RAF Valley
  21-22 April 2015 - David Thompson



21 April 11:30 – 17:00 and noted from the ‘spotters’ car park opposite the 01/19 threshold . A word of warning to future first time visitors like myself , the base security patrols are quite active and should you stray beyond the car park boundary to the airfield boundary , both are low wooden fences , then within a very short time you can expect a visit from said security patrol to ask you to remain inside the car park area . I did stray once or twice but those locals or those in the know remain firmly ensconced in the car park , no doubt having seen it all before ! The Valley Aviation Society have a shop in the car park but there are no toilet facilities on site


http://www.valleyaviationsociety.net/index.htm .

A selection of photo's taken during the trip


Gate
WV396/91 Hunter T8C 4 FTS c/s

Residents flying
XX161/161 Hawk T1W also noted flying in the Mach Loop
XX188/188 Hawk T1A
XX204/204
XX250/250 Hawk T1
XX256/256 Hawk T1A also noted in the Mach Loop
XX348/348
XX350/D special anniversary c/s

XZ596 Sea King HAR3 winching practice over the airfield

ZK010/A Hawk T2
ZK012/C
ZK015/F
ZK016/G
ZK017/H
ZK018/I special c/scheme 100 years/1912-2012
ZK019/J
ZK024/O
ZK026/
ZK030/U
ZK033/X
ZK035/Z also noted in the Mach Loop
ZK036/AA
ZK037/AB Hawk T2
Visitors
ZJ807/BF Typhoon T3 called in ‘aircraft armed’ to ‘tower whilst on
approach. Overshoot x 2 .


22 April
Back again today but lucky enough to be on the inside this time on a base tour with the Airfield Research Group . Our first stop was a visit to 208 Squadron with a good comprehensive brief by their adjutant were I picked up that 208 were giving up their IDT role of refresher training for returning Hawk T1 pilots to 100 Squadron at Leeming . I’ve subsequently found out that this is subject to both QFI’s and aircraft being made available to 100 to be able to undertake this extra role . There were three Hawk’s under maintenance in the hangar we visited but there appeared to be at least two other hangars with Hawks in too before we made our way down the flightline . At the end of the line stood the special 208 100th anniversary Hawk , XX350/D which carries the name of the present Boss Wg Cdr NJ Gatenby and Sqn Ldr D Arlett on the port side below the cockpit and on the starboard side Sqn Cdr GR Bromet DSO and Flt Cdr BL Huskisson DSC with the front of the Hawk being black and representing the present 208 and the rear being WW1 green to represent 208’s historical roots as No 8 Naval Squadron , RNAS , details here ;
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/208r-sqn-unveils-100th-anniversary-jet-at-raf-valley-03032015 . Born in Tadcaster North Yorkshire ,Geoffrey Bromet became the first OC of ‘Naval 8’ in October 1916 and was awarded the DSO in 1917 . His Second-in Command was Bernard Huskisson who was later promoted to OC 4 Squadron RNAS .

After lunch in the Officers Mess and a look at some very , very impressive inter-war glass and silver memorabilia and some equally impressive post-war 4FTS memorabilia there was a short visit to air traffic control . Looking somewhat aged inside both the approach and local controllers were understandably busy handling movements around the local zone but also equally busy controlling the transiting traffic into the Mach Loop and the more sedate sightseeing flights along the Menai Strait!

Our next and final stop was at 4 Squadron and the difference between the 4 and 208 Squadron facilities could not be more different certainly in ‘real estate’ and hardware although I suspect that their respective unit esprit de corps are evenly matched. The squadron headquarters is so modern it would not look out of place on a business or science park and the car park is vast and rather unusually covered too which is probably as much to keep the rain and snow off the cars as it is to keep the sun off them! Once inside the PFI experience continues as you are welcomed into the world of Ascent Flight Training with all it’s associated modern fixtures and fittings and who, for all intents and purposes actually run and operate 4 Squadron for and on behalf of the Royal Air Force for a contract length of 25 Years. The ground based flying training is carried out by Ascent using retired military aircrew as instructors and tutors whilst Babcock supply the engineering support and back up for the Hawk T2’s .
We were walked through the building and shown the three screen desk top flight simulators , the aircrew changing and equipment storage area , the huge flight planning area , flightline operations , aircrew briefing rooms with two crews recently back in from a navex which included a sortie over Spadeadam and their pre and post flight notes still on the white boards but most impressive of all were the two 360 degree simulators mounted within an orb like structure , the cockpit being reached by a flight of stairs whilst in an adjacent room the instructor sat at a control console watching his pupils every move , quite literally his every move and then as he remarked it was “home for tea with cake and medals “ ! It was all very , very impressive and I have no doubt whatsoever that under the new Military Flight Training System (MFTS) sadly for us in the north of England the closure of RAF Linton On Ouse is another step closer as the MOD’s preferred bidder Affinity will work alongside the MOD’s training system partner for MFTS namely , Ascent ! More information on Ascent here ; http://www.ascentflighttraining.net/

And that was our day over and a very good day it had been too although with one or two observations . If the station is to take on more extra flying training tasks it will surely need some investment as the control tower , at least internally , looked well worn and the hangars were they are , are well scattered and a mix of designs and ages but perhaps the soon to be vacated SAR enclave will be used to house any future new flying units ? Regards the contractorisation , awful phrase I know , of 4 Squadron , is the squadron Boss still the boss or are the contractors managers and site leadership team , another awful phrase , the real bosses who have ownership of the budget and with it possibly control over flying hours for both aircrew and aircraft ? The role of the serviceman and woman in air force blue has reduced over recent years as more and more tasks and roles have been given over to private companies and organisations , has the time finally come for the role of the squadron commander to take off down the same path ?

208 Squadron hangar all under mtce
XX239/239 Hawk T1W
XX303/303 Hawk T1A
XX324/324

4 Squadron hangar all under mtce
ZK014/E Hawk T2
ZK015/F
ZK020/K special c/scheme 100 years/1912-2012
ZK021/L on jacks for u/c retraction tests
ZK023/N
ZK034/Y
ZK037/AB

Flightline – flying
XX161/161 Hawk T1W does not carry 208 Sqdn markings
XX188/188 Hawk T1A
XX204/204
XX250/250 Hawk T1
XX256/256 Hawk T1A
XX287/287
XX317/317
XX348/348
XX350/D

ZK010/A Hawk T2
ZK011/B
ZK012/C
ZK016/G
ZK017/H
ZK018/I
ZK019/J
ZK024/O
ZK026/Q
ZK033/X
ZK035/Z
ZK036/AAHawk T2
ZK037/AB
ZK038/AA


There were several Sea King’s parked out and flying but they were too far away to make any positive identification . Likewise , there were Griffin helicopters flying but again too far away to identify any individual aircraft .

Visitors
ZJ800/BC Typhoon T3 overshoot
ZJ935/DJ Typhoon FGR4 overshoot
ZJ647/47 Alpha Jet c/sign ETP74 , landed c11:45 from Boscombe Down

G-BBTY Beech C23 Sundowner 180


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