We still do not know if J-257 is withdrawn for use or scrapped.

On 7 October 2021, KDC-10 T-235 took to the sky to say goodbye to the Netherlands. All Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) bases were visited including the civil airports Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam Airport, Texel Airport, Dutch Mil and the RNLAF headquarters in Breda.

After this flight, a few other flights had been made before the T-235 finally departed to their new owner Omega Air Services in the USA on 25 October 2021. With this flight, eight F-35s including material and personnel were ferried to Edwards Air Force base to gain their Initial Operational Capability (IOC) over there.

The F-35s which departed with the KDC-10 were: F-009, F-010, F-011, F-012, F-015, F-016, F-017 and F-018.

Koksijde air base will remain open for training activities, but no permanent detachment will stay on the air base. In the future, the air base will probably close and sold to city of Koksijde.

These two Sea Kings were already withdrawn from use for a while, but the Belgian Air Force brought these two Sea Kings back to the air last month! These two Sea Kings has been acquired by Historic Helicopters in Chard (UK) and left Koksijde Airbase for the UK on 20 October 2021. We are happy that these two iconic helicopters have been saved from the shredder!

On 30 September the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior approved a study on the project of implementation of a police helicopter unit. The project will cost around € 12 million and foresees the employment of a pilot team leader, three pilots and aircraft mechanics. The type of helicopter will be decided during an international tender.

TBM940 1372 was officially delivered on 21 October 2021.

The trend of using civilian aircraft for military training in France has gone a step further. In the past few years the air force has replaced a number of their military gliders with leased civil ones. Currently 25 civilian gliders are now in use and as they carry air force titles and unit badges we will list they here for you. The units which fly them are EIVV05.312J at Salon, EIVV21.535 at Romorantin and EIVV25.535 at Saintes.

Both have been converted at Marseille from Tigre HAP to Tigre HAD and are now operational again.

Both H145s were seen outside at Donauworth (Germany).

The first one will be delivered in 2022 and the second one 2023. Both have already been seen in full Sécurité Civile colours.

This Airbus will be used as a spare source for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

On 21 August 2021 the first C-130J-30 Hercules for the Luftwaffe rolled-out of Lockheed Martin’s facility in Marietta-Dobbins ARB. The purchase of the C-130J-30 is a joint French-German project and the aircraft will be based at BA105 Evreux (France).

On 14 October 2021, Agusta A109CM MM81240/E.I.863 (c/n 7374) of the Aviazione dell’Esercito Italiano (AvEs) made a last flight of the type within the AvEs, which was withdrawn from use after 45 years of service. With a short hub from Viterbo towards the 1° Reggimento Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito in Bracciano near Rome, to be subjected to the technical-administrative procedures for out of service. The A109 Hirundo was developed and manufactured in the 1970s by the Italian company Agusta as a light twin-turbine helicopter, with retractable landing gear, fast and equipped with effective stabilization and safety systems. It was the first allItalian helicopter to be mass-produced.

The first AvEs A109 was MM81010/E.I.851, which arrived in 1977 at Viterbo in the Lazio region near Rome, a base hosting the training and development units of the AvEs. It was quickly followed by MM81011/E.I.852 and MM81012/E.I.853.

These first three A109s were called A109EC (Ellicotteri di Collegamento, Liasion). Two other examples, MM81013/E.I.854 and MM81014/E.I.855 were fitted with TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided) American anti-tank missile equipment to evaluate the anti-tank performance of the missile, and to develop techniques, in order to facilitate the entry into service with the AvEs.

After a successful evaluation period, the AvEs ordered in 1987 another 24 helicopters in the A109CM version with fixed gear. There were two configurations: the first simplified A109 EOA-1 (Elicotteri da Osservazione Avanzata, Observation) in sixteen units and eight in the full EOA-2 configuration for reconnaissance and utility, entered service starting from 1988.

instructional at Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology at Paola

Norway plans to complete the deliveries of 52 F-35As by the end of 2024, but this might slip a bit due to delayed production and component delays as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2021, Scramble Magazine reported on the possible commercial sale of F-16s. The Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) contracted Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS) to maintain a number of F-16s that already had been taken out of active service and make them ready for commercial re-sale. It is not known how many F-16s will be made ready for this possible commercial re-sale.

