Chinook and Puma helicopter crews
from RAF Benson have been teaching RAF media reservists how to operate safely
around rotary aircraft.

Loadmasters, engineers and pilots
from 28 (AC) Squadron and 230 Squadron briefed Media Reserves personnel on the
principles of air safety, allowing them to carry out their media jobs on
helicopters while keeping themselves and the crew safe.

Putting their new knowledge into
practice, the team got airborne in a Puma helicopter from 230 Squadron,
photographing and filming its crew at work.

“Air safety is absolutely
critical in everything we do, not just in my role as aircrew but also for
everyone else we work with here at RAF Benson. It’s always our number one
priority to keep us and everyone we work with safe,” explained a pilot
from 28 (AC) Squadron.

Media Reserves personnel from 7644
Squadron and 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron have been on a week of air
safety training, visiting aircrew at RAF Coningsby, RAF Benson and RAF Brize
Norton to learn about operating safely in and around various aircraft.

Words: SAC Hickinson

Images: Sqn Ldr Wasley and SAC
Sharples

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First nine-ship for 2017 Red Arrows team

THE 2017 Red Arrows
team have flown their first “nine-ship” ahead of this year’s display season.

Carrying out their
winter training at RAF Scampton, the Lincolnshire home of the Royal Air Force
Aerobatic Team,the Squadron is renowned for displaying with nine, British-built
fast-jets and bringing the whole formation together is a key moment in the
six-month winter training programme.

The Red Arrows begin
training for the forthcoming season almost as soon as the previous year has
ended.

For the latest season,
full preparations got underway after the team returned from a nine-week,
20,000-mile, tour of the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions supporting UK
interests at the end of 2016.

Typically, this winter
training starts with small groups of three or four aircraft formations.

Each pilot flies three
sorties a day, five days a week, and the formations grow in aircraft number as
training progresses.

The occasion saw the
team’s trademark Diamond Nine formation flown, among other manoeuvres that will
feature in this year’s show.

Squadron Leader David
Montenegro, Red 1 and Team Leader, said: “We have flown 13 weeks of intensive
training and the result is being able to get 9 aircraft airborne today which is
testament to the perseverance and dedication of the team pilots; tireless and
enduring effort of our engineering team; brilliant work from our PR and
administrative teams on the squadron and indeed, support from the Station
services at RAF Scampton.

“On a personal
note, this is the third and final year that I will achieve this milestone and I
can say in all honestly that the adrenaline build-up and sense of achievement
is as strong as it was in 2015.

“In the pursuit of
professional excellence, we now transition to the next phase of training during
which we will perfect the display and ensure we maintain the RAF Red Arrows’
benchmark of being a world-leading team, able to represent our Service and our
Nations’ interests in all corners of the globe”.

Three of the Red
Arrows’ nine pilots are new to the team for 2017.

Flight Lieutenant Dan
Lowes, who is Red 3 and a former Typhoon pilot, said: “That was a truly
memorable experience. It was an honour and a privilege to have flown in my
first Red Arrows 9 ship.

“The training has been
tough, and there’s still a long way to go, but it’s great to have achieved our
first 9.

“I’m now looking
forward to deploying on our spring training camp and working towards PDA.”

These flights involve a
thorough brief, debrief and discussion to ensure safety is paramount and the
formations are precise.

Winter training in the
UK lasts until mid-spring, when the team usually moves overseas to a location
with more predictable, settled weather to maximise flying hours and perfect the
display. This is known as Exercise Springhawk.

Flight Lieutenant Si
Taylor, Red 7, who also previously flew operationally in the Tornado and
Typhoon and joins Red 6 to form the 2017 Synchro pair, said: “This feels like
it’s happened so fast since we got back from the tour in December.

“It’s a great
feeling to have achieved a significant milestone through some hard graft and
dedication throughout the winter months. Hopefully now we can kick on and make
the show look incredible for all the crowds in the 2017 Season. I’m really
looking forward to it”.

The first nine-ship is
an important occasion for the whole Squadron – including the ground team, who
number more than 100 and comprise technicians, suppliers, drivers,
photographers, administrators, operations staff and a public relations
department.

Each has a crucial part
to play in ensuring the Red Arrows can fly and perform precision displays
around the world.

Among those people with
a role in today’s nine-ship were the technicians on the flightline –
responsible for checking the aircraft are safe for flight, assisting the
crewing-in of the pilots into the cockpits and marshalling the jets from their
parking stands.

Flight Lieutenant
Alicia Mason, the team’s Junior Engineering Officer responsible for day-to-day
engineering issues on the Squadron, and who is also new to the Red Arrows this
season, said: “Today has been a superb achievement for all concerned. It’s
another milestone in our calendar that the groundcrew have been preparing for
behind the scenes for the past few weeks.

