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Airshows Themed Articles

JUL122011
Airshows >> UK: Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2011 - Preview It's been the biggest military airshow for a long time now and 2011 sees the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) celebrate its 40th anniversary at RAF Fairford. Gareth Stringer caught up with Rob Windsor, Deputy Director Aircraft Operations, ahead of this weekend's event. Images as credited.
JUL082011
Airshows >> UK: 20 Questions For....... Ed Shipley - The Horsemen Warbird aficionados in the USA and UK will no doubt be familiar with the name Ed Shipley. A former Boeing 747 captain, Ed now runs the AirshowBuzz website and is a regular performer across the North American airshow circuit with more than 20 years’ experience as a display pilot. Most famously, Ed flies the P-51 Mustang as part of The Horsemen Mustang display team alongside Dan Friedkin (and, in earlier incarnations of the team, Jim Beasley and Steve Hinton). Here he provides his responses to GAR's 20 Questions.
JUL072011
Airshows >> UK: Shuttleworth Collection Military Pageant 2011 - Review July 3rd saw the first Military Pageant of 2011 at Old Warden, featuring the best the Shuttleworth Collection has to offer along with a host of guest participants. Huw Hopkins reports for GAR.
JUL062011
Airshows >> UK > Waddington International Airshow 2011 - Review Gareth Stringer reports from three sizzling days at Waddington International Airshow, an event which once again managed to achieve all it set out to. Images as credited.
JUL052011
Airshows >> UK: Duxford Flying Legends 2011 - Preview In just a few days time, Imperial War Museum Duxford will play host to over 50 vintage aircraft from the UK, USA and Europe as The Fighter Collection's Flying Legends warbird spectacular gets underway. Elliott Marsh previews the 2011 event with a look at some of the superb aeroplanes scheduled to appear. Images as credited.
JUL012011
Airshows >> UK: Cotswold Airshow 2011 - it's a review Jim, but not as we know it. GAR 'reports' from the Cotswold Airshow 2011, a weekend which saw a number of the team in attendance. Please note that this is also the first article we've run where you can click a button to purchase almost all of the images in the piece from within the Lightbox slideshow.
JUN272011
Airshows >> UK: Airshow Archive Part 5 - Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Open Days There's no Biggin Hill Air Fair review to write, this time, so Paul Fiddian looks back at the three outstanding Battle of Britain Open Days staged at Biggin Hill in the mid-1990s. Between them, these shows produced a glittering array of historic aircraft, foreign military fliers and unforgettable airshow moments.
JUN232011
Airshows >> UK: Royal Navy Historic Flight (RNHF) Update The Royal Navy Historic Flight (RNHF) has endured a series of recent setbacks but now has a flyable Swordfish, a powerhouse of a Sea Fury T.20 routine and the prospect of great things to come in the 2012 season. Paul Fiddian provides the latest from RNAS Yeovilton, with additional photo contributions as credited.
JUN222011
Airshows >> Asia: 100 Years Turkish Air Force Airshow - Izmir-Cigli Highlighting the significance of this event, over 60 Chiefs of Staff joined aviators and aviation enthusiasts from around the globe at Cigli Air Base, Izmir, Turkey over the weekend of 4th and 5th June 2011. There had been much debate among the enthusiast community in the months leading up to the event as to whether it would be a success and questioning the ability of the Turkish Authorities to organise such a huge airshow. Those doubts were unfounded and, as Kev Wills reports, nothing could have been further from the truth.
JUN212011
Airshows >> UK: Statement from Jonathon Whaley - Fuel Venting From Miss Demeanour Jonathon Whaley has asked us to issue the following statement regarding Miss Demeanour's fuel venting at last weekend's Cotswold Airshow.
JUN162011
Airshows >> UK: 20 Questions For......Team Viper Team Viper began life as a four-ship, Strikemaster equipped display team before, at Waddington in July 2010, introducing Hawker Hunters in to the mix. The Strikemasters have now gone and, as a five-ship, Team Viper is the only Hunter display team in the world, conveying, in its own words, 'an aura of classical elegance which the Team affectionately describes as Power, Heritage and Soul'. With this weekend's Cotswold Airshow commemorating the Hunter's 60th anniversary, we thought it was time to ask Team Viper '20 questions....'