According to Key Aero, the Forțele Aeriene ale Romaniei (FAR, Romanian Air Force) is interested to buy two squadrons of former RNoAF F-16AM/BM fighters.

The first Portuguese KC-390 was noted wearing its serial in the hangar of its maker. Note that this is the first 5-digit Portuguese serial starting with 2. Delivery of this machine is expected early 2023. The remaining four of the total order of five will follow at a pace of one per year.

The Spanish Air Force acquired three ex Iberia A330s for 452 Esc of Grupo 45 (Torrejon de Ardoz air base), to be used for transport and aerial refuelling tasks. On 27 October 2021, T.24-01 returned to Spain after painting at Chateauroux/Déols in France. T.24-02 will follow in 2022 and T.24-03 in 2023. After conversion to MRTT-configuration they will be reregistered as TK.24-xx. As conversion will commence in 2023 it is expected that the third machine will immediately be registered TK.24-03.

All were auctioned in Mexico in July 2021, together with TR.12D-79. The latter had been stored at Cuatro Vientos air base since December 2018 at least and was still noted there in October 2021.

This Hornet was last reported operational with Ala 15 in March 2006 and now appeared on the dump at Albacete air base.

In Scramble 509 - page 57, we reported on the completion of the upgrade of the first Spanish Chinook to CH-47F configuration. In September 2021, it was noted at the Boeing facility in Philadelphia (PA) coded ET-420. A press release mentioned that this helicopter had returned to the Spanish Army after having been delivered to Boeing for upgrading in 2020. Now that CH-47D HT.17-03 has joined the storage line at Colmenar Viejo (see above) our database seems to indicate that CH-47D HT.17-17/ET-417 is the only candidate as the former identity of this first CH-47F. This corrects earlier reports that HT.17-14 would be the first example to be upgraded. This latter machine was still noted stored at Colmenar Viejo in October 2021.

After completion of the delivery of all eighteen Tiger HAD helicopters (HA.28-07 through HA.28-24) to BHELA I (Almagro Airbase), the six HAP-configured Tigers of the unit were withdrawn from use and stored on base. Probably already by early 2020. One of these machines will be used as the basis for the prototype of the new to be developed Tiger Mk.III whereas the others are though to become sources for components.

It is not reported how many GlobalEyes will be ordered. On 14 October 2020, the Swedish Ministry of Defence (MoD) published a 181-page document outlining the defence bill for the period 2021-2025. Scramble Magazine reported on the proposed large increase in Swedish Defence Budget on 18 October 2020. One of the most pressing needs is a new airborne early warning and control system, as the current Airborne Surveillance & Control (ASC) Saab S100D aircraft are overworked and ageing.

The two S102B Korpen SIGINT modified Gulfstream IVs are to be maintained, with no replacement plans to be made until after 2025.

On 28 September 2021, the Sentry AEW1 was retired from service by the RAF. The last operational mission was flown already on 30 July 2020. On this day, ZH101/01 was manned by a 8 squadron crew and flew a mission from RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus) as part of Operation Shader. The aircraft returned home to RAF Waddington on 4 August 2021. A few local missions were flown until the retirement ceremony on 28 September 2021. On the same day, the thirtieth anniversary of the Sentry in service with the RAF was celebrated.

The last three Sentry aircraft in use were ZH101/01, ZH103/03 and ZH106/06. All three are currently stored at RAF Waddington pending disposal. They type is being replaced by three Wedgetail AEW1 aircraft in 2023, which will be stationed at RAF Lossiemouth. As an interim solution, NATO E-3A aircraft from NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen will provide airborne early warning coverage for the British military forces.

With the planned out of service date of the Hawk T1 fleet on 31 March 2022, it is expected that the Red Arrows will increase their fleet to seventeen aircraft. As previously reported, despite the planned out of service date for this aircraft type, the Red Arrows will continue to fly Hawk T1 aircraft until 2030. With seventeen aircraft on strength, and probably additional aircraft in storage at RAF Shawbury, the Red Arrows should have sufficient aircraft at their disposal to perform until a replacement aircraft has been found around 2030.