“Luck was not on our side
this week though and we’ve had a tricky few days with the jets not behaving
themselves but I’m proud to say that the team have put in a tremendous
performance over the past 2 days working together day and night to ensure that
we had 9 serviceable aircraft for the programme this morning. It was great to
see the fruits of our labour when all 9 took off and landed safely and the
aircrew were able to practice some of their 9-ship manoeuvres. Even some of the
groundcrew were able to take a break for a few minutes this morning to come
outside and watch part of the first 9-ship practice to show their support and
enjoy this moment as a team.

“We can’t rest on our
laurels though, there is still much to be done ahead of our deployment to
Greece for Exercise SPRINGHAWK. The groundcrew will be busy over the next 4
weeks ensuring that we have 11 serviceable aircraft and equipment prepared and
ready to take with us for the duration of the Exercise”.

During Springhawk the
team is assessed by senior Royal Air Force officers, with the aim of gaining
Public Display Authority.

If this is awarded, the
Squadron’s pilots change from green coveralls into their famous red flying
suits and the ground crew are allowed to wear their royal blue display
coveralls.

The season then officially
begins and public performances by the Red Arrows are permitted.

It is hoped the first
display to the public in the UK will be on 3 June this year, for the Torbay
Airshow, Torbay.

More information about
the 2017 season will be release on the Red Arrows website shortly.

For
more information about the team, follow @rafredarrows on Twitter, like RAF Red
Arrows on Facebook or visit www.raf.mod.uk/reds

Editor – RAFAT PR Manager

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RAF Tornados join NATO partners to put
defences to the test

1,100
personnel and 48 aircraft from 7 NATO nations, including the RAF’s 31 Sqn “The
Goldstars,” have descended on Leeuwarden Air Force Base in the Netherlands for
the start of the two-week-long “FRISIAN FLAG” exercise.

The
local Dutch population have been treated to the spectacle of Tornados,
Typhoons, Mirage and F16 aircraft taking off on the exercise, which is
organised by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) and runs from 27 March to
7 April 2017.

The
RAF has deployed six Tornado GR4s for the exercise in which they will at times
simulate the “Red Force Element, effectively playing the part of the enemy that
will attempt to breach the defences of opposing forces from the USA, France,
Germany, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, they will also be playing
“Blue” friendly forces.

EX
FRISIAN FLAG aims to provide aircrew with experience of the planning, execution
and debriefing of large scale composite air operations (COMAO) in realistic
scenarios by allowing partner NATO nations to work alongside one another, test
each other’s capabilities and develop a close working relationship. Missions
being flown include various air defence scenarios including protection / escort
of high value aircraft and the attack of ground targets on land and sea in a
high threat environment, which include opposing fighter aircraft and ground
based Patriot and SA-6 missile batteries.

Wing
Commander Matt Bressani, OC 31 Squadron & the Detachment Commander of the
RAF contingent at FRISIAN FLAG, said: “Working with NATO countries helps us to
better understand our own strengths and weaknesses by testing each other’s
defences. With the Tornado GR4 going out of service in a few years’ time, this
is an ideal opportunity to train our crews for their future beyond this air
frame. The time working alongside our allies means that we will expose both air
and ground crews to working closely with Typhoon deployments from our partner
nations, allowing our boys and girls to get up close to an aircraft they could
be working on themselves in the near future. The aircrew will get to see
German, Dutch and Portuguese Typhoons in action and see how they work alongside
the American and French aircraft too.”

The
Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Lieutenant General Luyt said: “In
the current security situation, air superiority can no longer be taken for
granted. Our colleagues from the army and navy count on us to achieve air
superiority wherever required. Large-scale deployment as part of a NATO air
campaign can no longer be ruled out. What’s more, we could be called on as
early as tomorrow. As the Royal Netherlands Air Force, we must once again be
prepared to meet the challenge.”

Editor – Ken Pike

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RAF LOSSIEMOUTH’S XV(RESERVE) SQUADRON
DISBANDS

XV(Reserve) Squadron, the
final Royal Air Force Tornado squadron based in Scotland, disbanded on Friday 31 March 2017 with a
private military ceremony at RAF Lossiemouth.
The disbandment of XV(Reserve) Squadron marks the end of the Tornado era
at RAF Lossiemouth. The Squadron
completed their final sortie on Friday 17 March.

The last parade of the Squadron’s
standard before it is laid up marks the end of the 102 year old Squadron’s
history. 750 invited guests attended the
event that saw members of the Squadron, led by their Commanding Officer, Wing
Commander Paul Froome, carry out the emotional but precise military ceremony.

Led by the Band of the Royal
Air Force College, the personnel marched in two flights into the hangar and
formed up in front of their proud families and friends. The parade personnel were flanked in the
hangar by two Tornados, one being MacRobert’s Reply.

Parade Commander was Officer Commanding XV(Reserve)
Squadron, Wing Commander Paul Froome. No.
1 Flight Commander was Squadron Leader Mark Swinton, whilst No. 2 Flight
Commander was Squadron Leader Matt Smith (the Squadron’s Senior Engineering
Officer).

The Standard Bearer was Flight Lieutenant Sam
Williams, the Standard Escort was Warrant Officer Tam McEwan. Chief Technician Si Guillou and Chief
Technician Grant Hamilton were the armed escorts.