JUN152011
Airshows >> UK: Cosford Airshow 2011 - Review It was a case of sink or swim for the RAF Cosford Airshow organisers this year as persistent rainfall battered the flying programme into mushy oblivion. Elliott Marsh deploys the GAR life raft and dons his hair net to report from the soggy goings on in the West Midlands.
JUN102011
Airshows >> UK: 20 Questions For....... Sqn Ldr Ian Smith - Officer Commanding Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Sqn Ldr Ian Smith's Royal Air Force flying career is more colourful than many and has taken a number of interesting twists along the way. Here he provides his responses to GAR's 20 Questions.
JUN082011
Airshows UK: Cotswold Airshow 2011 Preview This year’s Cotswold Airshow will celebrate the 60th anniversary of one of the world’s best loved aircraft, the Hawker Hunter. Gareth Stringer previews the event with the help of organiser Glen Moreman. Images as credited.
JUN072011
Airshows >> UK: Bill Ramsey and the Vulcan - XH558 Less than two months ago GAR was fortunate enough to join Vulcan XH558's aircrew as they went through some of the ground based training they required ahead of the airshow season. Among them was Flt Lt Bill Ramsey, returning to the cockpit he last occupied more than 30 years ago. Sunday 29th May 2011 saw him make his first flight in XH558, taking the jet from Bruntingthorpe's Cold War Jets Open Day back home to Robin Hood, Doncaster Airport. What follows is the story of that flight, in Bill's own words. Images as credited.
JUN012011
Airshows >> USA: Chino Airshow 2011 - Review Each year the Planes of Fame Air Museum holds its annual airshow at Chino, some 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Mike Shreeve reports from the 2011 event for Global Aviation Resource.
MAY312011
Airshows >> UK: Vulcan XH558 - Bruntingthorpe Photocall When Vulcan XH558 landed at Bruntingthorpe on Saturday 28th May to take her place as the star of the following day’s Cold War Jets Open Day, her arrival also signalled the start of an ambitious plan to create a unique photographic opportunity. Gareth Stringer reports with images as credited.
MAY262011
Airshows >> UK: Duxford Spring Air Show - Celebrating Women in Aviation - Review The Imperial War Museum Duxford's Spring Air Show celebrated the countless achievements of women in aviation throughout the history of powered flight. Elliott Marsh reports from a windswept Cambridgeshire.
MAY242011
Airshows >> UK: Army Air Corps Apache Display 2011 This year sees the Army Air Corps AH.1 Apache Longbow's return to the airshow circuit, albeit for, at the time of writing, just four events. Gareth Stringer reports from Wattisham where GAR was given a chance to meet the display team and see the routine - at very close quarters. Images as credited.
MAY192011
Airshows >> UK: Duxford Spring Air Show - Women in Aviation - Preview This Sunday the Imperial War Museum Duxford will open its doors for the first of its airshows of the 2011 season - The Spring Air Show. Huw Hopkins provides a preview of what you can expect to see.
MAY182011
Airshows >> UK: 20 Questions For....... Anna Walker - skytricks.com Anna Walker was born in Brazil and was introduced to flying by her father at just six years of age. She started gliding from the age of 13 and then took up powered flying as a tug pilot; also experimenting with hang-gliding.
MAY152011
Airshows >> UK: 20 Questions For.......Bill Perrins - XH558 Bill Perrins is a vastly experienced airshow pilot and part of Vulcan XH558's roster of display crew. He joined the RAF in 1974 and, after flying training, was posted to fly Vulcans with 44(R) Squadron. After this tour, which culminated in his involvement with operations during the Falklands Campaign, Bill spent a while instructing on Jet Provost and Hawk aircraft prior to converting onto the Tornado F.3. After leaving the RAF in 1993 Bill entered the airline world and, having worked for a couple of charter companies, moved to Virgin Atlantic Airways where he is currently employed as a Training Captain flying Boeing 747-400s.
MAY132011
Airshows >> UK: Flt Lt Jules Fleming - 2011 Royal Air Force Hawk Display With another airshow season finally underway, GAR travelled to RAF Valley to meet Flt Lt Jules Fleming, a QFI with 208(R) Squadron and the 2011 Royal Air Force Hawk Display Pilot. Gareth Stringer reports with images as credited.
