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Visit to NATS at Swanwick, Kemble & Gloucester - Dave Anderson, Colin Granton, Dave Rose, Chris Smith 28 Jan 2012

When Colin received an invitation from a friend to pay a visit to NATS at Swanwick it didn't take us long to accept and plan the day out. NATS provide air traffic control services for aircraft flying in UK airspace and the eastern part of the Atlantic. Last year they handled just under 2.2m flights carrying over 200 million passengers safely through our airspace that's over 6000 flights a day. As we would be taking Cessna 177 G-BRDO down, we made  full use of the day and added visits to both Kemble and Gloucester into the schedule. Swanwick is between Southampton and Lee-on-Solent and with landing and parking fees at only £15 Solent was our destination.

Saturday 28th came around, the weather was looking good, cold and frosty but calm winds and mainly clear skies made for a smooth flight on the whole of our journey. Airborne at 0725 we climbed up to FL55 and headed south over Doncaster, passing by East Midlands and down towards Reading and straight line into Lee arriving at 0920. On final approach to Lee-on-Solent two Chinooks (possibly ZD984/- and (ZH891)/HF which had been out all week) and two Lynx (one Army one Navy) were noted at Fleetlands. Aircraft based at the former Navy station are very spread out, with small hangars and old hardened shelters dotted around the airfield many housing most of the 80+ light aircraft residents. Our host was waiting for us and within a few minutes of landing we were off for our visit to Swanwick.

Colin wrestling with the GPS!!	Doncaster / Finningley / Robin Hood	VMC on top FL55

Lee-on-Solent Airfield

EI-ICG	Sikorsky S-92A	CHC / Irish Coast Guard	new - being readied for delivery next day
G-BFBR	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II	Phoenix Aviation
G-BVZZ	De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk 22	Portsmouth Naval Gliding Club
G-CBPC	Sportavia RF5B Sperber	Lee RF5B Group
G-CGIJ	AgustaWestland AW139	CHC Scotia	HM Coastguard c/s
G-IMPX	Rockwell Commander 112B	Impatex Computer Systems Ltd
G-MRTN	Socata TB10 Tobago	Private
G-PION	Pioneer 300	Private

Fleetlands	Finals at Lee-on-Solent

Swanwick NATS - Swanwick controls both civil and military flights in the UK, our host was in charge of the military side and the next two hours were spent learning how the system worked including a look at the distress & diversion centre. An excellent visit especially as we all have an interest in SBS and seeing how the system works behind the scenes was an eye opener. The time passed quickly and it was back to Lee for our departure to Kemble, taking off at 1257 and heading in an almost direct route the flight took just 40 minutes, this included an overhead join giving Chris & Dave R an ideal opportunity to photograph the stored airliners from above.

Cotswold Airport (Kemble Airfield)

With an ever increasing number of airliners arriving at Kemble for both storage and scrapping this airfield is attracting some interesting aircraft. Following a nice lunch (well an all day breakfast) in the restaurant we spent an hour or so wandering around the airfield. The log is complete on the airliner side, though there were many more light aircraft locked away in hangars. With a free landing fee voucher and the cheapest fuel around we called into Gloucester to refuel and log what was there, airborne at 1523 we made the short hop in 20 minutes and that included an overhead join and extended downwind due to the circuit being very busy.

