Let me be entirely up-front. I am an aviation journo, and I have a few Islander loose ends that I'd like to tie up. I don't have the four months that would be necessary to get answers 'through channels'. I'd hope that nothing I'm asking is classified or restricted, which is why there are no questions on roles, tactics, the current op deployment, the new Defenders' fit, or about the Northolt cabs.
Army Islanders
Can anyone give an unclass. idea of the Army Islander AL.Mk 1's equipment fit? Jane's have listed AN/ALQ-144, 'a Lockheed Martin IRCM suite', and a recce fit with a door-mounted Zeiss 610 camera, a vertical Zeiss Trilens 80 mm and a second vertical camera fit, consisting of an F126, or a Zeiss RMK or two KS-153 cameras, or a Vinten F143 panoramic camera. I'm told that this camera fit info in Jane's came straight off a display board at an IAT some years ago, so presumably that, at least, is unclass.
Is it true that the single AFWF Islander has âjoined its brethren with No.1 Flight at RAF Aldergroveâ? When did this happen?
What will happen to the Islanders at RAF Aldergrove when Op Banner ends in August 07?
Army Defenders
What is the operating unit for the three new Defender AL1s? Is it 651 Squadron? Is 651 notionally at Odiham?
Are they any good? Are the Hairy Arm Corps pleased with them?
(There's a nice picture of one at
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b213/Battery1973/_MG_7504web.jpg
'Civilian' Army Islanders
Why did some of the civil-registered aircraft used by military sports parachute clubs also allocated military serials? (The RAF Sports Parachute Association's BN-2T G-DIVE was ZB503, for example, and G-WOTG was ZF444. Why? Were there any others?)
Misc.UK Military Islanders
What radar did the 'Platypus' ASTOR Islander (G-DLRA/ZG989) use? Why did the aircraft then get a spherical radome like the AEW Defender? Change of radar to Skymaster? What does it have now, and what's it being used for?
Who was the AEW Islander/Defender aimed at? Did anyone here have anything to do with its shipboard trials (I've only seen a photo of it on the boat and know no details)?
If anyone would like to read the draft, I'll happily get a copy e-mailed to them.
Army Islanders
Can anyone give an unclass. idea of the Army Islander AL.Mk 1's equipment fit? Jane's have listed AN/ALQ-144, 'a Lockheed Martin IRCM suite', and a recce fit with a door-mounted Zeiss 610 camera, a vertical Zeiss Trilens 80 mm and a second vertical camera fit, consisting of an F126, or a Zeiss RMK or two KS-153 cameras, or a Vinten F143 panoramic camera. I'm told that this camera fit info in Jane's came straight off a display board at an IAT some years ago, so presumably that, at least, is unclass.
Is it true that the single AFWF Islander has âjoined its brethren with No.1 Flight at RAF Aldergroveâ? When did this happen?
What will happen to the Islanders at RAF Aldergrove when Op Banner ends in August 07?
Army Defenders
What is the operating unit for the three new Defender AL1s? Is it 651 Squadron? Is 651 notionally at Odiham?
Are they any good? Are the Hairy Arm Corps pleased with them?
(There's a nice picture of one at
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b213/Battery1973/_MG_7504web.jpg
'Civilian' Army Islanders
Why did some of the civil-registered aircraft used by military sports parachute clubs also allocated military serials? (The RAF Sports Parachute Association's BN-2T G-DIVE was ZB503, for example, and G-WOTG was ZF444. Why? Were there any others?)
Misc.UK Military Islanders
What radar did the 'Platypus' ASTOR Islander (G-DLRA/ZG989) use? Why did the aircraft then get a spherical radome like the AEW Defender? Change of radar to Skymaster? What does it have now, and what's it being used for?
Who was the AEW Islander/Defender aimed at? Did anyone here have anything to do with its shipboard trials (I've only seen a photo of it on the boat and know no details)?
If anyone would like to read the draft, I'll happily get a copy e-mailed to them.