RAF Northolt Nightshoot XXXII held on the 6th March 2025
The first of the two Nightshoots to be held at RAF Northolt in 2025 & once again organised
by Phil Dawe. This was number 32 in the long running series.
RAF Northolt Nightshoot XXXII was the last chance to see the Royal Air Force's Westland/Aerospatiale Puma HC.2
at an event before they are retired from service at the end of March 2025, although there is to be one final flypast before disappearing completely from service.
The Puma present at RAF Northolt was from 33 Squadron, part of Joint Aviation Command and based at RAF Benson & serialled XW224.
Joint Aviation Command also contributed two further types which were an Agusta/Westland AW159 Wildcat AH.1 serialled ZZ384, 1 Regiment, 503 Army Air Corps
based at RNAS Yeovilton & a Westland AH-64E Apache AH.2 serialled ZM705, 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps based at RAF Wattisham.
Cancellations from the advertised list of participants for this event were the Merlin HC.4 from 846 NAS, the Dornier Do.228 from MFG3, German Navy & the
3 Pilatus PC-21's from the French Air and Space Force Fighter Pilot School based at Cognac.
The list of participating aircraft at RAF Northolt Nightshoot XXXII was excellent even with the late cancellations.
From the French Air & Space Force a CASA CN235-200M, 64HD, from Escadron de Transport 1/62 Vercors based at BA 105 Évreux together with
a Eurocopter EC-725R2 Caracal, 2619, from Escadron d’Helicopteres 01.067 based at BA120 Cazaux.
From the Royal Canadian Air Force a Lockheed CC-130J Super Hercules from 436 Squadron, serial 130601, which is currently based at Prestwick.
Also present & a first appearance at a Nightshoot was the 70 year old Bell 47H-1, C-FJWF, of which only 5 of the type remain, this variant of the Bell Model 47 had an
enclosed cockpit unlike those that appeared in the famous *MASH* TV series which had a half open bubble cockpit.
This aircraft was piloted by Boeing UK’s chief test pilot Rich Pillans who wore a top hat & tails for the ground run.
Another thoroughly enjoyable event with good weather & apparently around 300 photographers present, which must be a record for one of these events.
Roll on RAF Northolt Nightshoot XXXIII which has been confirmed for October 2nd 2025.
This section contains 63 images taken during the event :
Bell 47H-1 C-FJWF
Bell 47H-1 C-FJWF
Bell 47H-1 C-FJWF
CASA CN235-200M 64HD & RCAF CC-130J Hercules 130601
French Air Force CASA CN235-200M 64HD
French Air Force CASA CN235-200M 64HD
FAF CASA CN235-200M 64HD & EC-725R2 Caracal 2619
French Air Force Eurocopter EC-725R2 Caracal 2619
RCAF Lockheed CC-130J Super Hercules II 130601
French Air Force CASA CN235-200M 64HD
RCAF Lockheed CC-130J Super Hercules II 130601
RCAF Lockheed CC-130J Super Hercules II 130601
Army Air Corps Boeing AH-64E Apache AH.2 ZM705
Army Air Corps Boeing AH-64E Apache AH.2 ZM705
Army Air Corps Boeing AH-64E Apache AH.2 ZM705
Army Air Corps Agusta-Westland AW159 Wildcat AH.1 ZZ384
