Kip Dawson

Thanks Hakan The Terminators were a very pleasant surprise, they weren't taking part in the exercise. They arrived on the Thursday morning, put on static display in the spotters area, and then departed late Friday morning. We spoke to the 'boss' of 111 Filo who confirmed that they would be taking part in the Anatolian Eagle Exercise at Konya starting 8th June with between 6 and 10 jets !! Have to say that the base looked after the spotters very well and the local people at our hotel and the restaurants in Konya were all very friendly. Now a few more photos...... Some more from the host nation 68-01608 93-0658 And some of the Foreign participants.. One for Pieter... T-264 From France 119 113-IX 347 113-FN From Poland 4052 4040 From Italy MM81156 9-56 Hope you enjoy Kip

Very fortunate to spend two days at the recent Nato Tiger Meet at Konya in Turkey. Due to the current world situation and some other european military exercises a number of Tiger Squadrons didn't attend but the the upside was more Turkish airforce participation The host nation sent 10 Tigers, with two in full tiger marks 192 Filo 88-0014 92-0014 92-0005 Based aircraft ............. 13-002 3049 93-0687 94-080 And two very special visitors...... 73-1021 73-1046 Hope you like........ Kip

Many thanks Peter for the info on Wells Fargo, their name does seem to crop up a lot in the aviation world. Unfortunately my previous post (on 1st Jan) terminated prematurely when I tried to 'preview' to see if the image had loaded correctly. So here is the rest.................... I have been spending another family holiday on the stunning island of Langkawi and would like to post a few 'holiday snaps' starting with a couple of residents 9M-HMW DA-40 9M-TSC DA-42 Twinstar A Weststar AW139 was noted daily during our 3 week stay........... are there oil rigs nearby? 9M-WAR Some of the regulars 9M-FIB 9M-MLP 9V-SLN 9M-AFV 9M-LMH 9M-AFY 9M-LNG 9V-TJR Now the visiters............. 9M-CAL Learjet 60.............on radar calibration duties HS-JAA IAI Galaxy or Gulfstream G200............... made several visits 9M-IAG Cirrus SR20 N9401S PC-12...............only seen military versions of this before and talking of military...........this made a couple of visits M53-01 N1188U N18CJ Gulfstream IV............. also registered with Wells Fargo A first for me..... a SCAT Airlines charter UP-B7502 Hope you enjoy Kip

Think I can help out on this one............... I was on Pantai Cenang on the 14th, and saw the same aircraft as you, as my photo shows this aircraft moving from a different direction, I guess you must have been on Rebak Marina. The aircraft was N188TL Citiation C680 belonging to the Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, and was one of at least 3 of their jets to visit Langkawi during December. Happy New Year to all MWingers around the globe. I have been spending another family Xmas holiday on the stunning island of Langkawi and would like to post a few 'holiday' snaps, starting with a couple of the residents.... 9M-HMW DA-40

It crashed while uploading, so hopefully this the full post !!!!! Last weekend 7 intrepid aviation enthusiasts from the UK undertook a 900 mile road trip to the Dutch airbase at Volkel. It is a long way to go for "chips and mayo" but it has to be done at least once a year !! The weather was changeable to say the least with wind, rain, and sun, but all in all a great day out and here's some of what the host nation put on............... there were also aircraft from 20 other nations !!!! Starting with the static......... The appropriately marked Apache A couple of specially marked F-16's from Leeuwarden Navy helicopters new and old A particular favourite of mine.......... the Starfighter !! Now the flyers............ Air Power Demo And then came the flares............. That's only the home team, if you want to see what the other nations brought to the party....................... Regards Kip

Last weekend 7 intrepid aviation enthusiasts from the UK undertook a 900 mile road trip to the Dutch airbase at Volkel. It is a long way to go for "chips and mayo" but it has to be done at least once a year !! The weather was changeable to say the least with wind, rain, and sun, but all in all a great day out and here's some of what the host nation put on............... there were also aircraft from 20 other nations !!!! Starting with the static......... The appropriately marked Apache

Excellent catch. This aircraft MC-130P "Combat Shadow" 69-5831 was based for several years in the UK with the 67 SOS at RAF Mildenhall. Interestingly this unit has just received it's first "Combat Shadow" replacement in the shape of MC-130J "Commando II" 10-5714. Regards Kip

And here she is departing LGK for KUL....... A few other snaps taken during our stay 9M-TAG 9M-PSN Polis Cessna 208 9M-AFM EC-KOM departing for Stockholm OH-LTT departing for Helsinki M44-04 returning after one of the sky diver drops M44-07 with painted tail M48-02 Best wishes to all for the new year. Regards Kip

Sharklet aircraft 9M- AQQ already been in and out this morning.......so if doing the same routing should be back around lunchtime. Very anonymous all white BBJ departed a short while ago, presume this is one you saw. It's reg is B- LEX owned by Metrojet and is a B737-700. Regards Kip

Thanks Adrian It has just returned here and can confirm that it is indeed 9M- AQQ. Will post a photo next week when I get back to the UK........forgot to pack my download cable DOH!!! Kip

