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The
RAF Cosford Airshow marks the
first of the RAF's airshows
of the year, and is one of the
first major shows of
the year. 2009's show was special
for a number of other reasons
too, not least the first 2009
display by Avro Vulcan XH558.
The Cosford airshow is the only
major airshow in the West Midlands
and regular attracts large crowds,
but 2009 saw all records smashed
with the gates shutting just
after 1pm. Paul Johnson/Flightline UK reports
from a scorching day in the
West Midlands. Photography copyright of the Author.
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Return
of the Vulcan
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The
Vulcan finally made
it's highly anticipated
first display of
2009 following a
difficult winter
with the Vulcan
to the Sky Trust
facing up to the
harsh financial
climate. Several
successful fund
raising campaigns
including a 24 hour
scramble to visit
all the UK's preserved
Vulcans succeeded
in raising the much
needed funds as
well as a huge amount
of publicity. After
Cosford, the Vulcan
is heading to Volkel
in the Netherlands
and the Kemble Air
Show.
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2009
is a difficult season for many
major airshows with a significant
change in RAF participation.
The RAF's role demo is confined
to recent history for now and
the loss of he Tucano display
has put a huge dent in the number
of display commitments that
can be honoured. Nowhere else
will highlight this as much
as the RAF's own airshows which
have seen the most dramatic
changes. No longer can flying
display directors rely on two
to three hours of RAF solo and
team displays to fill out a
show. This year, more than ever
they have to go through the
entire spectrum of displays
to create a full and varied
display that will have something
for everybody, not just the
enthusiasts. Generally the military
displays are much cheaper than
their civilian counterparts
which puts a strain on the budget
of any airshow in these difficult
financial times; a balance between
costs against income (tickets
sales, sponsorship and corporate
entertainment) can be tricky
to achieve.
The
scorching hot and weather, and
in part the anticipation of a
display by the Vulcan led
to record crowds at Cosford.
The estimated total that turned
up to the airfield was 58,000.
Many were turned away in early
afternoon as Cosford was unable
to soak up any more traffic.
Outside the airfield every other
viewing opportunity was used
and car were even parked up
on roundabouts and the verges
near the M54! Inside the airfield,
there were all the usual ground
shows you come to expect at
airshows including demonstrations
from the the based college which
includes Jaguars, Tornados
and Jet Provosts. Visitors
could also visit the co-located
RAF Museum and the new Cold
War exhibition.
The
show was opened by the RAF
Falcons Parachute Display Team
who jumped from
a Chinook rather than
the normal Hercules but the
team were able to perform a
full freefall display in the
sunny blue skies.
They
were followed by Team
Guinot and their two
Boeing Stearman flown
by Vic Norman and Steve Hicks.
On the wing were Sarah Tanner
and Lorraine Saddler. Team Guinot
were just one of several civilian acts.
Continuing the "barnstorming"
theme were the Tiger Club
Turbulent Team with
their usual aerial antics. Some
top level formation aerobatics
was seen courtesy of the Blades
under the new leadership
of Myles Garland. Andy Offer
has moved to take more of a
role running the business behind
the team, 2Excel Aviation. However,
he will make guest apearances
as Blade 3 during the season.
Pete Kynsey gave an awesome
display of aerobatics in the
Cosmic Wind, a
small aeroplane design for Formula
One air racing. The honour of
closing the show went to the
Aerostars who
put on a very good display of
formation and solo aerobatics
in their Yak-50s.
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Into
the Wild Blue Yonder!
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Commentary
for Cosford was
supplied by the
Airsound team of
Sean Maffett and
Jonathon Ruffle.
For the Cosford
Airshow they
produced a unique
combination of audio
broadcast and displays
called "Into
the Wild Blue Yonder!"
Using intervew with
displays pilots
Anna Walker (P-51D),
Flt Lt Dave Deighton
(Chinook) and Flt
Lt Matt Marker (Hawk)
as well as interviews
from other aviation
personalities and
the public, the
broadcast conveyed
the romance and
love of aviation
that many people
share. The broadcast
was thought provoking
and entertaining
as well as highly
orignal and will
hopefully be repeated
at further shows.
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Historic
displays were plentiful too
with a number of different machines.
Peter Vachers's Hurricane
I, Peter Teichman's P-40M
Kittyhawk and Anthony Hodgeson's
Spitfire IXT all put
on spirited displays. Later piston
power was represent by Martin
Willing's T-28S Fennec. Classic
jets also were out in force
with displays by a pair of Jet
Provost T5s, VPG's Vampire
T11 and one of the final
UK appearances by Golden Apple's
F-86A Sabre before it
heads across the atlantic. Of
course, the most popular historic
aircraft taking part was the
Vulcan B2 XH558. The
aircraft returned to the air
just in time to make Cosford
and the long anticipated start
to her 2009 display season in
the hands of Martin Withers.
Cosford
also attracted all of te UK
modern military displays with
the full portfolio of RAF teams
and solo displays with the Red
Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial
Flight, Typhoon, Chinook,
Hawk and Tutor in
attendance. The King Air
display team also made their
first appearance of the year.
Despite starting slightly later
than many of the other teams,
the King Air is committed to
more events throughout the 2009
season building on the success
of their debut last year.
The
Royal Navy's solo representation
was the Black Cats display
team, but they were joined by
the Army's new look Blue
Eagles display team
with their WAH-64D Apache
and Lynx AH7 duo
which is a very interesting
display.
The
only international display of
the afternoon was from the Belgian
Air Component's Sea King
Mk48 giving a search and
rescue demonstration. The vividly
marked Sea King was one of the
highlights of the afternoon.
The
2009 Cosford was the perfect
family airshow with a great
airfield, stunning weather and
a good varied line up of aircraft
to suit all tastes. The huge
crowds that Cosford attacts
year on year are testament to
that.
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