Airshow Preview – Royal International Air Tattoo 11-13/07/14
Still the UK’s biggest military airshow, RIAT 2014 is looking like a cracker, and hopefully one with a very special début visitor – the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II. Gareth Stringer looks ahead to the show.
Aviation Feature – Flying in Belarus Pt.1
Paul Filmer recounts the first leg of his recent trip to Belarus, which would give him the opportunity to fly on some rather lovely Russian hardware.
Airshow Review – Merryfield Open Evening 2014
Each year, the Royal Navy opens its doors to Naval Air Station Merryfield, offering the local community an insight into what their noisy neighbours get up to. Shaun Schofield reports.
Aviation News – Court ruling on Fairey Gannet XT752
The owners of Fairey Gannet XT752 have today issued the following statement following a court ruling in their favour.
Military Exercise – NATO Tiger Meet 2014
NATO’s annual excuse to get busy with its paint pots and get creative occurred in late June when the majority of the organisation’s tiger squadrons gathered at Schleswig-Jagel Air Base in northern Germany for the 2014 NATO Tiger Meet. Chris Wood and Karl Drage report from a chilly northern Germany.
Airshow News – RAF Fairford USAF activity continues
With a much trumpeted international debut scheduled for the impending Royal International Air Tattoo followed closely by the Farnborough International Airshow, does the recent arrival of a United States Air Force C-17A Globemaster III at RAF Fairford, indicate to aviation professionals and enthusiasts alike that the US Marine Corps F-35B Deployment is now a ‘Go’?
Airshow Review – Weston Air Festival 2014
A year on from its inaugural show, the Weston Air Festival has already grown into one of the larger seaside shows on the calendar. Shaun Schofield headed up the road to check it out.
Airshow Preview – RAF Waddington International Air Show 2014
With the second of this year’s two remaining official Royal Air Force air displays rapidly approaching, Gareth Stringer takes a look at what’s in store at RAF Waddington International Air Show 2014.
Airshow Review – Danish Air Show 2014
Every two years the Royal Danish Air Force opens the gates to one of its bases, inviting the public in to see what happens on the other side of the fence. This year it was the turn of Karup, home of the RDAF’s rotary fleet, to host the Danish Air Show, and it took place on Sunday 22 June 2014. Dean West made the trip across the North Sea for GAR.
Aviation Feature – 100th ARW refuels RAF Fairford B-52Hs
Three United States Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortresses spent two weeks at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, from early June. Karl Drage joined the RAF Mildenhall-based 100th Air Refueling Wing to witness first-hand how some of USAFE’s assets have been integrated into the B-52s’ missions.
Airshow Review – Shuttleworth LAA Party in the Park & Airshow
15 June saw Old Warden aerodrome in deepest Bedfordshire stage the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) Day, bringing together a number of interesting visitors and Shuttleworth Collection stalwarts over the famous greenery of what was once the late Richard Shuttleworth’s playground. Kieran Lear writes for GAR.
Aviation Event – Aero Legends press launch at Headcorn
The air around Headcorn aerodrome in Kent is set to reverberate to the sound of Rolls Royce Merlin engines again, with the establishment of Aero Legends, an organisation set up to offer World War Two Battle of Britain air experience flights in a variety of aircraft from that era.
Global Aviation Magazine – Issue 24: June / July 2014
Here’s a look at what’s inside Issue 24 – the final ever issue of GAM:
Airshow News – A400M to support SoloTurk at RAF Waddington
SoloTurk, the Turkish Air Force’s F-16 display team, will be supported by the Airbus A400M at this year’s RAF Waddington International Airshow.
Airshow Feature – AAC Attack Helicopter Display Team 2014
Gareth Stringer met with the Army Air Corps’ 2014 Attack Helicopter Display Team to talk airshow flying and, with the end of the deployment in sight, to examine the Apache’s role in Afghanistan.
BlogGAR – Shaun Schofield – Bomber hunting at RAF Fairford
When rumours circulate that heavy bombers are due in the UK, it’s rude not to try and catch them. Shaun Schofield headed up to RAF Fairford to try and do just that.
Aviation News – Royal Air Force unveils Boeing Chinook HC6
The Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, today visited RAF Odiham to unveil the RAF’s latest variant of the Chinook. Gordon Jones reports for GAR.
Military Exercise – Testing Times as Swedish Air Force Gripens visit RAF Coningsby
As the World Cup gets under-way in Brazil, another international contest was being waged over the skies of Lincolnshire and The North Sea, between RAF Typhoons of 41(R) Test and Evaluation Squadron and Saab JAS39 Gripens of the Operational Test and Evaluation Unit of the Swedish Air Force. Dave Gledhill went to RAF Coningsby to learn more.
Airshow Review – RAF Cosford Air Show 2014
With the demise of the RAF Leuchars airshow, Cosford is now one of only two shows on the calendar hosted by the Royal Air Force. Shaun Schofield headed up to Shropshire to see what the junior service had in store for its first show of the year.
Aviation News – UK-based F-86A Sabre returns to the USA
Duxford based Golden Apple Operations Ltd has today suspended flying of their North American F-86A Sabre. Subject to completion of contract the aircraft will be returning to the United States in the very near future.
D-Day 70 – Pt.23 – Operation OVERLORD: Norwegian Wings Over Normandy, 6 June 1944
In amongst the hundreds of RAF fighter aircraft operating over the Normandy beachhead on 6 June 1944 were Spitfires from Norway’s two squadrons, 331 and 332. Tor Idar Larsen looks at the part played by the Norwegian fighter pilots seeking retribution against the Germans at the start of Operation OVERLORD.
Aviation News – B-2 Spirits deploy to RAF Fairford
On Sunday 8 June 2014 a pair of B-2 Spirits arrived at RAF Fairford for a short term training deployment. Gordon Jones reports for GAR.
D-Day 70 – Pt.21 – Operation NEPTUNE: The Beach Landings
70 years ago today, Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of occupied Europe, was under way as Operation Neptune, the seaborne element of the assault on the Normandy coastline, unfolded. In the next part of GAR’s extensive D-Day anniversary coverage, Elliott Marsh reflects on the American landings at Omaha and Utah Beaches, and Pointe du Hoc, where some of the bloodiest combat of the war was fought.
Aviation News – Avro Vulcan XH558’s first flight of 2014
Monday, 2 June 2014 saw the Avro Vulcan XH558’s first flight of the year from its home at Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Glenn Beasley was there for GAR.
Airshow Preview – RAF Cosford Air Show 2014
With the Royal Air Force’s official ‘at home’ days now numbering just two, Gareth Stringer has a look at what RAF Cosford has to offer this year.
Airshow Preview – Throckmorton Air Show 2014
Cunningly scheduled the day before RAF Cosford’s annual airshow and open day, Throckmorton has once again attracted a great mix of military and civilian performers.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.12 – Haneda Airport, Tokyo
Before catching his flight home Paul Filmer enjoys one last stint of photography on his trip to Japan.
BlogGAR – Karl Drage – London-Heathrow – 12/03/2014
A week after Karl’s trip to London-City Airport, the forecast was looking promising for two days of crystal clear skies and Runway 09 operations at London-Heathrow Airport.
Aviation News – Red Arrows given approval to display in 50th season
Official approval has been given to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, to display in 2014 – its 50th season.
D-Day 70 – Pt.12 – Daedalus D-Day 70th Preview
In addition to the extensive list of events planned to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day in the UK, Lee Flying Assocation (www.eghf.co.uk) and partners have created a unique Daedalus D-Day 70th Airmen and Airborne Commemoration, as Karl Drage examines here.