We currently live in turbulent times, and military forces around the world now play a bigger role than ever in shaping the world in which we reside. Daily news reports from the likes of Iraq and Afghanistan, show the dependency on military power to enforce policy and fight the war on terrorism.

Little is ever mentioned with regards to Scotland, and the amount of activity that goes on in and around our airspace. Over the past few years, our main Ally, the United States, has become ever dependant on Scotland for training and for operations. The amount of activity is staggering, and what is even more fascinating, is the fact that most of it goes unreported. Military test flights, stealth over flights and Special Operations are only a few examples of what can be found in and around Scotland.

In 2004, Scotland was host to several large scale exercises which included Exercise Eagle Eyes, one of the largest exercises carried out by the army in years, and also the Joint Maritime Course 04-03, which employed UK Special Forces to pose as terrorists to test ship and port security. Living in the middle of all this activity, it is hard to go about daily mundane tasks, without constantly watching and listening.

During the summer of 2005, world leaders converged on Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, Scotland, as they attended the G8 Summit. This was quite possibly the most significant aviation related event to ever take place in Scotland. Thousands of aviation fans crowded the airport during the week of the Summit to catch a glimpse of some very rare and highy specialised aicraft.

More recently, controversial flights through Prestwick have included suspected CIA rendition flights and also cargo flights carrying weapons en-route to Israel, during the recent conflicts in that area. The use of the airport in both instances, has resulted in major political back lash, high profile media coverage and protests around the airport.

With a passion for aviation, I am able to provide a unique and knowledgeable insight into the world of military aviation. Airshow reports and exercise coverage is only a small selection of the work which I currently undertake for a variety of publications, with the main magazine being Radio User.


A Royal Air Force Puma rests on the taxiway while a 28Sqn Chinook HC2 taxis after landing during
a deployed exercise.

48 Fighter Wing USAF Pilot "Champ" poses in his flight gear during the 2006 Leuchars Airshow
Media Preview, with his F-15E Strike Eagle in the background.