__________________________________________________________________________
         
         ROYAL AIR FORCE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY         
      DEFENCE COLLEGE AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING COSFORD
           WOLVERHAMPTON WV7 3EX ENGLAND
           
            VOICE ON THE AIR G8FC/G8RAF            
            WEB SITE www.rafars.org
__________________________________________________________________________

  RAFARS NEWS LETTER VIA E-MAIL/PACKET/WEB SITE/NATIONAL NET/ROYAL MAIL

FEBRUARY 2009                         ISSUE No 129
__________________________________________________________________________

NEW AND REJOINED MEMBERS.

      4685 M3XMH MARK
      4686 M6AJH AMY

SILENT KEYS.

      1470 G4LLU GEOF
      2085 2W1EEP JOHN
      3006 G0KQP JOHN
     
CALL SIGN CHANGES.

      4667 M0XSM COLIN was 2E0TSM

RAFARS NL JAN NO NEWS BULLETIN ON THE NATIONAL NET.
On Sunday Jan 10 News Desk was unable to transmit the RAFARS News Letter
128 on the Daily National RAFARS 80m Net 3.710 at 1900hrs due to skip
conditions. In the last few weeks the evening 1830hrs RAFARS Net has
suffered a black out due to the long skip winter conditions. Hopefully it
will improve as the evenings get lighter. The 1100hrs daily RAFARS
National net 3.710 has not had any skip problems so communications have
continued for members with G3RAF/G4PFR Control.

COUNCIL VACANCY - VOLUNTEERS STILL REQUIRED, .
There is an immediate vacancy for a Marketing Manager and a Field Rep.
Co-ordinator. Volunteers should contact our General Secretary, Mike G7JPN,
as soon as possible.

COUNCIL MEETINGS 2009
Feb 17: May 07: Jun 30: Sep 01: NOV 17: All meetings commence at 1200hrs.
All members may attend meetings but travel costs can not paid.
The AGM will be held at Cosford on Oct 17 at 1330hrs.

RAFARS QRV JOURNAL.
Please send Stories/News/Pictures/Events/Snippets/Debriefs or Whatizzits
to Roy <g0tak@kencomp.net> or post to G0TAK (QTHr in QRZ).

RAFARS CONTESTS, RALLIES WITH RAFARS STANDS AND OTHER EVENTS.
8 Feb   Harwell, Didcot Leisure Centre        Contact Peter G6TPC
5 Apr   Northern ARS Assoc Rally at Norbeck Blackpool Contact Roy G0TAK
19 Apr  RAFARS Spring VHF Contest See QRV Journal for rules
26 Apr  Yeovil QRP Conv'n. Digby Hall, Sherborne  Contact Michael M0MJG
4 May   Dartmoor Radio Club. Tavistock College   Contact Michael M0MJG
1-7 Jun  GB60BTF Bridge Too Far           Contact Dennis GW4XKE
     GB2ADU Air Supply Units          Contact Dennis GW4XKE
6/7 Jun  NFD CW RSGB at Metheringham Visitors Centre Contact Roger G3ZDW
3  Sep  RAFARS Rolling CW Contest See QRV Journal for rules
5/6 Sep  NFD SSB RSGB at Metheringham Visitors Centre Contact Roger G3ZDW
6  Dec  RAFARS Christmas Contest and Greetings See QRV Journal for rules
10 Jan10 RSGB AFS CW Members get a team together and inform  Roger G3ZDW
16 Jan  RSGB AFS SSB Members get a team together and inform Roger G3ZDW
All Contest Volunteers/Queries and Contest log sheets to Roger G3ZDW

GB2RAF AIR DEFENCE RADAR MUSEUM RAF NEATISHEAD RAFARS PERMANENT S.E.S.
10 Jan 09 . Number of contacts 26. Radio conditions good. 
GB2RAF joined the 1100 RAFARS Net and direct contacts made with
G3RAF/G4PFR G2AFV and later with 2E0TSM GB2AIR M0GJX GB2BP G3WRD and
GB1WAB was a new special contact. 3 stations came on the air who may
join RAFARS in the near future. We did do a stint on 20m CW but no DX.
It is now getting very noticeable that GB2RAF has worked so many stations
(approx 5000) that we do not get the usual pile ups we used to get and it
is not so much poor conditions but there does not seem to be too many
stations on 80m on a Saturday afternoon these days.
GB2RAF should be QRV every 2nd Saturday of the Month 1000-1500hrs local on
RAFARS frequencies SSB or CW on 80m, or 40m if conditions are poor.
For contact see Terry G4PSH under RAFARS NEWS DESK below.
The Museums Web site is www.radarmuseum.co.uk or telephone 01692 631485.

