Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA)
Photographic Logs for 2020 |
Thursday May 28, 2020 A really good day with three Royal Navy Wildcat sorties, a Puma and Chinook all confined.
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA680) using callsign 'Vortex 282' with 28 Squadron (Chinook and Puma Operational Conversion Unit) based at RAF Benson. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA680) using callsign 'Vortex 282'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ534) using callsign 'Martlet 419' with 825 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ534) using callsign 'Martlet 419'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ534) using callsign 'Martlet 419'. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW209) using callsign 'Vortex 334' pooled with 28, 33, 230 squadrons based at RAF Benson. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW209) using callsign 'Vortex 334'. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW209) using callsign 'Vortex 334'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 722' with 825 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 722'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 722'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 722'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 722'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 722'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 722'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 700' with 825 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 700'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 700'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 700'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 700'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 700'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 700'. |
Left to right: Wildcat HMA.2 (ZZ517) using callsign 'Talon 700'. |
Thursday May 14, 2020 Two days around the DZ and only this Bell 212 in the CA.
Left to right: Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ969 'K') of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight. |
Left to right: Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ969 'K'). The instructor is showing the student pilot around the helicoptor pointing to the extent of the rotor's reach relative to the vegetation. |
Left to right: Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ969 'K'). |
Left to right: Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ969 'K'). |
Monday March 16, 2020 A day of three locations featuring; an Apache wandering around the DZ, an A400M on another DZ and finally, a first for me, a QinetiQ AW109E Power on an air strip.
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM417) using callsign 'Comet 451' with Brize Norton Transport Wing (24, 70 and 206 Squadrons). This was the first container delivery system (CDS) drop since the record breaking drop in November 2018, when 24 x 1 tonne containers were dropped in a single pass. |
Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM417) using callsign 'Comet 451' with 206 Squadron. |
Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM417) using callsign 'Comet 451' with 206 Squadron. |
Left to right: AgustaWestland AW109E Power (G-ETPJ) with QinetiQ at Boscombe Down it was using callsign 'Tester 90'. |
Left to right: AgustaWestland AW109E Power (G-ETPJ) using callsign 'Tester 90'. |
Wednesday March 11, 2020 An interesting day with both a Bell 212 and a Puma doing underslung load training throughout the day. An Apache was in a confined landing area for 30 minutes, not something you see very often.
Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 731' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight. |
Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 731' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight. |
Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 731' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ216) callsign 'Panther 84' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron, just passing through the DZ.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ203) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron in a confined landing area. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ203) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ203) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ203) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ203) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 731' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight. |
Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 731' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW204 'B') using callsign 'Vortex 331' with Benson Pool (28, 33 and 230 Squadron). |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW204 'B') using callsign 'Vortex 331' with Benson Pool (28, 33 and 230 Squadron). |
Tuesday March 3, 2020 Four helicopters came my way some doing both the DZ and a confined or two. Pleased to finally see a newly painted Royal Navy Merlin in its pale grey.
Left to right: Airbus Helicopters H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPF) with QinetiQ based at Boscombe Down. |
Left to right: Airbus Helicopters H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPF) with QinetiQ based at Boscombe Down. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ204) callsign 'Panther 84' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ204) callsign 'Panther 84' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.4 (ZJ119 'C') using callsign 'Commando 554' with 845 NAS based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.4 (ZJ119 'C') using callsign 'Commando 554' with 845 NAS. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.4 (ZJ119 'C') using callsign 'Commando 554' with 845 NAS. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.4 (ZJ119 'C') using callsign 'Commando 554' with 845 NAS. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA708) using callsign 'Vortex 523' with 28 Squadron. Its upgrade to HC.6A standard was completed at Boscombe Down in December 2019. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA708) using callsign 'Vortex 523' with 28 Squadron. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA708) using callsign 'Vortex 523' with 28 Squadron. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA708) using callsign 'Vortex 523' with 28 Squadron. |
Monday February 17, 2020 After a couple of blanks it was good to see a few helicopters active today. Only got one of the two Apaches and only caught the Squirrel once, it had visited as 'Tester 06' earlier in the day. The Bell 212 dropped in to the confined landing area four times allowing me to move around for different angles.
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) callsign 'Panther 80' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron based at Middle Wallop. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) callsign 'Panther 80' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) callsign 'Panther 80' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) callsign 'Panther 80' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron. |
Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 731' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight based at AAC Middle Wallop. |
Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 731' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight. |
Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 731' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight. |
Left to right: Airbus Helicopters H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPG) using callsign 'Gauntlet 64' it is with QinetiQ based at Boscombe Down. |
Wednesday January 29, 2020 Another active day on the Plain included; four Wildcats, an Apache, Merlin and Puma. However my failure to anticipate and the impossibility to be everywhere all at once meant I only caught three of them.
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Avenger 094' with 846 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Avenger 094' with 846 NAS. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Avenger 094' with 846 NAS. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Avenger 094' with 846 NAS. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Avenger 094' with 846 NAS. |
Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ520) using callsign 'Recon 22' with 652 Squadron AAC based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ520) using callsign 'Recon 22' with 652 Squadron AAC. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (?) using callsign 'Vortex 344' |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (?) using callsign 'Vortex 344' |
Tuesday January 23, 2020 An epic day on EvDZ and in the confines which went on beyond sunset with an exclusive with 'Vortex 434', only then for my 4x4 to be stuck in the mud. Many thanks for the help from two good friends and an army tow rope, very embarrassing!
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) callsign 'Panther 82' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron based at Middle Wallop. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW232 'P') using callsign 'Vortex 365' with 28 Squadron based at RAF Benson. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW232 'P') using callsign 'Vortex 365' with 28 Squadron. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW232 'P') using callsign 'Vortex 365' with 28 Squadron. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW232 'P') using callsign 'Vortex 365' with 28 Squadron. |
Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW232 'P') using callsign 'Vortex 365' with 28 Squadron. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6 (ZK557) using callsign 'Vortex 562' with 7 Squadron based at RAF Odiham. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6 (ZK557) using callsign 'Vortex 562' with 7 Squadron. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6 (ZK557) using callsign 'Vortex 562' with 7 Squadron. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA720) using callsign 'Vortex 434' with 27 Squadron based at RAF Odiham. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA720) using callsign 'Vortex 434' with 27 Squadron. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA720) using callsign 'Vortex 434' with 27 Squadron. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA720) using callsign 'Vortex 434' with 27 Squadron. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA720) using callsign 'Vortex 434' with 27 Squadron. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA720) using callsign 'Vortex 434' with 27 Squadron. |
Wednesday January 15, 2020 A busy day to day, with a Merlin visiting two confined landing area multiple times as did the Bell 212 which was winch training. A Wildcat and Squirel operated on the EvDZ for some time.
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Commando 555' with 846 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Commando 555' with 846 Naval Air Squadron. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Commando 555' with 846 Naval Air Squadron. |
Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ387) with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ387) with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ387) with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ387) with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Airbus Helicopters H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPF) with QinetiQ based at Boscombe Down. |
Left to right: H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPF) with QinetiQ based at Boscombe Down. |
Left to right: H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPF) with QinetiQ. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Commando 556' with 846 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Commando 555' with 846 Naval Air Squadron. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3i (ZJ135 'T') using callsign 'Commando 555' with 846 Naval Air Squadron. |
Left to right: Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ969 'K') using callsign 'Army Air 733' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight based at AAC Middle Wallop. |
Left to right: Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ969 'K') using callsign 'Army Air 733' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight. |