Flightline UK - RAF Typhoon Display Team

RAF Typhoon Display Team

Typhoon displays will be provided by 29(R) Squadron - the Typhoon operational conversion unit. The Typhoon is an agile, single seat, multi-role aircraft optimised for high altitude supersonic air combat but also capable of operating at much lower levels in the air-to-ground roles. It is built by a four-nation consortium comprised of companies from the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. The state-of-the art aircraft is set to be the RAF's major front-line type for many years to come, replacing the RAF's Tornado F3 fighters and Jaguar fighter-bombers in front-line service.

No 29 Squadron was formed at Gosport on 7 November 1915. It's first type was the DH2 and operated a variety of types such as the Neuiport 17 and SE5A before disbanding on 31 December 1919. On 1 April 1923, No 29 reformed as a fighter squadron at Duxford with Snipes, then Grebes, Siskins, Bulldogs and finally Demons i before converting converted to Blenheims in December 1938. On At the outbreak of World War Two these were used for patrols over shipping and for early trials with airborne radar. No 29 became fully involved in night fighting, beginning to receive Beaufighters in November 1940. Its defensive role remained after conversion to Mosquitoes in May 1943,.

The Mosquitoes continued to serve until replaced by Meteors in August 1951 at Tangmere. In July 1958 the swuadron converted to Javelins. In May 1967, Lightnings joined the squadron before disbanding again on 31 December 1974. No 29 reformed at Coningsby as a Phantom squadron on 1 January 1975. The Squadron swapped its Phantoms for Tornado F3 fighters in 1987 remaining at Coningsby until disbanded in October 1998.

29(R) Squadron began reforming in September 2003 at BAE Systems’ aerodrome at Warton. In June 2005 the Squadron officially moved to its home base at RAF Coningsby and by July it was teaching new pilots for 17(R) Squadron on a formal course. Bucking the trend of recent squadron disbandments, 29(R) Squadron officially ‘stood up’ for operational service on 4 November 2005. For 29(R) Squadron it heralded a long and healthy future, one that seems certain to last until the centenary and beyond.

The 2010 Typhoon displayu pilot is Flt Lt Tim Clement. Though born in Swansea, Tim hails from Aberdeen and joined the RAF in 1997 following a period with the Aberdeen UAS at RAF Turnhouse.. He has flown the Tucano, Hawk and Jaguar prior to being posted to Typhoon in 2007. On completion of the OCU in early 2008, he remained on 29(R) Sqn as a Qualified Pilot Instructor (QPI). Tim has trained many of the current serving Typhoon Force pilots, has taken part in multiple overseas detachments and will remain on 29(R) Sqn following the 2010 display season.

Official Website: http://www.raf.mod.uk/typhoondisplay/