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2011 UK Airshows

APR 28 2011
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.

After a speedy but thorough work-up, the King Air display team joined the other 22(Training) Group display pilots in being awarded their Public Display Authority (PDA) by the Air Officer Commanding 22 (Trg) Gp, Air Vice Marshall Mark Green, at RAF Cranwell yesterday.

At the King Air’s helm for a fourth consecutive year is Flight Lieutenant Leon Creese who will be joined in the cockpit throughout the 2011 season by two fellow 45(Reserve) Squadron Qualified Flying Instructors.

The first of these, Flight Lieutenant Ian Birchall, formerly a Nimrod captain, supported Leon in producing another stunning example of precision display flying in near perfect weather for their PDA; with a crisply flown sequence ending with the King Air’s customary, but nonetheless always spectacular, steep approach and a perfectly judged spot landing.

The second constituted crew of Leon and Flight Lieutenant Rich Davies is programmed to receive its PDA prior to the first King Air public display, sometime towards the end of May.

The full programme of display dates, likely to include over 50 displays at some 30 venues across the UK and Europe, will be confirmed as soon as possible so please keep checking the 45(R) Squadron website. Global Aviation Resource will also publish the dates as soon as they are available.

Congratulations are also due to Flt Lt Shaun Kimberley (Tutor), Flt Lt Dan Hayes (Tucano) and Flt Lt Jules Fleming (Hawk) – all of whom also successfully completed PDA yesterday.

All three make their season debut at next weekend’s Abingdon Air and Country Show and have a long season of dates ahead of them, displaying in front of crowds across the UK and beyond.

GAR is currently finalising details of a major feature with Jules having visited RAF Valley last week and we look forward to bringing this article to you very soon.

We would like to wish all of the above pilots, and their support teams, our very best wishes for the season ahead.
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