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Multi-Role Typhoon Returns to Wings & Wheels

The RAF’s only Multi Role fast jet will be demonstrating its unrivalled flexibility and war fighting capabilities at Wings & Wheels in August as the Typhoon returns to the skies over Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.

The backbone of RAF fast jet operations, the Typhoon’s impressive display of force and grace will wow and humble the crowds as 29(R) Squadron, based at RAF Coningsby, bring their display to the 2013 Show and remind people everywhere of its role in protecting the Falkland Islands and UK airspace 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

Jamie McAllister, Event Director comments: “The Typhoon is an incredible aircraft to watch and we are delighted to welcome the team back to Wings & Wheels on Sunday 25th August. There is no other aircraft which can make an audience hum with the vibration of their display or deafening roar of its engines like the Typhoon and it’s a welcome addition to our five hour air display.”

Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy the world famous Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Team Breitling Wingwalkers and a host of other modern and historic aircraft during the 5 hour flying displays. For four and two wheeled fans, supercars and classic and vintage icons put on an awe inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a 2 hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum.

The 9th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th August 2013, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 18:00.

Tickets start from £20 for adults, £45 for a family (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 – 15yrs), £6 for children aged between 5 and 15yrs and under 5s are free. Hospitality packages start from £65 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book standard tickets call 08712 305 572.

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited with proceeds going to nominated charities: Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.

Photography After-Hours at the RAF Museum

5 Aircraft; 1 Curator; No Public; No Barriers – Limitless Photography

The RAF Museum is running its first Photography-After-Hours Event on Friday 19th April 2013.

Photography After-Hours has been designed to give guests a behind-the-scenes experience; combining a talk from our Head Curator with a one-to-one photography opportunity with the public barriers removed. This will become a series of events, where a different set of 5 aircraft will be viewed each time.

The event on the 19th April will focus on the BAC Lightning F6; E.E Canberra PR3; de Havilland Vampire F3; de Havilland Chipmunk and BAC Jet Provost T5A.

The evening will start at 6.30pm with a talk by our Curator, Ian Thirsk. Ian will explain the career history of each aircraft, how it came to be at the Museum and how it is cleaned, checked for damage and repaired as well as the conservation challenges each aircraft presents.

Guests are divided into 5 groups of 10 and assigned their first aircraft. The barriers will have been removed, allowing access to take up close and personal photography that is not usually available to the public. The Curator will move between the 5 aircraft answering any questions that guests have about the collection.

Where possible, each aircraft also has an Ambassador who has a personal knowledge of that type – either as an ex-pilot, ex-engineer or current conservator. Ambassadors can answer specific questions and talk about their particular experiences of the aircraft.

After 20 minutes, the groups will rotate onto the next aircraft, allowing plenty of time with each for photography or questions. Small groups mean that photography is easier and guests do not need to move out of each other’s way.

The Photography After-Hours event comes hot on the heels of the April launch of the Museum’s new membership scheme aimed at those with a passion for aviation history – anyone who signs up for membership on the 19th will be able to take advantage of a concessionary rate. The Museum also launched its new quarterly magazine: RADAR at the beginning of April which will be giving readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the workings of the Museum as well as the stories behind the exhibits and collection. One of its key articles in the first edition was a profile of the Lightning.

The event will start at 6.30pm and will end at 9.30pm – allowing guests plenty of time to get home. For further details please visit www.rafmuseum.org. Tickets cost £20 for Lightning Members; £25 Lancaster Members and Non-Members and can be purchased here: www.rafmuseum.org/whatson

RAF Cosford Brace for Vulcan Effect

RAF Cosford’s 75th Anniversary Air Show is thrilled to announce the news that many have been waiting for, as Avro Vulcan XH558 from the Vulcan To The Sky Trust is confirmed to attend the event on Sunday 9th June.

Since returning to the skies in October 2007, the last flying example anywhere in the World of the Avro Vulcan has only been to the Air Show on one other occasion in 2009. The iconic aircraft was a huge hit with the visitors, setting a new attendance record and the Vulcan proved itself a firm crowd favourite.

XH558 supplements an already impressive line-up for the 2013 Air Show and is sure to be one of many highlights throughout the day. Other confirmations for the one-day event include the RAF Typhoon and Tucano display teams, aerobatic display team The Blades and the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight including the Avro Lancaster, another famous creation from the same engineering minds behind the Vulcan. The World famous RAF Red Arrows have also included the RAF Cosford Air Show in their 2013 display schedule.

