Royal Air Force Northolt
Previously Based Aircraft

Aircraft residents of the last 25 years
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HS125-CC1/2 Andover Devon Gazelle Whirlwind
Others/Civil  Aircraft WFU  Gate guard Basset Wessex 
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Hawker Siddeley Andover
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Andover CC2 XS794 on the Northolt ramp (ML)


Serial  Model  C/No Arrived Fate 
XS597 Andover C1 1575/Set 4  1976  op by 60 Sqn late 80's/early 90's,  ret to 32 Sqn 04/82 . Noted carrying 'Burandan Airways' titles for a film on 13/12/79. Stored at Shawbury by 1994, to G-BVNJ/3D-ATS. 
XS637 Andover C1 Set 21  ex 60sqn 04/92 to Shawbury store mid 1992, then G-BVNK/9Q-CJJ
XS639 Andover E3A Set 23  04/09/75 to 115 sqn for a long period, ret to 32 Sqn, noted May '92 still in 115 sqn scheme, noted in open storage 12/93,  finally dep 13/07/94 to 1 SoTT Cosford as an instructional frame. 
XS643 Andover E3A Set 27  ex 115sqn mid '92   noted May '92 in 115 sqn scheme, became the first Andover repainted in the grey scheme in September 1192, finally to A&AEE 06/06/94
XS644 Andover E3A  Set 28 mid 1992 noted May '92 in red 115sqn scheme, repainted in light grey scheme between 22/2/93 and 31/3/93, noted 1/6/94 and dep 14/06/94 as VR-BOI to Kenya.
XS789 Andover CC2 1561  Aug '86 ex TQF first CC2 to be repainted in grey scheme by Lovaux at Bournemouth, arriving back 18/2/93. Retired 31/03/95 TT14,847 hours, dep to Southend 21/4, to D2-MAG/9L-LBF 
XS790 Andover CC2 1562  ex TQF to DRA Boscombe Down
XS791 Andover CC2 1563 1976  noted in open storage 12/93, wings removed and departed by road 22/3/95, to St Athan 1/94, eventually to Bruntingthorpe
XS792 Andover CC2  1564  . retired 31/03/95, to G-BVZS rgd 8/3/95, to Arch Aviation, Nairobi then 5Y-IAK
XS793 Andover CC2  1565  08/87 ex TQF held in open storage near the tower 10/92 following a heavy landing in Germany whilst operating for CinC, RAFG, dep to 2 SoTT at Cosford 23/04/93 as 'RRR726' , serial '9178M'
XS794 Andover CC2  1566  . noted in open storage 11/93, retired 31/03/95 TT12,772 hrs, dep to Sourhend 21/4, to D2-MAF/9L-LBG 
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The CC2 was basically a HS748, whereas the C1/E3 was a stretched version. The Andover was withdrawn from service at Northolt on 31st March 1995 with a flypast of XS789 and XS792 using the callsign 'Blue Formation'.During 1992, XS639, XS643 and XS644 were used by the Falcons parachute display team, in the red 115 sqn scheme, while being described as 'a 115 sqn aircraft crewed by 32 sqn'! When XS643 and 644 were repainted into the grey scheme the Falcons appeared to prefer to use 639 due to it's high visibility.
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Andover C1 XS597 pictured in it's 60 Sqn days, although
the 32sqn scheme was the same except for the tail emblem (ML)

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Hawker Siddeley HS125-CC1
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XW788 in the original scheme and engines (ML)
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Serial Model C/No Delivered Notes
XW788  HS125-CC1A 25255  20/04/71 sold as G-BVTP rgd 15/09/94 
XW789  HS125-CC1A 25264  07/04/71 converted to CC1A 30/11/82-07/03/83 . Sold as G-BVTR rgd 15/09/94 
XW790  HS125-CC1A 25266  18/05/71 noted grey by mid October '91, sold as G-BVTS rgd 15/09/94 
XW791  HS125-CC1A 25268  27/05/71 converted to CC1A  20/12/82-16/03/83 . Repainted in grey scheme by Lovaux 20th Feb- 11th Apr '91-Sold as G-BVTT rgd 15/09/94
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The above aircraft were HS125-400 series, designated -CC1. They were converted to CC1A standard by the replacement of the original Viper engines with TFE731's during the early 1980's. They were delivered in the white scheme as mentioned above. The engines were silver but the replacement TFE731's were painted white with a dark blue line. All four aircraft were later painted in the grey scheme and remained as such until sale. They were retired on 31/3/94 and all departed to Luton 31/08/94 for conversion to series 400A models by MAGEC Aviation, being registered to the Aero Toy Store (UK) before sale to the USA.

