BlogGAR – Karl Drage – UTair EU Mil Mi-8T “Hip” OM-AVS at Sywell Aerodrome
Since Thursday 6 June, Sywell Aerodrome in Northants has played host to a rather special visitor in the shape of UTair EU’s Mil Mi-8T Hip OM-AVS. I was lucky enough to catch it this lunchtime.
Aviation Feature – AeroExpo 2013
Held at Sywell Aerodrome, Northants, from 31 May to 2 June, AeroExpo 2013 was billed as the UK’s Festival of Aviation with a wide ranging exhibition of products and services. A large selection of aircraft manufacturers, operators and exhibitors were present with the event also providing the opportunity for owners and operators to fly in and see for themselves what was on offer. Tom Gibbons reports for GAR.
Airshow Review – La Ferté-Alais Meeting Aérien 2013
La Ferté-Alais. Three words that immediately capture the best in vintage aviation in Europe. The annual Meeting Aérien, now in its 41st year, is one of the finest historic airshows in Europe, alongside the Hahnweide Old Timers’ Meeting and Duxford’s Flying Legends Airshow. Greg Marsh reports for GAR, with images from Huw Hopkins and Elliott Marsh.
Airshow Preview – RAF Cosford Air Show 2013
Sunday 9 June sees the first of the RAF’s remaining three flying displays – namely the RAF Cosford 75th Anniversary Airshow in Shropshire. Gareth Stringer takes a look at what is scheduled to appear on the flying programme and on the ground.
Aviation Video – Lt John S. Blyth and Spitfire PR.XI PA944
This short documentary tells the story of how, in 2005, an 83-year-old veteran of World War 2 came to see the footage of his wheels up landing in Spitfire PR.XI PA944 for the first time some 61 years on. It’s so much more than that, though, and should be considered compulsory viewing for all.
Airshow Preview – Throckmorton Air Show
A little gem in the airshow calendar, the Throckmorton Air Show on Saturday 8 June provides an excellent flying programme and host of ground attractions, as Gareth Stringer previews.
Aviation News – Thomson Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner Deliveries (Update: 05/06/2013)
On Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June 2013 Thomson Airways finally took delivery of its first two Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with the arrivals of G-TUIA and G-TUIB respectively at Manchester International Airport. Images as credited.
BlogGAR – Karl Drage – RAF Valley – 06-07/02/2013
As many of you will have already seen in Issue 18 of Global Aviation Magazine, I visited IV(R) Squadron at RAF Valley in February and spent a fair chunk of time outside the wire too. While the vast majority of the better Hawk T2 images were published there, some of the leftovers feature here, together with shots of other types that were active.
BlogGAR – Tom Gibbons – International Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare
Tom Gibbons recently visited the excellent International Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare, a treasure trove of unique rotary designs.
BlogGAR – Karl Drage – Air-to-Air with Euro Seaplane Services C182R, G-ESSL
Following on from being given the chance to photograph DC-3 “Drag-‘Em-Oot” back in June of 2012, a further opportunity arose in August, when Jon Butts once again contacted me to make me aware of a commemorative flight that would be operating from Lee-on-the-Solent. The particular commemoration in question would mark the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the Saunders Roe Princess – an occasion we marked on old GAR.
Aviation Feature – RAF Chinook Display Team 2013
With the airshow season approaching, Gordon Jones pays a visit to the ever-popular Royal Air Force (RAF) Chinook Display Team as they work up their display routine for 2013.
BlogGAR – Paul Filmer – MCAS Yuma
MCAS Yuma can be an interesting place at times, but during the final phase of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course (WTI), you’re always guaranteed some action.
Aviation Feature – Russia: Siberia Revisited – Part 9, Yakutsk-Magan
We landed at Yakutsk in bright sunshine and when disembarking from the Alrosa Tu-134, were filtered off onto our own bus in order to expedite our exit from the airport.
Aviation News – First Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8 service to Manchester Airport 19/05/2013
On Sunday 19 May, Qatar Airways made history at Manchester International Airport, with flight number QTD041 performing the first revenue passenger service into the airport using the Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner.’
BlogGAR – Karl Drage – My Wittmund Phantom Phinale
Two weeks ago I was resigned to the fact I’d already photographed my last German Luftwaffe F-4F Phantom II…. All that changed when, with just five days’ notice, an invitation was received from JG-71 to attend an event to welcome the ‘jubilee’ “FIRST IN, LAST OUT” specially-marked aircraft to Wittmund on its delivery flight from Jever, where it had been painted.
