Yeovilton and Yeovil 01/02/2017

[zz]

Yeovilton 01/02/2017

XZ689 /314 Lynx
XZ691 /310
XZ728 /326 (ex-gate guard)
ZF562 /353

ZJ132 /Q Merlin
ZJ136 /U
ZJ990 /AA

ZZ378 Wildcat
ZZ388
ZZ392
ZZ403
ZZ406
ZZ408
ZZ410
ZZ511
ZZ515
ZZ519
ZZ521
ZZ523
ZZ526
ZZ529
ZZ533
ZZ534
ZZ535

G-BYVK Tutor
G-BYWG
G-BYXS

9 new Wildcats for me.
There were another 5 or 6 out, but parked nose on so I couldn't read them.
There was another ZZ53- out but the last figure was obscured.
There was a fourth Merlin but it was put away at about 9am, before I read it off!

[zz]

Yeovil 01/02/2017

G-MCGT AW.189
ZJ122 Merlin Mk.4 /F in new grey scheme
ZZ382 Wildcat Army
ZR357 HH.101 for Italy (coded 15-06)
ZZ100 AW.101 for Norway in primer
ZZ101 AW.101 for Norway in SAR scheme

There was also another green RN? Merlin behind the hangars- just the front half visible.

[filair]

Hi ZZ,where did you view them from please?
I have never seen anything when I have looked in at Yeovil.

[zz]

Hi filair

I parked in Westland Road which is at the eastern end of the field. From there you can walk up a footpath which goes along the eastern perimeter fence, right under the approach. The helicopters are almost tail on but if you walk the length of the path you may get enough of an angle to read things off.
I was there 45 minutes and so saw 2 arrivals and 2 pulled out of the hangar which helped.

The path drops down too low, but you can then turn left and walk along the northern perimeter fence to the Sports centre and beyond.
There are occasional limited views.

There is a fish and chip? restaurant on the western side where you can park and see movements too.

But the road in towards the factory and business parks in the SW of the field has been closed. The helicopters that were in open storage there have all moved out.

Hope this helps.

Try Westland Road in your satnav if you have one- there is a one-way system to negotiate!

[graham]

That's a great haul of Wildcats ZZ for sure, how long were you there for? Were you in the cul-de-sac lane past the church in the village? That's where I go.

[zz]

Yes Graham, that's the place to read the Army Wildcats (Pyle Lane) However, those were parked nose on, so there were 4 or 5 there that I missed.

To read the Navy ones, I park in Speckington Lane at the eastern end. A lot of the Wildcats are parked nose on again, but you can walk round past the end of the runway, to the hangars, so that they are all side on.

I was there from 8.45 - 11.45 then went to Yeovil. Then I had lunch and another quick check from about 13.00-14.00

[filair]

Thanks for the information ZZ.

[rh226]

Report for the 1st in Scramble lists the following extra Wildcats to your list, zz.

ZZ380/387/407/516/518.

plus Merlin ZJ118/B

Hope that helps,

Bob

[zz]

Thanks Bob, that could be very helpful!
I had checked touchdown and fightercontrol but not seen any posts for Yeovilton on there.

Are there any times given?
Thanks again

[rh226]

Sadly, no times were given.

[zz]

No problem, thanks anyway