AIRFIELDS ON THE AIR (AOTA).
No activation notified.
If Members put an Airfield on the air please advise Vince G4DQP and
News Desk, so that all will be aware of the AOTA date time and location.
  
AIR TRAINING CORPS RADIO.
Any information relating to the ATC or those interested in joining as
Officers or Instructors please contact HQAC Radio Society Dave M5AGW
RAFARS 3477 QTHr or e-mail Dave at <g8bcq@virgin.net>.
Also see www.air-cadets.org

RAFARS QSL BUREAU, IS YOUR CALL-SIGN BELOW.
Wef 14/01/09 Outstanding QSL Cards await SAEs from 64 Members
with the following Call signs-
G0CLR G0FUV G0FRO G0GHK GW0PDB G3AZW G3DQY G3IFB G3IUC G3JFR G3JSR G3JJZ
G3KCF G3KYF G3MWN GM3MAS GM3MRV G3NKQ G3NPB G3OPP G3REN G3RLF G3TIX G3TQX
G3VTO G3WBP G3ZRP G3ZRZ G4DDX G4EBL G4FQW GW4FRH G4KCF G4KMW G4KTX G4SOH
G4XZA G4YFH G8GRT G8RW G8LGC G8PQ G8UUG G8ZGK M0AEO MW0BLU M0BZY M0CHL
M0MRW M0RBI M0TWA MM0WHA M0YCQ MW0ZZD M1FCV M1RAL M1TLK M3KHA M3VRG MW5AGS
M5AGW M5GJO 2E0TSM 2W0JPF.
As from 1 April 09 postage will cost 1st class 39p and 2nd class 30p.
Send 2nd Class 27p SAEs to Andrew M3NDZ RAFARS QSL Bureau Manager QTHr in
the RAFARS QRZ page 51 or inform Andrew to destroy them. QSL Cards will be
sent to the RSGB if not claimed within 6 months.
If you are in contact with any of the above, please advise them to send
SAEs for 27p to RAFARS QSL Bureau.

RAF TRANSPORT COMMAND VETERANS ASSOCIATION.
A RAF Transport Command Veterans Association is being formed any RAFARS
Members interested in joining are to contact Mike G3TEV RAFARS 287 QTHr
or e-mail mike@g3ev.freeserve.co.uk who will give you full details.

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/SHUTTLES.
12 Feb 2009 Discovery STS119 to ISS attach final pair of solar arrays.
12 May Atlantis STS125 (was delayed) to Hubble Telescope for last servicing.
15 May Endeavour STS127 to ISS Third final part of the Kibo Laboratory.
06 Aug Atlantis STS128 to ISS Logistics mission and parts for Columbus lab.
12 Nov Discovery STS129 to ISS take up two spare gyroscopes.
10 Dec Endeavour STS130 to ISS Node3 with the Euro built Cupola window.
11 Feb 2010 Atlantis STS131 Logistics mission with stock of supplies.
08 Apr Discovery STS132 Russian Research Module attached to rear of ISS.
31 May Endeavour STS133 to ISS 15 day mission 35 orbiter flight,
All Shuttle Flights are subject to delays.
To see it all happening with all the latest news, go to
www.rafars.org to Link NASATV.SPACE or just type NASA TV on the Internet.

NEW MEMBERS ROYAL AIR FORCE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY.
For Membership details contact: The General Secretary G7JPN, HQ RAFARS,
DCAE Cosford, Wolverhampton, WV7 3EX. Tel: 01902 372722 (Answerphone only)
The HQ office will be checked weekly for mail and messages.
You may also e-mail <rafars.gen.sec@googlemail.com>
Check eligibility for membership by logging onto:
http://www.ruyton.demon.co.uk/html/are_you_eligible_to_join_rafar.HTM
then print the application form (PDF file format) on an A4 sheet, fill it
in, enclose the appropriate fee and then post it to the Secretary for
approval and processing.

RAFARS NEWS DESK.
Send your RAFARS EVENTS at LEAST one month in advance or a News Flash to
Terry G4PSH 306 e-mail address terry@g4psh.co.uk
Packet at G4PSH@GB7VLS.#35.GBR.EU, Tel 01692 582064.
or by letter QTHr International Call Books or see www.qrz.com.

This Newsletter was produced by Terry G4PSH.
Edited by Mike G7JPN RAFARS General Secretary.
Transmitted from DCAE Cosford to GB7MAX via TelNet for Paket GBR/WWW.
E-mailed Bcc & mailed direct to 124 Members by News Desk (on your request)
Down loaded on RAFARS Web site by Gary G0DNI under News Letters.   

-----------------------End of News Letter 129-----------------------------