Posted by Flightline UK on 15/05/2009 under Any other business | 
Local newspapers have reported an accident involving the Pitts XII aircraft based at White Waltham on Thursday afternoon.
From Maidenhead Advertiser:-
A plane has flat-landed at White Waltham airfield in Maidenhead this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 1pm where a yellow plane is thought to have made a heavy landing.
A male pilot in his thirties was been airlifted to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with injuries.
Posted by Flightline UK on 12/05/2009 under Display Team News and Dates, Royal Air Force |
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, is proud to announce that a female pilot is one of two candidates selected to join the world-famous ‘Diamond Nine’ for the 2010 display season.
The successful candidates Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore of number X111 Squadron, RAF Marham and Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank of number 1(Fighter) Squadron, RAF Cottesmore, will fly as part of the 2010-2012 display team, enthralling millions with their exhilarating manoeuvres, demonstrating the skills and excellence of the Royal Air Force, promoting British industry and contributing to defence diplomacy.
The Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots will join the Red Arrows in September 2009 to begin training for their three-year tour with the team, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
Around 30 Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots apply for the prestigious places on the team each year. Kirsty is not the first female to have applied to join the Red Arrows, but was the first to make the prestigious ‘shortlist’ of candidates, and is now the first to be selected for the team.
Until recently, no female fast-jet pilot had reached the stage in their flying career to fulfil the application criteria; be assessed as above average in their flying career, have a minimum of 1,500 flying hours and have completed at least one front line fast-jet operational tour. Applications to join the Red Arrows from Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots meeting the relevant criteria are treated equally and considered purely on merit.
Wing Commander Jas Hawker, Officer Commanding and Team Leader of the Red Arrows, said: “The shortlist of candidates to join the Red Arrows represents some of the very finest fast-jet pilots in the Royal Air Force. Their skills, experience, dedication and enthusiasm are second to none. We are equally proud to be welcoming both pilots to the team and are looking forward to their arrival in September 2009.”
Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore (31) joined the RAF as a pilot in 1998. Originally from Lincolnshire she has served as an instructor on the Hawk aircraft at RAF Valley in North Wales and is currently flying Tornado GR4 with XIII Sqn based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.
Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank (30) from Worcestershire joined the RAF in 2000. Like Kirsty, he has also served as an instructor on the Hawk at RAF Valley, from where he went on to his current operational tour flying the Harrier with 1(F) Sqn from RAF Cottesmore, Leicestershire.
For the latest news on the Red Arrows visit www.raf.mod.uk/reds
Posted by Flightline UK on under Military Airshows |
One of the stars of this summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo in the Cotswolds has been unveiled by organisers.
Visitors to RAF Fairford on July 18-19 will have a rare opportunity to see a display by one of the most iconic warbirds of the Cold War era.
The world’s only airworthy Vulcan bomber, which was restored to flying condition last year following a massive £7 million public campaign, will join hundreds of other aircraft at the world’s largest military airshow.
The news will be greeted by thousands of people who had hoped to see the legendary aircraft at last summer’s cancelled Air Tattoo.
Vulcan XH558, which was built in 1960, enjoyed a 33-year career in the RAF, including service during the Falklands War. Along with the Valiant and the Victor, the three aircraft comprised the Royal Air Force’s legendary V-bomber force, designed to protect the UK from nuclear threat from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The ambitious restoration of XH558 was supported by a £2.5 million grant from the Lottery Fund, a £500,000 donation from philanthropist Jack Hayward, commercial sponsors plus contributions from more than 20,000 members of the public. The campaign also received significant fundraising support from the Air Tattoo throughout the restoration project.
Air Tattoo Director Mr Tim Prince said he was very excited to announce the participation of such a unique aircraft.
He said: “Like Concorde and the Spitfire, the Avro Vulcan is one of the few iconic aircraft that has the ability to have a profound impact on those who see it fly. Its sleek lines belie its thunderous power and it is simply breathtaking to watch.
“We are pleased to be able to give the thousands of people who had hoped to see the Vulcan fly at RAF Fairford last summer another opportunity to see this amazing aircraft.”
