quote:
Royal Navy aviators and veterans, including Jock Moffat, the Swordfish pilot whose torpedo crippled the Bismark in World War Two, gathered today at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London to launch the One Hundredth Anniversary of Naval Aviation. The centenary year will be marked by a panoply of colourful events and activities throughout the UK.
The anniversary marks the Admiralty's far-sighted and visionary decision on 7 May 1909 to order the first airship, HMS Airship 1, and embark on a development programme for military aviation.
quote:
On Monday 23 February, two Sea-King Helicopters and up to 50 personnel from 848 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), have joined HMS Illustrious for 10 days.
quote:
Her Majesty the Queen has formally approved the Royal Navy’s new class of aircraft carriers to be named the Queen Elizabeth Class.
The first ship in the class is to be named HMS Queen Elizabeth followed by HMS Prince of Wales.
quote:
The consortium building the UK's two new aircraft carriers has announced a 50% increase in the amount of construction work coming to Scotland.
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance said two major sections of each ship, instead of one, would now be built at BVT's yards at Govan and Scotstoun on the Clyde.
quote:
Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird shipyard is poised for a jobs bonanza linked to a £150m Ministry of Defence contract.
The yard has been named joint preferred bidder for work on two of the biggest Royal Navy vessels to be built.
Cammell Laird and the Teesside yard of A&P are in final negotiations with the MoD to build the flight decks of the UK’s two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, expected to enter service around 2016 and 2018.
quote:
On the 22nd of February, Officer Cadets (OC) from Illustrious’ division joined the nations strike carrier, HMS Illustrious, for six week of Initial Sea Training (IST).
quote:
When Cdre Martin Westwood stepped down from command of the Defence Flying Helicopter School at RAF Shawbury, his departure took a slightly unusual form.
The squadrons saluted their outgoing leader borne along in his own personal ‘aircraft carrier’.
quote:
LONDON - Britain is to purchase three Joint Strike Fighters to carry out operational test-and-evaluation work ahead of a decision to acquire the F-35B STOVL variant to equip two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers.
quote:
YOU don’t have to go to Cyprus and the sunshine to conduct amphibious operations.
No, it’s perfectly possible (if a bit chillier...) in the UK.
While the Taurus 09 task force was dropping marines on to beaches in Cyprus, HMS Illustrious played host to Jungly training squadron 848 NAS to re-learn the art of helicopter insertion in home waters.
quote:
The construction of the Royal Navy's two future Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers continues to gain momentum with the announcement of £80m worth of equipment sub-contracts for several UK based companies.
The sub-contracts cover:
quote:
IT’S been almost 12 months since naval pilots last touched down on the hallowed flight deck of HMS Illustrious.
Commitments in Afghanistan, followed by some top bombing in the USA, kept the Naval Strike Wing away from their traditional home: an aircraft carrier at sea.
quote:
HMS Illustrious will be the focal point for Fly Navy 100 commemorations in the capital.
The carrier will be moored on the Thames at Greenwich from May 6-10, serving as the backdrop for the ‘big day’, Thursday May 7, the 100th birthday of naval aviation, nay, military aviation, in the UK.
quote:
A new contract worth £574m has been awarded to supply the repair and maintenance work for RAF and Royal Navy Harriers during the remainder of their service lives.
The contract covers repair, maintenance, spares provision, upgrade work and technical support, which will be undertaken at the Harrier fleet's main operating base at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland.
quote:
A prestigious new book about the modern Royal Navy will be launched this week at a special event on board the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in Portsmouth Naval Base in the presence of former First Sea Lords and special guests of the Council of The White Ensign Association.