Airliner Storage & Scrapping

	Chevron Storage area western side
G-BXKF	Hawker Hunter T7	003314	Private	Blue scheme marked XL577/V
G-BZAT	British Aerospace 146-RJ100	E3320	ex BA Cityflyer	All white
G-BZAX	British Aerospace 146-RJ100	E3356	ex BA Cityflyer	All white
G-BZAZ	British Aerospace 146-RJ100	E3369	ex BA Cityflyer	All white
G-CFZM	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	E2299	Jagson Airlines scheme
G-CGXS	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	E2269	EX Lufthansa CityLine	Blue tail (ex D-AVRF)
G-CGZB	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	E2288	EX Lufthansa CityLine	Blue tail (ex D-AVRM)
N19XG	Fokker F-27-500F Friendship	10634	ex Farnair	ex HA-FAH
OH-SAJ	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	E2388	ex Blue 1	Blue 1 on tail
OH-SAK	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	E2389	ex Blue 1	Blue tail
OH-SAL	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	E2392	ex Blue 1	Blue tail
OH-SAO	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	E2393	ex Blue 1	Blue tail
OH-SAP	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	E2394	ex Blue 1	Blue 1 on tail
OO-DJL	British Aerospace 146-RJ85	E2273	ex Sabena	All white Blue tail
	Fire Dump western side
G-BOVS	Cessna 150M	150-78663	Fire Service
N389DF	Boeing 737-3M8	25017	ex KD Avia	ex EI-DTY
	Aircraft Salvage Int'l (central Area)
D-AGEE	Boeing 737-35B	24238	ex Germania
EI-DTU	Boeing 737-5Y0	25175	ex Transaero
I-EEZQ	Airbus A319-112	588	ex Meridiana Fly	All white
N25AG	Lockheed JetStar	5202	Aircraft Salvage International	on a trailer alongside the hangar
YL-LCA	Airbus A320-211	333	ex Smartlynx	Blue tail
YL-LCB	Airbus A320-211	384	ex Smartlynx	All white
	Scrapping area eastern side
D-ADIH	Boeing 737-3Y0	23921	ex Germania	Forward fuselage, all white
D-AGEG	Boeing 737-35B	24237	ex Germania
D-AGEK	Boeing 737-3M8	25015	ex Germania
F-GEXA	Boeing 747-4B3	24154	ex Air France	All white faded titles
G-EZKC	Boeing 737-73V	32424	ex EasyJet	All white with orange tail
G-EZKD	Boeing 737-73V	32425	ex EasyJet	Orange tail
G-JEBV	British Aerospace 146-RJ100	E3236	ex THY	All white (been here since 2005) no tail
G-STRP	Airbus A320-211	136	ex Dubrovnik Airlines
LN-BRJ	Boeing 737-505	24273	ex SAS	All white, blue tail
N355PH	De Havilland DHC-8-202Q (Dash 8-Q200)	500	ex USAF	only part fusalage under green tarpaulin
OO-DHN	Boeing 727-31/F	20113	ex European Air Transport	Cockpit only, three cheatlines
OO-TCR	Airbus A320-232	453	ex Thomas Cook Belgium	White with Blue TCX tail
VP-BJX	Boeing 737-301	23557	ex KD AVIA	Cockpit only, single blue cheatline
VT-EPX	Boeing 747-337	24160	ex Air India	Cockpit only, blue upper nose
VT-EVX	Airbus A310-308	695	ex Air India	Cockpit only, (pointing up)
	South side
G-BADI	Piper PA-23-250 Aztec	27-4235	Fire Service	On its side
G-MKCA	Boeing 747-2B5BF	22482	ex MK Airlines
G-MKGA	Boeing 747-2R7F	21650	ex MK Airlines
N19CQ	Hawker-Siddeley HS.125 Dominie T1	25040	ex Royal Air Force
N19CU	Hawker-Siddeley HS.125 Dominie T1	25048	ex Royal Air Force
N19EK	Hawker-Siddeley HS.125 Dominie T1	25076	ex Royal Air Force
N19UG	Hawker-Siddeley HS.125 Dominie T1	25050	ex Royal Air Force
N19UK	Hawker-Siddeley HS.125 Dominie T1	25081	ex Royal Air Force
N19XY	Hawker-Siddeley HS.125 Dominie T1	25055	ex Royal Air Force

The others

G-AVOZ	Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee	Oscar Zulu Flying Group
G-AXIA	Beagle B121 Pup I	Private
G-BAEO	Reims Cessna F172M Skyhawk	Private
G-BHAD	Cessna A152 Aerobat	Private
G-BHUG	Cessna 172N Skyhawk	G-BHUG Group
G-BHZT	Scottish Aviation Bulldog 121	Private
G-BICW	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II	Charlie Whisky Flying Group
G-BMIO/39	Glasair RG	Private
G-BPPF	Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk	Bristol Strut Flying Group
G-BWNU	Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk	Kemble Aero Club
G-CEFZ	Cosmik EV-97 TeamEurostar	Robo Flying Group
G-CEMY	Pioneer 300	Private
G-CETR	Aerosport Ikarus C42	Private
G-HAIR	Robin DR400/180 Regent	Private
G-HOLA	Piper PA-28-201T Turbo Dakota	Private
G-ISCD	Czech Sportcruiser	Private
G-KEJY	Cosmik EV-97 TeamEurostar	Kemble Eurostar 1
G-KTWO	Cessna 182T Skylane	Private
G-MALA	Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II	M and D Aviation
G-MYZR	Rans S6-ESD XL Coyote II	Private
G-RAIG	Scottish Aviation Bulldog 101	Power Aerobatics Ltd
G-RNRS	Scottish Aviation Bulldog 101	Power Aerobatics Ltd
G-RVAC	Vans RV-7	Private
G-TSKY	Beagle B121 Pup II	Private
G-UFCC	Cessna 172S Skyhawk	Skypix Aviation
XM496	Bristol 175 Britannia C1	Bristol Britannia Preservation Society	Preserved, also marked EL-WXA
XP502	Folland Gnat T1	Royal Air Force	Red Arrows c/s

ASI's main scrapping area, at the threshold of r/w 26	Chevron's 146 storage area	ASI's hangar area, used for stripping	Fire Trainer at the 05 threshold	G-CETR Aerosport Microlight thingy
G-BRDO looking good in the sun	Nice little Bulldog	Another nice little Bulldog!!

