Posted by Flightline UK on 28/09/2010 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events, Warbirds and Classic Jets | 
The Autumn Air Show on Sunday 10 October celebrates both the 65th birthday of B-17 Fortress G-BEDF Sally B, and 75 years of the B-17 Fortress. The only B-17 currently flying in Europe, Sally B delights air show crowds with her majestic display and is a favourite with IWM Duxford visitors.
She has been based at the Museum, operated by B-17 Preservation, for 35 years.
Closing the air show season for 2010, the Autumn Air Show will feature superb modern and historic aircraft, with an American theme to complement the Sally B anniversary.
The line-up of iconic US aircraft includes the Douglas DC-3 Dakota, Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina, Grumman F8F Bearcat, Piper L4 Cub, leVier Cosmic Wind and USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle from RAF Lakenheath.
The B17’s Boeing lineage is also represented by the Stearman biplane trainer and Apache AH Mk1 from the Army Air Corps Attack Helicopter Force at Wattisham.
Aircraft from the highly productive North American stable include the F-86 Sabre jet, P-51 Mustangs, T-28s and Harvards.
For the first time in more than two decades in UK skies, four American Pitts Special biplanes will be brought together in a flypast salute to the famous Rothmans Aerobatic Team, before performing their two separate paired routines.
A special flypast is being mounted in honour of Sally B, which flies as a memorial to the 79,000 US airmen who lost their lives in Europe during the Second World War. In acknowledgement of the United States Air Force’s historic relationship with the airfields of Eastern England, she will be escorted by three P-51 Mustangs. She will then be overflown by two F-15C Eagles of the 493rd Fighter Squadron to signify the region’s ongoing contemporary relationship with the United States Air Force.
Additional flying participation includes the BAE Systems Hawk, Embraer EMB-312 Tucano, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Supermarine Spitfire, Red Hawks Fournier Duo, Hawker Sea Fury and The Black Cats, the Royal Navy’s Lynx helicopter display team.
RAF Duxford was handed over to the United States 8th Air Force in April 1943, becoming Base 357, the headquarters of the 78th Fighter Group. The Group flew P-47 Thunderbolts and, from December 1944, P-51 Mustangs. It provided fighter escort to the large US bomber raids against occupied Europe and Germany itself.
B-17 Fortresses were flown by the 91st Bombardment Group from nearby RAF Bassingbourn from 14 October 1942 through to June 1945. The Group operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organisation during the Second World War.
On the ground, living history groups recreate the role of the B-17 Bomber crew. There will be activities for all ages, including childrens rides, tank rides and demonstrations. The Parachute Regiment will be offering aerial bungee jumps from its jump tower, alongside performances from the Parachute Regiment band and guest appearance from the Parachute Regiment mascot.
The relaxed atmosphere at the Autumn Air Show is equally appreciated by pilots and crowds and makes for a perfect Sunday outing.
Posted by Flightline UK on under Any other business |
The team behind Europe’s largest airshow is offering to share some of the magic that has made the Royal International Air Tattoo such a success over the years.
Next month (October) sees the launch of Fairford-based Air Tattoo Event Services (ATES), a new initiative by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, which is offering to spice up events around the UK by providing an aerial spectacle that is guaranteed to create a memorable ‘wow’ factor. The team plans to use its knowledge and experience of staging the world-famous Air Tattoo each year at RAF Fairford to help others incorporate the excitement and thrills of an air display at their events.
The aviation spectacle provided by ATES could include arranging displays by legendary warbirds such as Spitfires or Hurricanes, classic jets such as Hunters, Jet Provosts or Gnats, daring wing-walkers, synchronised aerobatic display teams, single aerobatic display aircraft, helicopters, modern military aircraft, large model displays, gliders, hot air balloons as well as static aircraft. ATES would book the aircraft, ensure all the regulatory requirements are met and choreograph the display to meet the needs of occasions such as private or corporate functions and large public events including outdoor concerts, conferences, gala dinners or staff family days.
Air Tattoo Chief Executive Tim Prince said: “Air displays are now really popular in the UK which means the benefit of including aircraft at an event is immense – they can help generate pre-event publicity and a buzz, and then wow guests or visitors on the day, giving them something to remember and talk about for months to come.”
Rob Windsor, from ATES, said: “In the past we organised aerial displays at events including the opening of Eurotunnel, celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Heathrow Airport, plus various F1 grand prix and seaside airshows. With our experience and with a wide range of aircraft and displays to choose from, event planners will discover just how simple it can be to turn an occasion into something extra-special.”
For further information, contact Rob Windsor at eventservices@rafcte.com
Posted by Flightline UK on 23/09/2010 under Vulcan |
The last airworthy Avro Vulcan, one of the most popular and iconic examples of British aerospace engineering, could make its last public flight on September 26th. Following successful restoration by The Vulcan To the Sky Trust, the legendary cold war bomber has packed airshows for the last two summers, helping to make them the second most popular visitor attraction after football. But now due to a substantial drop in donations during the recession and poor weather that stopped her flying at several profitable events this year, the Trust must raise £400,000 by the end of October.
