Archive for October, 2012

final flying displays announced for the Autumn Air Show

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Sunday 14 October 2012

The Autumn Air Show this coming Sunday closes the 2012 flying season with a fantastic finale.

The flying display offers excitement for all ages and tastes, with contemporary fast jets, exciting helicopter displays, fun aerobatics and an array of historic warbirds.

Amazingly agile helicopter displays come from The Black Cats Lynx Pair from 702 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton and the Apache helicopter from the Army Air Corps, RAF Wattisham. The Sea King helicopter from B Flight, 22 Squadron, RAF Wattisham will present a thrilling Search and Rescue display.

Rip-roaring contemporary RAF displays will be provided by BAe Systems Hawk from 208 (R) Squadron, RAF Valley and the Shorts Tucano from the Central Flying School Flight, RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

An array of historic aircraft will be flying, including many warbirds which call IWM Duxford home. These include B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B from B-17 Preservation; Spitfire IXT from Air Leasing; FG-1D Corsair, P-40B Warhawk and P-40F Warhawk from The Fighter Collection and Hispano Buchon (Messerschmitt Bf-109) from Aircraft Restoration Company/ Historic Flying Limited.

We’ll be commemorating the 70th anniversary of the first flight of the Merlin-engined Mustang with displays by P-51 Mustang Ferocious Frankie from the Old Flying Machine Company and North American TF-51 Mustang Miss Velma from The Fighter Collection.

There will also be a display by a Piper L-4 Cub, Boeing Stearman and North American Harvard, representing the aircraft that United States Army Air Force pilots would have flown in when completing their training, prior to flying the mighty Mustang.

Additional thrilling displays include the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota from RAF Coningsby; Douglas A-1 Skyraider from Kennet Aviation; the supremely colourful Hawker Hunter from Heritage Aviation Developments; the aerobatically nimble CAP 232; the elegant Fournier RF-4 Pair glider duo and the dynamic Trigg Aerobatic Team.

There is plenty to entertain you on the ground too, with the whole museum open to explore. Take tours of B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B and the famous Catalina flying boat.*

Enjoy children’s rides or a ride in a tank*. Find out more about historic objects from RAF Bomber Command next to the Lancaster in AirSpace and have the chance to sit in an ejection seat. Make and paint your own Airfix model in the Conservation Hall in AirSpace and take it home as a souvenir of your air show day.

In the American Air Museum, discover United States Army Air Force historic objects next to the B-24 Liberator and the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Join us for the Autumn Air Show as we close the 2012 flying season in style!

Advance ticket sales have now closed, but you can purchase your ticket as you arrive at the Autumn Air Show.

www.iwm.org.uk

Bookmark and Share

Saturday to kick start Wings & Wheels 2013

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

It’s fast, it’s furious and it’s back! Wings & Wheels is delighted to announce its return to Dunsfold Park in Surrey for a spectacular weekend of aerobatic and motoring thrills which will entertain thousands over the August bank holiday weekend. Sticking to the two day format the Show’s confirmed dates for 2013 are Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August.

No sooner had the last jet departed from Wings & Wheels 2012 than the team were already hard at work planning for the 2013 Show. Taking pride in the event’s development as a result of visitor feedback, next year’s airshow will once again strive to make positive changes which ensure that visitors continue to experience the very best entertainment since the show’s inception eight years ago.

Securing its calendar slot on the August bank holiday weekend, the more noticeable change to the 2013 show will be its move from Sunday and Monday to the *NEW* format of Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th August.

Jamie McAllister, Wings & Wheels Event Director, comments; “Wings & Wheels has evolved enormously over the last eight years and key to this has been our willingness to listen to our visitors and in turn adapt and improve the event’s format. Our decision to move the show to Saturday and Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend has been based on visitor feedback and we are confident this will enable more families to attend the event.”

Watch this space for the official line-up announcement in March. Updated show information will be available via the Wings & Wheels website www.wingsandwheels.net.

Bookmark and Share

Air Tattoo artwork goes under the hammer

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

A unique piece of memorabilia from this summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo is being auctioned this month in support of the airshow’s Fairford-based charity – the RAF Charitable Trust.

