Centenary News - Issue three

The highlight of this year’s Centenary of Naval aviationwill be the visit to London of the UK’s Strike AircraftCarrier, HMS Illustrious together with an embarked AirGroup for the 100 birthday celebrations and flypastover the ship on Thursday 7 May 2009.

HMS Illustrious will be moored at Greenwich and the flypastof Fleet Air Arm Merlin, Sea King and Lynx helicopters andHawks and Jetstream aircraft will follow the River Thamesfrom east to west passing directly over the ship at midday.

The impressive Balbo formation of aircraft will give spectatorsthe rare opportunity to see a large number of Navalhelicopters operating from an Aircraft Carrier against thebackdrop of the home of the Royal Navy since Tudor times,the magnificent Old Royal Naval College. HRH PrinceAndrew, The Duke of York KG and Commodore-in-Chief ofthe Fleet Air Arm, will take the salute onboard HMSIllustrious as the aircraft pass overhead.

Operating with the Royal Navy, the Joint HelicopterCommand and Joint Force Harrier, the Squadrons of the FleetAir Arm have never been in greater demand.

“Naval aircraft are making a direct and vital contribution tooperations in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf ofOman, the Falklands, the North Atlantic, the Far East and theCaribbean” said Rear Admiral Simon Charlier, Rear AdmiralFleet Air Arm. “Over 80% of our Squadrons are currentlydeployed fulfilling defence commitments worldwide.”

HMS Illustrious will be in London for six days as thecentrepiece of the Centenary celebrations, hosting a dinneronboard on Thursday 7 May and supporting the Service ofThanksgiving in St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 8 May.

CENTENARY FLY PASTHMS ILLUSTRIOUS – 7 May 2009Greenwich, London 12 noon

Royal Navy CentenaryCelebrations

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1909 - 2009

Fleet Air Arm Memorial

Raising the Game

Their names will live for evermore . . .

Over 6,000 men and women have giventheir lives in the service of Naval aviationover the past 100 years and it isparticularly fitting during this Centenaryyear that their sacrifice should behonoured in the peaceful setting of theNational Arboretum. The new memorial, asculptured plinth of Portland stonesupporting a granite aircraft carrier, will beset amidst ‘hearts of oak’ in an avenue offine old English oak trees, close to theNational Armed Forces Memorial.

The Fleet Air Arm has a ‘battle honours’memorial on the Victoria Embankment inLondon. The new memorial, however, hasbeen especially designed to enablesquadrons, ships and associations to placeplaques or wreaths around the base of theaircraft carrier allowing the memorial tobecome the spiritual property of everyonewho has served in the Fleet Air Arm.

Speaking of the new memorial, Chief ofStaff Aviation and Carriers, Rear AdmiralSimon Charlier said, “We are very gratefulto the Fleet Air Arm Associations for theirconsiderable contribution in raising thefunds to commission this project. Thedesign of an aircraft carrier is not only

testament to the enduring importance ofcarrier aviation, which in a relatively shortspace of history has had such a significantimpact but it holds memories of lovedones for so many people throughout thecountry.”

The dedication service will be open to alland will include an unveiling ceremony,flypast and a Royal Marines Beat Retreat.

In the meantime, funds are still beingsought to finalise the project and ensurethat the dedication service is a fittinglymemorable occasion. Donations fromindividuals or organisations would be verywelcome and should be sent to the FleetAir Arm Officers Association, 4 St JamesSquare, London, SWIY 4JU. Please makecheques payable to FAAOA and markedon the reverse ‘Memorial’.

A ceremony to dedicate a new memorial to remember and celebrate the service of the many men and women whohave served in the Fleet Air Arm will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield in Staffordshire onFriday 11 September 2009.

Designed by architect and sculptor, Steve Field, thememorial is being built on a plinth of Portland stone, the

traditional material for Naval memorials

The Royal Navy’s largest amphibious deployment inten years, Taurus 09 aims to strengthen the Navy’sfighting capability, proving their amphibious skillsby means of landing craft and helicopters andenhancing their ability to carry out combinedoperations with NATO allies and other nations.

The Task Group comprises 12 ships includingcapital ships HMS Bulwark and HMS Ocean, twoRoyal Navy frigates, a US Navy destroyer and aFrench Navy frigate, two nuclear poweredsubmarines and an embarked force of RoyalMarines from 40 Commando and 539 AssaultSquadron Royal Marines. At its height, 3,300personnel will take part in the 20,400 mile round-

trip deployment, operating and training with17 nations.

Merlin helicopters onboard the air assault shipHMS Ocean took part in rigorous preparationsearning praise from Rear Admiral RichardIbbotson, Flag Officer Sea Training. He told theship’s company that, without exception, everyoneonboard had raised their game and embraced the challenge of being ready to embrace amphibiousoperations anywhere in the world. Taurus 09 willbe split into two phases, phase one will involveamphibious training in the Mediterranean andphase two will culminate in a multi-nationaltraining operation in the jungles of Brunei.

Deploying with a maritime force forprolonged periods, supportingamphibious operations and operating indifficult environments is what the FleetAir Arm does best. Taurus 09 is a textbook example of the projection of seapower over land by means of the air andI know the squadrons deployed will takeit in their stride.

“

“

Rear Admiral Simon Charlier

Fleet Air Arm

In 2008 MASU joined forces withNAML, the Naval Aircraft MaterialsLaboratory at Fleetlands, Gosport,to form a formidably capableforward support organisationcalled Fleet Forward Support (Air)providing the full range of rapidaviation support to helicopters ofall three Services anywhere in theworld.

Based in new premises inPortsmouth Naval Base, theorganisation is responsible for theassessment and repair of damagedhelicopters, designing and fittingmodifications, providing analysis on

all aspects of airworthiness andadvice on the care of aircraft toprevent and manage corrosion,Health Usage Monitoring andVibration, materials and compositeevaluation and chemical samplingof fuels, oils and lubricants. Theunit also assists with in depthinvestigations into failures andaccidents. As well as deployableteams able to support airoperations anywhere in the world,the unit currently has a permanentdetachment in Afghanistan. In thetrue spirit of joint operations, it isanother arena in which the FleetAir Arm is leading the way.

MASURapid Aviation Support Most people familiar with the Fleet Air Arm will have heard ofMASU, Mobile Aircraft Support Unit, or MARTSU, Mobile AircraftRepair Transport and Salvage Unit as it was previously known.Historically responsible for the recovery and repair of damagedaircraft the remit of the unit has grown exponentially in recentyears to meet the exacting demands being made on all UK militaryaircraft deployed on current operations.

