Departure day at RIAT, and typically the skies brighten following the overcast sky for the preceding display day!
RIAT 2007 saw a welcome influx of USAF participants to help celebrate the 60th anniversary of the USAF, these included the Thunderbirds, F-117, B1-B, Heritage Flight.
Europe’s primary warbird show courtesy of the Fighter Collection.
Highlights included participation by P-39 Airacobra, Gladiator, P-51’s, Spitfires, Polikarpov I-15, BBMF, Catalina, Ju-52
A poignant visit to 6 Squadron at RAF Coningsby following the announcement of the premature retirement of the RAF’s Sepecat Jaguar fleet. Rolled out during the visit was the colour scheme for one of the Squadron’s jets in a stunning Jaguar scheme, forever to be known as “the spotty jet”.
Quick visits were also made to the BBMF hangar, and also 29(R) Squadron, the OCU for the Eurofighter Typhoon.
A first visit to this small grass strip south of Paris which features an airshow which appears to be a cross between Flying Legends and the Shuttleworth Collection.
Displays included EADS Bf109, Buchon, Spitfire, Hurricane, P-51 Mustang.
Season opener at Shuttleworth with typical grey clouds. A surprise participant in the form of BBC Television Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon wing walking.
End of season show at Duxford.
Displays included Patrouille de France, Belgian F-16, and plenty of warbirds.
Departure day from RIAT witnessed from the western end of the airfield.
Another RIAT scorcher! Both in terms of weather and content. Some enthusiasts bemoan the reduction in size of RIAT compared to the 1980’s/1990’s but it remains the world’s largest military airshow, and attracts some stunning displays not seen elsewhere in Europe.
Displays included MiG-29M OVT, Osprey, Dutch F-16, Mil Mi-24, F/A-18F Super Hornet, B-1B, Patrouille Suisse, Patrulla Aguila and Red Arrows.
A return to “Waddo” for the RAF’s premier airshow.
Displays included from Hawk, Harrier, The Blades, FRADU, Merlin, Spitfires, RNZAF 757, Canberra, Typhoon and Red Arrows.