Posted by Flightline UK on 28/10/2009 under Military Airshows | 
The Luftwaffe has been invited to join special celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain Britain’s at next summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, organisers have revealed.
A delegation from the airshow visited the German embassy this month to invite them to join in commemorative displays alongside all the countries that participated in the historic events of 1940. The Italian Air Force, which flew alongside the Luftwaffe, has also been invited to join in. Dubbed ‘Britain’s finest hour’ by Winston Churchill, the Battle of Britain marked the most important event in Royal Air Force history – and proved pivotal to the outcome of the Second World War. Lasting less than four months, this was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces.
Supported by the Royal Air Force and including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and representative international air forces, the Air Tattoo plans to recognise the bravery of all those who fought; from Fighter Command, Bomber Command, Coastal Command and the Fleet Air Arm as well as their German and Italian counterparts.
In total, 17 countries took part in the Battle of Britain, including Poland, New Zealand, Canada, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia), Australia, Belgium, South Africa, France, Ireland, the US, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Palestine Mandate (now Israel) Barbados and Jamaica. The special tribute has been supported by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, who will be encouraging military chiefs representing all the nations to take part on July 17-18, 2010.
Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said that, 70 years on, it was important to recognise the bravery and honour the fallen, on both sides of the conflict. “The Air Tattoo is renowned the world over for being a place where nations come together in a spirit of friendship to share their passion for aviation. The German military has been a great supporter of the Air Tattoo for many years and we’re confident it will be taking part in this important anniversary.”
Special, cut price Earlybird tickets for next summer’s Air Tattoo, which is staged in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, will go on sale in December. For details, visit www.airtattoo.com
Posted by Flightline UK on 27/10/2009 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events, Warbirds and Classic Jets |
The first participant for the 2010 Biggin Hill International Air Fair has been announced at Peter Vacher’s Hurricane R4118. This Hurricane is the only airworthy Hurricane that took part in the Battle of Britain which is the key theme for the event. You can find out more about the Hurricane here. Also appearins is OFMC’s Spitfire IX MH434.
Posted by Flightline UK on 26/10/2009 under Army Air Corps |
From the Blue Eagles website and AAC magazine, Hawkeye
The AAC Blue Eagles Display Team are to be put in abeyance for the forthcoming 2010 season.
It has been directed by the Director of Army Aviation, Brigadier David Short, that, where practicable, the AAC Blue Eagles will support events in 2010 with ‘role demonstrations’ and/or static displays.
The intention is to re-establish the Blue Eagles on the display circuit with a new invigorated display in 2011.
This aspiration will be confirmed or otherwise during the middle of next year.
Posted by Flightline UK on 20/10/2009 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events, Warbirds and Classic Jets |
The report on the accident that took place at ‘The Shoreham Airshow’ in 2007 has just been published by ‘The Air Accident Investigation Board’.
It has now been confirmed that it was due to pilot error. Brian Brown the pilot of The Hurricane who was sadly killed at the event did a roll that was not included in the plans for the scenario that were discussed prior to the display.
Don Bean MBE – Airshow Organiser said – “For us all at Shoreham it was a sad day as many of the team knew Brian very well having displayed over the years at our event. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. Brian was a highly qualified display pilot and sadly sometimes things do not go to plan – we at Shoreham know he will be missed on the air display circuit by fellow pilots and the many display organisers.”
We now look forward to planning the 2010 Airshow which is being held on August 21st and 22nd which is what Brian would have wanted.
From BBC News
A fatal crash at an airshow in West Sussex was probably caused by an unplanned manoeuvre by the World War II fighter plane’s pilot, a report found.
Brian Brown, an experienced pilot from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was flying the Hurricane when it crashed at Shoreham Airshow on 15 September 2007.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report said Mr Brown had stated he would not be rolling the aircraft.
However, he did roll the privately-owned plane during a mock dogfight.
Although the aircraft’s airspeed was adequate, the AAIB report said, its pitch meant it had insufficient height for the stunt to be completed safely.
No evidence of any defect or malfunction that would have contributed to the accident was found in the Hurricane, the report added.
It concluded the crash “probably occurred as a result of the pilot attempting an unplanned rolling manoeuvre” which had not been practised as part of the sequence.
The report recommended the sequence of manoeuvres should be clearly specified in advance of flying displays.
After the accident, Mr Brown’s colleagues at the Real Aeroplane Company in Breighton, North Yorkshire, described him as “one of the most experienced Hurricane pilots in the country”.
He had been flying the plane for 10 years and had amassed 400 hours’ flying time.
Mr Brown had taken part in major air shows around Europe but was not originally due to fly at the event in Shoreham. He volunteered his services due to a shortage of available pilots.
His plane crashed into a field about one-mile north of the airshow.
Posted by Flightline UK on 04/10/2009 under Red Bull Air Race |
BARCELONA, Spain – Britain’s Paul Bonhomme won the 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship on Sunday with a thrilling victory in the final race of the season in Barcelona in front of a record crowd of 800,000 spectators, holding off a ferocious challenge from defending champion Hannes Arch of Austria. Bonhomme had finished a heartbreaking second in both 2007 and 2008 but got the elusive first title with a sensational performance under pressure to clinch his first title with 67 championship points to Arch’s 60. Australia’s Matt Hall took 3rd place overall, the best result ever for a rookie, with 36 points.
On a gorgeous day in Barcelona with temperatures around 25 degrees, Britain’s Nigel Lamb got the first podium of an otherwise disappointing season with second place after a brilliant performance in the final on the 6.4-km long track through a challenging 15-Air Gate obstacle course set up just metres above the surface of the Mediterranean. German rookie Matthias Dolderer treated the largest crowd of the season packed along the Front Maritim beaches to some fancy flying to take third place, his first podium.
“Fantastic, thank you Barcelona,” Bonhomme said after letting out a loud shout for joy when he heard the news he had won the title on his cockpit radio. He had watched his four-point lead melt to three on Saturday when Arch won the 1 point for fastest Qualifying time. “I’m very happy. It’s been a lot of hard work but we got there in the end. It’s been a huge amount of pressure. It’s just a question of how you deal with it at the right time. I thought I’d better get my skates on and that worked.”
Bonhomme was the epitome of consistency with three victories and three second places even though his Edge 540 plane was not as fast as Arch’s for most of the season. Arch had outclassed Bonhomme in the Qualifying sessions this year, winning the 1 point three times compared to just once for Bonhomme. The two were the protagonists of the most riveting championship battle in the five-year history of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
“It was a real good fight all year,” said Arch, who warmly congratulated Bonhomme after their pulsating duel was finally over. “Paul didn’t get anything for free. I was always setting the fastest times and pushing him. I had to go all out in the final. You can’t win if you sit on the brakes. I’m really happy with my performance. There’s nothing to be disappointed about. I gave everything I had. We’ll see what happens next year.”
Two other rookies ended the season on a high note. Japan’s Yoshi Muroya had a career-best sixth place and Canada’s Pete McLeod got 12th, his second-best result. But it was a disappointing race for Americans Kirby Chambliss (5th), Michael Goulian (11th) and Mike Mangold (14th). Spain’s Alejandro Maclean was hoping to give the fans in his home country a strong showing but finished 10th.
A total of 1.2 million spectators enjoyed the weekend’s racing, the most exciting this season