CentenaryCelebrations in London

Merlin helicopters from 820 Squadron and Sea King ASaC aircraft from 857 Squadron, bothbased at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose and Commando Helicopter Force Sea King Mk 4sfrom 845 Squadron and Lynx Mk 7 aircraft from 847 Squadron, based at Royal Naval Air StationYeovilton have deployed as a powerful Air Group with the Royal Navy’s Amphibious TaskGroup on Taurus 09 to the Far East.

TAURUS 09

Welcome to the third of our series ofCentenary Newsletters. With the helpof a hardworking project team, thismonth’s Centenary celebrations areset to be a defining moment for Navalaviation.

A century after the Admiralty ordered itsfirst aircraft on 7 May 1909 it is quiteextraordinary to think that within a fewyears, air power from the sea wouldtransform naval warfare as radically as thegun and the steam engine.

The celebrations with HMS Illustrious inLondon could not be more fitting, orbetter timed, to commemorate aremarkable 100 years. Emerging fromadolescence in the First World War andcoming to maturity in the Cold War, Naval aviation has developed a coreexpertise and depth of experience in operating at sea that sees us now, onthe brink of a significant step change in capability. Carrier aviation and theFleet Air Arm are intrinsically intertwined and the combination of the QueenElizabeth class carriers and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter herald an excitingfuture – we are getting back in the big carrier game.

It will be a proud moment watching the fly past over HMS Illustrious, but it isimportant to remember that 80% of the Fleet Air Arm is currently deployedon operations around the world. The Harrier jets of the Naval Strike Wingand Naval helicopters assigned to the Commando Helicopter Force areheavily committed to joint operations in Afghanistan, 815 and 829 Naval AirSquadrons are very active, parenting small ships flights, Merlin helicoptersfrom 814 Naval Air Squadron are conducting ongoing surveillance missions inthe Persian Gulf and the Naval Air Squadrons embarked with Taurus 09 areconducting intensive amphibious exercises in the Far East. While our birthdaywill be a memorable day for the Service, there can be no clearer message ofthe versatility, adaptability and utility of Naval aviation.

A highlight of the celebrations will be a visit by HRH The Duke of York KG,our Commodore-in-Chief, and The Right Honourable John Hutton MP,Secretary of State for Defence. In addition to our birthday flypast, there willbe a spectacular firework display over HMS Illustrious on 7 May at 2200 andflying displays over the Thames in front of the Old Royal Naval College onSaturday 9 and Sunday 10 May at 1400 each day.

Rear Admiral Simon Charlier

Callsign GB100FAAThe Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society will be operating a special eventstation during May 2009 to broadcast the Centenary celebrations around theworld. Using the callsign GB100FAA the station based at HMS Collingwoodinitially and then at RNAS Yeovilton will be operated by members of theSociety. “We expect to contact Fleet Air Arm veterans all over the world”said RNARS Chairman, former Chief Radio Supervisor Mick Puttick. “All Navalaviators use wireless communications and the pioneering work of the earlyNaval aviators helped develop the communications that we know today.” TheRoyal Naval Amateur Radio Society was formed in 1960 to promoteAmateur Radio within the Service and as an aid to technical training.

Operation will be on SSB and CW on the usual RNARSfrequencies, band conditions permitting, and +/- QRM:SSB – 3740, 7055, 14294/14335, 18150, 21360, 28940.CW – 3520, 7020, 10118, 14052,18087, 21052, 24897, 28052.

www.rnars.org.uk

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The Armourers AssociationAfter attending Nobby’s ‘going outside run’,Shiner’s 50th birthday party and Bungy’s‘promotion do’ and seeing the same peopletravel from miles around to attend, it wasthe general feeling that the same lot wouldprobably support a Bombheads Reunion. So

in 1989 with the aid of a few Christmas card lists and seventeenquids’ worth of postage stamps, the Armourers Association wasborn.

The inaugural meeting wasin Coventry in 1990. Theycame from Penzance, theycame from Lossiemouth,and all stations in between.They were old, they werevery old, and they were‘Gordon Bennett! Who’dhave thought he’d still bealive.’ Amongst them werePolice, Prison and FireOfficers of all ranks, aForeign Legionnaire, aMayor, a town crier, a blokewho breeds racing tadpolesand a part time Lancashiresausage knotter but we allhad one thing in common –once a bomb’ead, always abomb’ead!

The aim of our Associationis to preserve the valuesand comradeship we allenjoyed in the Fleet AirArm. You may have nodesire to travel to a reunionbut wish to be in contactwith your old oppos. Weare currently in touch withover 900 ex armourers. Theannual membership is £5payable to the ArmourersAssociation by standingorder. Please contact MikeHoldsworth onbombheads@btinternet.comor tel 01227 832826 forour current newsletter, nominal roll and registration form.

Meet Your NavyJoining in the celebrationsof 100 years of NavalAviation, Navy Days 2009will include a stunning airdisplay, featuring a widerange of Naval aircraft.Visitors will also be able toclimb aboard the Navy’sships and submarines,witness a dramatic hostagerescue demonstration bythe Royal Marines, and geta glimpse of the future inthe ‘Future Navy’ marquee.This promises to be anincredible day out for thewhole family, so book earlyfor big discounts!

Musical Tribute‘Hands to Flying Stations’

An inspiring and moving musical tribute to the Fleet Arm Arm, composedespecially to celebrate 100 years of Naval aviation and incorporating themuch loved bugle call ‘Hands to Flying Stations’ was performed for thefirst time by The Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines at theMountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall, London inFebruary.

The new piece of music, composed byformer Warrant Officer Royal MarinesMichael McDermott, is called‘Daedalus’, a name long associatedwith the Fleet Air Arm, after the greatAthenian inventor, Daedalus, who builtartificial wings for himself and his sonIcarus and HMS Daedalus, the RoyalNaval Air Station at Lee on Solent, thespiritual home of the Fleet Air Arm.

The idea to compose a special musicaltribute to celebrate this year’sCentenary was proposed by the FlyNavy Heritage Trust who sponsored a

national competition. 97 applicationswere made to enter the competitionand 16 full scores were submitted. Thewinning composition which was playedto accompany a film on 100 years ofNaval flying, received a standing ovationat the Royal Albert Hall.

“It is a truly magnificent tribute” saidAdmiral Terry Loughran, Chairman ofthe Fly Navy Heritage Trust. “There wasnot a dry eye in the house and we hope‘Daedalus’ will be played on manyoccasions throughout the Centenaryyear and for many years to come.”