The V-Bomber became a symbol of British strength in the deterrent years following World War II and was also used to great effect during the Falklands conflict until it retired from service in 1984. Its presence will complement a warmly anticipated exclusive to the static display, involving a Harrier GR3 complete with aircraft hide, set up exactly as it would have been during the Cold War.

Air show spokesman Flying Officer Sam Jewell said: “The RAF Cosford Air Show team is very excited about the announcement of XH558 returning to the Shropshire skies. We know from her display debut here at RAF Cosford in 2009 that the public love her appearance on their day out, so we are thrilled to be able to offer the experience again for the many thousands we are expecting.”

The appearance of the Vulcan has been made possible by a part-sponsorship deal with MPM Catering who provide all the refreshment stands offering a wide selection of food and drink during the day. Fiona O’Hanlon from MPM Catering commented: “We are delighted to be able to provide both the catering facilities for the RAF Cosford Air Show 2013 as well as a portion of the funding required to bring the Avro Vulcan back to the event. We have a particularly special relationship with the RAF Cosford Air Show and also wanted to provide this support given that the number of years we can enjoy this wonderful aircraft is decreasing.”

The organisers this year have also introduced several new hospitality enclosures for the 2013 Air Show including the popular ‘The Cosford Club’ sponsored by Nikon. With a dedicated crowd line spot, private domestic and catering facilities as well as the opportunity to loan exclusive Nikon equipment and the chance to win a taxi ride in a Jaguar aircraft, ‘The Cosford Club’ offers its members a fantastic enhancement to the Air Show experience. For details of the full range of packages on offer to suit all requirements and budgets, please visit the air show website at www.cosfordairshow.co.uk.

All profits made from the RAF Cosford Air Show are donated to service and local charities.

Air show tickets can be purchased online at www.cosfordairshow.co.uk, by calling the 24-hour ticket line on 0871 230 1083 (10p/min plus network charges), by combining rail travel and admission with Arriva Trains Wales or at various other outlets details of which can be found on the website. Advance adult tickets are priced from £20, representing a 20% discount on tickets bought on the day and FREE admission for children under-16 accompanied by an adult as well as FREE car parking.

70th anniversary of the arrival of the Americans at RAF Duxford

In April 1943, the 78th Fighter Group of the US Eighth Air Force moved into RAF Duxford and helped to change the course of the Second World War.

To commemorate this significant event in RAF Duxford’s history, we are hosting a number of events and activities throughout 2013.

Somewhere in England: Portraits of the Americans in Britain 1942 to 1945 is a new temporary photographic exhibition which opens on Saturday 13 April, the anniversary of the first 78th Fighter Group combat mission from RAF Duxford. These striking images have been selected from the Roger Freeman collection of over 15,000 images of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War, which has recently been acquired by IWM. Some of the images have not been seen in public before.

Our new Americans in Britain tour looks at the US aircraft flown from RAF Duxford and other USAAF stations in East Anglia during the Second World War. You’ll hear true tales of courageous actions by air crew members and find out how British people reacted to the ‘friendly invasion’.

The Spring Air Show on Sunday 26 May is Remembering the Mighty Eighth on the 70th anniversary of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visiting RAF Duxford to welcome the 78th Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces to Great Britain.

The highlight of the Spring Air Show will be the first-ever display by the Eagle Squadron. This historic four-ship display comprises a Mark I Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, P-47 Razorback Thunderbolt and the P-51 Mustang Princess Elizabeth. Princess Elizabeth is being shipped over from the USA specifically for the Spring Air Show.

www.iwm.org.uk

Preparations underway for Tribute to the Lightning

The initial preparations for the Tribute to the Lightning event, which takes place at Newark Air Museum on 18th & 19th May 2013, have recently been completed. This has involved the repositioning of the recently restored Lightning T5, XS417 into the area in front of the museum’s Display Hangar 1, which was formally occupied by the Jaguar T2A airframe.

In this new position the Lightning T5 has gained a fresh prominence on the museum site and it will also allow for the display of a range of temporary Lightning exhibits around the airframe.

