Aviation Photography
Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) |
| Forward Refuelling Point (FRP) |
| Apache AH.1 (ZJ187) of 4 Regiment AAC arriving at the Forward Refuelling Point (FRP) with the RAF's Tactical Supply Wing (TSW) running out to refuel the helicopter. |
Left to right: Chinook HC.2 (ZA707 'AO') and Chinook HC.3 (ZH902) of 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing,
Sea King HC.4 (ZA291 'N') of 848 NAS based at RNAS Yeovilton.
Sea King ASaC.7 (XV697 '181') of 849 Naval Air Squadron, all during exercise 'Pashtun Jaguar 11-1' in February 2011. |
AAC Apache AH.1 (ZJ188) with Merlin HC.3 (ZJ130 'O') of 28/78 Squadron during exercise 'Pashtun Jaguar 11-2' in August 2011.
Puma HC.1s (XW212) at the FRP on Salisbury Plain Training Area during exercise 'Pashtun Jaguar 2-11' in August 2011. |
| Apache AH.1 (ZJ176) with 4 Regiment AAC during exercise 'Pashtun Rat' in February 2010. |
| Westland Lynx AH.9 (ZF540) of 9 Regiment AAC, Dishforth at the FRP beside Oshkosh Combat Support Tanker (CST). |
Lynx AH.9s (ZF540, ZG918 and ZG921) of 9 Regiment AAC based at Dishforth at the FRP in February 2010.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ188) in August 2011. |
| Sea King HC.4 (ZA310 'B') of 845 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) Royal Navy. |
| Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZA710) using callsign 'Vortex 424' in February 2016. Vortex 4244 was heard entering the Pennings confined landing area before moving to the nearby Sidbury Hill for another confined landing. They then headed off for Imber Village before calling Salisbury Ops' for Depford Down. When they two boxes were placed together on the grass strip before they departed to the west to circle around and approach from the east and land adjacent to these boxes. This they did four times before collecting the boxes and heading off south. |
| Left to right: H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPH) using callsign 'Gauntlet 32' operated by QinetiQ in November 2020. |
Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ407) using callsign 'Recon 22' with 652 Squadron AAC in November 2020.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ192) callsign 'Panther 81' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron in November 2020.
Bell 412EP Griffin HT1 (G-CBVP formally ZJ708) callsign 'Tester 63' is operated by QinetiQ at MoD Boscombe Down in November 2020.
Chinook HC.5 (ZH899) callsign 'Vortex 399' with 27 Squadron at RAF Odiham in November 2020. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.4 (ZJ119 'C') using callsign 'Commando 510' with Royal Navy 846 NAS based at RNAS Yeovilton in December 2020.
Merlin HM.2 (ZH854 '84' 'Gawaine') using callsign 'Gauntlet 34' with MoD/AFD/QinetiQ at Boscombe Down in January 2016. |
Left to right: Sea King HU.5SAR (ZA137 '820') in 771 Naval Air Squadron markings, it is now operating with QinetiQ at Boscombe Down in September 2015.
Gazelle AH.1 (ZB691 'S') of 671 Squadron (The School of Army Aviation) in September 2015.
Gazelle AH.1 (XX449) using callsign 'Gauntlet 39' with QinetiQ - Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES) at Boscombe Down in January 2016. |
Left to right: Lynx HMA.8SRU (XZ729 'DT-425') using callsign 'Skua 311' from 'HMS Dauntless' 815 RNAS Yeovilton in February 2016.
Gazelle HT.3 (ZB625) using callsign 'Tester 63' with Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down in February 2016.
Westland SA-341C Gazelle HT.2 (XZ939 '9') using callsign 'Tester 73' of Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) in October 2014. |
Gazelle HT.3 (XZ936 '6') callsign 'Tester 07' in November 2011 and Gazelle HT.2 (XZ939 '9') using callsign 'Gauntlet 82' in November 2014 both of of Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS).
Apache AH.1s (callsign 'Radical') in November 2011.
Twilight rendezvous with an Apache AH.1, Lynx AH.7 and Chinook HC.2 (ZA710 'AR') operating with the 7 Squadron - Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW) November 2011. |
Left to right: Agusta-Westland AW-109E Power Elite (QQ100) of Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) it was using callsign 'Tester 79' in December 2012
Agusta A-109E Power (ZE416) using callsign 'Tester 06' of the Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) based at Boscombe Down in October 2014.
AS.365N3 Dauphin (ZJ783) of 8 Flight 658 Squadron AAC based at Credenhill, Hereford in February 2015.
