Skyvan and Bell Huey

[Mort7]

Skyvan seen doing circuits around Oxford Airport for much of yesterday afternoon, plus Bell Huey coming in just before dusk. Both seen from RSPB Otmoor.

Anyone know who's running the Skyvan, and what it's used for?

[Lemming Train]

Skyvan is C-FARA of Summit Air. They have been known to do sky-diving in the past but don't know if that's what it's doing at Oxford. It's operating out of Brize Norton and has just landed back there after another sortie.

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/0015067...

[Mabbs9]

The Skyvan used to be a regular at Oxford late 90's.

[Mort7]

Thanks. It was too far away to get the registration, even with binoculars, but that seems to be the one. There were no parachutists in evidence. It was just doing a few circuits, before landing, taking off shortly afterwards, then doing more circuits. Maybe some some sort of maintenance/testing?

Haven't seen one for ages, so thought it worthy of note. Similarly the Bell Huey, which is something of a rarity around here.

[piecost76]

Back in the day, we used Skyvan for first few jumps on the military Basic Parachute Course at No 1 PTS, RAF Brize Norton. The DZ was Weston on the Green so it may have been that?

[Mort7]

Yes. Looking at the map that seems more likely. Thanks.

[MB140]

Having spent some time on Hercs at Brize the skyvan was used by the RAF Falcons display team occasionally. Cheaper than using one of the hercs.

Oh and when one of the guys hit the ice cream van a few years back someone parked an old ice cream van in the display team car park. Used to make me chuckle on the way to work. Wasn’t there long so someone higher off up the food chain probably didn’t see the funny side.

[andy97]

piecost76 said:

Back in the day, we used Skyvan for first few jumps on the military Basic Parachute Course at No 1 PTS, RAF Brize Norton. The DZ was Weston on the Green so it may have been that?

In the early 2000s, Babcock (previously Hunting Contract Services) used to run a Skyvan on contract for this.

[Mort7]

Now confirmed on Flightradar24

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/c-fara...

Thanks.

[ecsrobin]

From memory the sky an has been operating out of Brize for many years to support parachute training.

[Mort7]

Thanks.

[RobbyJ]

Before C-FARA took on the role there was a Skyvan registered G-PIGY doing the same job which given the look of a Skyvan I thought was a great registration.

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/8340291

[Mort7]

. They remind me of a Bedford J2 20 seat coach, with wings.