NLR Swearingen SA-226 PH-NLZ

[MartinNeedham]

Morning all,

I've recently developed an interest in all things research aircraft and the above Metro II has caught my eye.. Could anyone be able to confirm where it's based and how often it flies etc? I'm heading over to the Netherlands in March and would return a very happy chap if I'd managed to shoot it.

Many thanks,

Martin Needham

[Heron]

I don't know how often it flies, but it is based at Schiphol and resides (together with research aicraft C550 PH-LAB) in a hangar at Schiphol-East. It's the one at the Thermiekstraat opposite the biggest Martinair hangar next to the big parkinglot. You can see it through a window on the side. Among others it's being used as an calibrator, so it should fly regularly. Operator is the NLR (Nationaal Lucht- en Ruimtevaartlaboratorium = National Air- and Space Laboratory).
But others closer to Schiphol should be able to tell you more

Greetingsenzo,
Bert.

[Hurricane]

Morning all,

I've recently developed an interest in all things research aircraft and the above Metro II has caught my eye.. Could anyone be able to confirm where it's based and how often it flies etc? I'm heading over to the Netherlands in March and would return a very happy chap if I'd managed to shoot it.

Many thanks,

Martin Needham

She is based in hangar 3 (west bay, seen from the public road). On her activity, she flies regular for ILS calibrations however not on a solid patern.

[frank kramer]

See your PM...

[MartinNeedham]

Many thanks, Chaps, that's superb info and greatly appreciated.

I stumbled across the large car park at Schipol Oost on my last visit, back in October, so know roughly where I'm going!

Thanks again,

Martin

[frank kramer]

My pleasure Next year, show us the pics

[MartinNeedham]

My pleasure Next year, show us the pics

Will do!

As an addition, I believe the Luchtvaartpolitie still have an MBB BO-105 (possibly PH-RPZ?) on strength as a reserve aircraft?

Would anyone be able to shed some light on where this is also based?

Many thanks,

Martin

[Gietje]

My pleasure Next year, show us the pics

Will do!

As an addition, I believe the Luchtvaartpolitie still have an MBB BO-105 (possibly PH-RPZ?) on strength as a reserve aircraft?

Would anyone be able to shed some light on where this is also based?

Many thanks,

Martin

Definitely not PH-RPZ, was cancelled on 16-02-2011, and exported as P2-LAE. Written off on 7-7-2012 actually.
Link to accident report.
I don't think there are any BO-105s left at Schiphol, I have not seen one there for many years.

[frank kramer]

If my memory serves me right, one or two Bo105's were retained and kept in reserve until the full complement of new helo's was received. As this has been the case for some time now (EC135's PH-PXA/B/C/D/E and AW139's PH-PXY/Z), the final Bo's left almost two years ago. Mostly, 2-3 of the EC's and both AW's are based at Schiphol.

[Heron]

and don't forget PH-PXF

[cHabu]

Assume the impounded MD900 is also still at SPL-east ?

[MartinNeedham]

Many thanks for the confirmation, obviously the Wikipedia page on the Luchtvaartpolitie hasn't been updated recently!

Cheers,

Martin