The Royal International Air Tattoo is staged annually in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust
Posted by Flightline UK on 11/05/2009 under Red Bull Air Race |
Nicolas Ivanoff of France won the second Red Bull Air Race World Championship of the season in San Diego on Sunday with a superb run in the finals while championship leader Hannes Arch of Austria fell to third after suffering a bird strike that tore a grapefruit-sized hole on the back of his plane. Britain’s Paul Bonhomme took second place in front of 55,000 spectators watching the race over San Diego Bay under bright blue skies. Ivanoff’s victory narrowed the championship race considerably after two races with Arch (23 points) still ahead of Ivanoff (21) and Bonhomme (20).
Australia’s rookie sensation Matt Hall had another outstanding race, taking fifth place for the second consecutive race while America’s Mike Mangold (7th), Kirby Chambliss (12th) and Michael Goulian (14th) were far off the pace.
“This is really nice,” said Ivanoff, who threw his fists into the air in celebration after climbing out of his new Edge 540. Explosive flying from Ivanoff in both the Super 8 and Final 4 proved that he is a force to be reckoned with. Beating his own outstanding personal best from the Super 8, Ivanoff wiped seconds off his rivals with a course record of 1:17:21.
“I’m really happy. The new plane is great. I thought I had a pretty good run in the final but it’s always possible someone else comes up with an even faster time.” It was only the second career victory for Ivanoff, who won the final race of the 2007 season in Perth, Australia.
Arch, who had won a maximum 13 points in the first race and picked up another point by posting the fastest Qualifying time on Saturday, had the speed to win on Sunday and was just ahead of Ivanoff at the first interval. But then a pelican punctured a gaping hole in his horizontal stabiliser shortly before the midway point. Arch said he was startled by the bird hit and was then unable to properly level his wings through the next Air Gate. It was a costly two-second penalty that dropped him behind both Ivanoff and Bonhomme.
“I was having a really good run and then I had a bird strike that distracted me,” Arch said after inspecting the blood-covered hole on the right side of his plane’s tail. “I was off line after that. The bird strike nearly tore off my horizontal stabiliser. It was bad luck but good luck that I was able to fly to the finish line.”
Bonhomme, who had won in San Diego in both the last two years, was not pleased about getting second place again after finishing behind Arch both in Abu Dhabi as well as in the 2008 championship. He nevertheless took solace that the 2009 championship race had narrowed with four races left thanks to Ivanoff’s victory. Had Arch won, Bonhomme could have been six or more points behind. “I would be lying if I said that wasn’t good, although I’m not happy that I’m second,” said Bonhomme, who was hampered by a sore back. “I’m not a second place kind of guy and I’m getting pretty fed up with being second.”
There were more than 100,000 spectators who watched the two days of racing in San Diego. The championship now moves north to Windsor, Ontario in Canada on 13/14 June for the third of six races this year.
Posted by Flightline UK on 01/05/2009 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events |
Over 200 vintage aircraft will visit Kemble Airport over the weekend of May 9th/10th, giving visitors a spectacular dose of nostalgia a great family treat.
The Great Vintage Flying Weekend is aimed at aircraft built before 1965 and visitors will be able to see over 100 visiting aircraft each day, with lots of classic ‘stringbag’ aircraft such as Tiger Moth biplanes and famous examples such as Austers, Cubs and a Miles Messenger – the type once used by Field Marshal Montgomery as his personal transport.
Uniquely, the aircraft parking area will open to the public for two hours over the lunchtime period, giving visitors the chance to inspect the gems at close quarters. “These wonderful old aeroplanes even have a classic smell,” said organiser Glen Moreman, “a mixture of oil, dope and leather. Many of the aircraft on show are more than 70 years old – where else these days can you walk right up to such treasures and see the wires and canvas with which they’re made?”
The Great Vintage Flying Weekend includes a small flying display of vintage aeroplanes each day, featuring the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s wartime Dakota, two SE5As and two Junkers CL1s of the First World War Display Team, and a post war Piston Provost trainer.
To make the day complete the spacious AV8 restaurant will provide refreshments for everyone and there will also be a bar and other catering outlets around the site. Disabled parking and facilities are available along with all the usual array of trade stands and attractions that will make this event a great family day out.
Gates will open at 9am; access is signposted from the A433 Cirencester – Tetbury road. Adult tickets are priced at £8 in advance (£10 on the gate) and are available from Tourist Information Centres in Bath, Cheltenham, Chippenham, Cirencester, Gloucester, Malmesbury, Stroud, Swindon, and Tetbury, or by logging onto www.gvfwe.co.uk. Children’s tickets (age 6-16) are priced at £5, while children under 6 enter free.
