Airshow Review – MCAS Miramar Airshow 2014
The 2014 airshow at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in Southern California, was a three day event that took place over the first weekend in October, in glorious sunshine and scorching 90 plus degree heat. It marked a welcome return to the airshow calendar after last year’s event, which was cancelled at the last minute due to the budgetary crisis. Chris Wood reports for GAR.
Exercises and Deployments – Soaring Angel 2014
The Air National Guard provides a key part of the USA’s forces in the air with a diverse spread of units undertaking different roles. Few units match the 129th Rescue Wing for the diversity of capability they bring. This capability was recently tested with the biennial Soaring Angel exercise which Rob Edgcumbe witnessed for GAR.
Aviation Event – KLM MD-11 Retirement – Enthusiast Flights
Tuesday 11 November 2014 saw KLM, the world's last commercial airline flying passenger-configured McDonnell Douglas MD-11s, bring down the curtain on the type's near 21-year service with the Dutch flag carrier and an association with Douglas aircraft stretching back...
BlogGAR – Rob Edgcumbe – Nut Tree Mustang Days 2014
Mustang Days is a gathering of various vintage aircraft in Vacaville California. Rob Edgcumbe made his first trip to see what it had on offer.
Aviation Event – Red Bull Air Race Las Vegas 2014
After a number of years of competition, the Red Bull Air Race series went on hiatus for three years. This year it returned with an expanded field and a number of new venues to add to the program. One new venue is Las Vegas and Rob Edgcumbe travelled there for GAR to see how the racing has developed.
Aviation Feature – London Heathrow Airport 1985
Paul Filmer’s Heathrow Airport series moves onwards to 1985, the year the airport started to see the presence of Il-76 freight operations.
Aviation Museum – China Civil Aviation Museum, Xie Dao, Beijing
Located in Xie Dao, just a stone’s throw from Beijing’s S12 Airport Expressway and less than 10kms south-west of the city’s Capital International Airport is China’s Civil Aviation Museum. Karl Drage visited for GAR.
Aviation Feature – “Janet Airlines”
On the face of it, a dull looking collection of Boeing 737s operating from a drab terminal at Las Vegas McCarran Airport, but delve a little deeper and you’ll discover the most exclusive airline in the world. Paul Dunn examines the rather murky world of ‘Janet Airlines’.
Airshow Review – Weston Park In The Dark
Complementing Wrekin Model Flying Club’s annual summer International Model Air Show, a brand new event dubbed “Weston Park In The Dark” was hosted on the evening of Saturday, 18 October. Karl Drage was there for GAR.
Aviation Feature – Hellenic Air Force A-7 Corsair II Retirement – 16 & 17 October 2014
Located in the rugged, western Peloponnesus peninsula of Greece is the last operational bastion of the Ling Temco Vought A-7 Corsair II. Araxos Air Base, located approximately 37 km west of the city of Patras and the home of 116 Combat Wing Hellenic Air Force, opened its doors for two days in October for a last opportunity to witness the final throes of this classic strike aircraft prior to the official retirement of the type from Hellenic Air Force service in a ceremony to be held the following day. Tom Gibbons reports for Global Aviation Resource.
Aviation Feature – RAF Manston 1980-1982
Paul Filmer continues his retrospective series with a look at RAF Manston, Kent, from 1980 to 1982.
Aviation Museum – Beijing Air & Space Museum, Beihang University
At the conclusion of the 3rd Shenyang Faku International Flight Convention and 2014 Shenyang Airshow, Karl Drage and Pete Wells (of Twister Aerobatics) headed to Beijing for a few days and found time to visit the Beijing Air and Space Museum (referred to in many places online as Beijing Aviation Museum) located at Beihang University.
Aviation Feature – F-86A Sabre (G-SABR): A Test Pilot’s Perspective
With Golden Apple Operations Ltd’s North American F-86A Sabre (G-SABR) soon to bid farewell to the UK after a 22 year tenure, GAR takes an in-depth look at the aircraft’s time as one of the true gems of the European airshow scene. In the first part of our coverage, former Sabre display pilot Keith Dennison offers a test pilot’s perspective of the challenges involved in flying one of the world’s oldest airworthy classic jets.
