Posted by Flightline UK on 26/11/2008 under Any other business | 
Spitfire fans will have the chance to see this magnificent aircraft display in a unique setting right on the edge of Northwich, Cheshire, on Sunday May 10.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire will perform at Thundersprint 2009 – an incredible mix of classic motorcycle racing, street entertainment and fine food which takes over this pretty market town during the second weekend in May.
The Thundersprint festival has completely free admission, and free parking, and provides a packed day’s entertainment for the whole family. Turn one corner and there’s a 1960s Grand Prix star munching on a home made wild boar pie – walk around the next and find thoroughbred classic race bikes mingling with Morris Dancers and Jazz bands: there’s nowhere like the Thundersprint!
Star attractions on two-wheels this year are double World Champion and MotoGP star James Toseland and six times World Champion Jim Redman.
As the tension builds for the start of four hours of non-stop racing, the BBMF Spitfire roars across the sky in salute and the thunder of the mighty Merlin engine echoes from Marks and Spencer’s store wall! Truly, an unmissable experience for any fan of classic aircraft – and one which is absolutely unique to the Thundersprint.
Spectator entry to the Thundersprint is free, as is parking, but arriving early is recommended because Northwich gets very busy. The Thundersprint is very family friendly and welcomes well-behaved pets – and children. Facilties for the disabled are excellent with free parking right in the centre of the show.
For more information visit www.thundersprint.com or ‘phone 01928 740 498.
Posted by Flightline UK on 23/11/2008 under Display Team News and Dates |
From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard
A WING-WALKING team are searching for a new sponsor to have their name plastered all over their aircraft.
The world’s only formation wingwalking team, based at Rendcomb Airfield, near Cirencester, is offering companies the rare opportunity to bid for headline sponsorship of the high-flying act in 2010 after face-cream firm Guinot pulled out.
The sole owner of the UK distributors for Guinot died suddenly in February and the company was unable to sign a 2010 contract.
“The wingwalking sponsorship has been immensely successful,” said Ros Grace, managing director of the current distributors of Guinot.
“The headline-grabbing nature of daring girls looping through the skies standing on the top wing of beautiful biplanes ensures the team are regularly featured on national television and in the national press, we are very sad not to be sponsoring the team after 2009.”
For further information regarding this opportunity contact Rhiannon Roche on 01285 831774.
Posted by Flightline UK on under Red Bull Air Race |
Four new pilots from four countries and four continents will join the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2009, the largest crop of rookies in the history of the world’s fastest growing motorsport. At age 24, Canada’s Pete McLeod will be the youngest ever pilot in the high-speed, precision flying race, while the three other rookies – Japan’s Yoshihide Muroya (35), Australia’s Matt Hall (37), Germany’s Matthias Dolderer (38) – are all also younger than reigning World Champion Hannes Arch (41) who joined in 2007.
Muroya said he is proud to be the first pilot from Asia to break into the ranks of the low-flying racing elite while Dolderer is looking forward to putting Germany back on the map after the retirement in 2007 of one of the original Red Bull Air Race pilots, Klaus Schrodt. McLeod’s goal is to become a World Champion before the age of 30 and Hall, the first Australian pilot, has been scrutinizing race footage to prepare for the track and will be looking to turn the field upside down.
“I’m obviously extremely excited and found it hard to keep my emotions in check when I got the news,” said Hall, an Australian Air Force fighter pilot who along with the other three newcomers, were informed this week after having met the requirements with flying colours at a Qualifying Camp in Spain in September. “It’s a great opportunity to represent Australia and I’m excited about being the first Australian in the race. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us now. The focus is to get a fast plane, learn to fly it quickly and get into the track.”
