BlogGAR – Paul Dunn – Military Visitors at Alliance Fort Worth Airport
Alliance Airport in the city of Fort Worth is an airfield which often attracts interesting visitors, particularly transient military aircraft. Paul Dunn reports from two recent visits.
Aviation Feature – The Bücker Bestmann’s ‘Great Escape’
Since 2012, the airshow scene in the UK has become well accustomed to seeing Will Greenwood and his Bücker Bestmann; a very rare machine in this country. In this guest article for GAR, Will explains how he came to acquire the Bestmann and what bringing it back to the UK entailed.
Aviation News – Colorado military assets conduct annual rotary fire-fight training
Over the last couple of weekends both the regular Army from Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, and the Army National Guard from Buckley Air Force Base have been performing their annual ‘Bambi-Bucket’ fire-fighting training at three of the Front Range public reservoirs. Paul Filmer was there for GAR.
Aviation Feature – Japan Pt.1 – Tokyo Narita
Paul Filmer had been interested in going to Japan for a number of years, but unpredictable weather, and not being able to get a suitable group together, had put paid to any plans – until now.
F-16 at 40 – Pt.6 – AETC and AFMC F-16s
As we have seen so far in this series of articles, the majority of the active duty USAF’s F-16 fleet is divided between Air Combat Command, USAFE and PACAF. Much smaller numbers are assigned to Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and Air Force Materiel Command, but their contributions are of great significance.
Aviation Event Review – 20 More Years of The Mighty Buccaneer
It’s hard to believe that it has been 20 years since the iconic shape of the Blackburn Buccaneer left the RAF inventory, but that’s what the celebrations were all about on Saturday 29th March at Bruntinghtorpe airfield, near Leicestershire. With unseasonably mild temperatures, blue skies and sunshine, both models belonging to the Buccaneer Aviation Group, S2Bs XW544 and XW894, both looked superb in their shiny new coats of paint, XW964’s being her first outing for 12 months following an in depth service and a full re-paint. Glenn Beasley was there for GAR.
Aviation News – Coulson C-130 Demonstration Drop in Colorado
Paul Filmer reports from Centennial Airport, Colorado, where Coulson Aviation recently carried out a water bombing demonstration with its C-130Q Hercules.
Aviation Event Review – RAF Northolt Night Photoshoot XVI
RAF Northolt’s rescheduled Night Photoshoot XVI took place on Thursday, 27 March, and, sadly, suffered from enforced cancellations from two of the star participants. Karl Drage reports.
F-16 at 40 – Pt.5 – F-16 in Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) Service
Continuing GAR’s series of articles to mark the 40th anniversary of the first flight of the F-16, Paul Dunn takes a look at the only ‘former’ F-16 operator, the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI).
Airshow News – New Chief Executive for RIAT
Andy Armstrong has been named the new Chief Executive of the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises
Aviation News – RAF TriStar Retirement – K1 ZD951 lands at Bruntingthorpe
Somewhat surprisingly given the weather forecast, the Royal Air Force today performed its last ever landing of a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar when K1 variant ZD951 became the fourth example of the type to touch down on Bruntingthorpe’s runway at 1849 local, as the last dregs of what little light there had been on a largely damp and overcast day ebbed away. Karl Drage reports.
Aviation News – The TriStar’s last operational flight with the RAF
Monday, 24 March 2014 saw the last operational mission for the RAF’s TriStar and 216 Squadron, as both complete their RAF service. Gordon Jones reports for GAR.
Airshow News – Gnat Display Team becomes a three-ship
The Gnat Display Team has added a third Folland Gnat to its fleet and will be flying three-ship displays at this year’s air shows. Airshow organisers are now eyeing up the team for its three-ship display routine in this 50th anniversary year of the Red Arrows
Feature – 70th Anniversary of the ‘Great Escape’
24 March 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of the ‘Great Escape’, the valiant and ultimately failed escape of 76 captured Allied airmen from the Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp. Kieran Lear reflects on an event which has forever been engrained in modern culture.