Fleet Air Arm Roll of HonourThe Fleet Air Arm Roll ofHonour containing thenames of the 6,749Royal Naval Air Serviceand Fleet Air Armpersonnel who havegiven their lives in theservice of Naval aviationis kept at the Fleet AirArm Memorial Church,St Bartholomew’s atRoyal Naval Air StationYeovilton in Somerset. Aservice to celebrate theCentenary of Navalaviation and dedicate aplaque in honour of thefour Naval aviatorsawarded the VictoriaCross will be held atSt Bart’s on 9 October2009 at 1030.

A mix of GR7 and GR9 Harrier jets together with12 pilots and 80 support staff and engineersclocked up an impressive 84 sorties in a fortnightincluding a round the clock rigorous deck work-up passage which saw 4 new Harrier pilots gaintheir initial deck landing qualifications and twofurther pilots re-qualifying.

Air combat training was conducted with RAFHawk aircraft of 100 Squadron, RAF Leeming andthe new Typhoon from XI Squadron RAFConingsby. The Commanding Officer of HMSIllustrious, Captain Ben Key stated “It was

fantastic welcoming the jets back on board. Theship comes alive when the flight deck is busy andwe are delivering our primary capability of airpower from the sea.”

Lieutenant Simon Rawlings, one of the pilotsfrom the Naval Strike Wing embarked in HMSIllustrious, stated “It was great being backonboard. The Squadron has spent a lot of time inAfghanistan but embarking in a carrier again issecond nature to us. The whole team works likeclockwork.”

Back OnboardNaval Strike Wing

After intensive operations in Afghanistan, the Naval Strike Wing returned to HMS Illustriouslast month for a period of reintegration training to get back up to speed in their corebusiness of carrier aviation.

Their work has been described as some of the most demanding flying anywherein the world, outside war zones. Last month members of the Royal Navy Searchand Rescue unit HMS Gannet were recognised for their outstanding bravery, witha remarkable 8 of the 20 aircrew at the helicopter station in Prestwick beinghonoured in the Operational Honours list.

Fleet Air Arm Heroes

Honoured

The honours were awarded forexceptional courage in dangerousrescue situations and ranged fromQueen’s Commendations for Gallantryin the Air and Commander-in-ChiefFleet’s Commendations to the AirForce Cross the highest award inrecognition of exemplary gallantry inthe air on non-active operations.

The Search and Rescue Flight was alsoawarded the prestigious Firmin Swordof Peace in recognition of theoutstanding service provided by HMSGannet to the local community andthe Boyd Trophy awarded annually forexcellence in aviation.

HMS Gannet’s area of responsibility in Scotland and around the Scottish coastline covers an area of 98,000square miles, more than 12 times the size of Wales. The Commanding Officer of HMS Gannet, LieutenantCommander Bryan Nicholas said “I am incredibly proud of these men and women and the courage anddetermination which they have shown in the face of adversity. They saved lives and risked their own.”

Speaking after the awards ceremony Rear Admiral Simon Charlier said “Whilst there is an ongoing debate aboutthe future of Search and Rescue, I have nothing but the greatest admiration for Gannet SAR Flight. It is a vibrantand busy part of the Royal Navy doing an absolutely magnificent job. Last year’s record number of call outsamounted to more than the number of days in the year! I am immensely proud of the Flight’s outstandingachievements.”

Left to right: Lt Cdr Martin Lanni decorated with the Air ForceCross, Lt Tony Sherwin, Commander-in-Chief’s Commendation,Leading Aircrewman Kev Regan, Queen’s Commendation forBravery in the Air, Rear Admiral Simon Charlier, Chief of StaffAviation, Lt Cdr Martin ‘Florry’ Ford, Queen’s Commendation forBravery in the Air, Petty Officer Daz Craig, Queen’s Commendationfor Bravery in the Air and Flight Sargeant Euan Gibson,Commander-in-Chief’s Commendation. Lt Mike Paulett (notpictured) formerly Gannet SAR Flight and now 854 Squadron wasalso decorated with the Air Force Cross and Lt Olivia Milles (also notpictured) received a Commander-in-Chief Fleet’s Commendation.

1909 - 2009

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A significant part of the 100 year history of Naval aviationwas occupied by the dark days of the Cold War, which lastedfrom the late 40s to the late 80s. It was a very importanttime for the Fleet Air Arm, for in addition to maintaining aconstant front line readiness to engage the massive forces ofthe Warsaw Pact in what could be full scale nuclear war, itwas a period of huge and demanding transition in Navalaviation capability.

Speaking of those four decades, Captain Michael Rawlinson OBEcommented that, “That period took Naval aviation from theoperation of the obsolete propeller driven aircraft, in service duringthe Korean War, through to what was the peak of fixed wingcarrier operations when the Royal Navy eventually acquired thelarge, purpose built Fighter and Strike jet aircraft and fixed wingAnti-Submarine and Airborne Early Warning aircraft that wereneeded. The day and night operation of these aircraft, in allweathers, from relatively small carrier decks was undoubtedly oneof the most demanding and at the same time professionallyrewarding periods in the history of the Fleet Air Arm. A periodwhen the adrenelin really flowed! Carrier operations have alwayscarried risks, and along the way, in the continuous challenge ofhelping to keep the Cold War just that, the Fleet Air Arm sadly losta number of very fine aviators.”

The first jet to enter service with the Royal Navy was the Attacker,followed quickly by the Sea Hawk and Sea Venom. Both the SeaHawk and Sea Venom were involved in Operation Musketeer, theSuez Campaign in 1956 where they more than proved the

The Induction Loop With the quickening pace of jet aviation flight deck personnel were subjectedto deafeningly high noise levels and communicating with personnel in helmetsand protective headgear became increasingly difficult. Radios were notpermitted on deck under radio silence conditions so in 1961 the AdmiraltyEngineering Laboratory at West Drayton in Middlesex was asked to look intothe problem of flight deck communications particularly between flight controland deck crews on aircraft carriers.

Similar difficulties had been encountered withpersonnel wearing earmuffs in high noise levelcompartments in surface ships and submarines.To give mobility to personnel working in noisycompartments and allow them to hear ordersthe Admiralty engineers designed transistoramplifiers able to detect audio frequencysignals set up within compartments byinductive fields. A cable loop surrounding thearea was connected to a standard ship’samplifier to provide the inductive field and thepersonnel heard orders via the small detectoramplifiers fitted in their headsets.

“Because audio frequency signals from upperdeck loops cannot be detected at more than afew hundred metres from the ship it wasdecided to use similar techniques for flightdeck communications” said John Le Warne thesenior engineer on the development team.