AgustaWestland AW109E Power (G-ETPJ) using callsign 'Tester 90' in March 2020. |
| Mil Mi-8MTV-1 'Hip-H' (ZB698) operated by QinetiQ at Boscombe Down to train Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) pilots. On the day there were a number of sorties, including callsigns 'Cordon 128' and 'Cordon 123', to the landing strip for numerous practice approaches and landings in 2010. |
| Agusta-Westland AW-159 Lynx Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ388) using callsign 'Spear 325' in AAC markings in October 2014. |
Left to right: Merlin HC.3 (ZJ120 'D') was using callsign 'Vortex 782' and for part of its time here was working with an Army Land Rover on 'Vehicle Interdiction' training in December 2012.
Merlin HC.3 (ZJ117 'A') with Royal Navy titles and callsign 'Gauntlet 27' operated by QinetiQ in February 2015.
Lynx AH.7 (XZ651 'O') of 671 Squadron, door open visor down in March 2015.
Lynx AH.7 (XZ642) Operated by 667 Squadron (HQ Director Army Aviation Development and Trials) at Middle Wallop it is fitted with engine exhaust diffusers in February 2015. |
Left to right: Westland Lynx AH.9A (ZG888) using callsign 'Army Air 674' in October 2014.
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ253 '53') callsign 'Army Air 703' in October 2014.
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ249 '49') using callsign 'Army Air 721' in December 2012.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ214) callsign 'Army Air 077' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron in October 2014. |
| Deptford Down - Confined Landing Areas |
| Boeing Chinook HC.2 (ZA679 'AG') of 18/27 Squadron Odiham Wing loading troops during an exercise in April 2009. This location is often used for landing training on an up-slope. |
RAF Chinook HC.2 was transporting troops across Salisbury Plain in April 2009.
Left to right: Chinook HC.2 (ZA679 'AG') of 18/27 Squadron Odiham Wing. |
| Chinook HC.2 (ZA679 'AG') of 18/27 Squadron Odiham Wing loading troops during an exercise. The Chinook HC.2 can carry 33 fully equipped troops. |
| Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ389) using callsign 'Carbon 09' with 652 Squadron AAC in November 2020. |
| Chinook HC.4s (ZA705 'AN' and ZD981) Pegasus Flight of Odiham Wing in January 2016 |
| Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW232) with RAF Benson Wing (33/230 Squadron) in the early morning mist in February 2016. |
Left to right: Gazelle HT.3 (ZB625) with Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) it was using callsign 'Tester 73' in January 2013 and also in August 2013.
Gazelle AH.1 (XZ340) using callsign 'Army Air 744' it is with the 25th Flight BATUS (British Army Training Unit Suffield) and will be back operating in Suffield, Alberta, Canada following a major overhaul, seen on an air test in December 2019. |
| Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA679) with 28 Squadron (Chinook and Puma Operational Conversion Unit) on EvDZ in June 2020. |
Chinook HC.3 (ZH900) of 18/27 Squadron Odiham Wing it was using a 'Vortex' callsign in October 2012, Chinook HC.2A (ZH894) and Chinook HC.4 (ZH776) in January 2014.
Chinook HC.4 (ZD984) using callsign 'Vortex 225' with 28(AC) Squadron, Benson Wing throwing it ('advanced flying' according to comms') around on the DZ in February 2016. |
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Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ178) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. Note the blacked out or 'bagged' rear seat's (pilot's) position using thick plastic sheeting fixed onto the Perspex using Velcro.
'Bag' flights require the new pilot to be able to operate the helicopter using the nose mounted 'Arrowhead' system also known own as Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensors/camera with the symbology in the monocle display on the helmet.
The front seat will be occupied by an instructor. In the hover at around 20 feet, the instructor is de-briefing the previous circuit with the student pilot followed by a lookout turn (usually 180 degrees) before repeating the exercise with another circuit. These flights are a lead in to night flying. |
Apache AH.1 (ZJ211) with 673 (AH Training) Squadron in September 2010.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ197) with 673 (AH Training) Squadron in December 2011.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) with 673 (AH Training) Squadron towards the south-west of the DZ in March 2020.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ204) callsign 'Panther 84' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron in March 2020. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ203) with 673 (AH Training) Squadron over the 'Lollipop' although they said they were approaching the 'Keyhole' in September 2019.
Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ387) with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps based at RNAS Yeovilton in January 2020. |
Lynx AH.7 (XZ196 'T') of 671 Squadron based at Middle Wallop making a practice landing on an sloping surface.