In 2010, over a million people watched the Vulcan fly. “That makes this amazing aircraft one of the most popular attractions in the UK, but we survive on a tiny fraction of the budget of comparable heritage activities and receive no Government support,” points out Vulcan To The Sky chief executive Dr Robert Pleming, who hopes to see the plane fly for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
With the Vulcan now well established as an airshow star, the Trust has developed a business plan that will provide substantially greater commercial revenues from 2011. Combined with public donations, it is hoped that this will give her a secure future. “This will allow us to increase the role the Vulcan plays in teaching science, technology, maths and Cold War history and in inspiring the young engineers of the future,” says Pleming. “Today though, 2011 looks a long way away.”
The Avro Vulcan is an iconic example of British aerospace engineering at its world-beating best. The design brief was issued by the MoD in 1947 and the plane flew for the first time in 1952, just eleven years after the first flight of its predecessor, the Avro Lancaster. Its impressive list of technical achievements includes being the first successful large delta wing aircraft (leading directly to Concorde), innovations such as anti-lock brakes, and an agility that was so close to a jet fighter’s that it was given a fighter-style control column in place of the traditional bomber pilot’s yoke.
Success as a Cold War peacekeeper meant that the Vulcan might have flown its entire service life without ever entering combat if it hadn’t been for the Falklands Conflict in 1982. After a marathon 4,000 mile flight supported by eleven Victor tankers, Flight Lieutenant Martin Withers and his crew released the bombs over Port Stanley Airport that forced Argentina’s Mig III fighters off the island and initiated the campaign that recaptured the Falkands. Two years later, the last Vulcans were withdrawn from service.
Today, only one Vulcan is left flying: XH558, owned by the Vulcan To The Sky Trust, a Registered Charity. Returned to the air in 2007, she has become an airshow phenomenon. “People forget that airshows attract seven million people annually. That’s second only to football,” says Dr Pleming. “An appearance by the Vulcan builds even on this remarkable level, typically increasing attendance by 20-40 percent. Airshow organisers talk about ‘the Vulcan Effect’ and have described the aircraft as a national treasure.”
But it isn’t only the passion that people have for the aircraft that Pleming believes makes it an important part of our heritage. He sees it playing an important role in education and training, funded by commercial activities from sponsorship, hospitality and merchandise through to integration with apprenticeship schemes, motivational activities for management and VIP ‘money can’t buy’ events for top-level incentive schemes and wealthy enthusiasts. The first of these activities are now being rolled out.
Flight Lieutenant Martin Withers DFC (he won the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroic Vulcan mission to Port Stanley) is a passionate supporter of the educational role of the plane. “Part of our mission is to ensure that young people learn about the knife-edge fear of the Cold War,” he explains. “If I had been ordered to press the button that releases the nuclear payload, there would almost certainly have been no Britain left to fly home to. The Vulcan is the most powerful symbol of a remarkable period in British history that we must never forget.”
Withers is also passionate about the aircraft’s growing role in technical education. “This is one of the most iconic pieces of aerospace technology ever, and it is thoroughly British. The Vulcan fires young people with a passion to develop and build world-beating technologies. And we can help give them those skills through training modules that call upon the extraordinary knowledge, rigour and precision needed to restore and maintain the world’s only flying ‘complex’ heritage aircraft.”
The Trust hopes to fly the aircraft for at least two more display seasons, including the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, which is also the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the Vulcan and the 30th anniversary of its heroic role in the Falklands conflict. “The airframe has limited time before it will no longer be possible to renew its Permit to Fly,” explains Dr Pleming. “After that, we hope to develop a museum and educational centre around the plane, funded by conference, leisure and other commercial activities.”
“But if we don’t make it through October,” concludes Dr Pleming, “The tremendous opportunities offered by this magnificent aircraft will be lost forever.”
Posted by Flightline UK on 19/09/2010 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events, Seaside Shows |
The second day of the Southport Airshow (Sunday 19th Sept) has been cancelled due to overnight rain waterlogging the beach car parks.
Posted by Flightline UK on 13/09/2010 under Display Team News and Dates, Royal Air Force |
The 2011 Team line-up for the Red Arrows has been announced on their website:-
Red 1 – Squadron Leader Ben Murphy
Red 2 – Flight Lieutenant Chris Lyndon-Smith
Red 3 – Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham
Red 4 – Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging
Red 5 – Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore
Red 6 & Synchro Leader – Flight Lieutenant David Montenegro
Red 7 & Synchro 2 – Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank
Red 8 & Executive Officer – Flight Lieutenant Dave Davies
Red 9 – Flight Lieutenant Zane Sennett
Red 10 & Road Manager – Squadron Leader Graeme Bagnall
Senior Engineering Officer – Squadron Leader Ross Priday
Junior Engineering Officer – Flight Lieutenant Adam Littler
Team Manager – Squadron Leader Liz Parker
Adjutant – Warrant Officer Alan Murray BEM
Public Relations Manager – Miss Emma Thomas