Video – F-35B Lightning II demo at MCAS Yuma Air Show
Here’s a glimpse of something that will no doubt become a far more familiar sight, a demo by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Aviation Feature – Colombia Pt.10 – Aer Caribe An-32A Flight
Rounding off his Colombian Adventure Paul Filmer has the rare opportunity to fly on an Antonov An-32A at the Medellin Air Fair.
News – Military courage recognised by Operational Honours List
A soldier who displayed extreme valour while seriously injured by a gunshot wound to the neck is among those recognised for bravery on operations today as the operational honours and awards list is revealed.
Aviation Event Preview – Bruntingthorpe Buccaneer Aviation Group, Saturday 29 March 2014
On Saturday 29 March, at Bruntingthorpe, the Buccaneer Aviation Group will be hosting a special event to mark two decades since the type’s retirement.
F-16 at 40 – Pt.4 – F-16s over the Pacific
Paul Dunn continues our look at USAF F-16 operations, with a report on the strategically significant Pacific region, where F-16s form a large proportion of the air power available to Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).
Aviation Feature – Colombia Pt.9 – Madrid Airbase
In the next installment of his Colombian Adventure Paul Filmer discovers some wrecks and relics as well as some of the country’s aviation maintenance industry.
F-16 at 40 – Pt.3 – The F-16 in Hellenic Air Force Service
The Hellenic Air Force is a major European operator of the F-16, including the advanced Block 52+ version. Paul Dunn looks at the history of the type in Greek service, with the help of former F-16 Demo Team pilot Capt Manolis Karahalios.
Airshow Review – Singapore Airshow 2014
The Singapore Airshow is the world’s third largest trade show and the only regular airshow of any kind in Singapore. Since the event began in 2008, it’s fair to say that feedback has been mixed – especially regarding the flying display – but this year’s show was undoubtedly the best yet. Adam Landau guest reports for GAR.
F-16 at 40 – Pt.2 – USAFE F-16 Fighting Falcon Retrospective
Like USAFE as a whole, the current European-based US F-16 force is a shadow of its former self, but still plays an important role within NATO and as part of US operations further afield. Paul Dunn examines the history of USAFE and the F-16.
Aviation Feature – Colombia Pt.8 – Tolemaida Airbase
Paul Filmer’s Colombia series continues as he visits Tolemaida Airbase, home of the Colombian Army’s helicopter fleet.
BlogGAR – Greg Marsh – Musings on the 2013 airshow season
As the 2014 airshow season nears at a pace, Greg Marsh takes one final look at an enjoyable 2013. Images are as credited.
Military Exercise – Red Flag returns
Following a gap of almost a year due to the 2013 Sequestration budget cuts, the USAF’s Red Flag training exercises have returned with a new and improved version. Chris Wood reports from Nellis AFB, on the outskirts of Las Vegas, on the first of three exercises in fiscal year 2014. Red Flag 14-1 ran for three weeks between the 27 January and 14 February. Additional photography by Gordon Jones.
F-16 at 40 – Pt.1 – F-16 Fighting Falcons in TAC/ACC Service
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first flight of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. In the first of a series of articles to appear on GAR in the coming weeks, Paul Dunn takes a look at the type’s service with the USAF’s Air Combat Command, and its predecessor, Tactical Air Command.
Aviation Profile – Péter Besenyei: Hungary’s Freestyling Hero
Guest writer Paul Fiddian speaks to Hungarian aerobatics ace and Red Bull Air Race co-founder Péter Besenyei about his aviation career, the fantastic Corvus Racer 540 design and the reactivated RBAR series, with contributions from several of the aerobatics world’s elite.
Aviation Feature – Colombia Pt.7 – Jetstream 41 Flight to El Alcaraván Airport
In the next installment of his Columbian adventure, Paul filmer flew on an Easyfly Jetstream 41 and enjoyed a ramp tour of El Alcaraván Airport.
Aviation News – RAF BBMF to host Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Lancaster during visit to England in August 2014
RAF BBMF to host Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Lancaster during visit to England in August 2014.