Aviation News – The RAF’s RC-135 Rivet Joint takes to the sky
After spending six months on the ground at RAF Waddington following its delivery, the RAF’s first, and currently only, RC-135W Rivet Joint took to the skies today for the first time as an RAF aircraft. Gordon Jones reports for GAR.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.11 – Komaki Airport, Nagoya
On one of the last visits of his Japanese tour, Paul Filmer takes in a mixture of civillian and military traffic at Komaki Airport.
Airshow Review – Mińsk Mazowiecki Open Day
2014 marks the 15th anniversary of Poland joining NATO, and to celebrate the Polish Armed Forces held an airshow at the 23rd Air Base at Mińsk Mazowiecki, East of Warsaw, on 10-11 May. Dean West reports for GAR.
Event Review – Support Our Paras
The Parachute Regiment Charity was set up to help support soldiers and families of The Parachute Regiment, as well as members of the Airborne Forces who are also in need of help. In 2008 a small but successful event was held at Old Sarum airfield in Salisbury and, after six years away, the organisers decided to put together another show on 11 May. Tom Mercer was there for GAR.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.10 – Gifu Air Base
With another grey day for Paul Filmer it wasn’t looking too hopeful for his trip to Gifu Air Base, a notoriously difficult airport to shoot at, or so they were told. The day did yield some interesting movements however.
Airshow Review – Planes of Fame Airshow 2014 Practice Day
The first weekend of May saw the annual Planes of Fame airshow at Chino Airport, California, take place. Often described as one of the best airshows in the country, it was an opportunity GAR Deputy Editor, Elliott Marsh, and GAR writer, Kieran Lear, couldn’t afford to miss. Kieran reports from the days leading up to this illustrious airshow, with photographs as credited.
Airshow Review – Marrakech Airshow 2014
Held every two years since 2008, the fourth Marrakech Airshow took place 23-26 April, with the event having firmly established itself as the primary civilian and defence trade expo in North Africa. Kevin Jackson reports for GAR.
Airshow Feature – The Great War Display Team (GWDT)
Conceived in 1988 and originally called The Wombats, 2014 is set to be by far the busiest and most significant year in the existence of the Great War Display Team (GWDT) to date. Karl Drage caught up with the team during their first practice weekend of the year at Sywell Aerodrome, Northants.
D-Day 70 – Pt.9 – Preview of Commemorations
Throughout the spring and summer of 2014, the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy will be commemorated by a series of events in the UK and Europe. Several UK-based historic aircraft will also be receiving special anniversary schemes to mark the occasion, and a number of vintage aircraft from the USA will be making the trip to Europe to take part in some unique anniversary events.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.9 – Iruma Air Base
Paul Filmer visits Iruma Air Base and sees a variety of Japanese hardware coming and going.
Airshow Review – Abingdon Air & Country Show 2014
The 2014 UK airshow season got off to a fine start on Sunday, 4 May as the gates to Dalton Barracks, Oxfordshire, were once again opened for the Abingdon Air & Country Show – run to raise funds for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance. Karl Drage was there for GAR. Additional photography as credited.
Aviation Event Review – Dream Machines, Half Moon Bay
Each spring, Half Moon Bay airport on the Northern California coast hosts a gathering of aircraft and cars for the Dream Machines event. Rob Edgcumbe visited for GAR to see what interesting vehicles would show up.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.8 – Hyakuri Air Base
There’s a broad variety of types to be seen at Hyakuri Air Base, including F-4 Phantoms and F-15 Eagles, as Paul Filmer illustrates from his recent trip.
F-16 at 40 – Pt.8 – Going to War: A Pilot’s Story
In 1990, Edward Smith was an RAF pilot serving on a dream exchange posting, flying the F-16 with the 4th TFS at Hill AFB, UT. In August of that year Iraq invaded Kuwait, setting into motion a sequence of events which would see him flying missions during Operation Desert Storm alongside his USAF colleagues. Ed has kindly supplied us with the following gripping account of flying his first combat mission, along with some background to how he came to be in that position.
