Due to circumstances beyond the organisers’ control, no fixed-wing aircraft will be operating from Abingdon Airfield for the Abingdon Air & Country Show on Sunday 2nd May 2010.
This is due to an issue surrounding the sign-off by Defence Estates, which owns the airfield, of the licence which is required to operate fixed-wing aircraft from Abingdon for the event.
The show’s flying display will still be going ahead as planned.
The fixed-wing aircraft that were due to operate from the airfield will no longer be able to do so, however these aircraft will now be operating from nearby RAF Brize Norton and flying in to Abingdon, without landing, to perform their displays.
The only aircraft on the ground during the show will be the helicopters forming the static display.
It is hoped some of the aircraft that were scheduled for the static display – including the RAF C-17 Globemaster – will be able to perform fly pasts during the afternoon flying display, while organisers are also working to secure additional items for the airshow to help ease this disappointing situation.
The Abingdon Air & Country Show would like to apologise to the public for any disappointment this will cause. They are keen to reinforce that the flying display is still going ahead as planned and that the show’s other attractions on the ground will be unaffected.
The French Air Force Cartouche Dore display team will make their UK display debut at Lowestoft Air Festival this year. Full listings for each of the French Air Forces displays can be found on the following links:-
Shropshire’s Cosford Air Show could be axed under Government plans to shake up defence training, it was claimed today.
A union chief sounded the warning over a controversial proposal to shift personnel from RAF Cosford to RAF St Athan’s in South Wales. But officials said this year’s event was due to take place on June 13.
Organisers also said that plans were already under way for next year’s show and could see no reason why it should not take place as planned.
Robert “H” O’Harney, Cosford branch secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, claimed the move to Wales would leave too few staff to run the air show and this year’s could be the last ever.
The future of RAF Cosford was put in doubt last year following the awarding of a huge defence training project to RAF St Athan’s in preference to RAF Cosford.
Work started this year to create a £12 billion defence training super site at St Athan’s.
However, a final decision by the Government on whether to go ahead with the academy will not be made until after the General Election.
Cosford Air Show is one the most visited annual attractions in the West Midlands.
Mr O’Harney added: “If ministers push ahead with the flawed defence training review programme, not only will hundreds of local jobs be put at risk but the future of the air show itself will be in jeopardy.
“The 2010 air show could be the last ever unless the Defence Training Review (DTR) project is scrapped.”
Conservative candidate for The Wrekin, Mark Pritchard, who as MP for the seat has been campaigning to safeguard the future of RAF Cosford, said today: “It is wrong that a political decision by ministers to move defence jobs to Wales, as part of DTR project, is now threatening the Cosford Air Show. Ministers should think again.”
Wing Commander Nick Lea, chairman of the RAF Cosford Air Show organising committee, said: “Preliminary preparations are already being carried out for the RAF Cosford Air Show in 2011.
“We see no reason why the event should not take place as planned.”
RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2010 is delighted to announce that subject to the completion of flight testing and other factors, Avro Vulcan B.2 XH558 will be taking part in the Flying Display. In its own fiftieth anniversary year, the mighty Vulcan will be one of the stars of the show, which this year marks the 70th birthday of RNAS Yeovilton itself with a pageant of naval aviation.
The Avro Vulcan was one strand of Britain’s post-war nuclear deterrent. In RAF service for close to three decades, the type famously achieved its finest hour in the twilight of its career with the infamous bombing of Port Stanley during the 1982 Falklands Conflict.
Vulcan XH588 first flew in 1960 and, after being retired, was flown at airshows by the RAF until 1992. Its subsequent passing into private ownership represented the start of an epic, heavily supported and heavily financed return to flight, which was realised in 2007.
XH588 is the world’s only flying Vulcan and there is simply nothing else like it in the skies. As an airshow performer it is unique both visually and aurally, with its immense delta shape highlighted by the hollering howl of its four Rolls-Royce Olympus engines.
Present at last year’s Air Day, the Vulcan would have been one of the Flying Display’s real treats, but a combination of technical difficulties and bad weather kept it on the ground. It is strongly hoped that, this year, the Vulcan will be able to perform at RNAS Yeovilton for the first time in 18 years.
Air Day 2010 takes place on Saturday 10 July and will showcase the base’s seven decades of history with a cavalcade of naval airpower, past and present. The five-hour Flying Display will feature three international display teams including the RAF Red Arrows and the Spanish Air Force Patrulla Aguila in its sole 2010 UK appearance, fast jets a-plenty and numerous other attractions alongside comprehensive ground-based entertainment.
The current list of participating aircraft can be viewed at www.yeoviltonairday.co.uk. Tickets are available online or via the ticketline on 08445 781 781.
