Night photo shoot XIII
RAF Northolt
October 18, 2012
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Phillip Dawe a retired Air Traffic Controller organised the third Northolt Night photo shoot of the year, the donations for this event going towards restoration of Northolt's Battle of Britain Sector Operations Building (Building 27) which was the prototype of United Kingdom's air defence system devised by Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding (later Lord Dowding) in 1929. For the full story see my article written for Aviation News.
Arriving late due to a motorway closure I was expecting to see more than three aircraft lined up comprising of; Royal Navy Sea King ASaC.7, Agusta A.109E Power Elite and a Belgian Air Component Agusta A.109HA. Even though the setting sun had produced a wonderful pale blue and purple backdrop and if I was quick there were some great shots to follow especially of the Sea King I was still hoping for more aircraft to photograph. With those shots taken it was now quite dark and like a scene from the film 'Apocalypse Now', three helicopters approached the flight line you could only see their navigation lights in the black sky which eventually revealed; an Army Bell 212, Gazelle AH.1 and a Lynx AH.7 all from AAC Middle Wallop. Later a Metropolitan Police Eurocopter EC-145 and a Chinook HC.2 made brief appearances making the evening a very worthwhile event. Once again well done to Phil for putting the event together. |
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| Westland Sea King ASaC.7 (XV649 'CU-80') of 849/854/857 NAS from RNAS Culdrose |
| Left to right: Royal Navy Sea King ASaC.7 (XV649 'CU-80') of 849/854/857 NAS. |
| Left to right: Sea King ASaC.7 (XV649 'CU-80') of 849/854/857 NAS. |
| Agusta A.109HA of 1 Wing Belgium Air Component based at Beauvechain. |
| Left to right: Agusta A.109HA of 1 Wing Belgium Air Component based at Beauvechain parked at the far end where unfortunately where the light is poorest. |
| Westland Lynx AH.7 (XZ196 'T') of 671 Squadron AAC based at Middle Wallop. |
| Left to right: Lynx AH.7 (XZ196 'T') of 671 Squadron AAC based at Middle Wallop. |
| Left to right: Lynx AH.7 (XZ196 'T') of 671 Squadron AAC based at Middle Wallop. |
| Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ964 'D') of 671 Squadron. |
| Left to right: Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ964 'D') of 671 Squadron. |
| Left to right: Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ964 'D') of 671 Squadron. |
| Westland Gazelle AH.1 (XZ345 'M') of 671 Squadron AAC based at Middle Wallop about to depart. |
| Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (XZ345 'M') of 671 Squadron AAC based at Middle Wallop. |
| Boeing CH-47D Chinook HC.2 (ZA704) of 7 Squadron Joint Helicopter Command based at RAF Odiham. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.2 (ZA704) of 7 Squadron JHC was on the ground for just five minutes.
Eurocopter EC-145 (G-MPSA) of the Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit. |
| Left to right: Agusta A.109E Power Elite (ZR322) operated by 32(TR) Squadron in the VIP transport role. BAE 125 CC.2 (ZD704) of 32(TR) Squadron as usual the as ever unhelpful SERCO workers could not get the hangar doors closed quick enough to stop the photographer from getting some shots. |