Aviation News – Vauxhall to support B.E.2c “Biggles Biplane” G-AWYI
British automobile manufacturer Vauxhall – one of only two surviving British companies to have supplied vehicles for military use during World War I – has been unveiled as a 2014 supporter of Matthew Boddington and Steve Slater’s Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c replica, G-AWYI, at a press launch at the aircraft’s Sywell Aerodrome home.
Airshow Preview – Abingdon Air & Country Show 2014
As incredible as it might sound, this weekend marks the official start of the 2014 airshow season with the annual Abingdon Air & Country Show this Sunday 4 May; always one of the first events of the year. Greg Marsh previews the show’s line-up.
Aviation News – Midair Squadron presents Canberra and Hunter duo
Midair Squadron yesterday presented its English Electric Canberra PR9 and Hawker Hunter T7 duo display to the press at their Cotswold Airport (formerly Kemble) home ahead of this Sunday’s airshow debut at Abingdon Air & Country Show. Karl Drage reports.
BlogGAR: Karl Drage – London-City Airport (LCY) – 05/03/2014
After a largely unsuccessful day before at RAF Brize Norton, Wednesday, 5 March was spent at London-City Airport, a place where my only previous visit had come with the Swift Aerobatic Display Team when we flew in for the 2009 “Fun Day”.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.7 – Naval Air Facility Atsugi
With better weather on the next leg of his Japanese trip Paul Filmer finally shoots the quirky looking Japanese Shin Meiwa US-1 at Naval Air Facility Atsugi.
Aviation Event Review – Sywell Aviation Museum Opening 2014
It always feels like the UK airshow season is around the corner when Sywell Aviation Museum is officially opened for the year, an event traditionally held on the Saturday of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Greg Marsh reports on the day’s happenings.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.6 – Hamamatsu Air Base
Up against the weather and paucity of weekend flying from the military, Paul Filmer still manages to have an enjoyable day in Japan at Hamamatsu Air Base.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.5 – MCAS Iwakuni and Komaki Airport
Paul Filmer shoots a Japanese ShinMaywa US-2 amongst other SAR and Maritime patrol types at MCAS Iwakuni, one of the goals of his trip, followed by some regional airliners at Komaki Airport.
Global Aviation Magazine – Issue 23: April / May 2014
Issue 23 of Global Aviation Magazine has arrived and is FREE to access and download.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.4 – Ozuki and Hofu-kita Air Bases
After a busy start to his Japanese trip, Paul Filmer has a quieter day shooting training aircraft and much more serene scenes.
Airshow News – Three Joint Strike Fighters to attend RIAT 2014
Aviation history will be made in the UK this summer when, in a major airshow ‘first’, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Joint Strike Fighter, makes its much-anticipated European début.
Aviation Event Review – East Kirkby Nuremberg Raid Commemoration 2014
The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre’s opening event for 2014 was a poignant commemoration of one of World War Two’s most infamous operations – the Nuremburg raid by Royal Air Force Bomber Command on the night of 30/31 March 1944. Greg Marsh writes for GAR.
Military Exercise – Recce Meet 2014 – BA 118 Mont-de-Marsan
Last week the Armée de l’Air’s Base Aérienne 118 (BA 118) at Mont-de-Marsan hosted the second edition of the Recce Meet exercise, cunningly named “Recce Meet 14”. Karl Drage reports for GAR.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.3 – Nyutabaru Air Base
After a grey first day of shooting in Japan, at Tsuiki, thankfully the weather cleared up and looked promising for the first of two days at Nyutabaru Air Base, near the town of Shintomi and roughly 10.5 miles north of Miyazaki in the Miyazaki Prefecture.
F-16 At 40 – Pt.7 – Royal Jordanian Fighting Falcons
One of a number of States in the Middle East to operate the F-16, Jordan has been a keen purchaser of second hand jets over the last two decades, building up a substantial fleet in the process. Paul Dunn gives an overview of the RJAF F-16 fleet, with images by Kevin Wills.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.2 – Tsuiki Air Base
In the second installment of his long-awaited trip to Japan, Paul Filmer shoots some fast jets, including F-15 Eagles.