British Army Air Corps
Middle Wallop
Middle Wallop is home to number 2 Regiment of the Army Air Corps, the primary training unit for prospective pilots of the British Army. In March 2010 Jetwash Aviation Photo's made it's first foray of the year to get up close to the various units and wide variety of aircraft operating from this former RAF base. The School of Army Aviation, which is based here, trains pilots for all frontline aircraft operated by the Army Air Corps, these being the Britten-Norman Islander/Defender, the Westland Lynx and the WAH-64D Apache, the most potent attack helicopter in the world.
As mentioned previously Middle Wallop opened in 1940 as a training facility for the Royal Air Force, subsequently passing to the Royal Navy and then the Army Air Corps in September of 1957 when army aviation became independant of the Royal Air Force. The training units at Middle Wallop consist of 670 Squadron with the Squirrel, 671 Squadron with the Gazelle and Lynx and finally 673 Squadron with the WAH-6D Apache. Other units at Middle Wallop consist of the trials unit, 667 Squadron which operates the Gazelle and Lynx and the Defence Elementary Flying Training School with Grob Tutor's' and of course the Army Air Corps Historic Flight.
The pilot training programme for the Army Air Corps consists of several phases:- after initial aircrew selection at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire the candidates are assessed via 'Army Flying Grading' at Middle Wallop, which consists of 13 hours in a Slingsby Firefly 160, the aim of this being to test their aptitude in a live flying environment. Having succesfully passed this part of the programme they then endure 40 hours in the Grob Tutor at RAF Barkston Heath under the Elementary Flying Training part of their course. Following a weeks aeromedical and survival training at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton the next phase sees the pilots move on to RAF Shawbury and the Defence Helicopter Flying School (see DHFS Shawbury Sep 07) where they spend nine weeks with 660 Squadron on the single-engined Squirrel HT.1 helicopter learning basic flying skills. The penultimate phase sees them back at Middle Wallop for their Operational Training and 82 hours in the Squirrel HT.2, this version having Night Vision Goggle (NVG) capabilty and an under-slung load hook. Having succesfully negotiated this they then move on to type conversion with either 671 or 673 Squadron subject to their front-line assignments, the Conversion to Type (CTT) course taking around a further nine weeks.
As mentioned above, the operational training phase of the student pilots course is conducted on the Eurocopter Squirrel HT.2 of 670 Squadron at Middle Wallop, an example of which can be seen above. The Squirrels form part of the tri-service Defence Helicopter Flying School based at RAF Shawbury. The Squirrel entered service with the AAC in the mid 1990's and is powered by a single Turbomeca Ariel 1D1 gas-turbine engine. It has a maximum speed of 155 knots and a 300 nautical mile range.
Gazelle AH.1 XZ320 is seen above at Middle Wallop carrying a Wescam MX-15 battlefield surveillance camera. This aircraft is presumably operated by 667 Squadron. The MX-15 camera can carry a variety of sensors from simple daylight cameras to low-light, laser illuminator and laser rangefinders. This particular pod is undergoing trials for use in Northern Ireland. The Gazelle fleet is gradually winding down within the Army Air Corps, having been in use since 1973 and now only seeing operational service with 665 Squadron in Northern Ireland and 671 Squadron at Middle Wallop.
Seen undergoing overhaul in the Gazelle Depth Support Hub (GDSH) is ZA731. This particular airframe is part of the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Canada and is utilised in the Casualty Evacuation role (CASEVAC) and for range control duties. Once overhaul is completed the airframe will be flown back to Canada and will not see U.K shores again, as the airframe hours will expire during its time at Suffield. The GDSH at Middle Wallop is manned by approximately 60 staff from FB Heliservices, who undertake all depth inspection and rectification on the remaining Gazelle fleet.
Lynx AH.7 XZ680 from 671 Sqn, the Operation Conversion Unit, at Middle Wallop 17th March 2010
On of the more interesting helo's at Middle Wallop was ZG889 from 9 Regiment at Dishforth, the first Lynx AH.9A to be upgraded from an order of twelve. The aircraft incorporates more powerful LHTEC CTS800-4N engines, which produce 37% more power than the current Lynx AH.9 engines and will enable much improved operability at hot & high conditions. It is expected that once fully operational these aircraft will be deployed for use in Afghanistan. The most distinguishable feature is the modified exhaust system, though a cockpit upgrade has also been incorporated.
"Apache Territory"
By far the most potent Army Air Corps asset is the Westland WAH-64D Apache Longbow AH.1. The Apache's at Middle Wallop are operated by 673 Squadron in the Conversion To Type (CTT) role. It differs from the AH-64D's operated by the U.S.Army in a number of ways, including more powerful Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM322 engines and an increased fuel load. This gives AAC pilots a longer loiter time over the battlefield or extended range than that available to U.S Army AH-64's.
The business end of a 673 Squadron/2 Regiment Apache AH.1. The crew of ZJ213 go through their final pre-flight checks prior to a mission from Middle Wallop on 17th March 2010.
The nose mounted camera system which is linked to the Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS) above the main rotor can clearly be seen. It provides 127 x magnification and is capable of reading a car number plate at 4.2 kilometres and spots of blood on the ground from up to one kilometre! Also visible under the nose is the 30mm M230 cannon, capable of firing ten rounds a second, the armour-piercing tips making light work of Armoured Personnel Carriers. On the left of the picture is the CRV-7 rocket pod. Weapons available to use with this system include the Flechette anti-personnel/vehicle weapon, which fires 80 five-in-long tungsten darts, or the HEISAP for use on buildings and vehicles. The weapon available for use against armoured attack is the Hellfire II air-to-ground missile. Each Apache can carry up to 16 Hellfire weapons mounted on four rails under the stub-wings.
An Apache AH.1 from 673 Squadron prepares to depart Middle Wallop for an afternoon mission on 17th March 2010
Two 673 Squadron AH-64's on the Middle Wallop ramp
ZJ206 sits on the ramp as another AH-64D Apache approaches Middle Wallop
Thanks go to Warrant Officer (2) Stuart Girdler for arranging and escorting us during our visit to Middle Wallop:-