Merry Xmas to all MWingers...... Noted departing here at 0900hrs, the Air Asia flight to Singapore (presumably AM1702) aircraft unidentified but conspicuous by having the wing tip extensions (Airbus term - sharklets)!!! Was aware that Air Asia is the first customer to procure these, but thought these new aircraft were not being delivered until next year. Or are they retrofitting current airframe? Regards Kip

Michael Didn' t see a white BBJ here on Saturday, but for the final sky dive on Saturday evening, there was a reception here at the Meritus Pelangi hotel which included a former Prime Minister and a high ranking air force official, so could have been connected with that. Interesting arrival as the Casa took off for the final drop at 1800 was Cessna Citation 750 with reg N750CW. Not sure when it departed. The Casa M44-04 returned to base (presumably Subang)on Sunday morning. Regards Kip

Interesting activity here today and yesterday with TUDM Casa 235' s very active................yesterday M44-04 and M44-07 (still with 54 years blue tail). Became apparent why they are here when 22 skydivers landed on Pantai Cenang at 1830 last night.Spoke to several of them and they are trying out different dropplng zones in readiness for the skydiving championships to be held here in Mat next year. Today they are dropplng close to the northern end of the,airport......been up 5 Times already and it's still only 1410......using M44-04. Regards Kip

This charter made another appearance today and has just departed back to Stockholm as NVR832. Regards Kip

Great shots of the new EC-725..........the actual name for this variant is the ' Caracal' which is the latest development of the ' Super Puma' or Cougar and as noted previously is a CSAR variant. Regards Kip

The VIP BBJ M53-01call sign P03 just departed Langkawi @1800 hrs next stop Alor Setar !!! Just overshooting here as I type this is a TUDM F/A-18 D. Regards Kip

Firstly, apologies for adding Michael's photo twice.........first time I have tried to ' post' using my Kindle !!! Secondly, another interesting visitor to Langkawi in the,shape of Austrian registered Challenger OE- ING. Did see a Biz jet arrive yesterday afternoon and departed about an hour ago as VJS 645. Regards Kip

Showing up on radar and looking likely to land shortly in Penang is RAAF Challenger A37-003 call sign ASY344. Go get him !!!!! Regards Kip

Nice photo Michael. This A333 reg OH- LTT returned later in the afternoon as Finnair 1962 direct to Helsinki. Regards Kip

But it's hi hi for us in the UK, she arrived at a very wet Gatwick on 26 November 2012 (where has she been for the last moth) en route to her final destination.......... RAF Kemble for scrapping. Photo courtesy of Andy S Regards Kip

TK No problem with neck.............. laid on a sunbed at the time with a glass of Mythos by my side!!! Kip

On a recent family holiday to the island of Crete, I noted on our arrival at Heraklion IAP a pair of Fokker F50's. I later found out that these our being operated by a 'new' airline ............ Minoan Air .......started in May this year, based at Heraklion and flying around the Greek Islands. According to their website they have 4 aircraft and are looking to add a fifth, although I only saw three of them during our holiday. Current airframes........ SX-BRM c/n 20207 ex PH-KVF SX-BRS c/n 20206 ex PH-KVE SX-BRV c/n 20199 ex PH-ZDI Here is a photo of SX-BRS on finals, taken from our apartment....... Our apartment was directly under the approach, about 4 miles from the airport so most flew straight over the top........ so it was a bit of 'guess the airline'......... so for something a bit different, here's a few photos showing some of the different types and countries. IL-96 Aeroflot CL-600 Last of the Russians.... a Ka-32 on fire fighting duties From Israel an ATR-42 From Romania a BAe-146 From Ukraine a B.737 From Czech Republic B.737......... this aircraft OK-TVD, was leased to MH for a few months in late 2005 to early 2006 and was noted operating on the 27.11.2005 as MH8848 KUL to KWL Sorry about the telephone wire, he arrived on short finals!! a Spanish CRJ-1000 and a couple of Herks Hellanic AF Royal SaudI AF Hope you like. Kip

Rayner Very nice catch of the Czech AF VIP Airbus !! Regards Kip

TK The first of the Korean T-50B's arrived have you have said by Korean Air Cargo into Manchester on 22nd May .....................here's a pix (courtesy of Gary King) of the first one to emerge onto British soil. They were then transported to RAF Leeming for assembly and test flying, before moving down to Waddington on the 25th June. As to the Saudi Herc colour scheme, we do get a number dropping into Waddington on their way to and from the USA, and they have all been this scheme.

A few more ................ Here's one, some of you will have seen, certainly has been spotted in Penang. RNZAF 757 with anniversary marks Other transports on show, either as support for display aircraft or just for static as this extremely rare one was !! Algerian AF Herc Saudi Herc and Belgian Herc A couple of Casa's........ Czech AF Polish AF a few trainers............ Czech AF L-159 Austrian AF Saab 105 RAF Hawks..... a patriotically painted T.1 and this seasons display aircfaft and one of the new T.2 models that are now operating with 4[R] Sqn and a few fighters One of the last few flying German Phantoms......... and special anniversary markings Swiiss AF Hornet Belgian F-16 Danish AF F-16 and especially for Pieter C Hope you enjoy Kip