“However, the steel decking and the large area to be covered reduced signal levelstowards the centre of the deck entailing the use of specially designed powerfulamplifiers to drive current through the cable around the deck perimeter.”

To cope with the weaker signals over the flight deck, the inductive receivers weredesigned with more advanced characteristics than those for internal shipboard use.These pocket sized receivers, carried by flight deck personnel and connected by cable totheir helmets enabled direct audio control to be maintained between handlers andpilots. Such was the success of the system, that it still forms an essential part of flightdeck communications to this day.

The Angled Flight Deck

Cambell’s solution -‘out of the blue’- to quotehim was to shift the landing axis ten degrees to

port. This would at once give the pilot a clearapproach and overshoot path such that if he missed the

wires he would only have to apply power and go roundagain. Furthermore it would do away with the need for

barriers, reduce the number of arrester wires required, open up alarger deck park and speed up deck operations.

The Americans saw the benefits faster than the British, and whilst theAdmiralty were still ‘considering’ the issue, the Americans a little while later sailed

one of their carriers, the USS Antietam into the Channel with the wires angled off and aslanted centre line at ten degrees to port! This was not only to show us the whole idea

worked but also a tacit acknowledgement that the Brits had thought of it first.

Commander Graeme Rowan-Thomson flying a Sea Hawk was one of the first Royal Navy pilots told to try it out.It worked magnificently, the Admiralty were convinced and HMS Centaur was the first carrier to be modified.Throughout the whole development and research period, Cambell was partnered by Lewis Boddington, the civiliantechnical officer in charge of the Naval Air Division at RAE Farnborough whose contribution to the project wasconsiderable. All carriers operating high performance conventional aircraft have since had angled flight decks and itwas only phased out in the Royal Navy after 20 years with the introduction of the VSTOL era.

The angled deck started as a ‘doodle’ byCaptain, later Rear Admiral Denis Cambell in1951. Aircraft were getting heavier and fasterbut they were still being landed on a straightdeck along the fore and aft axis of the shipwhere, to miss the wires, meant certain entryinto the barrier or landing in the deck park inthe bows – a crash in either case.

Naval Aviation Comes of Age

effectiveness of carrier aviation being able toremain on station for considerably longer thanland based aircraft operating out of Cyprus. The Scimitar and Sea Vixen followed andalthough never involved in full scale conflict,both aircraft took part in many operationsincluding campaigns in Indonesia and Aden.The world’s only flying De Havilland Sea Vixenwill be taking part in this year’s Centenarycelebrations flying in 899 Naval Air Squadroncolours as she was in HMS Eagle in 1971.

Driven by Cold War tensions and the need topenetrate Soviet naval groups and if necessarydeliver a nuclear payload, it was the Navy jets of the 60s and 70s, however thattransformed carrier aviation capability. Thelong range strike aircraft the Buccaneer, builtto fly fast and low to avoid detection byenemy radar and the impressively versatilefighter, the Phantom were much loved by the men who operated them.

The Royal Navy operated Phantoms between1969 and 1978. In 1969, on the fiftiethanniversary of the first aircraft crossing theAtlantic by Alcock and Brown, a Royal NavyPhantom won the Trans Atlantic Air Racesetting a new world air speed record betweenNew York and London of 4 hours 46 minutes.The Phantom had formidable range andperformance and was capable of carryingheavy loads, including air to air missiles andnuclear bombs.

The early fast jet years were remarkable years.It was an era that also generated manypioneering innovations including the mirrorlanding site, the steam catapult, the angledflight deck and the ski-jump – all legacies thatmade an enormous contribution to the safetyand effectiveness of carrier aviation and havebeen standardised by navies around theworld.

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IAN G

ARD

INER

www pen and sword co uk

The Royal Navy’s struggle with Zeppelins for air supremacy in the First World War

In 1908, HG Wells wrote his science fiction thriller ‘The War in the Air’ in which a fleet of Zeppelin airshipscrossed the Atlantic and devastated New York. When war broke out with Germany in 1914, many people inBritain believed that HG Wells’ story would come true and that London would be laid waste by Germanairships. Zeppelins also meant that the Royal Navy could do nothing in the North Sea without being spotted.It was this ‘menace’ – no aircraft could match it – which spurred the British Government to form the RoyalFlying Corps, and which led Winston Churchill and the Royal Navy to set about bombing these airships on theground in 1914. Thus it was that the Royal Naval Air Service with IKEA style flatpack aeroplanes, pioneeredstrategic bombing which eventually led to the Blitz, and the massive air raids on Germany during the secondWorld War. The Flatpack Bombers tells the story of the first bombing raids in history, the Dusseldorf,Friedrichshafen and Cuxhaven Raids, Royal Navy achievements that have been in the long grass of history fortoo long. These ripping yarns of early Naval aviation deserve to be more widely known.

Fly Navy, the view from a Jungly Cockpit 1958-2008, covers fifty years of Jungly exploits fromcombat to cock-ups, bravery to bravado and workpranks to pianos. Compiled by John Beattie andedited by Rick Jolly, it is a side splitting ‘Kick theTyres, Light the Fires’ read, both moving andhilariously funny with stories of the ordinary everyday, crashes, machinery breaking, outstandinggallantry and tea and medals. Available by postfrom the Royal Navy Historic Flight, RNAS Yeovilton,Ilchester, Somerset BA22 8HT. Price £10.99 plus£2.00 post and packaging. Please make chequespayable to ‘RN Historic Flight.’

The Fleet Air Arm Officers Association AviationScholarship Trust aims to encourage young peoplebetween 16 and 19 to consider a career inaviation. The Association has awarded glidingtraining courses to more than 1000 students overthe last 20 years and many of them have gone onto become pilots and observers in the Royal Navy.

Students are accommodated in the Wardroom of aRoyal Naval Air Station as potential officer cadetsand attend an intensive 8 day gliding instructioncourse leading to a solo flight. Students also getexperience in an aircraft of the Fleet Air ArmSquadron and many get the opportunity to attendfurther advanced training. If you are interested in agliding scholarship, details can be found at thewebsite below under the link to scholarships andgrants. The Trust is a charity and receivessponsorship and donations from industry andindividuals. If you would like to help sponsor youngmen and women or simply make a donation,please contact: The FAAOA Aviation ScholarshipTrust, 8 Oaklands Close, Adel, Leeds LS16 8NST. 0113 261 2853 E. bvigrass@aol.comwww.fleetairarmoa.org

Aviation Scholarships

This year, in the Centenary year of Naval aviation, the Westland Sea King helicopter celebrates being in RoyalNaval service for 40 years, amassing over one million flying hours and securing its place in history as the mostversatile, reliable and enduring maritime helicopter in the world.