In a separate move recently digitised footage of an interview with Roland ‘Bee’ Beamont is now being shown in the cinema area in Display Hangar 2 at the museum. This was filmed at Roland ‘Bee’ Beamont’s home in March 2000 and in the section of film that is being shown he recounts his time test flying the English Electric Lightning.

Regular updates about the Lightning event are still appearing on the news page of the museum website at www.newarkairmuseum.org.

RAF Cosford Air Show Right On Track

Exciting plans for this summer’s RAF Cosford 75th Anniversary Air Show are firmly on track thanks to a partnership deal with Arriva Trains Wales.

The Air Show has teamed up with the rail company once again to offer an easy-to-buy ticket that combines rail travel with entry to the West Midlands’ largest – and most thrilling – aviation event.

The relationship between the two companies has existed for over 10 years to ensure visitors to the Air Show have the opportunity to indulge in a stress-free and cost-effective day out.

Visitors can enjoy the advantages of a 20% discount off the on-the-day rate for standard admission as well as utilising dozens of rail links to the RAF Station. Furthermore, for the first time ever, tickets to the Air Show can be purchased from any staffed UK station or online. The Cosford railway station is within 120m of the Air Show pedestrian entrance so therefore provides people with a simple but effective way of getting to and from the 2013 event.

Air show spokesman Flying Officer Sam Jewell said: “The relationship we have been able to forge with Arriva Trains Wales provides visitors to the RAF Cosford Air Show with a unique opportunity to have direct transport access virtually right up to the entrance gates. We are hoping more people than ever choose such a discounted and time-saving method of enjoying this year’s spectacle.”

The announcement follows a spate of exciting aircraft confirmations to this year’s show including the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the RAF Red Arrows. In addition to the flying display, organisers have put significant effort in creating an attractive selection of events on the ground. Visitors can enjoy expanded interactive aircraft and military exhibits, arena demonstrations, a fair ground, as well as having the opportunity to shop for craft and memorabilia, enjoy fine refreshments or visit the RAF Museum Cosford and its famous Cold War exhibition. Last year more than 38,000 people attended the family day out and organisers are anticipating another bumper turn-out at the one-day event.

Jonathan Goode, Special Events Manager for Arriva Trains Wales commented: “We are delighted to be involved yet again in this year’s RAF Cosford Air show and what promises to be a spectacular event. As always, all of our available carriages will be in use to transport visitors to the ground and we will be catering for approximately an additional 6,000 people. A rail service will be available from Cosford station to Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton and extra staff will be on hand at the station to assist passengers with their journey”.

Arriva Trains Wales are offering these extra services in anticipation of increased numbers and will supplement their current Sunday timetable. Schedules will be revealed sooner to the event. If you wish to purchase your combined rail travel and admission tickets, or for more information, please visit www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk.

Air show tickets can also be purchased online at www.cosfordairshow.co.uk or by calling the 24-hour ticket line on 0871 230 1083. Advance tickets are priced from £20, a 20% discount off tickets bought on the day (£25). There’s FREE car parking and FREE admission for children under-16s accompanied by an adult.

All profits made from the RAF Cosford Air Show are donated to local and service charities.

Airfix to unveil new Dambusters kits at Model Show

7th April 2013
10.00am – 4.00pm
FREE entry

Modelling fans from across the Midlands are invited to attend one of the region’s largest modelling events, taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on Sunday 7th April 2013. Nestled amongst a world-class collection of aircraft and military vehicles, thousands of intricately detailed models will be displayed alongside many of the real aircraft for the annual Shropshire Model Show.

This year Airfix will be attending the show and launching their brand new 1:72 Lancaster model kits, which go on sale for the first time worldwide to visitors at the Shropshire Modellers’ Show. A specially commissioned display, including 19 Airfix model Lancaster’s, a Wellington bomber, and Photo Reconnaissance Spitfire, depicting the Dambusters Raid will be a focal point at the show. These have been kindly donated by Airfix and built by members of the Shropshire Modellers’ Club. This bespoke Dambusters diorama will remain on display at the Museum throughout April and May, marking the 70th Anniversary of the Dambusters Raid.

Darrell Burge, Airfix and Humbrol Marketing Manager says:

“We’re very excited to be at this show, especially as it gives us the chance to show off our new Dambuster Lancaster model to the public for the first time. It’s always great to work with the RAF Museum Cosford, and this is no exception. We’ll have other new Airfix products on show, alongside new products from our sister brand Humbrol as well.”

