dawdle at Dishforth - 656 Sqn, 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, Gazelle AH.1, Lynx AH.7, AH-64D Apache

Dishforth is an odd base.  Its located directly adjacent to one of the busiest main trunk roads in the country which is hardly common practice when you consider other bases around the UK, and is the only station we can find that has its own paintball site on disused parts of the (wartime) airfield.  Not that long ago, Dishforth was an operational RAF station, utilised as a relief landing ground for the nucleus of training bases around the Vale Of York.  With the drawdown in the number of training bases and aircraft in the region, its usage fell off, and a few years ago, was transferred across to the AAC, and much to our delight was earmarked as one of the first bases to receive the Apache.

The current occupants live close by the other former, now Army base at Catterick, the remain of which are also right by the A1.  Chinooks and Pumas and the odd SK HC4 can be seen there practising lifting under slung loads of fuel bladders, landrovers and trailers and the like.  Dishforth is 'twinned' with the other part of the AAC light / attack helo fleet at the other well loved ex-RAF station, Wattisham in Suffolk.

Its now no secret that there will be a deployment later in the year, to bolster the existing British forces in the Hellman area of Afghanistan.  We hope that their time their will be fruitful and positive, and that they all come home safe.

		Lynx AH.7 XZ212 just after being wheeled in from the flight line.
C Fawcett
Lynx XZ607 undergoing routine rotor head maintenance
P Harris		AG Linsley
		These dummy training rounds give an idea of the size of the 30mm shell - although the same calibre as an A-10 round, the rounds are only about 2/3rd's the size.
		The TADS unit in its operating position
C Fawcett		P Charlton (both)
Above:  The beastie.  ZJ227. Right: Full size dummy rounds give valuable training for loading weapons the Apache will carry on active service. The US Hellfire missile: a very capable and proven weapon, and (behind) the CRV-7, introduced into the RAF inventory just in time for GW1, and carried initially by the Jaguars of the now nearly defunct Coltishall wing, to replace the SNEB standard unguided rocket used by the Ground Attack squadrons (Jags and Harriers).
P Charlton
		The business end of the Apache.  The 30mm cannon. With a range in excess of  'a long way', if you pick a fight you'll probably end up getting spat at.
say Cheese!! - P Bainbridge
"Can we have one for the garden Dad?  can we... can we...?   You can play in it too!!...."

04/03/2006