8 Flight Army Air CorpS

8 Flight AAC (Army Air Corps) is a little-known and rarely spotted fleet of 4 Eurocpter Dauphins and 2 Gazelle helicopters that support the Special Air Service.

Painted in civilian colours, the AS365 N3 Dauphin helicopters of 8 flight can blend in to normal civilian air traffic and thus allow the SAS to be transported quickly but covertly around the United Kingdom. In addition to covert transport, 8 flight Dauphins can also fly the SAS into action during Counter-Terrorism operations.

8 Flight is based at SAS HQ at Credenhill, near Hereford.

8 flight Dauphins are believed to be fitted with external threat detection, sensor and jamming pods, plus a set of antennas for secure radio communications gear housed inside the cabin.

photos of 8 flight Dauphins (courtesy of Airliners.net) :

Eurocopter AS365 N3 Specifications

AAC Gazelle helicopter - helicopters like this supported SAS and 14 Company operations in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

DoD photo by: TSGT G. DENNIS PLUMMER

Westland Gazelle Specifications

Previous 8 flight helicopters

Until 2008, when they were replaced by the Dauphins, 8 Flight operated a fleet of 4 Agusta A109s, 2 of which were captured from the Argentines during the Falklands conflict.

photos of 8 flight A109s (courtesy of Airliners.net) :

Agusta A109 Specifications

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