With everything any dedicated modeller could want or need, all in one place, thousands of visitors are expected to attend the one day show. More than 80 modelling clubs from across the UK will be exhibiting their pint sized models which have taken hours of dedication to perfect. Plus, it’s not just models of aircraft that will be on show, there will be hundreds of cars, bikes, trucks and science fiction items including Dr Who and Star Wars.

In excess of 40 traders will be selling a range of modelling materials and kits to suit modellers of all ability’s, from young children who are just discovering their passion for modelling, right through to the avid modellers who have been building kits for many years. There will be everything from plastic kits in various sizes along with glues, paints and other detailed sets available to purchase on the day.

Event organiser, Gary Stevens Secretary of the Shropshire Scale Modellers and The International
Plastic Modellers Society says:

“I am particularly delighted that, for the first time in the history of this show, the world famous kit manufacturer AIRFIX and their sister brand HUMBROL will be in attendance, along with the person who creates their box art.

This year the show will feature a special Dambuster anniversary display featuring 1/72nd scale models of all 19 Lancasters that took part in that famous raid, and I thank Darrell Burge for providing us with the kits. There will also be a model of the Wellington Bomber which carried out the trials for the famous bouncing bomb, the Spitfire which carried out reconnaissance sorties before and after the raid, and some anti-aircraft guns to show what the aircrew were up against.

The show will also feature many other models from exhibitors and traders who travel from all over the country to be with us. With the show getting bigger every year it really is a great family day out.”

To make reaching the Museum even easier, organisers have introduced a free park and ride for the day to cope with the additional visitors. The show will be open to the public from 10am until 4pm and entry to the show is free of charge.

For further information, please call the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit the Museum website at www.rafmuseum.org.

Air Tattoo Unveils Show Makeover

This summer will see the Royal International Air Tattoo unveil a package of initiatives designed to make the world’s greatest airshow even more enjoyable for the thousands of people who flock to the Cotswolds each year for this unique celebration of aviation.

New Visitor Service Stations, themed areas and a variety of other enhancements in the showground are being introduced to ensure that all the thrilling aerial action is matched by an equally-enjoyable customer experience on the ground.

Visitors to the Air Tattoo, which takes place on July 20-21, will be invited to try out three new Service Stations, which have been designed to bring together everything needed for a great day out including food courts, free wi-fi hubs, information booths, toilets, official merchandise outlets, banking services, street entertainment, seating and a shaded area providing cover.

Organisers believe improved signage on the showground, greater access to aircraft, participating pilots/aircrew and new enclosure opportunities will add further to people’s enjoymentwhilst at RAF Fairford.

Air Tattoo Chief Executive Tim Prince said many of the initiatives have been introduced in response to feedback from visitors who said that with so much happening in the air and on the ground during the day it was a challenge to take in all that was happening and where everything was.

Mr Prince said: “Of course the aircraft are the stars of the show but we also recognise that the showground’s a big area and there’s lots going on over the weekendso it can be a bit daunting. We started bygathering together many of the facilities people useduring the day into three strategically-located Service Stations.

“We’ve also extended the range of catering options in these areas so visitors can now enjoy vegetarian and Asian cuisine – plus deli bars – alongside the traditional burger and fish & chip options.

“We’ve looked at everything we do in terms of delivering customer satisfaction from the journey to the airshow, the event itself and the departure phase. We’re confident visitors will welcome the enhancements we’ve introduced.”

July will also see the Air Tattoo unveil three new entertainment zones on the showground: the Techno Zone, the Toys For Boys Zone and the Vintage Village each offering a range of exciting ground-based attractions and hands’ on activities courtesy of leading brands such as Caterham and Animal.

Mr Prince said: “Most people knowthatour event isone of the greatest aviation spectacles in the world but there is so much more to the Air Tattoo experiencethan just that – and this summer we’re going to prove it!”

The Royal International Air Tattoo takes place at RAF Fairford on July 20-21. Special Earlybird tickets, priced from £35, are available until April 4. All under-16s go free. Free parking.For a full list of all the visitor opportunities and to purchase tickets, visit www.airtattoo.com or call 0800 107 1940.

