North Weald Diary 2019

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 933

This year is the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Norwegian Air Force in November 1944 as an independent part of the armed forces. It had previously been split between the Norwegian Army Air Service and Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service.

Chief of The Royal Norwegian Air Force, Major General Tonje Skinnarland, accompanied by Norway's Military Attaché to the UK and members of 331 and 332 Squadrons, visited the Airfield today to mark this significant anniversary. 331 and 332 Squadrons served at North Weald from May 1942 until March 1944, when they joined the 2nd Tactical Air Force.

The General laid a wreath at the Norwegian Obelisk at the Debt of Honour Memorial as part of a commemorative ceremony along with the EFDC and Parish Council Chairmen and W/Cdr Matt Fleckney of 56 Squadron. An Aero Legends Spitfire TD314 also performed a flypast overhead.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%201-1000_zpszmuoiwah.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%202-1000_zps6c6wra0h.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%203-1000_zpso1xfxvlb.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%205A-1000_zpsbhjhhyhb.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%204-1000_zpsvp8x5bfn.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%205-1000_zpskoeguave.jpg

The party then proceeded to the Little Norway revetment at The Squadron where the Spitfire was parked for them to admire and take a closer look, guided by its pilot Tony Parkinson.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%2012-1000_zpsobfezi7t.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%206-1000_zpsmsuji1oq.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%207-1000_zpsx98c3psz.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%208-1000_zpsrxwcucfe.jpg

After a further floral tribute was laid at the Norwegian Stone, paintings of the 331 Squadron ‘Star of Stone’ Spitfire, BL637, were presented to the delegation by Geoff Berriman. He has been instrumental in getting a memorial dedicated for its pilot Karl Jacobsen in his home town of Stone in Staffordshire, which raised £5,000 to buy the Spitfire by public donations at The Star Inn during 1941. It was shot down over France on 19 June 1942 while flying from North Weald.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%209-1000_zpsn7eghr1z.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Norway%2010-1000_zpspm8vs1e3.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Noway%2011-1000_zps4uo2wqbs.jpg

It was an honour for us to greet such distinguished guests back on their old home Airfield once again.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 933

The MiG 17 was also outside and a Scout and Wasp were continuing with air tests

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/MiG-1000_zpslgv8ybo3.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Heli%201-1000_zpsqsikghy5.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Heli%202-1000_zps83aivrcx.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Heli%203-1000_zpsynrpcq2q.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Heli%204-1000_zpstwzvdujq.jpg

Member for

17 years 10 months

Posts: 3,778

Great update YR, one question, is that new emergency services helicopter base on the dead side IE east side of the airfield adjacent to 20-02?

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 933

It lets out onto the Bravo 4 taxiway so is nearer to Runway 12/30. It is on the other side of the peri track from Hangar 4a, where the Gnats are based

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 933

Sycamore, quite right, it's the Bravo 3 taxiway! Nice to see you again the other day for a chat. Not on hols, actually a swap, so 8-days on and 7-days off. I came in for the Norwegians as I'm the Airfield Press Officer, so I have to cover special events – photos for the newsletter, this site and Facebbok. I had also done a special two profile print which was presented to 132 Wing for their new mess, which was nice and I also got to meet Geoff from the 'Star of Stone' project, I had spoken to him several times on the phone before. The lunch courtesy of the Norwegians, was a bonus. Back to work tomorrow and counting the days!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 933

On Monday 5 August the MiG 15UTI flew in from Hawarden. It has a revised scheme and will be using North Weald as a base over the summer. Its next display is at Eastbourne along with thge T-133.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/MiG%201-1000_zpsajjvdmb1.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/MiG%202-1000_zpsu6rt9s08.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Mig%203-1000_zpsx20hehe4.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/MiG%204-1000_zpstcr0atdu.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/MiG%205-1000_zpsbgso2pn4.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/MiG%206-1000_zpshiphlbtg.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/MiG%207-1000_zpsx6j1cf8q.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/MiG%208-1000_zpsmdw9tqa4.jpg