By end-August 2021, the following aircraft were assigned to this world-famous aerial display team (albeit some were undergoing maintenance at RAF Valley): Hawk T1 XX177, XX232, XX242, XX245, XX311, XX325, Hawk T1A XX188, XX219, XX278, XX319, XX322, XX323, Hawk T1W XX310

In addition, Hawk T1W XX295 was in the process of being prepared for service at RAF Valley. This jet was taken out of storage at RAF Shawbury on 8 December 2020 and is expected to join the display unit soon. This will bring the total number of aircraft assigned to fourteen. The identity of the additional three jets to be taken on strength by the Red Arrows is not yet known.

In preparation for the delivery of the first Protector RG1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the RAF, company demonstrator N190TC was shipped to the United Kingdom as sea freight for trials and participation in Exercise Joint Warrior. It arrived at RAF Waddington on 19 August 2021 and performed its first flight from there on 25 August 2021. By mid-September 2021, the UAV was deployed to RAF Lossiemouth for Joint Warrior. This aircraft previously visited the United Kingdom during the 2018 Royal International Air Tattoo. It was placed on the static display, where it was adorned with 31 squadron markings (stickers). This former Tornado squadron is slated to be equipped with Protector UAVs in 2023.

ZM159/025 is undergoing pre-delivery tests, having performed its maiden flight in October 2021.

In July 2018, Hawk T1A XX221/CO was flown to RAF Valley for attention with Aircraft Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (AMRO) at RAF Valley. The jet would not return to its home at RAF Leeming until 28 July 2021. The by now uncocded jet has been in use since with 100 squadron.

On 23 July 2021, ZM334 returned to RAF Cranwell after undergoing maintenance at Fort Lauderdale (FL). It was temporary registered as G-MEPS for this purpose on 5 February 2021, and left for the US on 9 March 2021. The temporary civil registration was cancelled again on 29 July 2021.

The sixth Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was delivered to its new home (RAF Lossiemouth) on 21 September 2021, it was followed by number seven on 19 October 2021. The nick-name of this seventh aircraft is now also known: William Barker VC. This Canadian pilot served with 201sq during the Great War. He was awarded the highest British military decoration for “valour in face of the enemy” when he battled with fifteen enemy aircraft over the western front in October 1918. Despite being wounded, he managed to shoot down three enemy aircraft before performing a forced landing.

The final two Poseidon aircraft on order performed their first flights on 22 July 2021 (ZP808) and 15 September 2021 (ZP809). Both are planned to be delivered to RAF Lossiemouth as well before the end of 2021.

After receiving attention by TMF, ZK337 was first used by 1(F)sq for a brief period of time before being transferred to II(AC)sq. Prior to its transfer to 6sq, ZK325/325 spend a short period back with 1(F)sq. On 24 August 2021, it deployed to RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus) for Operation Shader duties.

On 21 July 2021, both ZJ187 and ZJ195 arrived at RAF Brize Norton for air freight to the USA where they will be inducted into the AH-64E conversion programme. On 15 June 2021, the following Apaches were officially stricken from the UK military register: ZJ181, ZJ194, ZJ196, ZJ217, ZJ222 and ZJ227. All were previously shipped to the USA to be inducted into the AH-64E conversion programme.

The next two (AH-64E) Apache AH2 helicopters were not delivered to RAF Brize Norton for a change, but flown by an USAF C-17A (00-0185/AK of 144th AS AK ANG) to RAF Mildenhall. They arrived on 21 October 2021, and were stored inside pending road transport to Wattisham.

The various Defenders which were flown to Solent Airport (ex Lee-on-Solent) for storage have been entered into the British civil aviation register as follows:

All these Defenders, just like ZH004 (Defender T3) which is mentioned next, were struck from the UK military register on 9 July 2021. On the same day also Islander R1 ZG848 underwent the same fate.

