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Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA)
Photographic Logs for 2014
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron has moved across to another location within the confined landing area in January 2014.
(DSLR full-frame sensor + Canon EF 24-105mm (40mm) f.4 L IS at 1/80 f.20 ISO 100 with -1 exposure compensation).

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Monday November 24, 2014 A sunny day on DD with frequent visitors from Middle Wallop and Boscombe Down.
Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-109E Power Elite (ZE416) using callsign 'Gauntlet 49' of the Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down.
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Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-109E Power Elite (ZE416).
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Sea King HC.4 (ZA314 'WT') operating with QinetiQ, it was using callsign 'Tester 73'.
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Westland Sea King HC.4 (ZA314 'WT') in the markings of 848 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) Royal Navy, but currently operating with QinetiQ, it was using callsign 'Tester 73'.
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Left to right: Westland Sea King HC.4 (ZA314 'WT').
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Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ245 '45') callsign 'Army Air 715'.
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Left to right: Westland SA-341C Gazelle HT.2 (XZ939 '9') using callsign 'Gauntlet 82' and later 'Gauntlet 65' of QinetiQ / Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down.
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Left to right: SA-341C Gazelle HT.2 (XZ939 '9').

Salisbury Plain Training Area
Agusta-Westland AW-109E Power Elite (QQ100) using callsign 'Gauntlet 468' of QinetiQ based at Boscombe Down.
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Tuesday October 7, 2014 A very busy day on the Plain with constant activity from a varied range of helicopters from RAF Odiham, AAC Middle Wallop and Boscombe Down and Westlands at Yeovil.
Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-109E Power Elite (QQ100) using callsign 'Gauntlet 468' of QinetiQ based at Boscombe Down.
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Left to right: Westland Lynx AH.9A (ZG888) using callsign 'Army Air 674'.
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Left to right: Westland Lynx AH.9A (ZG888) using callsign 'Army Air 674'.
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Left to right: Boeing Chinook HC.2 (ZA677) using callsign 'Vortex 471' of 18/27 Squadron from RAF Odiham.
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Westland SA-341C Gazelle HT.3 (XZ939 '9') using callsign 'Tester 73' of QinetiQ / Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down.
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Left to right: Westland SA-341C Gazelle HT.2 (XZ939 '9') using callsign 'Tester 73' of QinetiQ / Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down.
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Agusta-Westland AW-109E Power Elite (ZE416) using callsign 'Tester 82' of the Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down.
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Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-109E Power Elite (ZE416) using callsign 'Tester 82' of the Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down.
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Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-109E Power Elite (ZE416) using callsign 'Gauntlet 02' of the Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down.
Gazelle AH.1 (XX453) using callsign 'Gauntlet 31' of QinetiQ - Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES) based at Boscombe Down.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ670 'A') using callsign 'Redcat 48' of 671 Squadron.
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Left to right: Lynx AH.7 (XZ670 'A') using callsign 'Redcat 48' of 671 Squadron.
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Agusta-Westland AW-159 Lynx Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ388) using callsign 'Spear 325' in AAC markings.
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Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-159 Lynx Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ388) using callsign 'Spear 325' in AAC markings.
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Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-159 Lynx Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ388) in AAC markings.
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Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-159 Lynx Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ388) in AAC markings.
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Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ253 '53') callsign 'Army Air 703'.
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Agusta-Westland AW-159 Lynx Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ388) using callsign 'Recon 22' in AAC markings.
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Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-159 Lynx Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ409) using callsign 'Recon 22' in AAC markings.
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Left to right: Agusta A-109E Power (ZE416) using callsign 'Tester 06' of the Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down.
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Apache AH.1 (ZJ214) callsign 'Army Air 077' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron.
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Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ214) callsign 'Army Air 077' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron.
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Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ214) callsign 'Army Air 077' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron.
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Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ214) callsign 'Army Air 077' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron and  C-130J Hercules C.5 (ZH888) with callsign 'Ascot 108' of 30 Squadron doing para-drops at nearby Fox Covert.