Lynx AH.9A (ZG921) using callsign 'Army Air 003' with 657 Squadron of Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing based at RAF Odiham in January 2017.
Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ969 'K') using callsign 'Army Air 733' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight in October 2019. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) callsign 'Panther 80' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron in February 2020.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ181) callsign 'Award 70' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron in November 2020. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ216) using callsign 'Panther 84' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron, 7 (Training) Regiment based at Middle Wallop in March 2017.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ232) using callsign 'Panther 81' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron in September 2018.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ227) with 673 (AH Training) Squadron in February 2019. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ232) callsign 'Panther 84' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron in June 2015.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ187) callsign 'Panther 80' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. It called up to say making a precautionary landing on the northern edge of the EvDZ due to a low fuel warning preventing it from returning to Middle Wallop. The instructor said it could be the gauge or a fuel leak and an engineering was coming out to them. The student pilot was putting in the safety pins in January 2018.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ185) callsign 'Panther 89' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron in April 2015.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ188) callsign 'Panther 81' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron in October 2018. |
Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ246 '46') of 670 Squadron in December 2011.
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ254 '54') of 670 Squadron in September 2010.
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ252 '52') of 670 Squadron in February 2015.
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ251 '51') of 670 Squadron in November 2011.
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Left to right: Lynx AH.7 (XZ283 'D') of 671 AAC Squadron the School of Army Aviation in November 2011.
Lynx AH.7 (XZ191 'A') of 671 Squadron using callsign 'Redcat 47' in December 2011.
Lynx AH.7 (ZD284 'K') of 671 Squadron in October 2012.
Lynx AH.7 (XZ182 'Z') of 671 Squadron in January 2013. |
Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (XX405) callsign 'Army Air 005' with 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight in September 2019.
Gazelle AH.1 (XZ334) using callsign 'Army Air 841' with 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight in September 2021.
Gazelle AH.1 (XZ334) using callsign 'Army Air 744' with 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight in September 2021. DSLR full-frame sensor + Canon EF 70mm-200mm (168mm) f2.8 L IS Mk.II at 1/50 f11 ISO L with -2/3 exposure compensation. |
Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (XX453) of QinetiQ - Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES) in November 2011.
Gazelle AH.1 (XZ345 'M') of 671 Squadron using callsign 'Army Air 076', on the starboard side the code is displayed upside down as a 'W' in July 2014. |
Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (ZB691 'S') of 671 AAC Squadron (School of Army Aviation) in February 2015.
Gazelle AH.1 (ZB692) with 667 Squadron (HQ Director Army Aviation Development and Trials) at AAC Middle Wallop in February 2017.
Gazelle AH.1 (XZ345 'M') of 671 Squadron using callsign 'Army Air 076', on the starboard side the code is displayed upside down as a 'W' in July 2014.
Gazelle AH.1 (XX405) callsign 'Army Air 74' with 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight in September 2019. |
Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (XX453) with QinetiQ based at Boscombe Down in March 2018.
Gazelle AH.1 (XX453) using callsign 'Tester 05' with QinetiQ in a small valley beside the EvDZ in February 2017.
Gazelle HT.3 (ZB625) with QinetiQ in February 2017. |
Left to right: Airbus Helicopters H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPF) operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the ETPS based at Boscombe Down in January 2020.
H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPF) using callsign 'Tester 07' it is with QinetiQ in January 2019.
H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPG) using callsign 'Gauntlet 38' operated by QinetiQ in June 2020.
H125 Ecureuil (G-ETPE) using callsign 'Gauntlet 37/Boscombe Down 39' operated by QinetiQ based at Boscombe Down in November 2020. |
| Left to right: AgustaWestland AW109E Power (G-ETPI) with QinetiQ at Boscombe Down it was using callsign 'Gauntlet 34' in September 2021. |
Left to right: Sea King HU.5SAR (ZA137 '20') in 771 Naval Air Squadron markings, using callsign 'Gauntlet 34' it is now operating with QinetiQ at Boscombe Down in March 2015.
Agusta Westland 109SP GrandNew (GZ100) using callsign 'Northolt ??' of 32(The Royal) Squadron in the VIP transport role being flight tested on Salisbury Plain in February 2017.
Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZH814) using callsign 'Army Air 731' it was previously based at Seria, Brunei with 7 Flight in October 2020. |
Left to right: Gazelle AH.1s (XX453 and XX449) of QinetiQ - Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES) in November 2011 and March 2014.
Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') of 671 Squadron in November 2011.