By May 2021, ZG844 was transported to Britten Norman at Bembridge where it is to be stripped for spares. The aircraft was last confirmed to us in storage at RAF Shawbury in July 2020. The move must therefore have taken place in between these two months, but most likely closer to the latter one following the retirement of the entire Defender and Islander fleet by the British military. We did not yet report on the disposal of the last Islander formerly used by 651sq. Aircraft ZG848 flew out to Cumbernauld on 8 July 2021, and was registered as G-BLNY on 4 August 2021.

The last operational Merlin HC3i flew to Yeovil where it will be converted to HC4 standard by Leonardo. Prior to this, the helicopter performed a flypast over its former home: RAF Benson.

Interestingly, ZZ532 has been temporary assigned to 1Regt (659sq) for exercise Khanjar (Oman) in August 2021.

The crash date is also reported as 22 September 2021.

Looks like the Kodiak 100 which was at Memmingen, Germany, went to Angola after all. Photos show the aircraft has the exact same colourscheme as D-FSST, which became R-756 within the Angolan Air Force. The aircraft left Memmingen on 21 September 2021 and made a stop at Altenrhein, Malaga, Lanzarote and São Tomé. It arrived at Luanda on 25 September.

The 33 and 34, together with the two AW189s mentioned below, were noted early October on the cargo ramp of Milano-Malpensa.

Both are in a overal white colour scheme with the tail painted in the colours of the Egyptian Flag. The construction number of the 84 is most likely 49079, but this is not confirmed and is just an assumption.

One of the few Mirage 5DE that was left in Libya is now installed as a monument in the city of Tripoli. The camouflage pattern is fictitious. Authorities in Tripoli have placed the plane at the roundabout near Mitiga airport as a memorial to war victims in Tripoli. The serial 109 needs confirmation, it is not confirmed this is its real serial.

All the three Super Pumas were delivered to Dar-es-Salaam on 6 October 2021 by An-124-100 UR-82008.

This brand-new General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GAATS) Dornier 228NGwill be added to the two already in service.

Both aircraft were delivered to China United Airlines on 24 December 2019 using the B-209x registration. After delivery the B737s went into operation for the air force however and military registrations B-408x were assigned, as can also be seen on the SBS hex codes. The CUA livery and serial markings painted on the aircraft however were not changed, so the delivery registrations are still painted on the aircraft.

The J-10S of the 26th Brigade is interesting as it is believed that J-16s had taken over from the J-10s. It now seems both types are operational within the Brigade.

The sighting of this Y-7G is believed to be at Shahenzhen.

Starting in July 2017, the China Medium Utility Helicopter Unit (CMUHU), equipped with four Mi-17 helicopters, has been supporting the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). It ended 30 June 2021. At least two helicopters were seen arriving back home at Tianjin-Bintai early August 2021. The helicopters had been taken from the (then) 4th LH Regiment, so they might return to the (now) 81st LH Brigade at Tongxian. The two other helicopters were CHN94737/UNO794 and CHN94739/UNO76. It can be expected that all were flying around with registrations in the military range B-4601 - B-4604.

Unfortunately, The Army Aviation Brigade has no interest to put the full serial on the outside of the Z-19s.

One of the surprise visitors on this year's air show at Zhuhai was this factory fresh J-16D Electronic Warfare aircraft. Although already in full Air Force colours, no serial was applied and all support was done by factory staff.

Excitement was rising on the internet just as Scramble arrived its closure date. A number of pictures were leaked from Chengdu, where a twin seater J-20 was having its high speed taxi trials, which is normally the last full scale test before a first flight. As has become the norm, about half of the pictures were photoshopped and the rest was open for the serious discussion. With a proper J-20 lead-in trainer being the JL-10III it remains to be seen whether a twin seat J-20 will be used as trainer aircraft, or for other, more interesting duties.

Thanks to some research with much appreciated help from Jos Stevens, we are now sure that above six are Indonesian Army. The tie-ups are assumed, so far the local practice is to deliver and register them in neat order... The 5819 is the very last AS355 that was built.