Since entering service with the RoyalNavy on 11 August 1969, the SeaKing has transformed the UK’s Anti-Submarine Warfare and Search andRescue operations and provedoutstanding in military operations inthe far reaches of the globe.

Battle proven in the Falklands, twoGulf Wars and current operations inAfghanistan, the Sea King’sversatility, adaptability and reliabilityfrom the arctic to the desert hasbeen phenomenal.

Originally designed and equippedfor the Anti Submarine Role in theCold War era, the aircraft was fittedwith search radar and dippingsonar. In the 70s, six front line SeaKing ASW Squadrons provided amajor component of NATO’s ASWcapability. Many a long hour wasspent in the hover – ‘pinging’. Itwas exactly what the aircraft wasdesigned for and it did the jobvery well. As submarines becamestealthier the Sea King wasupgraded and modified, housingincreasingly more sophisticatedpassive and active ASWequipment.

One of the Sea King’s greateststrengths is its range, enduranceand all weather capability

making it a natural choice for longrange Search and Rescue. From theoutset, it has been involved innumerous rescues and savedthousands of lives, not just inemergencies but also in humanitarianrelief.

The Sea King’s rugged dependabilitywas not lost on the Commandocommunity either. As the need for aWessex 5 replacement emerged, theSea King was the obvious choice andmoved naturally into the support role.The Sea King Mk4 is now a keycomponent of the Joint HelicopterForce working at full stretch inAfghanistan.

From day one the Sea King has proveditself highly adaptable in its ability tomeet changing roles and requirements,so much so that some airframes haveundergone three, four or even five,complete metamorphoses. From theinitial design concept over 50 yearsago, Sikorsky could hardly haveimagined that in 2009 the Royal Navywould be operating a Sea King with a‘bag’ hanging off it. The Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Controlaircraft (ASaC7) is an impressiveachievement. The mission suite is sotechnologically advanced and the realtime picture so good, that the aircraftis in great demand both in the

maritime surveillance and battlefieldreconnaissance role. 40 years on theSea King is still at the forefront ofwinning capability – a testament andtribute to this remarkable helicopter.

The Sea King is also universally loved.It has bred generations of Navalaviators – by the mid 90s most of theairframes were older than the crewsflying them! “The Sea King has realcharacter” said one pilot. “There issomething very dependable, reassuringand forgiving about it. Its reliability andfortitude in extreme operatingconditions inspires confidence. For the‘back seat’ crew, even the steadydripping of hot hydraulic fluid downtheir necks is comforting and familiaruntil it stops – then you worry!”

As part of the Sea King 40 celebrationsa static display of each Mk from 1-7,will be on show at RNAS Yeovilton andRNAS Culdrose Air Days and at theRoyal International Air Tattoo. One ofthe early airframes, XV648 now a HUMk 5, has been repainted in theoriginal dark blue livery and is flyingwith 771 Squadron at RNAS Culdroseas a daily reminder of the Sea King’slongstanding and proud heritage.

Sponsors of Fly Navy 100

Sea King HAS Mk1

Sea King HAS Mk2

Sea King AEW Mk2

Sea King HC Mk4

Sea King HAS/HU Mk5

Sea King HAS/HU/CR Mk6

Sea King ASaC Mk7

Sea King Celebrates

40 Years Servicewith the Royal Navy

The Sea King is a true stalwartof the Fleet Air Arm; from thestart it looked right, it felt rightand it is probably going to go onflying for ever!

“

“

65th Anniversary of

Operation TungstenSixty five years ago, on 3 April 1944 the Fleet Air Arm launched one of the largest and mostconcerted naval air strikes ever undertaken. The target was the German battleship Tirpitz in Kaafjord,in Northern Norway, and the force of the attack seriously disabled her, critically removing thesignificant threat she posed to the crucial D-Day landings.

Codenamed Operation Tungsten, and led by Lt CdrRoy Baker-Falkner DSC RN, the attack was organisedin two waves of 60 aircraft, each of 20 Barracuda divebombers and 40 escort fighters, Corsairs, Wildcats andHellcats launched an hour apart from the fleet carriersHMS Victorious and HMS Furious and four escortcarriers.

The Tirpitz was subjected to two closely coordinatedand fearlessly executed dive-bombing and strafingattacks with 200 Naval aircrew from 12 Naval AirSquadrons giving their all in a tightly orchestrated andsynchronised plan. For many of them it was their firstexperience of enemy action. As a result of the attackthe Tirpitz suffered heavy losses and was rendered

incapable of putting to sea for several months. Whilethe attack has never really been credited with therecognition it deserves, it was the success of the FleetAir Arm tactics that effectively kept the convoy routesopen and gave the green light to the D-Day landings.4 aircraft were lost in the attacks, 2 as a result ofenemy fire, with the loss of 8 lives.

Pray congratulate the pilots andaircrews concerned on this mostbrilliant feat of arms so serviceableto the Royal Navy and to the wholeworld cause.

“

“Winston S Churchill

Photograph with kind permission of the Fleet Air Arm Museum

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The Royal Navy Historic Flight based at Royal Naval Air StationYeovilton in Somerset is a living memorial to all those whocontinue to serve or have served in the Fleet Air Arm. It is a thinslice of Naval aviation history, representing not only the aircraftbut also the people who flew, maintained and supported the 200different aircraft types that have shaped our Naval aviationheritage over the past 100 years.

Making Sure the Past has a

Every time a historic Naval aircraft flies it is a salute tothe memory of those who valiantly gave their lives inthe defence of their country. Today the Fleet Air Armis very much in the front line, particularly inAfghanistan, getting the job done despite theprivations and severe conditions. Maintaining theaircraft and achieving good operational results hasnever been more important. The men and women ofthe Fleet Air Arm today continue to employingenuity, invention and innovation tempered withcommon sense and good practice just as theirpredecessors did.

The folklore of the past, such as stripping andrebuilding the broken Pegasus engine of a Swordfishon a beach in 1940 prior to flying it across theMediterranean to North Africa, lives on withnumerous present day parallels in motivation anddedication.

The Royal Navy Historic Flight is manned by ex servicepersonnel who no longer have to do battle in far offlands, but they do have to do battle with ageingmachinery, lack of spares and the need to complywith modern regulations and testing procedures thatwere not extant when the aircraft were in service. Inthese days of stringent budget constraints and theneed to ensure that defence expenditure providesour front line forces with the best possibleequipment we can afford, there is limited MODfunding left for heritage projects. Only the coremanpower of the Royal Navy Historic Flight is paidfor by the Royal Navy. All repairs and running costsare financed either by the Fly Navy Heritage Trustthrough private donations and sponsorship, or byclose links from Industry. The present economicdownturn only increases the challenge which is whythe Trust needs your continued support.