MAY112011
Airshows >> UK: Abingdon Air & Country Show 2011 - Review Still flushed from a day in the sunshine, Gareth Stringer reports from Abingdon Air & Country Show 2011 – a day dominated by a number of debut appearances as well as some old favourites. Images as credited.
MAY092011
Airshows >> UK: The Shuttleworth Collection's Spring Air Display Well, the last seven months went surprisingly quickly! Here we are again at the very cusp of the British airshow season 2011 and what better way to kick things off than with the Shuttleworth Collection's Spring Air Display at Old Warden? Elliott Marsh was there for GAR.
MAY072011
Airshows >> UK: 20 Questions For.......Flt Lt Dan Hayes - 2011 Royal Air Force Tucano Display Pilot In the second of our brand new series of display pilot interrogations, Global Aviation Resource presents - '20 Questions For.......Flt Lt Dan Hayes'
MAY042011
Airshows >> UK: 20 Questions For.......Guy Westgate - GliderFX Guy Westgate is Team Leader and a pilot with GliderFX and member of the new SWIP Team. Eight times National Glider Aerobatic Champion at Unlimited level, Guy has represented Britain at three World Aerobatic Championships, has been flying aerobatics since 1993 and holds two World Records for tandem paragliding with his twin brother. He is also an advanced aerobatic instructor and CAA Display Evaluator.
MAY032011
Airshows >> UK: Vulcan XH558's First Training Flight From New Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport Home On the 26th April XH558, the Vulcan bomber, took to the skies for the first time from her new home of Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport ahead of what is hoped to be a full season of appearances at airshows up and down the UK. Glenn Beasley was there for GAR to find out how the Delta Lady has settled into her new home and what the purpose of the flight was.
APR282011
Airshows >> UK: Royal Air Force's 22 Gp Pilots Get the Green Light to Display Yesterday was a successful one all round for the Royal Air Force's 22 Gp airshow pilots as the Tutor, Hawk and Tucano display pilots received their clearance to display in public. Joining them was the King Air solo display which returns for a fourth year on the circuit as Gareth Stringer reports. Images as credited.
APR262011
Airshows >> Europe: Cool Precision - the Breitling Jet Team The Breitling Jet Team is the world's largest civilian aerobatic team operating jets. Mark Broadbent talked to the team's founder and leader, Jacques Bothelin, about what it takes to operate the team. Images as credited.
APR192011
Airshows >> UK: Spitfire PL965 - Diary of a Warbird Restoration Spitfire PR.XI PL965 will be a familiar sight to many airshow goers, having been a regular participant at airshows throughout the UK and Europe for the best part of 20 years. Under the ownership of Peter Teichman and the Hangar 11 Collection, PL965 recently underwent a major overhaul to reinstall the aircraft's original Merlin 70 engine. Hangar 11's Steve Atkin reports for GAR.
APR192011
Airshows >> UK: Abingdon Air and Country Show 2011 - Preview The Abingdon Air and Country Show is for many of the UK's airshow fans a traditional season curtain raiser. This year's event takes place on Sunday 8th May, despite the difficulties it faced last year, and looks set to provide a solid flying display with much to see on the ground. Organiser Neil Porter helps Gareth Stringer assess last year's issues and explains why the show must go on. Images as credited.
APR152011
Airshows >> UK: 2011 Royal Air Force Tucano Display Pilot - Flt Lt Dan Hayes Following on from our reveal of the 2011 Tucano Display Scheme, it's high time that we introduced the man charged with displaying to the public in the forthcoming airshow season, Flt Lt Dan Hayes, and his Display Manager, Flt Lt Nathan Dales. Karl Drage reports from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, with exclusive PlanesTV video content and a glimpse of the actual display scheme on the aircraft in question.
APR122011
Airshows >> UK: Vulcan training day at Wellesbourne - XM655 Helps XH558 With the airshow season rapidly approaching, the aircrew who will display the world’s only flying example of the Vulcan recently completed a vital day of training using another airframe for the job. Gareth Stringer was there for GAR.
APR122011
Airshows >> Asia: Team Viper Does Al Ain Having performed at the Al Ain Aerobatic Show in 2010 as an all Strikemaster team, Team Viper's return in 2011 gave the UAE public a first chance to see the Team flying its formation display with the aircraft they chose to replace it - the legendary Hawker Hunter. PlanesTV's Iain Campbell guest reports and delivers a first public airing of Team Viper's new promotional video for 2011. Imagery from Jon Windover / SkyFury.