The first was seen test flying at Pondok Cabe since late August 2021, we are not aware if the official inception ceremony took place already.

The first KC-46A for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) arrived at Yonago-Miho Air Base on 29 October 2021. The tanker with its FMS serial 21-46401 applied, call-sign RCH046, was flown non-stop from Seattle-Boeing Field (WA) to its new base where it will be operated by 405 Hikotai under 3 Yuso Kokutai, joining co-based C-2 transport unit 403 Hikotai. For the moment it is unknown if the aircraft will be tested by the Gifu test unit Hiko Kaihatsu Jikkendan, as was the case with the induction of the KC-767, or will be flown by 405 Hikotai with immediate effect.

Returned from overhaul at Gifu at the end of September and is still in the old camo colours.

F-2B 119 only operated with 6 Hikotai for one month.

A photo on twitter showed the hulks of six unidentified UH-60Js at Nagoya-Komaki. They are located just north-east of the threshold of runway 16, on the ramp near six small hangars. We believe at least twelve of the oldest UH-60Js are withdrawn.

T-4 723 was seen active with 301 Hikotai at Hyakuri in October 2017. Then it was not noted for a long time, partly due to the grounding of the type. Beginning October 2021 it was seen with a 3 Hikotai badge which was removed on 15 October when it departed to and arrived at Gifu. T-4 769 operated for Rinji F-35A Hikotai up to November 2018 and was noted without badge at Misawa beginning of April 2021. It was probably overhauled at Gifu before ending up at Ashiya, however we have no proof of its possible time at Gifu.

By the time you read this, 41 Kyoiku Hikotai has finally come under control of 1 Kokudan at Hamamatsu. Official ceremony was scheduled to take place on 29 October. We originally had the impression the move had already started in April 2021 when seven T-400s arrived at Hamamatsu. However most if not all departed again later in the week and although T-400 training-operations became more frequent, the actual move from Miho to Hamamatsu was not effectuated. However beginning October, T-400 51-5056 did not depart Hamamatsu and was seen the next day with a new badge. This is a smaller version of the black/yellow checkers badge of the resident T-4 units, now with a green line bordering the badge at the bottom. During the month several T-400s were seen arriving without any badge and by 22 October, 12 T-400s were seen on the platform west of the T-4 hangars and ramp area. Last T-400 to arrive, completing the total complement of 13 was 41-5055 on the day before the ceremony. Knowing Japanese efficiency probably all T-400s had received the new badge on the day of the command change.

Preserved at the Shirakabe Barracks Public Relations Museum in the Niigata prefecture.

This long time resident of the Tokorazawa Aviation Museum is rumoured to be removed from the museum before the end of the year to be scrapped. It is now deemed to be a health hazard as the frame contains asbestos. The same fate seems to fall on the V-44A below.

It looks like both? Takayubaru units (WH and T IX codes) only operate a small number of Chinooks, unless the units now also operate the older CH-47J version, as these became redundant after the four Kisarazu units stopped operating them. By the way, we are not sure at all that 109 Hikotai (T IX code) has Takayubaru as its operating base. It could be at another JGSDF camp somewhere on Kyushu, however most sightings of this unit were at Takayubaru.

Fooled by the Japanese! The XSH-60L prototype is NOT the modified USH-60K 8901, as this one was seen on 22 October (and later) at Nagoya on a test-flight. It is still in the red/white colours, exactly matching those of XSH-60L 8501, only it has the JMSDF titles applied. It could be one of the future UH-60Ks the JMSDF has requested to temporary strengthen its remaining UH-60J fleet.

Four Orions were recently seen at Kuala Lumpur, two of these were thought to have just begun their overhaul at Nippi and one was seen at Shimofusa in May 2021, missing an engine.

Was operated by 1st Region with the name Etopirika but noted at Akita with the name Hakutaka. This means it has changed regions and is now flown from Sendai by 2nd Region.

Both were handed over to the MoD’s ATLA (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency) on 28 September and flown to Atsugi the next day. After all tests are performed satisfactorily, the helicopters will be handed over to 51 Kokutai.