Bell 212HP AH.1 (ZJ969 'K') using callsign 'Army Air 735' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight (formally 671 Squadron) in February 2017.
Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') using callsign 'Army Air 731' of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight in March 2020. |
Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ390) using callsign 'Carbon 09' with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps based at RNAS Yeovilton in October 2018.
Lynx AH.7 (XZ176) of 671 Squadron landing on a Stone Age barrow beside the DZ in January 2013.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ207) of 673 (AH Training) Squadron in March 2020. |
| Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW212) using callsign 'Vortex 331' it is pooled with 28, 33 and 230 Squadron in January 2018. |
| Left to right: Lynx AH.9A (ZG918) using callsign 'Army Air 623' with 657 Squadron of Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing based landing on a Stone Age barrow beside the DZ in January 2017. |
| Left to right: Chinook HC.6A (ZA720) using callsign 'Vortex 434' with 27 Squadron in January 2020. |
| 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, winch training at the north western end in January 2020. |
| Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZA712 'W') using callsign 'Vortex 440' of 18(B) Squadron in 100 years Anniversary scheme at the foot of Sidbury Hill in August 2016. |
| West Everleigh Down - Area 20 |
| Apache AH.1 (ZJ193) callsign 'Panther 82' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron in February 2016. |
| Apache AH.1 (ZJ193) callsign 'Panther 82' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron based at AAC Middle Wallop. In Feburary 2016 it was conducting general handling in this area for 50 minutes, including landing on a slope in all four directions. |
| Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ520) using callsign 'Recon 22' with 652 Squadron AAC based at RNAS Yeovilton in January 2020. |
Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight, USL training in March 2020.
Puma HC.2 (XW204 'B') using callsign 'Vortex 331' with Benson Pool (28/33/230 squadron), USL training in March 2020. |
| Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ178) callsign 'Panther 84' with 673 (AH Training) Squadron in June 2019. |
| Left to right: Chinook HC.5 (ZH901) callsign 'Vortex 590' with 18(B) Squadron from RAF Odiham and 2 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps during USL training in May 2019. |
Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ?) callsign 'Panther 81' of 673 (AH Training) Squadron. It has a 'bagged' (blacked out) rear seat as it lands near to sheep who don't seem bothered on West Everleigh in January 2018.
Chinook HC.4 (ZA710) using callsign 'Vortex 590' with 28 Squadron the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit based at RAF Benson, they are doing underslung loads training on West Everleigh in January 2018. |
| Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ245 '45') using callsign 'AA729' of 670 (Training) Squadron at West Everleigh - Area 20 working with underslung loads in August 2016. |
| Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM417) using callsign 'Comet 451' with 206 Squadron in March 2020. |
Apache AH.1s (ZJ172, ZJ193 and ZJ202) of 663 Squadron AAC based at Wattisham deployed at Netheravon as part of exercise Pashtun Jaguar in January 2011.
Chinook HC.2 (ZA714 'AV') of 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing, Joint Helicopter Command, it has a 'Chinook 30 years' special tail in August 2011. |
Chinook HC.3 (ZH902) operated by 18/27 Squadron of Odiham Wing on the Joint Helicopter Command on the ground at Netheravon in January 2011.
Sea King HC.4 (ZF120 'Z') of 845/846 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton in January 2011.
Apache AH.1 (ZJ197) in August 2011. |
| Eurocopter AS.532UL Cougar (T-342) of Swiss Air Force. |
| Swiss Air Force AS.532UL Cougars and Royal Norwegian Air Force Bell 412SPs operated from Knook Camp to fly to Copehill Down during Exercise Virgo in January 2016. |
Some basic guidelines for photography within the SPTA
Public access is allowed on 75% of the SPTA and is governed by local bye-laws. Take notice of the MoD signs and Red Flags which indicate areas that are unsafe to enter. You must not drive more than 12 feet from the road on to grass areas and you must not block military vehicle crossing areas which are clearly marked. Landmarc Wardens and MoD Police frequently patrol the SPTA.
Away from public roads photography of sensitive military hardware can be prohibited, the SPTA Wardens and MoD Police will respond to reports of such activity. On occasions helicopter pilots will fly for the camera, especially after their training has ended. If they move way from you, do not follow them around the area, be patient and unobtrusive.
Some key points:
1. Observe the bye-laws, signs and red flags.
2. Do not walk or stand on an airstrip (cut grass area) or landing area, stay on public byways.
3. Do not park on byways or block military vehicle crossings.
4. Do not drive on non-ability or closed roads, tracks or bridle ways. |
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