Archive for December, 2017

Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Demo Team to Fly at Air Day

Saturday, December 23rd, 2017

Royal Canadian Air Force Hornet

One of the world’s most dynamic and powerful solo fast jet displays becomes RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day’s first confirmed flying participant. The Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Team is making its first UK appearance in ten years and its first Air Day visit in decades.

Canada’s display Hornet is just part of the substantial international line-up now taking shape as discussions with various nations progress. The twin-engined, twin-tailed Hornet is a potent modern day multirole fighter that Canada has operated since the early 1980s. At the sharpest end of the Royal Canadian Air Force, it is a key element of the US and Canada’s NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) that celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2018 and we expect the display jet will wear a stunning paint scheme to acknowledge this milestone.

RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day looks forward to feeling the Hornet’s mighty sting once more on Saturday 7 July!

Early bird tickets with no booking fees are now on sale for a limited period only at www.royalnavy.mod.uk/yeovilton-airday.

First Warbirds Join RAF100 Celebrations at RAF Cosford Air Show

Friday, December 15th, 2017

Spitfire

As we fast approach Christmas, organisers of the RAF Cosford Air Show have recently announced details on three aircraft due to display at next year’s event on Sunday 10th June.

Visitors to the Air Show, which celebrates the Royal Air Force’s centenary, will be treated to a flying display from a rare Supermarine Spitfire PRXI. This version of the Spitfire was a photo-reconnaissance aircraft, designed to operate at high altitudes and high speeds, painted blue rather than the traditional camouflage pattern. The particular aircraft which will be on display on Sunday 10th June will be Spitfire PL965, which was operated from RAF Cosford for a short-period during WWII, so the aircraft will be ‘returning home’ next June.

As well as thrilling six-hour flying display, there will be a unique static exhibition of 100 aircraft, showcasing the history of the Royal Air Force and aircraft development over the last century. It was announced today that a unique example of the Hawker Hurricane IIb – known as a ‘Hurribomber’ – will be exhibited in this line-up equipped with replica bombs and accompanied by period re-enactors. The ‘Hurribombers’, bravely carried the fight to the European mainland in late 1941 and early 1942, armed with a pair 500lb bombs, together with an up-rated armament of twelve Browning .303 inch machine guns. Another aircraft added to the static line-up today was a Douglas C-47 Dakota, forming part of a tribute to the Berlin Airlift. The Berlin Airlift remains the largest ever humanitarian airlift in history, during which British military and civilian aircraft flew more than 540,000 tons of cargo into the city.

Air Show Deputy Director, Marilyn Summers, said, “Today’s announcement hopefully gives a flavour of what people can expect to see on Sunday 10th June 2018 as we host the most spectacular and interactive tribute to the Royal Air Force’s centenary. Air Show tickets make a great Christmas present for your loved one, and are available to purchase online and print at home so they’re also ideal as a last minute stocking filler!”

Air Show tickets will again only be available in advance, and are priced £25.00 per adult, with accompanied under-16s attending the Air Show for free, presenting excellent value for money, tickets are available from www.cosfordairshow.co.uk.

The Air Defence of the UK in the last 20 Years of the Cold War: Defence on a Shoestring

Thursday, December 7th, 2017

Phantom

Date: 15 December 2017
Time: 12.30pm
Cost: FREE
Location: National Cold War Exhibition lecture theatre at RAF Museum Cosford

On 15 December, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be hosting the next Cold War Lunchtime Lecture with a talk entitled ‘The Air Defence of the UK in the last 20 Years of the Cold War: Defence on a Shoestring’. In this talk, Dr Kenton White from the University of Reading will look at the conventional defence planning of the UK during the Cold War.

Within this lecture, Dr Kenton will question whether during the Cold War, did Britain really have the means to defend itself, in the event of a shooting war? This lecture analyses the conventional defence planning of the UK, its relationship to the policy, and the possible and actual execution. In 1979 Britain committed almost the entire Royal Air Force to NATO’s defence of Western Europe. 100,000 troops were assigned to Home Defence, and Britain would act as a staging post for foreign troops on their way to the front.

Deterrent plans were aimed at the perceived threat: planning for the manifestation of that threat, and implementing those plans. These plans relate intimately to NATO’s “Flexible Response” strategy and the desire to raise the nuclear threshold enabling NATO to stop a WTO attack by conventional means. Analysing the plans for mobilisation, and comparing them to the forces and facilities available, this lecture seeks to understand if the UK fulfilled its obligation, not only to NATO, but to the Armed Forces and British public.

Professor Kenton White is a Sessional Lecturer in Politics, International Relations and Strategic Studies at the University of Reading, and also works with the University of Portsmouth at RAF Cranwell. He has a PhD in Strategic Studies, researching British defence policy and practice during and after the Cold War. He studies military history and defence policy from the Napoleonic Wars to today. Prior to entering academia he was the Managing Director of a computer animation company.

This FREE lecture will be held in the museum’s National Cold War Exhibition lecture theatre at 12.30pm on Friday 15 December, lasting approximately one hour. As spaces are limited, organisers advise visitors to book their tickets in advance via the Museum’s website to avoid disappointment.

The Cold War Lunchtime Lectures form part of the RAF Museum’s Research Programme . ‘The Air Defence of the UK in the last 20 Years of the Cold War: Defence on a Shoestring’, is the final lecture taking place at Cosford this year, with more lectures planned for 2018. The programme also consists of the Trenchard Lectures in Air Power Studies and the First World War in the Air Lunchtime Lectures, which are held at the University of Wolverhampton, the Royal Aeronautical Society in London and the RAF Museum in London respectively.

For further information about the Museum’s research programme or to book your FREE ticket to the lecture, please visit the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford. The Museum is open daily from 10am and entry to the Museum is FREE of charge.