In the process also the badge lost its colours and it is now in shades of black.

In Scramble 503 – page 63 we were wondering about a possible paint-job mistake for KF-5E 10-622, painted as 81-622. Apparently not a one off as three more KF-5s were re-serialled.

On 23 September 2021 a transfer ceremony took place at 1 Wing at Khorat for all F-16A/B ADFs ('Aircraft Type 16') flying with 102sq. Starting 1 October all former 102sq F-16s will be flying for 103 squadron that is also based at Khrat. Where 103sq operates the F-16s that were delivered from the factory in the eighties, 102sq received there aircraft starting 2002 after they were selected from the AMARC inventory and were upgraded to the ADF version before delivery.

In October 2021, the first two versions of the Bell 412s were withdrawn from use, leaving only the Bell 412EP version operational. The Farewell and Decommissioning ceremony took place at 202sq at Lopburi, as all Bell 412 helicopters had been taken over from 201sq in 2020. As can be derived from the serial suffix, the helicopters were delivered in 1982 and 1991 and now only the Bell 412EP version is still flying within the Air Force.

Both H225Ms were noted on pre-delivery testing at Marseille.

On 23 September 2021 the discharge ceremony was held at Lop Buri-Khok Kathiam for the UH-1H (Helicopter type 6) within the Air Force. During the ceremony, UH-1H H6-2/11 was present in retro c/s with its original code 3212, as well as UH-1s coded 20315, 20318 and 20342. 203sq now only flies the H225 helicopter.

Early 2020, the King of Thailand provided the Army with three Ce182Ts as a gift. Early 2021 they were noted with a four-digit serial including a leading '3'.

This second Beech350i for the RTSD arrived on delivery at Don Muang on 27 January 2021.

It joins AT-26 4570 also preserved here at the Hotel Vale das Nuvens in this Ceara state village.

H-02 used to be in the museum in Havana which closed late 2008. The helicopter is now used for instruction at a military training facility at 23.15925 N 82.08315 W, having move up from a spot just south at the same facility in 2018.

The helicopter wears the initials of President Mohammed Irfaan Ali as its registration. We learned it is common practice to use the initials of leading politicians or military top brass in 8R-registrations assigned to military aircraft. You could call it a system.

The single surviving FAM PC-9 appeared at the newly constructed Museo Militar de Aviación here.

This Bo105 has found a new spot in El Moralillo, a suburb of Tampico, at 22.22385 N 97.89890 W, just inside Veracruz-Llave state.

Interestingly, PF-306 was registered PF-322 before it became PF-306, and now it became GN-322. New serials are photoproof.

This Beech was sold at a government auction, buyer and new ID are not yet known.

All AW139s were confirmed from official documentation.

Also visible on a Facebook photo is the hulk of a T-34B, that is almost certainly 669 formerly preserved in the museum. The ETA school is at Toledo Sur, North of Carrasco airport.

The Air Force Heritage Park on the site of this former air base received a Buffalo on 23 September 2021. It arrived flying. Only three were left in service at the time of writing, with CC-295s still not flying operational missions with 442sq.

Eight of the C-23A aircraft were handed over to the United States Army and they were used by various support and test units in the Continental United States. Aircraft 84-0463 and 84-0467 were amongst these eight, and they were allocated serials 84-00463 and 84-00467 by the United States Army. They were both used by the US Army Missile Command (MICOM) at Redstone Arsenal (AL) in a support role for various trials. Later-on both were passed on to the Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate Flight Activity (I2WD FltAct) at NAS Lakehurst (NJ). Most likely both were withdrawn from use by 2013, and the pair was last confirmed stored at this facility in September 2019.

On Friday 8 October 2021, they made their final journey. Not by air but loaded onto fled-bed trucks the aircraft were transported to the Red Bank Recycling & Auto Wreckers company in Red Bank (NJ). It is expected that both will be scrapped there in the near future.