Chairman of the Fly Navy Heritage Trust, AdmiralTerry Loughran said “Increasing our support base is akey target for the Centenary year. There are nearly6,000 serving members of the Fleet Air Arm andcurrently only 600 on the Supporters list. We mustremember that in addition to providing funds for theHistoric Flight, the Trust supports all the Heritage,including the Fleet Air Arm Museum, the MemorialChurch and the Fleet Air Arm more widely.”

Future

A standing order of just £20 a year means asignificant amount to the Trust and will helpassure the future of YOUR Heritage. Maintain theideals of Service and Sacrifice embodied in our VC winners and the heroes of recent conflicts.For further information and a supporters joiningform please contact the Fly Navy Heritage Truston 01935 842005 or email office@FNHT.co.uk

Cobham Aviation Services is pleased to be amajor sponsor of Fly Navy 100, helping toraise the profile of Naval aviation in thisimportant Centenary year.

Cobham has a close working relationship withthe Royal Navy and the company’s Falcon jets,flown by ex Royal Navy pilots, will beparticipating in the Fly Navy 100 displays atEastchurch, the Royal International Air Tattooand RNAS Yeovilton and RNAS Culdrose AirDays.

Cobham plc was founded by aviation pioneer SirAlan Cobham who, in 1926, flew from England

to Australia and back in a DH50 aircraft. Landing on the River Thames infront of the Houses of Parliament before an audience of one million, he wasknighted for his pioneering efforts. Today Cobham provides aircraft forwarfare training for the Royal Navy, with regular ‘Thursday war’ exercisescarried out against both UK and foreign fleets.

The Royal Navy’s Operational Training Partner

Pleased to support the Centenary of Naval Aviationwww.cobham.com

1909 - 2009

Fly Past Over Eastchurch

Royal Naval Air Station

Culdrose

Air DayWednesday 29th July

Open 0900

For more information

contact your local

Tourist Information Centre

This year’s Centenary will get off to a flying start on 1 May 2009 with aceremony at the Pioneer Memorial at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppeyfollowed by a spectacular flypast of Harrier GR7 and GR9 jets, Hawks andFalcon aircraft and a historic Sea Vixen, paying tribute to the first home ofBritish and Naval aviation.

The memorial at Eastchurchcommemorates the historic eventswhich took place on the Isle ofSheppey during the formative years ofaviation in Great Britain between 1908and 1911. The Short Brothersestablished the first factory in the worldfor the production of aircraft atShellbeach in 1909, moving productionto Eastchurch in 1910. The first fourRoyal Navy pilots learned to fly atEastchurch in 1911 and in the sameyear Eastchurch became the first RoyalNaval Air Station.

“The historical importance ofEastchurch in the early development ofNaval aviation is immense,” saidCommander Sue Eagles,Communications Director Fly Navy 100.

“Sheppey was the cradle of aviation inthis country and the budding Navalaviators found themselves immersed inthe wealth of pioneering aeronauticaltechnology and endeavour being builtup there. The memorial was dedicatedin recognition of the spirit of innovationand adventure of the early pioneerairmen and that spirit lives on in theFleet Air Arm today.”

The names of the first four Navalaviators who trained at Eastchurch areinscribed on the memorial togetherwith twelve Royal Naval Air Servicetechnical ratings. The first Naval aircraftwere also built at Eastchurch.

Guest of Honour at the event will beAdmiral Sir Raymond Lygo KCB whowill take the salute with Rear AdmiralSimon Charlier, Chief of Staff Aviationand Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm as theflypast passes overhead. The service willbe attended by current and formerserving members of the Fleet Air Arm,veterans, guests and local residents.

www.culdroseairday.co.uk

RNAS Culdrose delivers highly capable Naval Air

Squadrons specialising in Anti Submarine Warfare,

Anti Surface Warfare and Airborne Surveillance and

Control. Frontline Squadrons from Culdrose deploy

aircraft in support of operations all round the world.

RNAS Culdrose also provides intensive training for

Aircrew, Engineers, Air Traffic Controllers, Fire Fighters

and Flight Deck Crews. The air base is also the home

of 771 Search and Rescue Squadron, on constant

alert 365 days a year to respond to emergencies

throughout the South West region.

Eurocopter wishes the Fleet Air Arm many congratulations on the Centenary of Naval Aviation

and continued success as leaders in the field

Eurocopter UK limitedoxford airportkidlingtonoxford OX5 1QZtel: 01865 852400

The Beginning of the Beginning

The Sea Vixen FAW1 (fighter all-weather) entered service with theFleet Air Arm in 1959 replacing theSea Venom. The Fleet Air Arm hadover 100 Sea Vixens and throughoutthe 60s and early 70s they werecontinuously on operations. The firstBritish aircraft to be solely armedwith missiles, rockets and bombs, SeaVixens, flying off HMS Centaur in1964 took part in the successfuloperation to restore stability in theEast African state of Tanganyika. In1961 and 1964, Sea Vixens sawservice in the Persian Gulf and later inthe 1960s they played a crucial roleon Beira Patrol preventing oilreaching landlocked Rhodesia. In1967 Sea Vixens also helped coverthe withdrawal from Aden.

The aircraft’s distinctive design with atwin-boom tail, which was extendedforward in the FAW2 version, and theObserver housed within the fuselage,

known in the Service as the ‘coalhole’ has given the Sea Vixen atremendous following amongstaircrew and enthusiasts alike.

The Sea Vixen taking part in thisyear’s celebrations will be flown by acurrent serving Royal Navy pilot,Lieutenant Commander MattWhitfield. Speaking after his firstflight he said “It is extraordinary tothink that without dual controls ormodern day simulators, a young pilotof only 20 or 21 years old wouldreceive ground instruction from hissenior pilot and then get in one ofthese aircraft and fly it on and offan aircraft carrier! The technology in the cockpit alone, must have been pretty daunting.”

Classic Fleet Air Arm Fighter joins Centenary Celebrations

An historic Royal Navy 1950s fighter, the Sea Vixen, will be taking tothe skies at all the major airshows this year to support the Centenaryof Naval aviation. In a generous gesture by de Havilland Aviation, theaircraft painted in 899 Naval Air Squadron colours from HMS Eagle in1971, has been loaned to the Royal Navy for the Centenary year.

