A Sample Feature From Aviation News

Air shows

A Bonanza at Biggin

Above: Celebrating 25 years of Virgin Atlantic, a Boeing 747-400 (G-VFAB) is escorted by the Red Arrows display team in a dramatic fly-through preceding an impressive solo from the big jet. (Photo, Phil Walley)

HELD over the weekend of June 27-28, for the fourth year running the 46th Biggin Hill air show was graced with sunny weather, attracting so many spectators  that the airfield was closed to traffic on the Sunday morning. As is usual, the organisation of this flying display was planned with meticulous detail and the audience were treated to impeccable performances following one after the other in a continuous stream.

The RAF were to provide all their current line up of display aircraft, with a particularly impressive and very tight routine from Flt Lt Scott Loughran at the controls of a No 29 Sqn Typhoon T1A. The Red Arrows were to delight all, now permitted to arrive for their demonstration flying over the crowd line. On the Sunday they flew in formation with a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 (G-VFAB) to celebrate the airline’s 25th anniversary, presenting a truly dramatic tableau. The 747 then gave an individual show with extremely low passes and with a grace and agility that belies its huge size.
Aerobatics are a great crowd pleaser and the six Yak aircraft of ‘The Aerostars’ flew with accuracy in both formation and opposition manoeuvres. The Su-26M aircraft of ‘Team Matador’ piloted by Steve Jones and Paul Bonhomme showed world class mastery of the art in a beautifully synchronised series of movements. ‘Ultimate High’ exhibited an Extra 300 sponsored by Mazda.

The theme of 100 Years of Naval Aviation was celebrated with Sea Vixen D.3 (XP924) putting in another flawless showing. Extreme piston power was displayed by Douglas AD-4NA Skyraider 126922/402-AK and a previous maritime era was embodied in the elegant lines of the Hawker Nimrod II (K3661) which flew with a serene shapeliness and with an added bonus of seeing this aircraft activated on the ground by a Hucks Starter.

An even earlier facet of military aviation came with nine aircraft from the Great War Display Team with three SE5a’s, a Sopwith Triplane, a Sopwith Pup and a Nieuport 17 in an effective mock dogfight against a pair of Junker CL.1s and a Fokker Triplane.

Below: The equivalent of a motorised starting handle, this beautifully crafted Hucks Starter adds period finesse to the Hawker Nimrod II (K3661), registered to Aero Vintage at Rye, East Sussex, on December 22, 1992. (Photo, Pam McNaughton)

RAF Waddington International Air Show 2009

Above: Always an interesting visitor, the BAC-One-Eleven (ZE432/DQFBV) from the Empire Test Pilot School at Boscombe Down. (Photo, Howard Heeley)

THE largest, annual, RAF air show was again held at its established venue, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire on July 4-5. ‘The RAF on Show’ is its principal raison d’etre, but with a substantial and deserving financial spin-off going to RAF and local charities; the RAF benevolent Fund celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Around 180 aircraft were on display and attendance topped 170,000, a remarkable indication of air enthusiasm in the British public. The 60th anniversary of NATO was the principal celebratory theme this year, with some 10 nations represented.

In the Air

Aerobatic and display teams were to the fore. Teams displaying included the superlative Red Arrows with new formations and manoeuvres, Polish Team Orlik, Patrouille de France (Sunday only), Team Brietling with L- 39s, The Blades with their agile Extra 300s, Team Viper (named after the Viper engine of their Strikemasters),Cobham Falcons with Hawk T 1s of FRADU, Blue Eagles Apache and Lynx (the latter’s aerobatics being totally non helicopter- like), and BBMF. Polished solo jet displays were flown by Hawk T1 and French Alphajet, with the superbly flown Typhoon including a sustained 9g turn. Waddington’s own ISTAR assets Sentry AEW 1, Nimrod R 1, Sentinel R 1 and associated Nimrod MR 2 obliged. Regrettably the latest ISTAR asset, Shadow R 1 was nowhere to be seen. The enthusiasts’ other favourites, fast and noisy jets, were somewhat lacking, Tornado GR.4 and F.3 and Harrier being sorely missed as were afterburning jets of other nations. Awards for best displays went to BBMF, Typhoon and Team Brietling.

Top of the bill, Vulcan XH558 failed to fly on the public days, the aircraft’s permit to fly having expired on the day it arrived (Thursday) with a splendid qualifying display by its new pilot Kevin Rumens. Some special inspections of the airframe, deferred from the previous year, had not been completed. The CAA certificating authority, quite understandably, declined to renew the permit. This must not happen again. The good news was that there was no problem with the aircraft, it was fit to fly, but remained on static display only. Within days its permit was renewed, but regrettably technical problems prevented it from flying at Yeovilton. Suffice to say that Vulcan to the Sky remains a big, challenging and demanding project – not to mention expensive!

Above: The Rollason Druine D.62B Condor (G-AYFC) was one of the several light aircraft on display at this year’s Waddington show. (Photo, Paul Morton) Below: Owned by C Wilson, the Hatz CB-1 (G-BRSY) is the epitome of a light, slow, strong aircraft, a delight to fly and a beauty to look at. (Photo, Paul Morton)

For the rest of this article please see the September 2009 issue.