A very welcome first appearance by a Canadian Kingfisher at RIAT, from 442 SAR Sqdn at Comox

Having arrived from Seville the day before, this Kingfisher continued its journey today to Keflavik.

About to touch down on Runway 12 at Prestwick for an overnight stop. Arriving from Seville, Spain, as CFC1000 on the first leg of its transatlantic delivery flight.

Wore test registration EC-192. Passing through on delivery.

Final to land r12 . Delivery flight from Seville, overnight stop and crew rest.

Inbound for Rwy 12 and a night stop on its delivery flight from Seville to Canada.

Turning on to Rwy 30 for departure back to the factory in Seville after failing to cross the pond to Canada due to weather and other problems on its delivery flight.

The first known visit of a Kingfisher happened today. It came in so that the crew could have lunch at the Victoria FC restaurant.

After many months of waiting, an example of the new Kingfisher SAR aircraft showed up today. It flew CFB Comox (CYQQ) to Kelowna (CYLW) low approach, to Penticton (CYYF) low approach, here for a low approach then back to Comox. Call-sign is "Bluenose (BNZ) 516". It will be nice to see one landing like the Buffaloes that it replaced used to do.

Whilst this photo is well below expected standards, it is offered out of interest as it now clear that the Canadian Kingfisher programme to replace the SAR Buffalos faces serious problems with shortfalls in performance delaying further deliveries. Weight increases have led to the CC-295 being underpowered. This example was flight testing last summer and still sits awaiting its fate next to 295516. Meantime, CC-130Hs are being used in a stop-gap role. Rather like the USN NC-37 I've just uploaded, it's one of those frustrating southward views where the sun never reaches that side of the subject.

Seen here with the Airbus facilities