APR082011
Airshows >> UK: 2011 Royal Air Force Hawk Display Scheme Revealed Continuing our series of Royal Air Force airshow exclusives, Global Aviation Resource reveals the scheme to be worn by display pilot Flt Lt Jules Fleming’s Hawk T.1 aircraft. Gareth Stringer reports.
APR052011
Airshows >> USA: Sun-n-Fun 2011, Lakeland Florida One of the first big events in the American aviation calendar is Florida's Sun-n-Fun. This year things didn't go quite to plan with the event far from living up to its name, as Chris Wood reports.
APR012011
Airshows >> UK: 2011 Royal Air Force Tucano Display Scheme Revealed Global Aviation Resource is delighted to exclusively reveal the scheme that this year’s Royal Air Force Tucano Display aircraft will be wearing at airshows across the UK and beyond. Gareth Stringer reports with images as credited.
MAR292011
Airshow Archive Part 4: Farnborough International 90 Paul Fiddian journeys back to the scene of Farnborough International 1990, where torrents of trainers, a frenzy of foreign fighters and the world's largest aircraft mixed to produce a stunning airshow.
MAR252011
Airshows >> UK: Flt Lt Shaun Kimberley - 2011 Royal Air Force Tutor Display Pilot Despite recent cuts to the Royal Air Force training pipeline, public displays by 22 Group aircraft remain a crucial element of the engagement strategy. Gareth Stringer travelled to RAF Cranwell to meet the man taking over Tutor display duties for 2011.
MAR222011
Airshows >> USA: Centennial of Naval Aviation (CoNA) Kickoff event, Naval Air Station North Island - Review 100 years and still going strong. 2011 marks the 100th year of the United States Navy's involvement with aviation and it's going to spend all year celebrating. The first item on the celebratory agenda took place at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California on 12th February, in glorious weather. Chris Wood reports for GAR with imagery as credited.
MAR152011
Airshows >> UK: RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2011 Press Launch & Preview Paul Fiddian reports from RNAS Yeovilton which held a Press Launch to preview Air Day 2011 on 11 March. The weather was dreary but the flying was top notch and, on the evidence presented, this year's event's shaping up very well...
MAR012011
Airshows >> Asia: Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2011 The Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2011 was not an event that was on my radar in any way shape or form until a couple of weeks before the event, when Gareth received a text message from TSA Consulting’s Dave Walton asking, hypothetically speaking, if either Gareth or myself would be available to go out. It seemed that the organisers were looking for someone to photograph the show on their behalf. Karl Drage reports on a very different airshow outing.
FEB222011
Airshows >> UK: RedHawks Duo Spreads Its Wings. While fast and noisy jet aircraft and historic warbirds are clearly popular at airshows, equally stirring performances can be given by less lauded aircraft. Mark Broadbent talks to the pilots of the RedHawks Duo, which débuted on the display circuit in 2010.
FEB222011
Airshow Archive Part 3: Intrepid Aviation Airshow 1999 In our latest airshow retrospective feature, Paul Fiddian takes us back more than a decade to North Weald and the 1999 Intrepid Aviation Airshow. Images as credited.
FEB082011
Warbirds >> Fairey Firefly WB518 / N518WB - Capt Eddie The beautiful southern Californian city of San Diego is probably one of the last places you would expect to find a rare example of a classic British fighter, but hiding away in a busy suburban airfield there is just such a gem. Paul Dunn catches up with Captain Eddie to take a look at his magnificent warbird, Fairey Firefly WB518 / N518WB.
JAN182011
Airshow Archive Part 2: Air Fete 87 Gareth Stringer takes us back to Mildenhall and its famous Air Fete, with this feature taking a look at the 1987 event. Additional imagery courtesy of Nigel Watson.
DEC282010
Airshow Archive Part 1: IAT 95 - The Victory Airshow In the first of what will be a regular series of Airshow Archive features, Mark Broadbent takes a look back at the International Air Tattoo 95 - The Victory Airshow, one of the finest events in the Tattoo's 40-year history and one of the best airshows ever staged in the UK.
NOV302010
Flying the 'Fish - LS326 The full return of a Fairey Swordfish to the UK airshow scene has been long-awaited and, now – after a successful series of test flights last month – it will happen in 2011. Paul Fiddian visited the RNHF to find out just what the Swordfish is like to fly, and discuss the type’s arrival back onto the display circuit. While he looks forward, many of the images that feature here journey back in time, to revisit some of the highlights of the aircraft’s airshow past.
