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ISSUE 509 - November 2017
Over 9,000 Total Ads Listed
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| London Jet Noise - Part II |
By Kevin Moore, Contributing
Editor & Photographer
Watford, Ontario, Canada |
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| The USAF Eagle was one of the aircraft we had a look at last week. |
| Last week we visited Airshow London 2017, having a look at an assortment of aircraft that attended the airshow such as the 2017 Demonstration CF-18 Hornet, the US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, the USAF F-15 Eagle and several other aircraft. These aircraft made up a long list of assorted jet aircraft that were a major part of the airshow. However, the jet noise didn't stop with them! |
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| The F-22 Raptor arriving at London International Airport in preparation for the airshow. |
| The USAF also had their F-22 Raptor on hand for the show. Built by Lockheed Martin, the F-22 is a fifth generation, all-weather stealth fighter with ground attack, signal intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities. It entered service with the USAF in 2005 with the last F-22 built and delivered in 2012. The USAF is the only military in the world that operates the F-22 and it is considered as being unmatched by any other aircraft. |
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| The F-16 Fighting Falcon continues to serve the US military including the USAF and US ANG as well as with the USAF Thunderbirds. |
| The USAF also sent their iconic F-16 Fighting Falcon, escorted to London International Airport by 2 RCAF CF-18 Hornets. The F-16, designed & built by General Dynamics, has operated with the USAF since 1978 and serves with many different air forces around the world. Though officially called the "Fighting Falcon," it is more commonly known as the "Viper." The F-16 is capable of withstanding 9Gs, with a full load of fuel. It has a superb all-round bubble canopy for superior views outside the cockpit, has a fly-by-wire flight control system, operated with a side-stick, and has the best combat radius of any current threat fighter aircraft available. |
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| The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation combat aircraft that is now seeing service in the USAF, US Navy, US Marines and other military forces. |
| The F-35 Lightning II is a single engine, all-weather single-seat multi-role stealth, fifth-generation combat aircraft. It has the capability to perform both air superiority and ground combat missions, depending on the specific requirement. The first F-35s saw service with the US Marines, entering service in 2015, followed by the USAF in 2016. The US Military has plans to purchase more than 2600 F-35s, in its variants, through to 2037 with the aircraft having a potential projected service life seeing them operate until 2070. Many militaries have shown an interest, or have purchased the F-35, including the UK, Australia, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands. Though Canada has been part of the development of the F-35, the Canadian government have yet to make a final decision as to whether or not the F-35 fits the full requirement as a replacement of the legacy CF-18 Hornet the RCAF currently operates. |
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| The venerable de Havilland Canada Buffalo still serves the RCAF in a Search & Rescue role out of CFB Comox on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. |
| Slowing things down a bit we turn our sights on an aircraft that has served the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Air Force since 1965, the de Havilland of Canada DHC-4, CC-115 Buffalo. Designed as a STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) utility transport, the Buffalo has extremely short STOL capabilities, especially for an aircraft of its size, rivaling those of many light aircraft. The Buffalo was developed based on a requirement for the US Army, with an order for four aircraft in 1963. The Canadian military purchased 15 Buffalo aircraft to be used as tactical transport aircraft with 429 Squadron. In 1970 the Buffalo was transferred to a role in rescue with 442, 413 and 424 Squadrons, operating as part of Transport Command. In 1979, three Buffalo aircraft were deployed to the Middle East on UN Missions. Though the Buffalo has been replaced by the CC-130 Hercules in a Search & Rescue role at both CFB Trenton, ON and at CFB Greenwood, NS, it still operates in a SAR role with 442 Sqn at CFB Comox, B.C. |
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| The CT-155 Hawk and CT-156 Harvard II serve the Royal Canadian Air Force in training roles. After graduating from the Hawk, pilots go on to fly other RCAF aircraft. |