The rookies were selected from six candidates at the Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp in Casarrubios, Spain this year where they were put through their paces and given the opportunity to prove their ability to become future race pilots. All four gained the coveted ‘Super Licence’ which is the essential pass needed to compete in a Red Bull Air Race. They impressed the race panel at the Qualifying Camp both with their flying prowess as well as their determination to make their mark on the race early and get onto the podium. As far as 2009 goes, the rookies are looking to Arch and his quick rise to the top as not only a role model but also the man to beat. The highly competitive and talented young guns all made it clear that they see themselves as title contenders in the not-too-distant future.
“Hannes showed that you don’t have to have 30,000 hours flying commercial jets to succeed in the Red Bull Air Race,” said McLeod, referring to Arch’s quick ascent to the top. The first Canadian pilot to enter the championship has a degree in economics and got his pilot’s licence at age 16 even before he got a driver’s licence. McLeod said that he brings unique experience to the race, flying the rugged north of Canada. “I’ve been flying since I was six years old. I grew up in airplanes and was a commercial bush pilot in a demanding environment at a young age. The Red Bull Air Race inspired me from the start. It’s got all the elements that drive me and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Dolderer has been eager to break into the field since 2002. “It’s great for Germany to have a pilot in the race again,” said Dolderer. “I sometimes feel like I was born for this kind of flying. It’s a combination of speed, challenge, adrenaline, precision, aggressiveness and keeping it all in balance. The race has got it all and I’m really looking forward to the start of the new season.”
Muroya, who got his flying licence at age 19 in Los Angeles to save a few yen, said it was his aim to help make the championship a truly worldwide event and he believes his entry will spark a dramatic rise in interest not only in his home country of Japan but across Asia. “It’s going to make the Red Bull Air Race World Championship a truly international race,” he said. “It’s already got a following in Japan but now I think there’s going to be an explosion in interest.”
Red Bull Air Race Aviation Director Heinz Moeller said all four pilots had amply demonstrated that they are among the best pilots in the world. “It’s good to have some fresh new faces in the championship,” he said. “We knew they were all good pilots but they also pleasantly surprised us with their skills and the high quality of their performance. There’s a good chance that they’ll be out-performing some of the veteran pilots in their first season.”
The full line-up for 2009 is yet to be announced although the number of pilots competing may well increase from this year’s field of 12. 2009 will mark the largest number of rookies to ever enter the competition in one year. In 2005 there were two rookies (Spain’s Alejandro Maclean and American Mike Goulian), two joined in 2007 (Austria’s Arch and Russian Sergey Rakhmanin) and one in 2008 (South Africa’s Glen Dell).
Although the 2009 race calendar is yet to be announced, fans can look forward to spectacular and new race locations and exciting developments which are certain to make the Red Bull Air Race World Championship even more thrilling than in 2008.
Posted by Flightline UK on under Display Team News and Dates |
From BAC Website:-
“The demo pilot of the Air Component F-16 Solo Display 2009 – 2011 is Michel “Mitch” BEULEN of 349 (F) Squadron at Kleine Brogel Air Base.
Mitch was born on June 16th, 1975 in Oostende and lives together with Kim and his 2 sons, Niels and Mathias, in Hasselt since 2003.
He acquired his first flying experience with the Belgian Air Cadets (BAC) in 1992. In October 1996 he included the promotion pilots (Prom Pil) 96B. From January 1997, Mitch received basic flight training in the 5th Squadron at Beauvechain on SF260 Marchetti, the advanced flight training on Alpha-Jet in the 7th Squadron and the initial operational training in the 11th Squadron. On 16 december 1998, he received his pilot wings.
In September 1999, Mitch moves to Kleine Brogel for his operational conversion on the F-16 in the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). Initial on F-16 OCU (block 15) and then F-16 MLU (Middle Life Update). In september 2000, he joined 349 Squadron. Mitch traversed the entire trainingcycle from Combat Ready to Force Leader in his Squadron. He took part in various specialised courses such as the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) in Florennes and the Operational Test & Evaluation Course (OT&E) in the National Test Pilot School (NTPS) in California (USA), and exercises such as: ACMI – NOMAD – Maple Flag – Red Flag – Green Flag – NATO Air Meet (NAM) in Konya (Turkey) – Bold Avenger as Director of Operations (DOO) in Örland (Norway) and Air Defense Meet in Landivisiau (France).
