Some forty members of the Fleet Air Arm Squadron and Fleet Air Arm Officers Association and their guests, together with ten officers from 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, attended the 'Jointery' Fly In at Wattisham.

The numbers of those intending to fly in was reduced by aircraft unserviceability and weather (near gale force winds were forecast directly across the sole runway). Amongst those who managed to get down in one piece were Michael Bonham Cozens in his Bonanza B.36 with passenger Air Vice Marshall David Niven the Joint Helicopter Force Commander from Middle Wallop, Denis Stanley and Robin Morton in a PA28, Bernard Maslin and Lesley Banks in an AA5 from Denham - and - that intrepid Yorkshire aviator Arthur Record who landed his Mistral across the runway and then had to tie his aircraft to a lamp post to stop it blowing away !The following Squadron members came by car:- Gregory Moor, Dick and Mags Roberts, Michael Ryan, Roger and Carol Richardson Bunbury, Phil and Sue Moore with Peter Lovegrove.

Those attending had an enjoyable and most instructive day hearing a series of lectures on the theme of 'Jointery'. The guests were welcomed by the CO of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps who gave a brief history of Wattisham which was taken over by the Army in 1993. Michael Ryan then gave a short review of the Fleet Air Arm Squadron, its aims and composition. He was followed by Air Vice Marshall David Niven the Joint Helicopter Force Commander. In the 1970's AVM Niven had served on exchange in Fearless and Hermes so 'knew of what he spoke', and he made a persuasive case for the joint helicopter force, not least because only the RAF Chinooks can lift the Royal Marines heavier equipment. Moreover with the emphasis on manoeuvre warfare requiring combined arms forces and rapid reaction (substantial elements of the force are at twelve hours notice), there is a need for the helicopters of all three services to have the ability to operate from ships.

Colonel Robert Webb-Bowen (Colonel Attack Helicopter/Force Development, HQ Director Army Aviation) then gave an overview of the WAH-64,an anglicised version of the US Apache helicopter. The US version is underpowered and modifications include the fitting of a British engine, considerably increasing the power available (the engine has had to be de-rated to avoid overstressing the drive shaft) and blade folding. It is clear that the WAH-64 is a formidable and formidably complex, weapon system. (Further details are available on website < www.army.mod.uk/aht/. > ). The morning concluded with an overview by Commodore Chris Clayton of the Fleet Air Arm of today.

Principal points were :-

• The FAA is now spread across 3 service commands: RN - CINCFLEET (Merlin, Lynx, Sea King); Army - CINCLAND (Sea King, Lynx and Gazelle); RAF - CINCSTRIKE (Sea Harriers).
• Aviation capable platforms in service in 2015 are planned to include: CV(F) x 2, FF/DD x 25; LPH, LPD,LSL (logistics), AOR, ATS (Air Training Ship).
• The Joint Strike Fighter has been renamed, - it is now called the Future Combat Aircraft.
• Carrier Air Groups will comprise 2 Dark Blue Squadrons and one Light Blue.
• The future AEW aircraft will probably be based on either the Merlin or Hawkeye.
• The amphibious group will be equipped with a heavy lift helicopter dubbed SABR (Merlin/Chinook?)
• Frigates and destroyers will be equipped with the SCMR (Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft) which will be a Lynx possibly followed on by the Merlin.
• All basic air engineering training for all three services will be conducted at RAF Cosford. In future, in the interests of standardisation, each service will take the lead in each area of equipment and administration, the RAF taking the lead in aviation matters.

At this point, time having been over run, the question session was adjourned to the bar, followed by an excellent lunch at which Michael Bonham Cozens spoke, thanking our hosts. After lunch guests departed by air and car with some trepidation being felt for Arthur Record as he departed for York in his Mistral heading into a stiff and increasing northerly wind. When last seen he was making slow progress but, at the time the last of the earth bound visitors departed, had not been sighted in the overhead travelling south --tail first !

Report compiled from information supplied by Roger Richardson Bunbury and Michael Ryan.