Yesterday (April 20th), the Breitling Wingwalkers were formally launched at their base at RFC Rendcomb. Planes TV were their to capture the event on film and we are very grateful to them for allowing us to use this clip on Flightline UK.
Hannes Arch of Austria won the Red Bull Air Race on Sunday with Matt Hall of Australia getting a career-best second place in front of an enormous crowd of 140,000 watching from the banks of the Swan River in Perth, Australia. Championship leader Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain took third place.
Image - Red Bull
Bonhomme retains the overall championship lead with 22 points after the first two races of the 2010 season. Nigel Lamb of Britain, who was fourth on Sunday, is in second place on 18 points. Arch jumps into third place overall with 14 points and Hall moves up to fourth, also on 14 points.
It was a thrill-filled final under brilliant blue skies with Hall starting out the Final 4 by laying down a fabulous time of 1:26.51, his best of the week. It was all the more astonishing considering the huge expectations from the home crowd, the biggest at a sporting event in Australia this year.
Image - Red Bull
Lamb had been posting strong times all week but couldn’t top Hall’s time. Arch, starting third, moved into the lead with a time of 1:26.03. Bonhomme was flying well and poised to win the race but stumbled in the fourth and final sector to fall to third place with a time of 1:26.82.
Another success story in Perth was Pete McLeod, who took a strong fifth place. It was also a career-best for the Canadian ace who had struggled at the bottom of the pack in his rookie season last year with a comparatively slow plane. Nicolas Ivanoff of France, who won the Perth race in 2007, was sixth. Matthias Dolderer of Germany was seventh.
It was a disappointing race for Americans Kirby Chambliss and Michael Goulian. Chambliss, who clinched his 2006 world championship here in Perth, was back in eighth place and Goulian, who was fourth in the season-opener last month in Abu Dhabi, could do no better than 11th place when he sliced open a pylon in the Top 12 round.
Arch’s triumph in Perth helped erase memories of his disappointing 11th place in Abu Dhabi last month due to a disqualification in the Top 12. The 12 points Arch collected for the win in Perth, after a mere 2 in Abu Dhabi, puts the 2008 championship winner back into the title hunt. The Austrian was seen flashing a wide smile in his cockpit when the times were read out to the four finalists by the Race Director.
Image - Red Bull
“This is definitely the way we’re going forward,” said Arch. “Everything starts with vision and this was my vision. I was really struggling during the week. Should I attack or should I just slow down? I’m very pleased.”
“Fantastic result,” said a clearly delighted Matt Hall, whose best result was third place in Porto last year as a rookie. “I’ve been aiming for that for over a year. The Perth race was always going to be my focus. This is what I’ve been looking forward to since I started in the Red Bull Air Race – a great performance in front of my home crowd in Australia.”
Bonhomme, who has now been on the podium for nine straight races going back to the 2008 season, was clearly disappointed. “Third place wasn’t planned but we didn’t get fourth so that’s good,” said Bonhomme. “I’ve not really looked at the times so I don’t know what I did wrong. But it sounds like I relaxed a bit in the track.”
The next race takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 8/9 May.
The Cosford Air Show will this year open its gates to international visitors – including Royal Netherlands Air Force F16 fighter jet, bosses have revealed.
The five-hour flying display at the event on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border will see the F16 in action along with the Sea King helicopter from the Belgian Air Force.
And visitors to the show will be able to get up close to an aircraft from the French Air Force which will be on show on the ground.
Flying display director Bill Hartree said: “We are very pleased to confirm that the F16 from the Royal Netherlands Air Force will be taking part in the Flying Display on June 13.
“Anyone who has seen previous displays by the F16 Demo Team will know that they always produce an outstanding spectacle that demonstrates the agility and power of this famous aircraft.
“We know that the team will be introducing some new aspects to the display this year so look out for further details as we get closer to the event.
“In addition, we will be welcoming back the Belgian Air Force who will be sending their Sea King helicopter with its dramatic Search and Rescue Display.
“Making up the third International representative at the Air Show this year will be an aircraft from the French Air Force.
“They will be sending a CASA CN235-200 Transport aircraft as a static exhibit and we look forward to meeting the team from France with their ground display at the event.”
The RAF Museum is also included in the show gate price and parking is free.
Tickets for the show are available at local branch offices of the Shropshire Star, the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford, Tourist Information Centres in Birmingham (Rotunda), Stafford (Gatehouse Theatre) and Stoke (Victoria Hall), the special air show ticket line on 0871 230 1083, and an internet booking service at www.seetickets.com. (Special Events; Air Shows; RAF Cosford).
