro-
gramme were assigned to 45(R)sq at RAF Cranwell. The Beech
B200 aircraft were allocated military registrations in January
2005. They however were not worn until a later point in time.
Details are listed per individual aircraft, but often the mili-
tary registrations were already painted on the aircraft prior
to the official transfer date. Similar, the Beech B200GT air-
craft were allocated military registrations in June 2008.
ZK450 BB-1829 Beech B200, ex N6129N (reg 11jun03/canx
05nov03), to G-RAFJ (reg 12dec03/canx 05jan06), del to Bournemouth-Hurn
on 15dec03, used by 45(R)sq as G-RAFJ until 05jan06 when re-registered
to ZK450/J, wfu apr14, to G-RAFJ (reg 26mar14/canx 07apr14), to G-CIFE
(reg 07apr14).ZK451 BB-1830 Beech B200, ex N50130 (reg 11jun03/canx
nov03), to G-RAFK (reg 12dec03/canx 10jan06), del to Bournemouth-Hurn
on 15dec03, used by 45(R)sq as G-RAFK until 10jan06 when re-registered to
ZK451/K, wfu nov17, to G-RAFK (reg 21mar18), remained at RAF Cranwell
until 27mar18 when departed to Guernsey.
ZK452 BB-1832 Beech B200, ex N5032K (reg 04aug03/canx
19mar04), to G-RAFL (reg 19mar04/canx 15dec05), del to Bournemouth-
Hurn on 22mar04, used by 45(R)sq as G-RAFL until 15dec05 when re-
registered to ZK452/L, wfu nov17, to G-RAFL (reg 21mar18), remained at
RAF Cranwell until 28mar18 when departed to Guernsey.
ZK453 BB-1833 Beech B200, ex N51283 (reg 04aug03/canx
jan04), to G-RAFM (reg 21jan04/canx 17jan06), del to Bournemouth-Hurn
on 23jan04, used by 45(R)sq as G-RAFM until 17jan06 when re-registered
to ZK453/M, wfu feb14, to G-RAFM (reg 19feb14/canx 07apr14), to G-CIFW
(reg 07apr14).
ZK454 BB-1835 Beech B200, ex N6034P (reg 04aug03), ex
N60275 (reg oct03), to G-RAFN (reg 23jan04/canx 08dec05), used by 45(R)
sq as G-RAFN until 08dec05 when re-registered to ZK454/N, wfu jun14, to
G-RAFN (reg 13jun14/canx 12nov14), to G-OLIV (reg 12nov14)
ZK455 BB-1836 ex N60476 (reg 04aug03/canx 10mar04), to
G-RAFO (reg 11mar04/canx 22nov10), del to Bournemouth-Hurn on
15mar04, used by 45(R)sq as G-RAFO until 22nov10 when re-registered
to ZK455/O, wfu mar18, to G-RAFO (reg 27mar18), still at RAF Cranwell
when this edition went to press.
ZK456 BB-1837 Beech B200, ex N60137 (reg 04aug03/canx ’04),
to G-RAFP (reg 11mar04/canx 26nov10), del to Bournemouth-Hurn on
15mar04, used by 45(R)sq as G-RAFP until 26nov10 when re-registered to
ZK456/P, wfu mar18, to G-RAFP (reg 27mar18), remained at RAF Cranwell
until 27mar18 when departed to Guernsey.
ZK458 BY-32 Beech B200GT, ex N32EU (reg jan08/canx
20jun08), to G-RAFD (reg 23jun08/canx 11jun10), del to Blackbushe on
20jun08, used by 45(R)sq as G-RAFD until 11jun10 when re-registered to
ZK458/D, wfu feb18, to G-RAFD (reg 23mar18), remained at RAF Cranwell
but believed to have departed to Cranfield in mar18.
ZK459 BY-36 Beech B200GT, ex N3196N (reg apr08/canx
02may08), to G-RAFX (reg 12may08/canx 03jun10), del to Blackbushe on
02may08, used by 45(R)sq as G-RAFX until 03jun10 when re-registered to
ZK459/X, wfu mar18, to G-RAFX (reg 28mar18), remained at RAF Cranwell
until 28mar18 when departed to Guernsey.
ZK460 BY-90 Beech B200GT, ex N6350L (reg 02sep09/canx
23oct09), to G-RAFU (reg 27oct09/canx 20jul10), del to Staverton on
22oct10, used by 45(R)sq as G-RAFU until 20jul10 when re-registered to
ZK460/U, wfu feb18, to G-RAFU (reg 11mar18), still at RAF Cranwell when
this edition went to press.
Griffin HT1