On 10 October 2021, it was announced that Boeing was awarded a USD 391 million contract to built the first five Lot I CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters for the US Army. Funds will be drawn from the FY21 budget for this purchase. The US Army previously stated that they did not want to purchase CH-47F Block II helicopters in order to free up funds for their future vertical lift projects aimed at replacing the AH-64 Apache attack and UH-60 Black Hawk assault helicopters. They did commit to replace the MH-47G Special Forces Chinook helicopters by improved MH-47G Chinook Block II examples. Twenty-four of which are currently on order. But they did not have the intention to replace the current regular army CH-47F Chinook fleet by Block II variants. Besides lack of funds, the US Army vision for future vertical lift capabilities judged the CH-47F Block II lacking in speed and range to keep up with the new attack and assault helicopters.

The US Army however was overruled by the US Congress and lawmakers ensured that funds would be available for the first five Block II helicopters to be purchased. These helicopters are slated to be delivered by 2025. Boeing currently is working on solving some technical problems which surfaced during testing of the CH-47F Block II prototypes. Excessive vibrations were reported during test flights from the new Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades. The US Army classified this as a safety of flight risk, while Boeing tends to disagree and refers to this as minor problems. Either way, Boeing also stated to be committed to resolve these issues and they were confident that this would not delay delivery or introduction of the five helicopters on order.

We just realized that we did not yet mention the delivery of six HH-60M helicopters to the US Army in Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF). They were delivered on board USAF C-17A aircraft to Wiesbaden AAF (Germany) in two batches of three aircraft each. All six were subsequently delivered to C/1-214th AVN at Grafenwöhr (Germany) where they replaced a similar number of UH-60A+ aircraft. Word has it that it that six more HH-60Ms will be delivered to this unit, increasing its compliment to twelve helicopters.

Between April 2021 and June 2021, the seventh UH-60A+ assigned to C/1-214th AVN was shipped back to the Continental United States (CONUS). This was helicopter 85-24397, which was allocated to BEST at Huntsville (AL) on 28 June 2021.

On 7 September 2021, Airbus North America delivered the first UH-72B Lakota helicopter to the United States Army. In total eighteen of these helicopters are on order. All are slated to be delivered to the United States Army National Guard (ARNG), but this first example was initially delivered to Huntsville (AL) for trials with the Aviation Flight Test Directorate (AFTD).

Additional Lakota news was published on 11 October 2021. On this day the UH-72A fleet surpassed the 1 million flying hours mark. The first UH-72A Lakota was delivered in 2006, and in total 463 of these helicopters were delivered to the US Army. About 45% of the Lakota fleet is used by 1-223rd AVN at Fort Rucker (AL) for helicopter pilot training.

On 8 October 2021, the US Army officially unveiled the first six UH-60V Black Hawk helicopters which were delivered. This ceremony took place at Fort Indiantown Gap (PA) where all six were delivered to the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) between 27 and 31 July 2021. The UH-60V is an upgrade program for older UH-60L helicopters. The digitalized cockpit has similar features as the UH-60M, reducing the pilot’s workload and increasing situational awareness. The upgrade work is executed by the US Army itself at the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) in Texas. The first production UH-60V example performed its first flight on 11 September 2020, and was subsequently delivered to the Aviation Flight Test Directorate (AFTD) at Huntsville (AL) for trials.

The US Army announced that the first operational unit to be equipped with the UH-60V will be 1-106th AVN IL ARNG during the summer of 2022. In total 760 UH-60L helicopters are planned to be converted to UH-60V standard. Even though not specifically mentioned, several of these will be former UH-60A helicopters which previously underwent A to L conversion and are thus brought to UH-60L standard.

From the various press photos these UH-60V helicopters were confirmed with EAATS: 92-26435, 95-26662, 00-26871 and 05-27042. Based on ADSB data, 91-26349 is also a likely candidate. It was confirmed with CCAD at Corpus Christi (TX) in March 2019 and again in July 2021. It showed up on ADSB flying together with some of the other (confirmed) UH-60V helicopters recently.

Other helicopters confirmed as converted to UH-60V standard are: 90-26242 (oct20), 90-26252 (dec20), 90-26302 (nov20) and 95-26646 (oct19). All four were used by AFTD for trials, with their the last noted dates in brackets behind each serial.

