RAF Northolt Nightshoot XX held on the 17th March 2016

RAF Northolt Nightshoot XX held on the 17th March 2016

This Nightshoot, once again organised by Phil Dawe, was number 20 in the series.

Nightshoot XX turned out to be one of the most popular in the long running series with well over 200 photographers attending the event.

RAF Northolt Nightshoot XX attracted a varied selection of visitors but it was, unfortunately, subject to some last minute cancellations,

& also the vagueries of aircraft reliability. The highlight of the event though had to be the RAF Odiham based 27 Squadron Chinook HC.4, ZA681

which came in for a gas-and-go. Unfortunately the aircraft developed a fault so it could not be shut down.

The Chinook originally invited was going to be the special scheme aircraft nicknamed 'Nellie' but that machine wasn't

released in time by Boeing which had been running some tests on the aircraft & was therefore unable to attend the event, hence a last minute replacement.

Other visitors included a a couple of aircraft from the Royal Navy & based at RNAS Culdrose, firstly from 736 NAS a BAe Hawk T.1, XX301

& secondly from 750 NAS & a real highlight of the evening was Beechcraft King Air Avenger T.1, ZZ501.

From the Gazelle Squadron & based at Bourne Park was Westland Gazelle HT.3, ZB627/A & from RAF Halton

Piper L4 Grasshopper, 454467/J-44 & Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1, XX629.

Some of 32 Squadron's, RAF Northolt based aircraft were also on display, BAe 146 C.3, ZE707, in its all grey colour scheme was out on the pan

together with BAe 146 CC2, ZE701, which was being towed into one of the hangars shortly after the event started.

In one of the other hangars was 32 Squadron's brand new Agusta AW109SP Grand New with its civil serial, G-Z100, which also marks the squadron's centenary.

During WWII, 32 Squadron used the code 'GZ' on its aircraft.

This section contains 57 images taken during the event :