NOV162010
Vulcan XH558 - An Interview with Dr Robert Pleming The plight of Avro Vulcan XH558 has remained at the forefront of many minds since the aircraft's incredible return to flight in 2007. With yet another last minute funding drive recently completed, GAR approached THE VULCAN TO THE SKY TRUST (VTTST) to talk through the project's past, present and future. Gareth Stringer sat down with Chief Executive Dr Robert Pleming. Images as credited.
NOV162010
Team Merlin Reflects on the End of an Era With Team Merlin’s Manager MACr Gareth Attridge moving on to pastures new a fresh face will be taking over at the helm of one the most popular RAF airshow attendees. MACr Attridge sat down with GAR's own Gareth to take a look back at the past five years and they were joined by the former’s replacement to see what the future might hold in this exclusive report for GAR. Words by Gareth Stringer, images as credited.
NOV092010
Airshows >> UK: Behind the Scenes with the RV-8tors The high-powered and fast-moving RV-8tors team of two Vans RV-8s have proved a welcome and highly popular addition to the British airshow circuit. GAR's Paul Fiddian goes behind the scenes to discover more about the RV-8tors, and looks back at the past few months through the eyes of team pilot Andy Hill. Additional imagery courtesy of Rob Laker.
NOV022010
The 2010 Airshow Season - Review Part 2 We are privileged in the United Kingdom to be able to enjoy a plethora of high quality military and civilian displays, many of which are unique to this country. In part two of GAR’s review of the year, Elliott Marsh takes a look at some of the individual aircraft, pilots and acts that have graced the airshow circuit in 2010.
OCT262010
The 2010 Airshow Season - Review Part 1 The European airshow season runs pretty much from April through to October and provides the enthusiast with a wealth of venues to visit and aircraft to enjoy. The 2010 calendar was a very full one and UK shows included a host of Battle of Britain 70th commemorations alongside the usual pot pourri of events at varied locations both large and small, military and civilian. Elliott Marsh volunteered to take on the huge task of compiling GAR's season review, taking in comments and memories from the whole team.
OCT192010
MCAS Miramar Airshow 2010 MCAS Miramar is one of the most important Marine Corps bases on the west coast of the US. Their annual airshow is one of the highlights of the US airshow calendar. Paul Dunn reports for GAR.
OCT192010
Duxford Autumn Air Show With perfect blue skies, a gentle breeze and a quality flying programme lined up, the final airshow of the British air display calendar was destined to be a fine end to the season. With the addition of some excellent set-pieces and a star return to the airshow circuit after 11 years, Duxford was on to a winner with their Autumn Air Display. Elliott Marsh reports.
OCT192010
The 18th Malta International Airshow Malta is a bit like Marmite, you either love it or you hate it.... Personally I love it, although I am the first to admit it did take a bit of getting used to…. Kevin Wills makes a return visit to guest report for GAR.
OCT122010
Colorado Springs "In Their Honor" Airshow GAR's Paul Filmer is the first to admit that he rarely attends airshows as he prefers to catch aviation in its natural element, but with this year's Colorado Springs "In Their Honor" Airshow taking place a mere one hour drive from his home it seemed sensible to take a look.
OCT122010
Old Warden Autumn Air Display 2010 It seems cruelly unfortunate that, having suffered through some horrendous weather in the past few years, the Shuttleworth Collection once again had to endure the worst the weather Gods could throw at them on Sunday October 3rd. However, despite a grim start to the day and some troublesome conditions throughout the afternoon, the Collection managed to present an enjoyable, if bracing, final show of the year. Elliott Marsh reports from Old Warden.
OCT052010
God's own airshow - Old Warden 'Meet the Pilots' 2010 The 'Meet the Pilots' concept is unique in the United Kingdom, with Old Warden being virtually the only UK show offering this type of event, on this scale. On the back of 2009's immensely popular debut event, and with the wonderful chance to savour the sight and smell of some beautiful vintage aircraft on a cool Autumn evening, the show should have been a hit with the public. Unfortunately, due to some incomprehensible promotional oversights, the event failed to achieve its potential. Elliott Marsh reports.