Photograph by David Holman

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1909 - 2009Designed and Printed by Shelleys 01935 815364

Programme of Events2009

Telegraphist Air Gunners Association Memorial Service and Lunch, HMS CollingwoodSunday 17 May 2009

Opening of ‘One Hundred Years of Naval Flying’ Exhibitionand Veterans Reception, Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS YeoviltonThursday 2 July 2009

Jungly Cocktail Party, Hazlegrove House, Sparkford, SomersetSaturday 4 July 2009

Royal Garden Party Buckingham PalaceThursday 9 July 2009

RNAS Yeovilton Air Day Saturday 11 July 2009

Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, GloucestershireFly Navy 100 Centenary flypastSaturday 18 – Sunday 19 July 2009

RNAS Culdrose Air DayWednesday 29 July 2009

Dedication of Channel Dash Memorial, ManstonSaturday 29 August 2009Channel Dash Association dedication of a Swordfish Memorial in memory of the unsurpassed bravery of the Channel Dash Heroes.

Navy Days 2009 – Devonport Naval BaseSaturday 5 September – Sunday 6 September 2009

Dedication of Fleet Air Arm Memorial, National Aboretum, StaffordshireFriday 11 September 2009

Centenary Service, Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church, St Bartholomew’s Friday 9 October 2009

The Britannia Centenary of Naval Aviation DinnerFriday 16 October 2009Fly Navy Heritage Trust dinner onboard the former HMY Britannia in Leith.

Fly Past and Reception HMS Illustrious in LiverpoolFriday 23 October 2009

Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, Royal Albert Hall Saturday 7 November 2009

Royal Centenary Gala Dinner, Old Royal Naval College GreenwichThursday 10 December 2009

Fly Navy 100, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset BA22 8HTTel: +44 (0)1935 456150 or 456530Email: flynavy100@btconnect.com

royalnavy.mod.uk/flynavy100

Penguin books are giving awayten signed copies of their recentlypublished paperback, Joint ForceHarrier by Commander Ade

Orchard for the first ten correct entries ofthe competition. Joint Force Harrier, avivid insight into flying and fighting witha frontline Harrier Squadron inAfghanistan, has been described as ‘oneof the finest books about air warfare everwritten’. This gripping first hand accountof the Royal Navy pilots of 800 Naval AirSquadron supporting troops on theground with danger close, pin-pointattacks pressed home from the air,provides an exhilarating and revealinglook at today’s fixed wing Fleet Air Arm.Joint Force Harrier is available price £6.99from all good book shops. Answers to: flynavy100@btconnect.com

Do You Know the Names of the Three Naval Aviators in this Photograph?

Are You One of Them?

Editor’s NoteThank you for your numerous letters, emails andphotographs in response to our CentenaryNewsletters. While every care is taken to providea comprehensive balance of news andinformation, past, present and future, inevitably inthe limited space available there have been someomissions for which I apologise. Many of youkindly wrote about the 65th Anniversary ofOperation Tungsten, which is included in this

issue. Your dashes of biographical colour and stories of bravery and survivalremind me daily of the sweep of history our Centenary embraces and theethos on which the Fleet Air Arm is founded.

The principal aim of this Centenary year is to raise the profile of the Fleet Air Arm and highlight the achievements of Naval aviation and your constructive and helpful suggestions serve as another timely reminder of the increasing need to capture our roll-call of distinguished service, history and experience for the benefit of future generations.

Commander Sue Eagles QVRM, RD Royal Navy

Published in association withthe Royal Navy, 100 Years ofNaval Aviation, by ChristopherShores, is an eloquent and wellresearched account of thehistory of the early Royal NavalAir Service and Fleet Air Armthrough to the present day. Itchronicles Naval aviators’involvement in two WorldWars and other conflictsworldwide, and the crucialdevelopments in thetechnology of ships, aircraftand weaponry that madevictory possible. Price £35.00from all good bookshops, theFleet Air Arm Museum ordirect from www.haynes.co.uk.

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HMS Illustrious

Fly Navy 100 is a fantasticopportunity for the Royal Navy tocelebrate and promote thecontribution that Naval aviation hasmade and will continue to make toour nation’s security. It is an honourfor HMS Illustrious to be in ouraffiliated city of London to supportthe occasion.

Captain Ben Key

Commanding Officer HMS Illustrious

“

“

6 - 11 May 2009

in London

HMS Illustrious, the Nation’s currentStrike Carrier will be paying a highprofile visit to the city of Londonfrom 6 – 11 May 2009 as thecentrepiece of the Royal Navy’scelebrations to mark the Centenary ofNaval aviation.

The ship, which will be moored atGreenwich, will be taking part in a busyprogramme of events, the highlight ofwhich will be a Centenary Flypast overthe carrier at midday on 7 May 2009.

The Admiralty ordered its first aircraft, HisMajesty’s Airship 1, on 7 May 1909 andthe Centenary celebrations mark theintroduction of Naval aviation, a radicalnew capability that was to have a farreaching influence on military strategyand operations to this day.

HMS Illustrious, which operates Harrierjets and helicopters, will have aircraftfrom a number of different squadronsembarked. The Duke of York KG,Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet AirArm, will take the Royal Salute on theflight deck as the flypast passes overhead.He will also meet members of the ship’scompany and current and former servingFleet Air Arm personnel.

The Centenary celebrations will includea spectacular firework display to musicover HMS Illustrious on 7 May at 2200

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A service of Thanksgiving will take place in St Paul’sCathedral on Friday 8 May 2009 to celebrate the Centenaryof Naval aviation and pay tribute to the courage,commitment and professionalism of everyone who hasserved with the Royal Naval Air Service or Fleet Air Armover the past 100 years.

Their Royal Highnesses ThePrince of Wales, the Duchessof Cornwall and theCommodore-in-Chief of theFleet Air Arm, The Duke ofYork will be in attendance,alongside dignitaries fromthe City of London, theCommander-in-Chief FleetAdmiral Sir Mark Stanhopeand 2,000 current serving members of the Fleet Air Arm, togetherwith veterans and families.

The service will remember the 6,749 Royal Naval Air Service andFleet Air Arm personnel who have given their lives in 100 years ofNaval aviation. The perils of flying at sea are much greater thanflying over land resulting historically in many more Naval aircasualties from accidents than from combat. During the service thetraditional Royal Navy bosun’s call will pipe the ‘still’ as the Booksof Remembrance are laid on the altar in a poignant replica of aburial at sea.

