The final flights from Aldergrove

[casper]

Next time your flight from Belfast International Airport is delayed, find the viewing area and use the telescopes provided to take a good look at the other side of the runway.

You will see a community of around 2,000 people in a vast estate which most of us will never visit. RAF Aldergrove has been there for 90 years, so long that it predates Northern Ireland itself.

But its days are numbered. In April this year the Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth announced that 230 Squadron based at RAF Aldergrove will relocate to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.

In the meantime, there has been no let up in the flying that the RAF is doing, and it is getting them noticed.

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[vortex003]

Thank goodness i've been fortunate enough to take as many pics of the Puma and her crews as i have - i still recall the first day i heard one arrive at the barracks in Enniskillen,i thought to myself "what the @?*% was that!?"
Quiet times ahead

[casper]

Have you ever went on a visit to the base? I know they do guided tours. If you want the address to write to I can pm it to you.

[vortex003]

No - i didn't know they did such a thing.

PM the address and i'll have a chat with the other half about it

[Dave]

Sad news, no more nice visitors such as VC-10's or RAF Tristars (not that I ever saw any!!!) What will become of that side of Aldergrove? Will the airport security be relaxed a little in order to allow for better spotting places?

[casper]

It will become an army barricks so I'd say there will be no let up in security

Then 38 Engineer Regiment will move in, leaving its base at Massereene Barracks in Antrim.

[vortex003]

I believe that the Army Regiment (651Sqn?) that flies the Defender aircraft are now based there.
(i havn't seen any since i caught that one a few weeks ago though.)

Wouldn't it be nice if a few Apaches made their way over from time to time

[Dave]

Ahhh rubbish! I was hoping for some good spotting areas to become available!

Yea, I saw 5 to 6 different defenders flying in and out last week, whilst spotting from the church. I thought it was normal activity  A Puma flew directly over my house today at low level however my camera was packed away into it's new case so no photos

[vortex003]

A Puma did a few high level orbits here today before departing,and i had just finished my previous message when the Defender (ZG998) requested to do a few circuits

Only got one dodgy pic as i was shooting into the sun

[Angry Turnip]

I doubt RAF activity will end at Aldergrove-it`s just there will not be any units permently based there.

Lots of Puma activity this week,I suppose taking advantage of the slightly better weather we have had.

I would love to know where the Puma`s go to do the low flying practise-I have seen them head out towards Lurgan and Ballymena directions so I suppose the fly around the lough and the glens.

I recall seeing Wessex helicopters flying very low in Fermanagh(mid to late 70`s)-I have relatives outside Belleek and I remember a few times they actually landed- usually in pairs.
Sometimes the soldiers came and played football with us.(for a few minutes).
They let us have a quick look in the Heli and then they had to leave-I think thats probably what started my interest in aircraft.

[casper]

I too would doubt there will be an end to RAF activity at Aldergrove. While there's still an army presence we should still see some sort of re-supply aircraft (Hercules/VC-10 possibly). Wouldn't a C-17 be nice
I have seen Pumas down around the Lough but to be honest they aren't flying low and I still see them pass over as they go to and from Aldergrove.