Tickets are also available from Midland branches of the Mid Counties Co-Operative Society.
Full information on the show can be seen on the air show web site – www.cosfordairshow.co.uk – or is available on the show information line at 0844 561 1897.
Adilson Kindlemann from Brazil, was involved in an accident at 11.50am while participating in today’s training session for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. At this stage we are unable to give specific details regarding the accident.
Emergency response teams were on the scene in minutes and it is confirmed that Kindlemann was taken to the Royal Perth Hospital and it is confirmed that he is in good condition. Full support is being provided for his family and friends.
The Team’s main focus is the welfare of the (pilot) and we ask that his privacy be respected.
The Red Bull Air Race GmbH has pledged its full co-operation with the relevant authorities to establish why this accident occurred. Further updates will be provided.
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – the Red Arrows – today announces details of its revised 2010 display season, confirming the Team will fly as a nine-ship formation, but with a slightly delayed start to the season, following the incident that took place during pre-season training at HAF Kastelli in Crete on 23 March 2010.
Flight Lieutenant Mike Ling, Red 6 Synchro Leader, who successfully ejected from his aircraft, sustained injuries that mean he will be unable to fly with the Team for the 2010 display season. Flight Lieutenant Ling, in his third and final year with the Team, is in the UK undergoing treatment for his injuries. He is expected to make a full recovery and will play an active role on the ground during the 2010 display season, before he returns to operational flying in due course.
To enable the Team to enthral millions of people in the UK and around the world with its iconic nine aircraft display, former 2008 Synchro Leader, Flight Lieutenant Paul O’Grady (33), will return to fly in the position of Red 6 for the 2010 display season.
Flight Lieutenant O’Grady began his work-up as Synchro Leader on Monday 12 April at RAF Scampton. On Wednesday 14 April, he will be joined by Synchro 2, Red 7 Flight Lieutenant David Montenegro. Flight Lieutenant Montenegro was also involved in the Crete incident but managed to land his aircraft safely, sustaining no injuries.
The remainder of the Team has arrived at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and recommenced pre-season training. They will be joined in Cyprus by the new Synchro Pair on 27 April. The Team will then train as a nine-ship formation again, as they begin to perfect the 2010 display sequence.
The entire Team will continue training together at RAF Akrotiri until mid-May, when it is proposed that they will return to RAF Scampton to continue training for around a further month.
Due to this extended period of training, it is anticipated that the Red Arrows will not be ready to gain their Public Display Authorisation (PDA) licence, allowing the Team to display at public events, before Wednesday 16 June 2010.
The delayed PDA date means that the Royal Air Force has had to take the decision to withdraw the Red Arrows from 10 planned displays at the following events scheduled for the beginning of the display season:
Southend – 30 and 31 May
Santa Pod – 31 May
Perth – 6 June
Salthill, Ireland – 7 Jun
Punchestown, Ireland – 7 Jun
Ramsey, Isle of Man – 8 Jun
Douglas, Isle of Man – 8 Jun
Worthing – 12 Jun
Cosford – 13 Jun
(The Team may have to be withdrawn from further events, pending readiness for PDA ).
The Royal Air Force Events Team and the Red Arrows are working with organisers to mitigate the impact on the events concerned.
A spokesperson for the Royal Air Force says: “The decision has not been taken lightly. However, in these exceptional circumstances, we believe it to be in the best interests of all.
“We are aware that there will be disappointment from both show organisers and members of the public, but hope that as many people as possible will still be able to see the Team perform at many of the other locations over the duration of the revised display season.”
Red 1, Squadron Leader Ben Murphy, Officer Commanding and Team Leader of the Red Arrows, says: “Safety is always paramount for the Team, and we hope that everyone will be understanding of the delayed start to the season following the incident in Crete. Our extended pre-season training and revised display season dates reflect the necessary steps to ensure we are ready to perform as a nine-ship to the standard expected of the Team as we represent with pride the excellence of the Royal Air Force both in the UK and around the world.”
Biography, Flight Lieutenant Paul O’Grady
Red 6 & Synchro Leader – Flight Lieutenant Paul ‘Pablo’ O’Grady
Pablo flew the Typhoon before joining the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.
Age – 33
Education – He attended St. Aidan’s High School in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and was a member of 58 (Harrogate) Squadron Air Training Corps. After being awarded a Royal Air Force Sixth Form Scholarship he went onto complete his A – Levels.
Career – Joined the Royal Air Force in 1996. After completing flying training Pablo was posted to Royal Air Force Linton-on-Ouse as a qualified flying instructor where he taught students on the Tucano aircraft.
