RAF's Oldest Aircraft Retire At Cranwell

Steyr

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=311DA5D2-5056-A318-A888D958EAC6BD45

RAF’s Oldest Aircraft Retire At Cranwell
19 January 2011

Editor: Ruth Vernon MCO Cranwell

Photography: RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2011





The Hawker Siddeley 125 Dominie aircraft, the oldest aircraft in the Royal Air Force (RAF), is to retire from service at the end of January.

Operated by 55 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Cranwell, the Dominie currently provides training for all rear crew in the RAF. However the cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4 and a reduction in the number of Tornado GR4s has resulted in the RAF ceasing any further Weapons System Officer (formerly Navigator) training following graduation of the current course. It has also removed the requirement to train Weapons System Operators in the Sensor Operator role for the next few years.

The HS125 Dominie was originally procured in the 1960s to train Navigators, in particular for the V Force. The aircraft has been in service for over 45 years and over that time has been based at former Royal Air Force bases Stradishall, Finningley and Manby.

Initially 22 aircraft were built, with 55 (Reserve) Squadron operating the last remaining seven aircraft. To commemorate the outstanding service provided by this venerable aircraft the Squadron will fly a number of formations towards the end of the month culminating in a final flypast at RAF Cranwell on 20 January 2011.

Steyr

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/02/17/353292/pictures-oldest-dominie-trainer-flown-into-retirement-at.html

Defence
DATE:17/02/11
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com

Oldest Dominie trainer flown into retirement at Cosford
By Craig Hoyle


One of the UK’s recently withdrawn Hawker Siddeley 125 Dominie T1 trainers has been flown into retirement at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shropshire.

The first of 20 Dominie trainers to have flown, on 30 December 1964, aircraft XS709 was flown to Cosford from the service’s Cranwell base in Lincolnshire on 11 February.

“We are pleased to have received a Dominie aircraft,” says museum curator Al McLean. “It will be a significant addition to the museum collection.” XS709 will be placed on public display in the next few weeks, having ending its operational life with a little over 16,100 flight hours recorded.

Both images © RAF Museum Cosford




The RAF’s first student navigators to have trained on the Dominie T1 graduated in April 1966, and the last completed their instruction on the type with 55(R) Sqn on 19 January this year.

Six of the aircraft took part in a farewell formation flypast over Cranwell the following day, with their retirement having been brought forward by two years largely due to the cancellation of the RAF’s BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 surveillance aircraft fleet.

Six of the RAF’s other retired Dominies are now being offered for sale by the UK Disposal Services Authority, with offers sought by 7 March. “All of the aircraft are considered unserviceable and they do not possess a certificate of airworthiness for civilian purposes,” it says.