Flt Lt Matt Barker - BAE Systems Hawk T.1:
When we last met Matt it was dodging the rain showers at Fairford and he was roughly at the half-way point of his season; now we're sitting outside a hotel in Southport and it's nearly all over.
"We displayed at almost every venue we were scheduled to, the weather has been pretty good this season and so that means I've achieved what I wanted to in terms of the displays we've attended.
"In terms of the actual flying then that's gone how I wanted it to as well. The technical side of the display flying and the fact that I've flown the display I wanted to fly was important."
Matt has had some flack from various "enthusiasts" this season but, as GAR learns over the weekend at Southport, the airshow flying fraternity, including the likes of Red 1 Jas Hawker, have been quick to praise Matt's display; as has the general public.
"We've raised thousands of pounds for our chosen charities and that is entirely down the generosity of the general public. We've met a vast number of people during the season and the interest they've shown in the display, the aircraft and the RAF has been extraordinary."
But, given the chance, would Matt, with the benefit of a year's display experience under his belt, have done anything differently?
"I actually don't think I would. I'm really pleased with how the display worked out, the paint scheme on the aircraft, the shows we attended, the money we raised and the public relations we conducted, so no, I wouldn't change any of that."
Some of the crews had to think long and hard to come up with one single highlight from their lengthy season displaying, but Matt's answer is almost instantaneous.
"The Serbian airshow we did in Belgrade at Batajnica was one of the highlights of the season. After what the country has been through it was a huge honour for us to be invited to their first airshow for ten years. We successfully staged two aircraft out to Belgrade and displayed on both days of an event which was extremely well-hosted and well organised. That was a definite highlight."
In Flt Lt Tom Saunders we already know the identity of Matt's successor for the 2010 airshow season and while working this year as Matt's Display Manager will clearly have helped Tom discover some of the vagaries of the airshow world, what would be the single most important piece of advice he could pass on?
"The biggest piece of advice I would give Tom would be to stay safe and enjoy himself. It's easy to get bogged down in some of the admin involved but it's been great to have Tom as my Manager for the season; he's seen plenty of what goes on and will undoubtedly get his Manager to help him through next season.
"Between now and Christmas I will fly with Tom whenever we can and give him my sage words of advice on flying the display. He already knows about the organisational side of things so I will just help with the flying - but I do know that Tom will do a good job."
There's no question either that Matt will miss displaying the aircraft and being part of the airshow scene.
"I'll be brought down to earth with a bump I reckon! Reality will bite but I am looking forward to getting back to instructing on a full-time basis for a while at least. I will miss the shows though.
"I've met some great people this season. I've really lapped it up and enjoyed every minute. Some of it has been quite surreal really, especially when I Iook back to the beginning of the season at Abingdon - getting a telling-off from the FCC (Flying Control Committee) after my first display was a good start!
"Most of all I'll miss the flying I think. They are the memories that I will always cherish."
Matt now returns to RAF Valley and 208(R) Sqn for a short while before a refresher course on the Tornado GR.4 with XV(R) Sqn and then a return to his former 'home' station and unit; RAF Marham and XIII Squadron. Prior to that GAR will hopefully be visiting Matt and Tom at RAF Valley to take a closer look at the work of 208(R) Sqn and 4FTS.
Flt Lt Bill Ramsey - Grob Tutor T.1:
Be they members of the Air Training Corps, University Air Squadron or about to enter flight training, for many the Tutor is the very first 'military' aircraft they will encounter on the long journey to winning their wings and on to operational flying.
Flt Lt Bill Ramsey was this year's most experienced display pilot by virtue of his time with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and a tour as senior supervisor to the Red Arrows. When we met at Cosford in June Bill told GAR of his hopes for the season ahead, so how did it all go?
"I would say the season has been a success. I did around 35 or so public displays and approximately 20 various families days.
"The Tutor never went tech and I was also able to fly my display at every show I was booked to do in the UK. I've been very lucky this year as only three displays were lost to weather.
"Having a professional manager in Warrant Officer (Ret'd) John May was priceless and that also helped me out no end."
Having been around the display circuit a few times in his distinguished flying career you can't help but wonder whether this year would have seen him encountering anything new, but during 2009 he did exactly that.
"I've been very pleased with the way we've used available technology to do the task in a smart way, which in turn reduced my workload and that of the squadron while improving safety. For example John and I did all our business electronically from two separate locations (our homes) through a BT email address. This saved using an RAF display manager who could therefore continue to do a full time job for his Squadron.
"On the ops side I acquired a netbook, dongle and Memory Map (CAA mapping/planning software). This meant I could plan / replan, anywhere, quickly and easily and then download the route directly into my GPS - a poor man's AMPA (Advanced Mission Planning Aid) if you like. It also let me do 3D fly-throughs of routes and display sites if needed. Add in Google Earth and you have a pretty awesome display planning capability. As a spin off I could check NOTAMs/weather etc from my bed in any hotel in the country!"
With more than fifty displays to his name this year, Bill has certainly collected many memories of his time on the circuit in 2009, but can he pick any highlights I ask?
"I especially enjoyed Sunderland because it was a super day and an easy venue for the Tutor. Jersey also sticks in my mind because of the wonderful setting and difficult wind and turbulence. Challenging displays are always interesting!
"The most important thing the season taught me was to enjoy every second as it really is gone in a heartbeat. If I was to give anyone displaying a piece of advice it would be to pay attention to every detail of your display transits. To quote the great John Rands (Red 1 in the mid 1990s) 'Never put your body where your mind hasn't been before'!"
As for Bill, he's just beaten the kids at Cranwell and will return to the circuit for the 2010 season. He'll clearly collect many more next year but in the meantime the 2009 season is full of great memories for him and one in particular will always make him smile.
"I actually got overtaken by 'Black 2' (Royal Navy Black Cats) in his Lynx whilst transitting to Leuchars! I can honestly say I have never been so humiliated in my life.............especially when Newcastle ATC asked if we were in formation and I had to confess that I couldn't keep up!"
The story behind the photos…………
As we entered the week prior to the event it looked like our big plan was going to defy expectations and work out - namely that of photographing all of the RAF's solo display assets together for the first time. After weeks of planning, chasing sign-off on proposals, discussions with display managers and pilots, event organisers and airport officials it really did look like the jigsaw was complete. That was until we reached the Wednesday night and lost the Chinook - five had become four.
There's nothing anyone can do about that so, after allowing ourselves a few moments misery, we resolved to push ahead as planned. Arriving in Southport on the Friday night we either met with, or spoke to, everyone involved and it looked like the remainder of the photo-shoot was holding firm.
That was until Karl and I arrived at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Saturday. While security were booking us in and checking our bags we glimpsed the unmistakeable sight of a Tutor taxiing for departure. A change in airshow timings meant Bill had to leave for Woodvale else the Red Arrows airspace restrictions would leave him stranded. Four had become three.
The remaining three crews and the staff at Liverpool John Lennon Airport could not have been more helpful. With Hawk and King Air away displaying at Southport, the 29(R) ground-crew and airport support team moved a Typhoon to the centre of the ramp to the position Karl had indicated would be best for the session. Matt was first to return and taxied into position adjacent to the Typhoon, followed shortly after by Leon and 'Kiwi' in the King Air. We then decided that the King Air needed moving, not just once but twice, and this meant some manpower was required to help maneuver the aircraft in to the correct position, so we all assisted. The sight of Typhoon display pilot Scott Loughran helping to push a King Air will remain one of GAR's more bizarre memories of the 2009 airshow season! Finally we were ready to begin.........
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