End-September, a rotation of the UH-72A helicopters and units deployed to the US-Mexico border area took place. Returning back home were the elements of 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment from the Army National Guards of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. These units were deployed since October 2020. In return, 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment deployed their elements from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska to the border region. Based on ADSB, the following movements took place:

Having been deployed to the Middle East since June 2020, 96-00110 returned home to A/6-52nd AVN mid-August 2021.

Chinook 14-08167 was last confirmed with B/2-10th AVN in September 2018, it was next reported with B(-)/2-238th AVN IL ARNG in July 2020. This last report however requires confirmation. Either way, it was confirmed with B/2-501st AVN by August 2021.

The last report of 79-23269 dates back to October 2020. It was then seen with BEST at Huntsville (AL) where it was being prepared for delivery to Afghanistan. It is confirmed as abandoned at Kabul. After attention with CCAD at Corpus Christi (TX), 81-23585 was delivered to the US Navy Test Pilot School (USNTPS) at NAS Patuxent River (MD) where it was allocated code 62. It was assigned to BEST on 1 September 2021, and offered for sale via the GSA in October 2021.

On 27 December 2017, 81-23604 was offered for sale to US Government Agencies, it was not seen anymore until it was reported abandoned at Bagram AB (Afghanistan) recently.

Both 20610 and 20681 were last reported with C/2-3rd AVN in 2017.

In addition to these confirmed transfers to 3-501st AVN several other aircraft are suspected to be in use by this unit since early-2021. Based on ADSB report the following examples seem to be fly out of Biggs AAF, Fort Bliss (TX), with thanks to the AH-64 Apache Research Group for this information!:

ex 4-3rd AVN: 13-20573, 13-20581, 13-20588, ..-20637, 14-20648, 14-20651 and 14-20657

ex 2-10th AVN: ..-20044, ..-20045, 07-20053, 07-20054, ..-20055, ..-20072, 07-20081 and 12-20542

ex nb: 10-20330 and 16-20839

As previously reported by Scramble, the first unit to receive the upgraded AH-64E Version 6 is 1-229th AVN at Grey AAF, JB Lewis-McChord (WA). With a big thanks to the Apache Research Group, we can present the following overview of the twenty-four helicopters assigned to this unit. But before going into detail on the serials, first an overview of the Order of Battle.

Alpha, Bravo and Charlie companies under 1-229th AVN each have eight AH-64E Apache helicopters assigned.

Between September 2016 and November 2019, 09-72111 was reported using code 11K, a photo dated April 2019 however shows code 11L. The question now is, if this helicopter ever was coded 11K to start out with, or if it was recoded at some point in time. Either way, the report with code 11L in November 2019 for sure seems to be incorrect.

Concerning 09-72118, various conflicting reports reached us mentioning codes 18F and 18G between November 2016 and April 2019. Photo-proof seems to confirm that 18F is the correct code for this period. To make matters more interesting, code 18C was quoted for this helicopter in September 2019....

Two other corrections or changes for Fort Rucker based Lakota concern 19-72429 and 19-72432. The 19-72429 was reported with code 29J, photo-proof however shows it being coded 29K. Similar, 19-72432 was reported as 19C, but photo-proof shows that the correct code is 32H.

Lakota 12-72270 most likely replaces 08-72062 with C(-)/1-112th AVN WA ARNG, which was seen on ADSB heading for Columbus (MS) on 15 March 2021. It has been recorded on ADSB flying out of Fort Rucker (AL) since September 2021.

According to ADSB several UH-72A helicopters have been transferred from Army National Guard units to 1-223rd AVN at Fort Rucker (AL):

The FY for this UH-72B requires confirmation, the contract was signed on 23 July 2020. In total 18 UH-72B helicopters are on order (with an option for three more), which are believed to be allocated serials 20-72464 until 20-72481. The construction number is being quoted as 21016, which was registered with Airbus Helicopters at Grand Prairie (TX) as N104AH on 7 September 2021. At this point in time we do not have confirmation if this is correct.