Gloucestershire Airport (Staverton Airport)

Gloucester is a very nice private airport, with a few scheduled services and a new business park built around hangars and maintenance facilities for both light aircraft and helicopters, (possible future for DTV???). We had no sooner arrived and a fireman came to top up the tanks, Dave R & Chris headed off for a wander to log up & take some photo's, much easier when you are already airside. Also visiting was our resident AA-5 Traveller G-BBDL, so once we had paid up it was time to head off home, BBDL was leaving at the same time but took a more easterly route home, we decided to go north and gamble on Birmingham giving us an early right turn through their airspace on a direct line to Teesside. The plan worked, we were airborne at 1622 and thanks also to Leeds giving us clearance through their extended centre line we landed back in Teesside for 1757, the joys of flying on a Saturday evening, very quiet. After putting the plane away and doing all the paperwork, BBDL followed in some 20 minutes later. We had a superb day out, a good variety of aircraft coupled with the NATS visit.

G-ASSS	Cessna 172E Skyhawk	Private
G-AVGC	Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee	Private
G-BAUI	Piper PA-23-250 Aztec	SFT Aviation Ltd	Stored, not airworthy
G-BBCH	Robin DR400/2+2 Dauphin	The Cotswold Aero Club
G-BBDL	Grumman AA-5 Traveller	Delta Lima Flying Group	Being followed?!
G-BCUJ	Reims Cessna F150M	Private
G-BEZO	Reims Cessna F172M Skyhawk	Staverton Flying School @ Skypark Ltd
G-BFEK	Reims Cessna F152	Staverton Flying School @ Skypark Ltd
G-BGBA	Robin R2100A	Cotswold Aviation Services Ltd
G-BIMT	Reims Cessna FA152 Aerobat	Staverton Flying School @ Skypark Ltd
G-BKDJ	Robin DR400/120 Petit Prince	Private
G-BLZH	Reims Cessna F152	Private
G-BNKC	Cessna 152	Herefordshire Aero Club
G-BSGK	Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II	Aeros Holdings Ltd
G-BXRV	Vans RV-4	Cleeve Flying Group
G-CGEI	Cessna 550 Citation Bravo	Corporate
G-DIZY	Piper PA-28R-201T Turbo Cherokee Arrow III	Dizy Aviation Ltd
G-DJAE	Cessna 500 Citation I	Corporate
G-DLAC	Cessna 208B Grand Caravan	Aerodynamics Ltd
G-EGTB	Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II	Aviation Advice and Consulting Ltd	British Airways c/s
G-GFCA	Piper PA-28-161 Cadet	Aeros Leasing Ltd
G-GREY	Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage	Private
G-HIVA	Cessna 337A Super Skymaster	Private
G-JTNC	Cessna 500 Citation I	Eurojet Aviation Ltd
G-KOCO	Cirrus SR22	Private
G-OMNI	Piper PA-28R-200-2 Cherokee Arrow II	Cotswold Aviation Services Ltd
G-OPFA/16	Pioneer 300	Private
G-RAWS	Rotorway Executive 162F	Private
G-RCWK	Cessna 182T Skylane	Private
G-RYZZ	Robinson R44 Raven II	Rivermead Aviation Ltd
G-SAPM	Socata TB20 Trinidad	G-SAPM Ltd
G-SHED	Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II	G-SHED Flying Group
G-SHMI	Cosmik EV-97 TeamEurostar	Poet Pilot (UK) Ltd
G-TLST	TL 2000UK Sting Carbon	Private
G-YPRS	Cessna 550 Citation Bravo	Executive Aviation Services Ltd
M-WOOD	Cessna 550 Citation Bravo	Horizon Air
N46WK	Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu Meridian	Private
N131SR	Cirrus SR22	Private
N215DS	Diamond DA40 Diamond Star	Private
N278SA/72	Cessna 177RG Cardinal	Private
W4041.G	Gloster E28/29 replica	JetAge Museum
WH364	Gloster Meteor F8	JetAge Museum	Preserved
XH903/G	Gloster Javelin FAW9	JetAge Museum	Preserved
XM569	Avro 698 Vulcan B2	JetAge Museum	Preserved - cockpit only

Deadside join for r/w36 at Staverton, very hairy with stuff all over, above and below!!	Nice para-dropper	M-WOOD at the Citation maintainance facility

Overflights

Noted OTT during the day:

EI-CPE	Airbus A321-211	926	Aer Lingus
G-BNLK	Boeing 747-436	24053	British Airways
G-CIVO	Boeing 747-436	28849	British Airways
N793CK	Boeing 747-222B/F	23736	Kalitta Air

All above photos belong to Dave Rose, for Chris's shots, visit the below link - it was his first time using a new DSLR! So if you have any feedback / pointers for him feel free to do so via his website:

Chris's photos

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