Salisbury Plain Training Area
Lynx AH.7 (XZ670 'A') of 671 Squadron emerging from the dust in the CCDA.
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Tuesday September 30, 2014 Not much activity today but some quality action made it one of the more rewarding days. This was down to a Lynx in the CCDA (Cross-Country Driving Area) for which I was slow to react to and a Puma in the confined landing area at the end of the day and in stunning evening light.
Left to right: Lynx AH.7 (XZ670 'A') of 671 Squadron using callsign 'Redcat 44'.
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Lynx AH.7 (XZ670 'A') pin-point landing on the 'Pinnacle' which is to be found within the CCDA.
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Left to right: Gazelle HT.3 (ZB625) using callsign 'Tester 05' with Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS), it did not come too close unfortunately.
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Puma HC.2 (XW219) crew identify and check out the landing zone in the confined landing area carefully and after several low passes approach and drop in with all crew advising the pilot of the proximity of the trees and the ground.
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Aerospatiale (Westland) SA-330E Puma HC.2 (XW219) of 33/230 Squadron at RAF Benson.
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Puma HC.2 (XW219) using callsign 'Vortex 003' of 33/230 Squadron at RAF Benson.
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Puma HC.2 (XW219).
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Puma HC.2 (XW219).
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Puma HC.2 (XW219) of 33/230 Squadron at RAF Benson.
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Puma HC.2 (XW219).
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Puma HC.2 (XW219).
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Puma HC.2 (XW219) of 33/230 Squadron at RAF Benson.

Salisbury Plain Training Area
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ245 '45') descending in to a confined landing area, I am lying down in the grass sheltered by the over lying trees
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Wednesday July 30, 2014 A quiet day around the DZ with just one Gazelle all day and three extended visits by two Squirrels to several non-regular places in the confined landing area.
Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ245 '45') callsign 'Army Air 724'.
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Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ245 '45') callsign 'Army Air 724'.
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Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ245 '45') using callsign 'Army Air 724' around the confined landing areas.
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Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ253 '53' and ZJ245 '45').
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Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ245 '45') checking out a confined landing area
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Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (XZ345 'M') using callsign 'Army Air 076' on the DZ, on the starboard side the code is displayed upside down as a 'W'.
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Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (XZ345 'M') of 671 Squadron AAC based at Middle Wallop.
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Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (XZ345 'M') of 671 Squadron AAC based at Middle Wallop.

Salisbury Plain Training Area
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ253 '53') in a confined landing area
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Wednesday March 5, 2014 A quiet day around the DZ and in the confined landing area with two Squirrels and a Gazelle.
Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (XX449) of QinetiQ - Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES) from Boscombe Down it was using callsign 'Tester 73'.
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Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ248 '48') using callsign 'Army Air 726' on the DZ.
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Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ253 '53') using callsign 'Army Air 712' in a confined landing area.
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Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ253 '53').

Salisbury Plain Training Area
671 Squadron Lynx AH.7 (XZ176) touching down on a Stone Age barrow
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Tuesday January 14, 2014 An interesting day around the DZ and in the confined landing area with a Sea King and an illusive Puma. A friendly Range Warden provided timings for the C-130 Hercules para-drop which took place 2.1/2 hours later than planned. Oh yes I missed a Wildcat which I think was put off by an exuberant Chinook pilot which was operating on the DZ when it arrived.
Left to right: Lynx AH.7 (XZ176) using callsign 'Redcat 44' of 671 Squadron.
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Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ248 '48') using callsign 'Army Air 702' on the DZ. C-130J Hercules para drop.
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Chinook HC.2A (ZH894) 18/27 Squadron Odiham Wing
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Left to right: Chinook HC.2A (ZH894) of 18/27 Squadron from RAF Odiham on the DZ.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.2A (ZH894) of 18/27 Squadron.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.2A (ZH894) of 18/27 Squadron.
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Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron dropping in to the 'Triangle'
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Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) Royal Navy which is part of Joint Helicopter Command (JHC). Something wrong? Apparently not, as the aircrew give a quick visual check of the rotors.
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Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) Royal Navy which is part of Joint Helicopter Command (JHC).
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Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron.
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Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron dropping in to a very small clearing
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Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron.
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Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron.
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Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton.
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Sea King HC.4 (ZD626 'S') of 845 Naval Air Squadron.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZH776) of 18/27 Squadron being thrown around the DZ.
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Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZH776) of 18/27 Squadron.