Member for

17 years 10 months

Posts: 3,778

Love the 15's new adornments, thanks YR

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 933

On Sunday afternoon C-47 Drag-Em-Oot returned from Headcorn

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/DEO%20-1000_zpsxv7yaxj4.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/DEO%202-1000_zpse853cjve.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/DEO%203-1000_zpst7qblgdi.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/DEO%204-1000_zpszmhqsuaf.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/DEO%205-1000_zps0q3hi8yc.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/DEO%206-1000_zpsj0fgp6gv.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/DEO%207-1000_zpskzvgx6kb.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/DEO%208-1000_zpsdtsac3ld.jpg

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

What’s the story behind the MiG’s new scheme?

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 933

On Thursday two ex-Omani Strikemasters – G-SOAF and G-RSAF – arrived from Exeter.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Strike%201-1000_zpsjev2jcw5.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Strike%202-1000_zpsd9aizvkw.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Strike%203-1000_zpsmszfeeje.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Strike%204-1000_zpsmzqhavxf.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Strike%205-1000_zpsmyope5xw.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Strike%206-1000_zpsphxxckov.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Strike%207-1000_zps8wtx1gvm.jpg

Later G-SOAF went off to display at Eastbourne.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/SOAF%201-1000_zpsn6eagvle.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/SOAF%202-1000_zpsmr9rv2dy.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/SOAF%203-1000_zps17fthyte.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/SOAF%204-1000_zpsg8ths0eo.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/SOAF%205-1000_zpszifucwwh.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/SOAF%206-1000_zps4ar2h0qd.jpg

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 933

We had CJ-6A Nanchang G-CJSA in for some maintenance on Thursday as well. It has a new Sri Lankan Air Force scheme.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Nanchang%201-1000_zps2qlkbsjt.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Nanchang%202-1000_zpsgk1mytnk.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Nanchang%203-1000_zpsv5n4ogez.jpg

Westland Wasp, G-RIMM, went off to Fenland.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Wasp%201-1000_zpswdpfnjol.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Wasp%202-1000_zpsrn9v4jsj.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/Wasp%203-1000_zpspwmvsw94.jpg

Today, Friday, it was the turn of Strikemaster G-RSAF to display at Eastbourne.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/RSAF%201-1000_zpsvykcktz9.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/RSAF%202-1000_zps7u5ucbi6.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/RSAF%203-1000_zpsykseobia.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/RSAF%204-1000_zpsc5unccpa.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/RSAF%205-1000_zpsb7htplar.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/June%20and%20July%202019/RSAF%206-1000_zps4vkksu39.jpg

Member for

6 years

Posts: 18

I thought I saw someone with a camera. Quite a sporty crosswind...

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 1,122

Some shots of the Norwegians earlier today. Seems they had a local flight this morning, which is annoying as the Saturday market opens up more viewing on the eastern side and it would have been very good for photos had I known.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48559657782_6dc42059d5_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48559657677_6956080792_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48559657612_aa40709893_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48559519036_0c331e9160_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48559657462_e1a0ea8480_h.jpg

Strikemaster shots were poor due to clutter, cloud cover and not paying attention when they returned, so will try again for those tomorrow.

I wish the Norwegians would operate from Weald Aviation.

Member for

14 years 9 months

Posts: 699

Are there any aeronautical events at NW? I get the impression the answer is no.

Regards

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

Yep, really hoping to get to that one.

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 1,122

Some shots from today - massive thanks to YakRider and the airfield ops team for making them possible. More emphasis on the Strikemasters today, because there was cloud cover every time the Norwegians moved.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48568798787_c440328036_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48568798742_b44ce45d2a_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48568653391_ad81f2472f_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48568653361_b14e64d613_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48568653221_7fb7c4ee87_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48568653146_a23bd650e2_h.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48568798217_af33749faf_h.jpg

Member for

14 years 9 months

Posts: 699

JetFest is on next month - https://www.facebook.com/JetFestNorthWeald/

If you're not on Facebook there isn't much info there. I gather from posts on here that this is a ticket only affair and the implication of your post is that this is the only NW event and it isn't CAA approved.