Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the low-flying avoidance area over the Isle of Man was temporarily suspended to permit low-level overflight by Royal Air Force Hercules transport aircraft participating in exercise Purple Warrior.
§ Mr. FreemanNo.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list Royal Air Force participation in Red Flag exercises in the United States of America since 1977, giving the number and type of Royal Air Force aircraft involved and dates of the exercises on each occasion.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information requested is as follows:
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Royal Air Force participation in Red Flag exercises Date Aircraft involved 19771 18 August to 12 September 9 Buccaneer August to September 4 Vulcan 19781 21 October to 18 November 9 Buccaneer 9 Jaguar 19801 26 January to 9 February 9 Jaguar 9 February to 23 February 9 Jaguar 19811 10 January to 22 January 8 Jaguar 18 January to 30 January 9 Tornado 2 Jaguar 30 January to 13 February 9 Jaguar 15 October to 29 November 9 Buccaneer 19831 9 January to 21 January 9 Jaguar 2 Hercules 19 January to 18 February 2 Buccaneer 24 January to 4 February 9 Jaguar 8 Buccaneer 6 February to 18 February 9 Jaguar 1984 7 January to 21 January 9 Jaguar 2 Buccaneer 21 January to 4 February 9 Jaguar 3 February to 17 February 9 Jaguar 1985 5 January to 16 February 8 Jaguar 2 Hercules 17 January to 3 February 9 Jaguar 1986 21 October to 7 November 9 Tornado 2 Hercules 8 November to 22 November 9 Tornado 1987 20 October to 7 November 9 Tornado 8 Phantom 7 November to 21 November 2 Hercules 7 November to 25 November 9 Tornado 8 Phantom
1 Precise central records not available for the period before 1984 although details given are thought to be broadly accurate.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list Royal Air Force participation in Green Flag exercises in the United States of America since 19777, giving the number and type of Royal Air Force aircraft involved and dates of the exercise on each occasion.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information requested is as follows:
RAF Participation in Green Flag Exercises Date Aircraft Involved 1985 4 March—15 March 9 Tornado 18 March—29 March 8 Tornado 1986 1 March—15 March 9 Tornado 15 March—28 March 9 Tornado 29 March—12 April 9 Tornado 1987 2 March—13 March 9 Tornado 11 March—28 March 9 Tornado 28 March—15 April 9 Tornado
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list Royal Air Force participation in Blue Flag exercises in the United States of America since 1977, giving the number and type of Royal Air Force aircraft involved and dates of the exercise on each occasion.
§ Mr. FreemanThere has been no RAF participation in Blue Flag exercises in the United States of America.