The large, one-off framed print features the official 2012 Air Tattoo artwork created by renowned aviation artist David Bent.

It has been signed by many of those who took part in the airshow including the Red Arrows, the US Air Force’s B-2 ‘Stealth’ crew, RAF display pilots, the Vulcan crew, the South Korean Black Eagles team and the Polish Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum display pilot.

Others signatories include the UAE’s Al Fursan team, the Japanese Air Self Defense Force KC-767 crew and the USAF F-15E Strike Eagle team. In total, more than 280 signatures feature as well a number of colourful squadron patches, pins and stickers representing air arms from around the world.

Giving his seal of approval to the venture, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, the RAF’s Chief of the Air Staff, also signed the artwork during July’s airshow.

The framed print, measuring 1m x 1.2m, will be auctioned on eBay for a limited 10-day period this month with the highest bidder securing the ultimate souvenir from this year’s unforgettable airshow.

Air Tattoo Chief Executive Tim Prince said the piece of artwork would create a talking point where ever it was hung.

“There is so much to look at and enjoy – it really is striking. Not only will the winning bidder own a highly collectable piece of aviation art with an historical provenance but the money they bid will help support the excellent work of our parent charity.”

Artist David Bent said: “As an artist inspired by aviation, I was delighted to have the opportunity to create the image for the Royal International Air Tattoo.

“The character Ace Mandala, featured on the RIAT poster, is a fictional fast jet pilot that I based on the boss of the Red Arrows during my first year as artist in residence with the team. The original painting featuring Ace is currently on display in Fresh Air, my solo retrospective at the RAF Museum, London – so he gets around!

“By signing and adding their badges to this poster, outstanding aircrews from all around the world have contributed to creating a totally unique item.”

To view photos of the framed artwork and to place a bid, visit www.airtattoo.com for more information. The closing date for bids is October 12.

Bookmark and Share

Tales of RAF Bomber Command at IWM Duxford this October half term

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

This October half term, find out more about the dangerous and thrilling missions of RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War.

Every day, from Saturday 27 October to Sunday 4 November, hear amazing true tales of aerial warfare told by our enthralling storyteller. From 11am to 3pm, we’ll be telling a range of stories, showing the Lancaster bomber from the perspective of people who all had very different experiences of this legendary aircraft.

Our storyteller will be portraying a number of different characters, including:

Flight Lieutenant Amos of RAF Bomber Command, who will show you around his beloved Lancaster. Find out about the bomber crew who flew in the aircraft on perilous missions and the importance of their individual roles to the solidarity of the crew. Learn what life was like for the bomber crew, both in the air and on the ground.

Aircraftman Harding, who ferries bombs out to the Lancaster. Hear about the life of the ground crew, including the long hours they worked in all weathers to keep the mighty Lancaster in the air.

Rear Gunner Sergeant Reg Kemble, a ‘tail-end Charlie’ who you’ll meet as he gets kitted up for the night’s mission and checks his four .303 Browning machine guns in his rear turret. Hear about his lonely vigil, night after night, in the cramped and claustrophobic rear turret, where, at any moment, a German night fighter aircraft could appear out of the darkness.

Grenadier Dieter Grebb, a lowly foot soldier in the German Army, who is on leave, visiting his family in Cologne. A bombing raid hit overnight and Dieter is trying to make sense of the death and destruction that it has left in its wake.

You’ll also find out about the legendary Dambusters mission, including the brilliance of Barnes Wallis, the creation of the bouncing bomb and the courageous leadership of Guy Gibson.

Try on RAF uniforms and handle equipment actually used by 1940s airmen.

Activities run daily from Saturday 27 October to Sunday 4 November between 11am and 3pm, in front of the Lancaster in AirSpace.

Storytelling sessions run approximately every 45 minutes from 11am to 3pm, with a different story told in each session.

Half term activities are included in standard admission to the museum and, as usual, visitors aged 15 or under enjoy free admission to the museum. For further information go to www.iwm.org.uk or call 01223 835 000.

Bookmark and Share