| Three training aircraft of the RCAF were also in attendance and performed several passes, the CT-155 Hawk and the CT-156 Harvard II. The Harvard II is the Royal Canadian Air Forces NATO Flying Training (basic training) aircraft with an impressive rate of climb and a fully pressurized cockpit. The aircraft and flying program is designed to allow a relatively seamless transition from the Harvard II to the students next stage of flying in the Hawk. The CT-155 Hawk is a fully modernised jet fighter training aircraft that offers pilots similar flight experiences to that of frontline fighters. Once fighter pilot trainees graduate from their flight training in the Hawk, they are then ready to move up to flying the CF-188 Hornet at the RCAFs Operational Training Unit, 410 Sqn. |
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| The A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" strikes fear into the hearts of any enemy facing its arsenal of weapons, especially the massive 30mm cannon out front. |
| Though not the fastest aircraft in the US military arsenal of aircraft, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, more commonly known as the "Warthog," is certainly a highly revered, combat-proven aircraft. From its superb low-speed manoeuverability, near frontline landing capability and wide combat radius, the A-10 can operate in virtually any conditions, night or day, assisting ground forces whenever and wherever needed. The Warthog can carry a wide variety of weapons including cluster, general purpose and laser guided bombs, joint direct attack munitions (JDAM), wind corrected munitions, Maverick and Sidewinder missiles, illumination flares, rockets and, probably its most well known weapon, the GAU-8/A 30mm cannon which is capable of firing 3900 rounds per minute. |
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| The RCAF Heritage Flight with the 2017 CF-18 Demonstration Hornet and the de Havilland Vampire, left, and the USAF Heritage Flight with the F-35 Lightning II and the P-51 Mustang, right. |
| Two different Heritage Flights took place during the show including one of the Royal Canadian Air Force 2018 Demonstration CF-18 Hornet and the de Havilland Vampire, showing off the first jet fighter aircraft the RCAF flew with the 'newest' jet fighter. The second Heritage Flight combined the F-35 Lightning II with the venerable North American P-51D Mustang, "Bald Eagle." These two Heritage formations were a highlight for many in the crowd, combining old and new in the sky together. |
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| The US Navy also sent two workhorse aircraft to the airshow, the Grumman C-2 Greyhound, left and the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye, right. |
| The US Navy Grumman C-2 Greyhound is utilised as a cargo, mail and passenger carrying aircraft, primarily used for carrier operations, providing logistic support to strike groups of the US Navy. The E-2 Hawkeye, with a similar airframe, is utilised in a very different role with a 24' diameter radar rotodome, attached to the upper fuselage. It is designed for airborne battle management, command and control functions for the Carrier Strike Group for the US Navy as well as for Joint Force Command. It also provides other mission operations and operates from US aircraft carriers. |
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| For our final review of Airshow London, we'll look at Canadian aerobatic pilot, Pete McLeod and his Edge 540, left, who put on another great display and the Canadian Forces SkyHawks parachute display team, right, who added some colour to the London skies. |
| Next week we'll return to London one last time and see what else graced the line up, flying and static, of Airshow London 2017. Included in those acts are the amazing Canadian Forces Skyhawks Parachute Display Team, Canadian Red Bull racer and aerobatic pilot, Pete McLeod, Royal Australian Air Force KC-10 flying tanker, US ANG C-130 Hercules, the RCAF Canadian Forces Snowbirds and more. |
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Looking bright and shiny in the early morning light,
the RCAF CC-115 de Havilland Buffalo along the static line up. |
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| The F-35 Lightning II in a high speed pass. |
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| The RCAF utilises the CT-156 Harvard II for initial pilot training. |
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The USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon turning and burning, left.
The Canadian Forces, RCAF Snowbirds, right. |
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Another look at the RCAF Heritage Flight with
the "Canada 150" RCAF Demo Hornet and the de Havilland Vampire. |
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P-51 Mustang, Bald Eagle, participated in the USAF Heritage Flight,
along with the USAF F-35 Lightning II. |
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Next week we'll have a look at the USAF ANG C-130 Hercules,
among other aircraft still to review. |
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