Aviation News – Vulcan First Flight of 2013 18th May 2013
After another winter of uncertainty, the Vulcan to the Sky (VTTS) team will have been delighted to have seen the first flight of 2013 of Avro Vulcan XH558 from her home of Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield (RHADS).
Aviation News – Final four 81st FS A-10s leave Spangdahlem Air Base and USAFE
Friday 17 May 2013 marked the end of an era at Spangdahlem Air Base as USAFE’s near-34 year association with A-10 Thunderbolt II drew to a close with the departure of the final four aircraft assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing’s 81st Fighter Squadron. Roel Reijne was in Germany for GAR.
Aviation News – Dambusters 70th Anniversary Commemorations
On 16 May 2013, the Royal Air Force commemorated the 70th anniversary of Operation Chastise – the raid against the dams in Germany’s industrial heartland – with a series of flypasts over some of the locations used to prepare the crews for one of the most outrageous bombing missions of World War 2, if not ever.
Aviation Feature – The 70th Anniversary of Operation Chastise – The Dambusters Raid
The Dambusters Raid over the night of 16/17 May 1943 is rightly considered to rank among the most dangerous, most daring and most ingenious operations of the entire Second World War.
BlogGAR – Dambusters 70th Anniversary Event at ‘Aces High’
Over the weekend of 11/12 May, a very special Dambusters event was held at the Aces High Gallery in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. Thomas Pitts reports for GAR.
Military Exercise – Exercise Frisian Flag 2013
Exercise Frisian Flag is the largest NATO air exercise held in Europe and is hosted in the Netherlands. Frisian Flag 2013 saw Royal Netherlands Air Force Base Leeuwarden become home and operating base to pilots and personnel from six nations, as Zaid Meherali guest-reports.
Aviation News – JG-71 unveils “FIRST IN, LAST OUT” F-4F Phantom II 37+01
On Wednesday 8 May 2013, Jagdgeschwader 71 “Richthofen” invited members of the media and 71 lucky guests to join the Squadron at its Wittmund Air Base home to witness the arrival of the final specially painted Richthofen aircraft ahead of the F-4F Phantom II’s retirement from Luftwaffe service at the end of June.
BlogGAR – Gordon Jones – RAF Coningsby 01/05/2013
With the Danish Air Force due to be at RAF Coningsby for almost a week to conduct 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2 dissimilar air combat training (DACT) with the Typhoons of 29(R) Squadron, Gordon Jones decided to pay the Lincolnshire base a visit.
BlogGAR – Karl Drage – Air-to-Air with “Drag-‘Em-Oot”
Way back in September 2008, I was lucky enough to get offered a seat in a Cirrus SR22 on the right-hand side of a diamond nine formation of other SR20 and SR22 aircraft, courtesy of a gentleman called Jon Butts, who is heavily involved with the Lee Flying Association at Lee-on-the-Solent, near Portsmouth. The weather on that occasion wasn’t brilliant, but I still managed to come away with a few half decent air-to-air snaps of the airborne gathering.
Airshow Review – Abingdon Air & Country Show 2013
Gareth Stringer reports from a sparkling Abingdon Air & Country Show where blue skies, quality flying and a plethora of attractions brought thousands to the Oxfordshire airfield.
Aviation Feature – High Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (HAATS) New Facility
On 26 April 2013 the Colorado Army National Guard (CO ARNG) held a ribbon cutting ceremony, for their new state-of-the-art training facility for the High Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (HAATS) in Gypsum, Colorado, located at Eagle County Airport.
Aviation Feature – Last three C-130J-30s delivered to Iraqi Air Force
Frank Grealish reports as three Iraqi Air Force C-130J-30 Hercules were delivered in early May 2013, passing through Shannon Airport, Ireland, on their way from the USA to New Al Muthana Air Base, Iraq.
Aviation News – RSAF E-3A Sentry Arrives at Mildenhall
A surprise visitor to RAF Mildenhall on Sunday 28th April 2013 was Royal Saudi Air Force E-3A Sentry 1804.
Aviation News – 494th FS return from deployment
On Sunday 28th April 2013 F-15E Strike Eagles from the 494th Fighter Squadron returned to their home base of RAF Lakenheath.
Airshow Review – The Shuttleworth Collection’s April Flying Day
The Shuttleworth Collection’s April Flying Day was the first British airshow of 2013, and the order of the day was, rather predictably, low temperatures, high winds and 8/8 cloud cover. Nevertheless, the Collection’s pilots and ground crew rallied together to deliver another entertaining Old Warden airshow.