He participated in the F-16 M4 test program (Early Operational Assessment and Operational Test & Evaluation). Mitch took part in Operation Joint Falcon in Amendola (Italy).
Mitch totalises more than 2000 flight hours of which 1700 on F-16.”
Posted by Flightline UK on 17/11/2008 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events |
Following the success of this years RAFA Battle Of Britain Shoreham Airshow the organisers are pleased to announce that they will be handing over a cheque in excess of £100,000 to the RAF Association ‘Wings Appeal.’
“Considering the current economic climate and the fact that the second day of this year’s event had somewhat inclement weather, we were delighted to have raised such a large sum” said Don Bean MBE – Airshow Organiser. “The money raised goes to the welfare and care for serving and ex serving members of the Royal Air Force and their families,” he added.
Already plans are being made for the 2009 show which will be extra special as it is the 20th Anniversary event. “Discussions are currently under way with the RAF to get their support in several ways not seen at Shoreham before including some special flying displays to celebrate this milestone,” said John Periam Airshow Press Officer.
To date the Airshow has raised almost One and a Half Million Pounds since it’s early days as a small fete and is now considered by many aviation publications to be one of the best Air Display venues in the UK creating an atmosphere unlike any other with it’s ‘Family appeal and cross section of military and civilian flying displays’.
An announcement will be made early in 2009 regarding our Patron – an invite has be officially extended to a member of the Royal Household to celebrate this important milestone.
Dates for 2009 are confirmed as August 22nd-23rd. Don Bean added. “We must also thank our many sponsors for their invaluable support and the organising team and their helpers (all volunteers) which make this show the success it is – we cannot do without them.”
Posted by Flightline UK on under Display Team News and Dates, Royal Air Force |
Red 1 - Wing Commander Jas Hawker
Red 2 - Flight Lieutenant Zane Sennett
Red 3 - Flight Lieutenant David Montenegro
Red 4 - Flight Lieutenant Dave Davies
Red 5 - Flight Lieutenant Simon Rea
Red 6 - Squadron Leader Ben Murphy
Red 7 - Flight Lieutenant Mike Ling
Red 8 - Squadron Leader Graham Duff
Red 9 - Flight Lieutenant Andrew Keith
Posted by Flightline UK on 07/11/2008 under Military Airshows |
The planning is well underway for next year’s Royal International Air Tattoo which will take place at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on the 18 & 19 July. We are currently looking at a number of initiatives that we hope will minimise the risk of a repeat of this summer, when severe flooding led to the event being cancelled for the first time in its 38-year history.
Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said plans for 2009 were on track and the feedback he has received following his team’s recent visit to more than 30 embassies in London gave cause for cautious optimism regarding the range of aircraft that could be expected to take part in July.
“The support we have received from the public, our sponsors, the Royal Air Force, the US Air Force and other international air arms has been overwhelming and I have been left in no doubt that the event continues to mean as much to each of them as it does to us and our parent charity.
He added: “Traditionally, we all get pretty excited during the build up to each airshow but I think the excitement and anticipation for next summer’s airshow will be something special. “
Next summer’s airshow will mark the 60th Anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), showcasing aircraft that represent the wide variety of tasks performed by the Alliance.
Maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft from around the world are also being invited to take part in Sea Search 09, the Air Tattoo’s operational theme.
Special Earlybird tickets for next summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo will go on sale in early December. The full range of ticket prices for next summer’s Airshow will be announced at the same time. Earlybird tickets will be available to purchase until February 28, 2009.
Posted by Mark Broadbent on under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events |
The Abingdon Air & Country Show in Oxfordshire is seeking companies interested in sponsoring their next event in May 2009.
To be staged at Abingdon Airfield (Dalton Barracks), the event will combine a spectacular flying display featuring aircraft old and new as well as numerous ground attractions including exhibitions, displays and family entertainment.
