Early glimpse of RAF Lossiemouth Typhoons
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AN EARLY glimpse of typhoons flying over Moray is being afforded to local residents.
Three aircraft from RAF Leuchars are in the area for Exercise Moray Venture, designed to test the new facilities for 6 Squadron ahead of their arrival at RAF Lossiemouth in June.
The squadron will be the first of three to arrive at the Moray base under the RAF Scotland Transition Programme.
For several months, work has been carried out at RAF Lossiemouth to refurbish hangars in preparation for the arrival of the new aircraft.
Number 6 Squadron became the first Typhoon fighter squadron to be based in Scotland when it officially stood up at RAF Leuchars in September 2010.
Wing Commander Mike Baulkwill, Officer Commanding 6 Squadron, said: “Exercise Moray Venture is an exciting exercise for 6 Squadron; it forms just one part of our overall plan to move the squadron successfully to RAF Lossiemouth in June this year.
“The exercise will allow the squadron to operate and engineer from its new buildings, whilst offering RAF Lossiemouth the chance to work alongside Typhoon.
“The exercise will see Typhoon flying all types of missions – Close Air Support with the British Army right through to Air Defence missions over the North Sea.
“The squadron is really looking forward to the move, and the welcome that RAF Lossiemouth has afforded us has been superb. As always it is vital that we ensure that our people are looked after throughout the transition period and to that end this exercise offers us all another opportunity to work and live at RAF Lossiemouth before our move later this year.”
Squadron Leader Cameron Gibb, Senior Engineering Officer, said the exercise would give the squadron a feel for how it will engineer, plan and operate Typhoon from the new base.
He said: “It’s important for 6 Squadron and RAF Lossiemouth to set the scene for the years to come and to allow the squadron personnel the chance to see how great they new set up, station and local area are. It also gives the station the chance to get to know a bit more about Typhoon.”
Number 1 (Fighter) Squadron is due to arrive in Moray later this year, while a third Typhoon squadron is expected to form at Lossie in the spring of 2015.
Exercise Moray Venture got underway on Monday, and runs until March 28.