The following HS125-400's were leased pending arrival of ordered aircraft :
 

Serial Model C/No Arrived Notes
XX505  HS125-CC1 25252  09/72 Sold as G-BAZB,  dep 30/4/73 
XX506 HS125-CC1 25271  09/72 Sold as G-BABL,  dep  05/73
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These aircraft were operated in the full white scheme and they both departed Northolt days after the arrival of -CC2's XX507 and XX508.
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Hawker Siddeley HS125-CC2
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XX508 at Northolt before conversion to CC2A standard (ML)
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Serial  Model  C/no Delivered  Notes
XX507  Ba125-CC2A 6006 24/04/73 converted to CC2A 3/83, repainted into grey scheme 31/3/93 to 1/6/93, noted grey 03/97. Departed Northolt at 1742hrs on 13/11/98 as N606TS to Aero Toy Store of Ft Lauderdale, Florida
XX508  Ba125-CC2A  6008  27/04/73  repainted grey 1/6/93 to 8/93. Noted grey 03/97.  Was retired from service in April 1998 and advertised for sale in Filght Intl 12/08/98. Sold to World Jet inc as N256WJ and departed Northolt to Keflavik at 1736 on 23/09/98.
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Actually HS125-600 models, these aircraft were delivered as -CC2's in a white colourscheme and dark blue cheat line. The engines were silver (see photo).

They were converted to CC2A's with replacement TFE731 engines which were white with a dark blue line, continuing the cheat line. The aircraft were later  painted light grey with a light blue cheat line.
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This advert appeared in Flight International dated 12th August 1998. The aircraft was consequently sold and departed as N256WJ as pictured below (JB)
 
 

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Westland Wessex HCC4
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32sqn Wessex on short finals to runway 25 (ML)

A VIP equipped version of the Westland Wessex.  These aircraft were replaced in spring 1998 with Sikorsky SK76 G-XXEA operated by Air Hanson, based at Blackbushe and flown in if required, although this is now a rare event.
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Serial Model C/No Arrived Notes
XV732
Wessex HCC4
WA627
Ex Benson 03/95
wfu 27/3/98, engines removed, then trucked to Shawbury store 28/4/98
XV733   Wessex HCC4 WA628 Ex Benson 03/95 flew to Shawbury store 13/3/98 as 'RRR727'
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Westland Gazelle HCC4
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XW855 pictured with Andover XS597 in the background (JB)
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A single engined utility helicopter built by Westland at Yeovil from a design by Aerospatiale of France, seating up to four persons.  Gazelles were based from the mid 1970's to the mid 1990's. Present during that period were:
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Serial Model C/No Arrived Notes
XW852  Gazelle HCC4 1024 09/11/81 arrived in CFS colours coded 'A'
XW855  Gazelle HCC4 1050 07/05/76 .
XZ935  Gazelle HCC4 1742 10/09/80 .
ZB629  Gazelle HCC4  2010 24/05/84 .
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The Gazelles were delivered as HT3's and subsequently converted to HCC4's. All the above aircraft departed to storage at RNAY Fleetlands mid 1996. Northolt held the unusual distinction of operating the oldest (XW852) and the newest aircraft (ZB629) in the RAF fleet, together.
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The following FTS aircraft were based for a short period in preparation for the arrival of the based aircraft:
XX406/P         Gazelle HT3                     Arr 7/3/76
XW898/G       Gazelle HT3                     Arr 7/4/76
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