SPTA logs 2010 SPTA logs 2012
Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA)
Photographic Logs for 2011
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Gazelle HT.3 (XZ936 '6') of QinetiQ / Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS), Copehill Down is in the background in November 2011.

Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Monday December 12, 2011 Constantly being moved around the DZ all day I was rewarded with two Lynx and three Squirrel, one of each came right up close.
Left to right: Lynx AH.7 (XZ669 'I') using callsign 'Redcat 37' of 671 Squadron based at AAC Middle Wallop.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ191 'A') using callsign 'Redcat 47' of 671 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ251 '46' c/s 'Army Air 279' and later ZJ250 c/s 'Army Air 725') of 670 Squadron based at AAC Middle Wallop.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ191 'A') using callsign 'Redcat 47'.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ191 'A') using callsign 'Redcat 47'.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ191 'A') using callsign 'Redcat 47' of 671 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ191 'A') using callsign 'Redcat 47'.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ252 '52' c/s 'Army Air 710') of 670 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ252 '52' c/s 'Army Air 710') of 670 Squadron.

Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (ZD274 'E') of 671 Squadron descending in to a confined landing area on December 5, 2011.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Monday December 5, 2011 Starting off in the confined landing area I moved to the DZ for an Apache only to see a Tornado F.3 doing circuits, a quick dash to Boscombe paid off finishing at the DZ having failed to catch the Raspberry Ripple Sea King which left Boscombe while I was there.
Left to right: Lynx AH.7 (ZD274 'E' ) in a confined landing area, it dropped in to this location a couple of times before moving to two other clearings.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (ZD274 'E' ) in a confined landing area.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (ZD274 'E' ) in another Confined Landing Area after circling around several times.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Apache AH.1 (ZJ212) using callsign 'Panther 85'.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Apache AH.1 (ZJ197) much later in the day.

Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Wednesday November 30, 2011 Missed a Puma which arrived before I could get close enough at 08:30. The day was still busy with two Gazelle, three Lynx, a Squirrel twice and a Bell 212 at two locations.
Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (XX453) of QinetiQ - Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES).
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Gazelle AH.1 (XX453) of QinetiQ.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ251 '51') of 670 Squadron based at AAC Middle Wallop.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') of 671 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') of 671 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7s (ZD274 'E' and ZD281 'K') using callsigns 'Redcat 39' and Redcat '35' of 671 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ251 '51') of 670 Squadron based at AAC Middle Wallop appearing for the second time in the day.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Gazelle AH.1 (ZB691) using callsign 'Army Air 841' of 671 Squadron.

Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 256' of 671 Squadron in a Confined Landing Area dropping down in three or four woodland clearings.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') in a Confined Landing Area.

Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Thursday November 24, 2011 A very quiet day on Salisbury Plain with just this Lynx AH.7 (XZ283 'D') of 671 Squadron the only helicopter seen operating for an hour at the end of the day.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ283 'D') of 671 Squadron.

Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ283 'D') of 671 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Thursday November 17, 2011 From dawn to dusk the light was good today. The day started wth a Lynx operating a good walk away joined by an QinetiQ - ETPS Gazelle which was not shy of the camera. The afternoon saw a pair of Apache AH.1 flying four circuits of the strip before going in to the hover just feet away, as usual not sure what they were up to. Finally just after sunset a Lynx landed an shutdown followed by an Apache and Chinook operating with the 7 Squadron - Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW) which arrived together and landed beside the Lynx. 20 minutes later they departed in more or less total darkness.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Gazelle HT.3 (XZ936 '6') callsign 'Tester 07' of Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS).
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Gazelle HT.3 (XZ936 '6').
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Apache AH.1
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Pair of Apache AH.1s using callsign 'Radical'.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Pair of Apache AH.1s using callsign 'Radical'.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Twilight rendezvous Apache AH.1, Lynx AH.7 and Chinook HC.2 (ZA710 'AR') operating with the 7 Squadron - Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW).

Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Thursday October 6, 2011 A move to the landing zone for the afternoon paid off with two or three Squirrels, an Apache and Lynx making numerous approaches and landings.
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ250 '50') of 670 Squadron based at AAC Middle Wallop.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ243 '43') of the Defence Helicopter Flying School.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Apache AH.1 (ZJ223).
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ194 'V') of 671 Squadron based at AAC Middle Wallop.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ194 'V') of 671 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ194 'V') of 671 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Thursday October 6, 2011 A very slow morning with just this Squirrel doing a couple of approaches to the airstrip before consulting their map and giving me a wave before as they departed to the north.
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ243 '43') of the Defence Helicopter Flying School.

Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
SPTA FRP Thursday August 11, 2011 The weather was poor with heavy drizzle to start but got it brighter later in the day.
Anonymous Apache AH.1 with Puma HC.1 (XW212) of 33/230 Squadron from RAF Benson.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Merlin HC.3 (ZJ130 'O') of 28/78 Squadron from RAF Benson arrive alongside Apache AH.1
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Merlin HC.3 (ZJ130 'O') and Chinook HC.2 (ZA714 'AV') of 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing, Joint Helicopter Command.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Apache AH.1 (ZJ188).
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Apache AH.1 (ZJ188).

Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
AAC Netheravon Thursday August 11, 2011
Chinook HC.2 (ZA714 'AV') of 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing, Joint Helicopter Command, it has a 'Chinook 30 years' special tail.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Merlin HC.3 (ZJ130 'O') over the SPTA.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Merlin HC.3 (ZJ130 'O') and Puma HC.1 (XW226) with 23/330 Squadron.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Cockpit shot of Chinook HC.2 (ZA714 'AV'), Apache AH.1 (ZJ197), it is equipped with a blue M34 Hellfire training round on the starboard pylon and a Collective Training Missile (CTM). The CTM has a light which indicates to the ground forces on the ground that they have been 'hit' during the training exercise. The Joint Operations Centre (JOC) at Netheravon for the duration of the exercise, its operations are designed to replicate those at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

Salisbury Plain Training Area
Chinook HC.2 (ZA707 'AO') of 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing, Joint Helicopter Command.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Exercise Pashtun Jaguar Friday January 28, 2011
Lynx AH.7 (XZ678).
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Chinook HC.2 (ZA707 'AO') and Chinook HC.3 (ZH902) of 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing, Joint Helicopter Command.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ670) it has a Browning M3M 0.5 calibre machine gun mounted on the cabin door.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Friday January 28, 2011
Apache AH.1 (ZJ193) with 653/662/663 Squadron, 3 Regiment based at Wattisham.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Merlin HC.3A (ZJ990 'AA') of 28/78 Squadron of Benson Wing, Joint Helicopter Command. Gazelle AH.1 (ZB683) of 651 Squadron, Joint Helicopter Command it was simulating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during the exercise.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Westland Sea King HC.4 (ZA291 'N') flying low over Salisbury Plain during exercise Pashtun Jaguar.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Friday January 28, 2011 AAC Netheravon during exercise Pashtun Jaguar
Forward Operating Base on Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA
Sea King HC.4s (ZA291 'N' and ZF120 'Z') of 848 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons based at RNAS Yeovilton.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Sea King HC.4s (ZA291 'N' and ZF120 'Z') of 848 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons based at RNAS Yeovilton.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Chinook HC.3 (ZH902) operated by 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing on the Joint Helicopter Command on the ground at Netheravon.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Apache AH.1s (ZJ172, ZJ193 and ZJ202) of 663 Squadron AAC based at Wattisham deployed at Netheravon as part of exercise Pashtun Jaguar.

Copehill Down (FIBUA) Military Training Village (Fighting in built-up areas).
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Westland WAH-64 Apache AH.1 (ZJ193) with 653/662/663 Squadron, 3 Regiment based at Wattisham, outside Copehill Down.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Thursday January 27, 2011
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ193) with 653/662/663 Squadron, 3 Regiment based at Wattisham.
Westland Sea King HC.4 (ZA291 'N') of 848 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton and just back from Operation Herrick in Afghanistan.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Left to right: Sea King HC.4 (ZA291 'N'), there is a Browning M3M 0.5 calibre machine gun mounted on the cabin door.
Chinook HC.3 (ZH902) operated by 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing on the Joint Helicopter Command.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Left to right: Chinook HC.3 (ZH902) operated by 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing on the Joint Helicopter Command with troops from 42 Commando Royal Marines embarking.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Left to right: Sea King ASaC.7 (XV697 '181') of 849 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose it was used in the SKASaC (Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control) role during the exercise.
Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area Salisbury Plain Training Area
Left to right: Forward Air Controllers (FAC) from 3 Commando Brigade (Cdo Bde) during a live capability demonstration at Copehill down. 3 Cdo Bde troops during a Shura with Copehill Down (FIBUA) Military Training Village (Fighting in built-up areas).