The parade Reviewing
Officer was Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Marshal
Phil Osborn himself a Tornado navigator and a former Tornado squadron commanding
officer.

With the precision expected
of the UK Armed Forces, Wing Commander Froome and his Flight Commanders led
their troops through 131 orders to carry out the parade. Finally the Standard Party left the hangar to
the haunting tune ‘Sands of the Kuwait’ played on the bagpipes by Chief
Technician Al Sharp. The tune was
written to commemorate the Gulf War, which fittingly was XV(Reserve) Squadron’s
final battle honour.

Following
the parade Wing Commander Froome gave an emotional tribute to the members of
his Squadron, he said:

“I am incredibly proud today – members of
XV(Reserve) Squadron have provided a stirring finale to the Squadron’s
history. And to be able to share today with many past and present members
of the Squadron, as well as our families, has been wonderful.

“The hours of dedicated work the Squadron
engineers have provided to the Tornado Force over recent years has been
replicated in their efforts today in this arena. It was an absolute
honour to lead them through today’s parade, and I will be sad to leave them and
RAF Lossiemouth.”

Following the event there was
a flypast of the Station in the early afternoon by Tornados from RAF Marham.

The final Tornado aircraft will leave RAF Lossiemouth over the coming
months for RAF Marham where the RAF Tornado fleet is now based. RAF Lossiemouth will see growth in the near
future as a fourth Typhoon squadron is formed here and 9 P8 Poseidon Maritime
Patrol Aircraft are based here.
Currently the three Typhoon squadrons based at RAF Lossiemouth provide
Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North, or QRA as it is commonly called,
protecting UK skies.

The final ab initio Tornado GR4 student left
XV(Reserve) Sqn in mid-February. Flight
Lieutenant Nathan Shawyer completed his training as ‘combat ready’ and was
posted to 31 Squadron, RAF Marham.

The future of the squadron number plate hasn’t been decided at this time,
therefore the Squadron’s standard will be laid up in the rotunda at RAF College
Cranwell, Lincolnshire in April.

Group Captain Paul
Godfrey, Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth, paid tribute to the hard work of
the Squadron’s personnel both in recent years and in creating a fitting end to
the Squadron’s history. He said:

“I’m extremely
honoured to have been the Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth in the last 18
months of XV(Reserve) Squadron’s time as a Tornado Operational Conversion Unit
and it is a sad day to see the Squadron officially disband, ending over 23
years of Tornado presence in Moray.

“The Squadron’s
output in terms of quality training that has provided the RAF with such skilled
air crew has been second to none and has been fundamental to the success of the
Tornado on operations. All of the Squadron’s members on parade today have
made a huge contribution to past and current operations worldwide and are
highly regarded for their professionalism and skill. That same high
standard of output and effort has been shown again today in an excellent
parade, which was a fitting end to the Squadron’s time here at RAF Lossiemouth.

“I am extremely
pleased that many of the Squadron personnel will transfer to our Typhoon
squadrons here at RAF Lossiemouth to support the future growth of the Station,
and I wish all members of the Squadron the very best of luck in their future
endeavours; every single one of them can have with a real sense of pride in
what they have achieved and it is obvious that they have maintained the very
highest of standards right to the very end.”

Editor: Flt Lt Ian Smith

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Royal Air Force will deploy to Romania

Royal Air Force
Typhoon aircraft based at RAF Coningsby Lincolnshire will be deploying this
summer to Romania as part of the UK’s commitment to NATO.

The Typhoon
multi-role fighters and support personnel will be based at the Mihail
Kogalniceanu Airbase in southeast Romania for four months working with the
Romanian Air Force to conduct the NATO mission.

To support and
establish the operation, the Logistics Squadron at RAF Coningsby has already started
packing all the equipment needed to sustain the mission, from specialist vehicles,
spare parts to tool boxes.

Flight
Lieutenant Mark Taylor said: “The
Squadron has been very busy already supporting this mission. We enable
the operations to go ahead by ensuring the equipment is available for the jets
to operate. We do that here at RAF Coningsby but we also deploy to
anywhere in the world when needed.”

Specialist
personal from the RAF Leeming based 90 Signals Unit are also deploying to
provide access to the mission critical intelligence and NATO command
information the pilots will need to carry out their missions.

No 2 Mechanical
Transport Squadron from RAF Wittering has already been busy moving over 100
Tons of essential freight to Romania, and are now preparing to transport even
more equipment ready for it to be loaded at the Marchwood Military Port in
Hampshire over the coming weeks.

The UK is the
first nation to provide jets to support the NATO mission in Romania. The RAF’s
lead planner for the mission Group Captain Pip Harding OBE RAF said: “With this
mission, the RAF once again will be demonstrating its ability to plan, deploy
and operate at the heart of the NATO Alliance.
Equipped with state of the art fighters, the RAF continues to make a
significant contribution to NATO, and in so doing sends a clear message to our
Romanian friends that we stand alongside them in our ongoing commitment to the
defence of NATO Airspace.”

Editor: Jim Robinson

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