Following completion of Tactical Weapons Training, he was selected to fly the Jaguar GR3A; one of the Royal Air Force’s single-seat ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft.
In 2006 Pablo joined the Red Arrows, Flying as Synchro Leader for his last year in 2008. Upon completion of his three year tour with the Red Arrows, Pablo was posted to XI Squadron which is equipped with the RAF’s newest, most technologically advanced multi-role jet, the Typhoon.
Due to Pablo’s exceptional skills and performance during his time on the Team he has been requested to re-join for 2010, to replace the injured Flight Lieutenant Mike Ling, and becomes the first Typhoon pilot on the Red Arrows.
Background – Pablo first discovered a passion for flying in the Air Training Corps. In his spare time Pablo enjoys windsurfing, mountain biking and skiing. Pablo currently lives in Stamford with his wife Claire and dog Henry.
anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Imperial War Museum Duxford is launching a new Twitter campaign which will enable tweeters to experience RAF Duxford’s Battle of Britain operations as they happened. Using the operational record books of RAF Duxford and No.19 Squadron as source information, IWM Duxford will tweet the fighter station’s Battle of Britain activities, at the exact date and time that they occurred, from April to October 1940. This exciting new campaign will give a direct insight into Battle of Britain history, and will show how the campaign built in momentum throughout 1940. The operational record books are reproduced exactly as they were written during those dark days of 1940, bringing the lost voices of RAF Duxford serving personnel vividly to life in this special anniversary year. The tweets will show life at RAF Duxford from its daily routines to the fascinating postcombat reports filed with increasing regularity as the Battle of Britain intensified. The operational record books show, in real time, the milestone events that took place at RAF Duxford, including patrols over Dunkirk, the failure of the cannon-fire Spitfires, the arrival of Czech pilots to form 310 Squadron and the formation of the Duxford ‘Big Wing’. It describes in detail the sorties carried out by No.19 Squadron and gives tweeters a vivid insight into the pilots’ experiences during the frenetic and adrenalin-fuelled dogfights in the skies over Duxford. The operational record books also give details regarding the Battle of Britain careers of some of RAF Duxford’s most famous fighter pilots including Douglas Bader, Brian Lane, George ‘Grumpy’ Unwin, Gordon Sinclair, Wallace Cunningham and Frank Brinsden. Sign up to receive IWM Duxford’s Battle of Britain tweets by going to
www.twitter.com/RAFDuxford1940 .
Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to experience Battle of Britain events as they happened, told in the voices of the RAF Duxford personnel who lived through this iconic aerial conflict.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Imperial War Museum Duxford is launching a new Twitter campaign which will enable tweeters to experience RAF Duxford’s Battle of Britain operations as they happened.
Using the operational record books of RAF Duxford and No.19 Squadron as source information, IWM Duxford will tweet the fighter station’s Battle of Britain activities, at the exact date and time that they occurred, from April to October 1940.
This exciting new campaign will give a direct insight into Battle of Britain history, and will show how the campaign built in momentum throughout 1940.
The operational record books are reproduced exactly as they were written during those dark days of 1940, bringing the lost voices of RAF Duxford serving personnel vividly to life in this special anniversary year.
The tweets will show life at RAF Duxford from its daily routines to the fascinating post-combat reports filed with increasing regularity as the Battle of Britain intensified.
The operational record books show, in real time, the milestone events that took place at RAF Duxford, including patrols over Dunkirk, the failure of the cannon-fire Spitfires, the arrival of Czech pilots to form 310 Squadron and the formation of the Duxford ‘Big Wing’.
It describes in detail the sorties carried out by No.19 Squadron and gives tweeters a vivid insight into the pilots’ experiences during the frenetic and adrenalin-fuelled dogfights in the skies over Duxford.
The operational record books also give details regarding the Battle of Britain careers of some of RAF Duxford’s most famous fighter pilots including Douglas Bader, Brian Lane, George ‘Grumpy’ Unwin, Gordon Sinclair, Wallace Cunningham and Frank Brinsden.
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Hannes Arch of Austria won the Red Bull Air Race on Sunday with Matt Hall of Australia getting a career-best second place in front of an enormous crowd of 140,000 watching from the banks of the Swan River in Perth, Australia. Championship leader Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain took third place.
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – the Red Arrows – today announces details of its revised 2010 display season, confirming the Team will fly as a nine-ship formation, but with a slightly delayed start to the season, following the incident that took place during pre-season training at HAF Kastelli in Crete on 23 March 2010.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Imperial War Museum Duxford is launching a new Twitter campaign which will enable tweeters to experience RAF Duxford’s Battle of Britain operations as they happened.
