helis.com News Tracker

British Army

UK 3 Flight

3 Flt

1958–2009

Formed from 1903 Flight in 1958. 6 month tour of Cyprus from Jun 1964 (where it relieved 21 Flight of its UNFICYP committment), returning to Netheravon in Feb 1965 (relieved by 6 Flight). It was then ordered to Northern Ireland. Its 4 Scout were absorbed by 656 Squadron when it was posted to Borneo in Oct 1965. As part of the drawback from full decentralisation, it was amalgamated at Netheravon with two other Air Troops to form the core of a new 663 Squadron in 1969.
After re-equipping with Gazelle in 1976 and a period in Northern Ireland as a resident unit, it moved to Topcliffe in 1979, where it was eventually absorbed into 9 REGT AAC and de-activated in 1991. It re-surfaced in 1993 and when RAF Turnhouse (the military side of Edinburgh airport) closed, the Flight moved to Leuchars and finally disbanded at Netheravon in 2009.
At least from 1980 to 1985 it was 7 Regiment rather then 9 Regiment according to my father who is a veteran of 3 flight from the era.

Locations

1964-1965 LCNC NIC CY Nicosia (Lefkosia) International Airport
1976-1979 Lisanelly Barracks
1979-1991 EGXZ RAF Topcliffe
1993-1996 EGPH EDI Edinburgh
1996-2009 EGQL ADX Leuchars
2009 EGDN AAC Netheravon

Models

1964-1969 Westland Scout AH.1
1976-1991 Aerospatiale SA341B Gazelle AH.1
1993-2009 Aerospatiale SA341B Gazelle AH.1

Airframes (10)

Reg Model C/N Built
XX392 ah.1 1302 1975
XX456 ah.1 1465 1976
XZ311 ah.1 1578
XZ324 ah.1 1634 1977
XZ327 ah.1 1645 1977
XZ341 ah.1 1692 1977
XZ345 ah.1 1705 1978
XZ349 ah.1 1720 1978
ZB688 ah.1 1999
ZB691 ah.1 2006