RAF Cosford Air Show Includes BBMF In Tribute To Historic Aircraft

The RAF Cosford 75th Anniversary Air Show is pleased to confirm the attendance of the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to the event on Sunday 9th June.

The BBMF preserves the heritage of much loved RAF World War II aircraft and stands as a poignant reminder of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in conflict. The Memorial Flight consist of Spitfire, Hurricane, Dakota and Lancaster aircraft, all of which are scheduled to make their way to RAF Cosford as flying and static displays on the 9th June and will be sure to perform an awe inspiring display.

In addition to the RAF BBMF, Cosford will welcome back an old friend of the Station in the form of civilian owned Spitfire PRXI serial number PL965. Built at the Aldermaston factory in mid-1944 as a photo reconnaissance aircraft, she was designed to operate at high altitudes of over 30,000ft as well as at high speeds in excess of 400 mph. She was allocated to No.9 Maintenance Unit, RAF Cosford on 1st October 1944 for installation of service equipment and the Air Show is delighted to welcome her back this year as part of the packed flying programme.

Air show spokesman Ashley Claber-Aikman said: “We are extremely pleased that the BBMF are joining us for this year’s anniversary event. One of our key themes for the show is celebrating the 75 years since the introduction of the Spitfire and having so many here along with the majority of the BBMF will really be something special and a delight for our visitors.”

Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to marvel at the historic icons, alongside a number of current RAF aircraft including the Typhoon, Tucano and the famous RAF Red Arrows, during the flying display lasting over 5 hours. The organisers this year have also introduced several new hospitality enclosures for the 2013 Air Show aimed to enhance the visitor’s experience. For details of the range of packages on offer to suit all requirements and budgets, please visit the air show website www.cosfordairshow.co.uk.

All profits made from the RAF Cosford Air Show are donated to service and local charities.

Air show tickets can be purchased online at www.cosfordairshow.co.uk or by calling the 24-hour ticket line on 0871 230 1083. Advance tickets are priced from £20, representing a 20 per cent discount on tickets bought on the day (£25). There’s FREE car parking and FREE admission for all under-16s accompanied by an adult.

Raf Cosford Strengthen Line-Up With Fast Jet Training Aircraft

RAF Cosford’s 75th Anniversary Air Show is pleased to announce the confirmed attendance of the RAF Tucano and Typhoon display teams to the event on Sunday 9th June.

The 2013 RAF Typhoon display team is brought to you this year by 29(R) Squadron based at RAF Coningsby and will continue to wow crowds with their impressive display of force and grace. 29(R) Squadron will undertake the entire 2013 display season throughout the UK and beyond. The squadron is responsible for the training of future RAF Typhoon pilots that began their advanced flying training on the Tucano aircraft.

Now a regular in the display season, the RAF Tucano aerobatic display never fails to surprise and impress visitors with its capability and agility given its purpose of training student aircrew. For 2013 the Tucano Display team has decided to commemorate the 70th anniversary of 72 Squadron’s involvement in North Africa in support of the Tunisian campaign during World War II. During this period, 72 Squadron flew a selection of Supermarine Spitfires including Mk VIII and Mk IX variants, which ties into the over-arching theme of this year’s RAF Cosford Air Show.

Air show spokesman, Flight Ops Manager Master Aircrew Chas McHugh said: “We are delighted that the RAF Tucano and Typhoon aircraft are joining us for this year’s anniversary event. Training has always been an important part of RAF Cosford’s history and so having these aircraft as part of the flying display will not only excite the crowds but will be an important reminder of the hugely diverse background of the West Midlands’ RAF Station.”

Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to enjoy the Tucano and Typhoon displays, alongside the famous RAF Red Arrows and many other aircraft during the 5½ hour flying display, from one of the new hospitality enclosures which have been introduced for the 2013 show. For details of the range of packages available to suit all requirements and budgets, please visit the air show website www.cosfordairshow.co.uk.

All profits made from the RAF Cosford Air Show are donated to service and local charities.

Air show tickets can be purchased online at www.cosfordairshow.co.uk or by calling the 24-hour ticket line on 0871 230 1083. Advance tickets are priced from £20, representing a 20 per cent discount on tickets bought on the day (£25). There’s FREE car parking and FREE admission for all under-16s accompanied by an adult.