One of the readings during the service will be read by theinternationally acclaimed actress, Kristin Scott Thomas whosefather, a Fleet Air Arm pilot died in a Sea Vixen in 1967. Hermother remarried but tragically was widowed a second time.Kristin’s step father, another Fleet Air Arm pilot died in a Phantom accident in 1971.

After the service HRH The Prince of Wales will take the Royalsalute as the Guard from HMS Illustrious, servicemen and veteransmarch past the Cathedral. HMS Illustrious is affiliated to theCity of London and members of the ship’s companywill be supporting the service, lining the stepsof St Paul’s as guests arrive. Receptionswill be held after the service in TheGuildhall, Merchant Taylors’Hall and Skinners’ Hall.

The Royal Navy at

Fly Past in LondonCentenary

The Royal Navy has been closely associated withGreenwich since Tudor times. The Old Royal NavalCollege, on the south bank of the River Thamesat Greenwich is the centrepiece of MaritimeGreenwich, now a World Heritage Site managedby the Greenwich Foundation.

It was from the windows of Greenwich Palace thatQueen Elizabeth watched the famous explorer andAdmiral, Martin Frobisher, with two small ships, startdown the river for his voyage to discover the NorthWest passage. It was also from Greenwich Palace thatthe Queen watched Drake’s famous ship the ‘Golden

Hind’ passing up river to Deptford, after his three yearvoyage of circumnavigation.

The Greenwich Hospital was founded in 1694 as theRoyal Naval Hospital for sailors. The pensioned sailorswore blue uniforms similar to the red ones of theChelsea Pensioners. On 5 January 1806 Lord Nelson’sbody was laid in state in the Painted Hall of theGreenwich Hospital before being taken up the RiverThames to St Paul’s Cathedral for a State funeral.

From 1873 to 1998 Wren’s magnificent buildingsbecame the home of the Royal Navy. The Royal Naval

College provided advanced strategic, scientific andtechnical training for thousands of Naval officers.

The custom for all ships of war to fire a salute whenpassing Greenwich was instituted in Henry VIII’s reign.In 1588 the order to resist the Armada was made atGreenwich. Sir Walter Raleigh was often at Greenwichand it was at Greenwich that this famous explorer andsailor of Queen Elizabeth’s reign made his dramaticgesture of spreading his cloak over a ‘splashy place’ forthe Queen to step on.

Greenwich

www.oldroyalnavalcollege.orgGreenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College

1909 - 2009

Centenary Servicein St Paul’s

A static park of Royal Navy aircraft, including aSea Harrier, a Sea King, a Lynx and a Gazelle,together with a Merlin Flight Simulator and aRoyal Navy hot air balloon will be on display inthe grounds of the Old Royal Naval College.Flying demonstrations will also take place onSaturday 9 and Sunday 10 May, over the Thames in front of the Old Royal Naval College at 1400 to 1430.

The best place to view the Fly Past is from theOld Royal Naval College. The grounds are opendaily from 0800 to 1800 and can be enteredfrom Cutty Sark Gardens, College Approach,Royal Gate and Park Row. Car parking is verylimited. To plan your journey visit the Transportfor London Journey Planner website stating youare travelling to the Old Royal Naval College SE10 9LW.

The Royal Navy will celebrate the Centenary of Naval aviation with a Flypastover HMS Illustrious at Greenwich on 7 May. The Balbo formation will be ledby four Merlin helicopters, the Royal Navy’s newest state-of-the-arthelicopter followed by a line-up of current Fleet Air Arm fixed wing aircraftand helicopters including the fast, agile Lynx Maritime Attack helicopter,many variants of the venerable Sea King helicopter, Hawks and Jetstreamtraining aircraft. The aircraft will fly East to West over London, passing overthe ship at exactly midday.

Commander Mark Deller, Commander (Air) HMS Illustrious, said “We always get afantastic welcome in London and we are particularly looking forward to visiting ouraffiliated City and to supporting such a significant anniversary in Naval aviation.”

Carrier aviation is an important part of thatheritage and as the UK’s High Readiness StrikeCarrier, HMS Illustrious is a crucial element ofnational security. “With most of our Squadronscurrently deployed, the flypast is only a smallrepresentation of our capability,” saidCommander Deller. “We recently welcomed our

Harrier jets back onboard after being on operations in Afghanistan. They have beendeployed almost continuously over the past 5 years. There can be no greaterdemonstration of the versatility and expeditionary nature of Naval aviation.”

Royal Navy Static Display Park

‘Making sure the past has a future’

The Royal Navy gratefully acknowledges DBR Building Restoration and Conservation for their assistance. Tel: 020 7277 7775 www.dbrlimited.com

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ROYAL NAVY PILOT:JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE OFFICE

The ‘office’ just happens to be the cockpit of the Sea King Mk 4. Like any office it’s got a view, except this is more like a penthouse suite.

Whatever you fly in the Royal Navy, from fast jets to troop transport helicopters, it’s a responsible, challenging career that will take you further than you’ve ever been before.

If you want more than just a job, join the Royal Navy and live a life without limits.

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Join the Royal Navyroyalnavy.mod.uk/careers

or call 08456 07 55 55

1909 - 2009

The new Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F35 JointStrike Fighter is another step closer following successful trials ofthe aircraft’s advanced flight control software which will enablepilots to land onboard ship in all weathers, day and night with‘centimetric accuracy’.

The trials, carried out onboard HMS Illustrious using a veteran two seatHarrier airframe, the Vectored-thrust Aircraft Advanced Flight Control(VAAC) Harrier, put the new system to the test. The Harrier has beenheavily modified with a conventional control arrangement in the frontcockpit and the rear being connected instead into an experimental fly-by-wire system using left and right hand interceptors to manoeuvre theaircraft and simulate the way the new Joint Strike Fighter will fly andrespond to different inputs. 66 running landings and recoveries wereachieved in varying sea states up to and including sea state 6, withoutstanding results.

The test aircraft, XW175 is the oldest flying two seat Harrier in theworld. Commander Kieron O’Brien, the Air Engineering Officer, HMSIllustrious said “The VAAC Harrier provided an ideal facility to trial theShipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) techniques that will be utilisedby the Joint Strike Fighter in the new carriers. It worked brilliantly.XW175 represents an incredible link between the past and the future ofthe Fleet Air Arm.”

The UK has historically been in the forefront ofinnovation in carrier technology. The developmentof Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing techniquescould well be next – enabling the Joint StrikeFighter to recover with a significantly greaterfraction of weapons and fuel than achievable using a vertical recovery.

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Rear Admiral Simon Charlier

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Designed and Printed by Shelleys 01935 815364

XW175 Harrier T2 (VAAC)

New Joint Strike Fighter

Successful Trials

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