Conveniently located just off the A34, and within short travelling distance of the M4 and M40, the show’s catchment area includes the Thames Valley, Chilterns and the Cotswolds.
Visitors cut across a wide range of social groups and ages, ranging from affluent retired people to flourishing, settled and secure families and aircraft enthusiasts.
In 2008 the show attracted support from Air BP, UKAEA and Hewden Hire.
A number of sponsorship opportunities are available including support of show features such as flying displays, ground attractions and event facilities.
For further information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Malcolm Ashby. Telephone: 01932 768696 (Daytime), 01494 481524 (Evening) or email: ashbym@bp.com.
Posted by Flightline UK on 06/11/2008 under Warbirds and Classic Jets |
Aero Inventory plc has been announced as the latest sponsor of the Vulcan to the Sky project. The good news was announced to airshow organisers at the DARS Post Season Symposium by the VttS team.
Aero Inventory plc will use the sponsorship of Vulcan XH558 to build global awareness of the Aero Inventory brand. AI is a major service provider to companies in the aviation industry. They provide a comprehensive procurement and inventory management service in the field of aerospace parts. They have long-term, sole-supplier contracts with customers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, El Salvador, Japan, Hong Kong, China and Indonesia.
For further information, visit the Aero Inventory website.
Posted by Flightline UK on 05/11/2008 under Army Air Corps |
After a difficult 2008 season, the Blue Eagles display team has hung up it’s flying suits for the last time. Operational reasons are the main reason for the lack of a full team for the 2009 season.
The army will however be displaying both the WAH-64D Apache AH1 and Lynx AH7 as solo displays, though only at a few events. It is likely that these displays will be restricted to venues afforded “Priority 1″ status by the Royal Air Force Events Teams (ie. those that were allotted the RAF Role Demo in 2007.) 2009 will see a major change for the Army Air Corps displays as they come under the Joint Helicopter Command for the first time.
Also on the circuit will the Historic AIrcraft Flight who are now integrating the Gazelle AH1 into their fleet and displays for 2009 and will be seen at a wider range of events.
Posted by Flightline UK on under Royal Air Force |
The three new Red Arrows display pilots for the 2009 season will be:-
Flt Lt Dave Davies
Flt Lt David Montengro
Flt Lt Zane Sennett
Posted by Flightline UK on 03/11/2008 under Red Bull Air Race |
Britain’s Paul Bonhomme scored a stylish victory in the final race of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Perth on Sunday in front of a crowd of more than 200,000 spectators while Hannes Arch was crowned 2008 World Champion after finishing third. It was the 7th podium in 8 races this year for the remarkably consistent ace from Austria. Bonhomme collected his 4th victory trophy of the season with a triumph over compatriot Nigel Lamb on a sunny afternoon in Western Australia to take second place overall for the second consecutive year.
“I was very pleased to win here in Perth,” said Bonhomme, who had dominated the first half of the season before Arch took control in the second half. “I got to Perth early this year to get acclimatised and that paid off. The airplane is not really going that well but at least I have been flying it well here.”
Arch became the first European to win the World Championship after Americans Mike Mangold (2005, 2007) and Kirby Chambliss (2006) won the title for the world’s most exciting high-speed, low-altitude precision-flying competition.
An extreme sports adventurer, Arch said his unusual background in sports, a superb plane, a strong ground crew and tireless efforts to improve helped him shake up the race hierarchy in only his second season. He rose from 10th in his rookie season to first this year. Most of his rivals in the 12-pilot field have backgrounds in military or commercial aviation.
“Paul deserved the win today and I’m thrilled to win the overall Championship,” said Arch, 41, who appeared close to tears on the podium when the Austrian national anthem was played. “Over the whole season I had a very fast plane. The secret was to be consistent. I had the advantage of being behind Paul most of the season so the pressure was on him, not me. Today I felt the pressure and hit a pylon.”
