Salisbury Plain Training Area

[michaelh]

Afternoon all,

Given the rather poor weather recently and our lack of flying, I thought I'd continue with another set of photos. These were taken on the SPTA in Southern England near Stonehenge, used widely for exercises and a good place to catch helicopters in their element.

These were taken on 2 visits to the area. The first on a regular day on Deptford Down strip, the other during a Pashtun exercise work-up prior to deployment to the sandpit, at one of the Forward Aircraft Refuelling Points (FARP).

Enjoy.





























FARP





























Thanks,

Michael

[Andy Wright]

Very cool, mate.

What's with the "QinitiQ on some of the a/c?

[flyjoe180]

Really great Photos, cheers. Those Apaches are looking rather rough.

[Bruce]

Jul 14, 2011 14:19:57 GMT 12 Andy Wright said:

Very cool, mate.

What's with the "QinitiQ on some of the a/c?

QinitiQ (Pronounced "Kinetic") is the trendy name for the former Defence research establishment, now semi -privatised with BAe a major shareholder. The Empire Test Pilots school is now part of it.

[Andy Wright]

Ah, thanks, mate. Was going to google it and edit my original post but flitted to the next shiny thing before I got the chance.

[Ykato]

Thanks for Posting

[Fletcher400]

Nice shots! Been a while since been down to the 'devils half acre'

[DragonflyDH90]

Absolutely love the Chinook shots.
I saw a Chinook display at a Duxford airshow quite a few years back, low cloud base and very high humidity so vortices of the blades all the time, and it was one of the most impressive heli displays I have ever seen. Ultra maneuverable.

Remember seeing the British Army Heli Aerobatic team (Blue Eagles) Lynx doing loops and rolls with the Gazelles in formation, brilliant display as well (Elvington Airshow - York).

[stereoimage]

I love those Merlin and Lynx helicopters...
Great photos mate!

[michaelh]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Qinetiq is as mentioned above, and based at Boscombe Down which is a stones throw from the 'Plain. It's quite common to see their rotary elements using the area, including the Mil-17s that managed to elude me so well!

I think I'll have a rummage through for some Harrier shots now. Definitely sorely missed.

Michael