Airshow Review – Belgian Air Force Days 2014
From 12 to 14 September 2014, the 10th Tactical Wing at Kleine-Brogel Air Base opened its doors for the Belgian Air Force Days, a celebration of “A Century plus Air Power in Belgium” and a salute to the 40th Anniversary of the General Dynamics F-16. It had been 15 years since the last airshow at ‘KeeBee’ and both the Belgian public and the aviation enthusiast community were eagerly anticipating the weekend’s events, keen to see the results of the collaboration between the Belgian military and the Sanicole Airshow organising team. Kev Wills reports from the Saturday show with additional photography from Tom Gibbons and Gordon Jones.
Aviation Event Review – Clearlake Splash In 2014
The west coast of the United States is home to a large selection of amphibians and float planes. Once a year, a number of them converge on Lakeport in California for the Clearlake Splash In. Rob Edgcumbe made the trip to see what might show up this year.
Airshow Review – Jersey International Air Display 2014
There can be few airshow venues quite as picturesque as Jersey. For over 40 years the Jersey International Air Display has taken place over St Aubins Bay in the south of the Island, underlining a strong connection to the armed forces as a result of the occupation in 1940. Phil Golding guest reports from the 2014 event for GAR.
Airshow Review – Wings Over Wine Country 2014
With the heat of summer subsiding in California, a number of shows are taking place over cooler weekends. Rob Edgcumbe went to Sonoma County Airport to check out the second day of its Wings Over Wine Country show.
Airshow Review – The 3rd Shenyang Faku International Flight Convention and 2014 Shenyang Airshow
The idea of general aviation in China might still be new to many people, but, thanks to recent relaxations in government policy, there are currently a substantial number of organisations working hard to open up Chinese skies to the masses. Karl Drage attended the 3rd Shenyang Faku International Flight Convention and 2014 Shenyang Airshow as a crewman with the Twister Duo.
Video – GoPro: Open Air Glider
This short video from Germany really caught our eye – it’s certainly something a little different!
Aviation Feature – London Heathrow Airport 1984
Paul Filmer’s London Heathrow Airport photographic series continues as he looks back at 1984.
Aviation News – 65th Aggressor Squadron deactivated
The United States Air Force is about to lose a unique capability with the deactivation of the 65th Aggressor Squadron (AGRS), and its distinctive fleet of camouflaged Boeing F-15 Eagles, on 26 September 2014. Chris Wood reports.
BlogGAR – Paul Dunn – Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
A day off in Toronto, with the promise of some sunshine, gave Paul Dunn the opportunity to take some photos at the very photogenic Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Airshow Review – Air 14, Payerne
2014 is a bumper year for the Swiss Air Force, with the air arm celebrating its 100th anniversary while its national display teams, the Patrouille Suisse and PC-7 Team, are enjoying their 50th and 25th anniversaries respectively. To celebrate these landmarks, and to say thank you to the people of Switzerland, the Swiss Air Force hosted the huge Air 14 airshow at Payerne Air Base. Dean West travelled to Switzerland to join the party.
BlogGAR – Gordon Jones – P-8A Poseidon visits RAF Mildenhall for the first time
Gordon Jones reports on the first visit of a P-8A Poseidon to RAF Mildenhall.
Airshow Feature – Flt Lt Dave Kirby interview, 2014 RAF Tucano Display Pilot
With the end of the 2014 airshow season rapidly approaching, Flt Lt Dave Kirby will be able to reflect on a job well done as the Royal Air Force’s Tucano Display Pilot. Gareth Stringer sat down with him to see what the experience has been like.
Airshow News – See both Lancasters close-up at the Jersey International Air Display 2014
A rare chance to see the world’s only two airworthy Avro Lancasters close-up will be offered as part of this year’s Jersey International Air Display.
News – POTUS arrives at RAF Fairford ahead of NATO Summit
President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, arrived at RAF Fairford last night ahead of this week’s NATO Summit.
Airshow Review – Dawlish Air Show 2014
With its stunning backdrops and holiday atmosphere, Dawlish has firmly cemented its place as one of the most anticipated events on the calendar. Shaun Schofield made the short trip down the road to enjoy arguably the finest edition yet.
Airshow Review – Cold War Jets Open Day – August 2014
August bank holiday weekend can mean only one thing- cold war jets. Shaun Schofield headed up to Bruntingthorpe for his yearly fix of classic jet noise.
D-Day 70 – Pt.29 – Operation OVERLORD: The Liberation of Paris
With the crushing defeat of the German armies at Falaise, the Allied commanders set their sights on crossing the Seine and liberating the French capital city of Paris, bringing Operation OVERLORD to a conclusion. Huw Hopkins writes for GAR.