admin – Page 152 – Airscene News

Exclusive Bandstand Seating on Sale Now

Visitors are being invited to book early to guarantee the best views of the flying displays at Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow with exclusive seating on sale now at Eastbourne Bandstand.This summer the town’s iconic seafront landmark is offering visitors the chance to book their own seat for the day and enjoy uninterrupted views of the flying line as a packed programme of displays perform in the seafront skies.

Airbourne returns to Eastbourne seafront from 11-14 August and with exclusive seating always popular with the hundreds of thousands of visitors, airshow enthusiasts are being encouraged to book quickly for the best seats on the seafront.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “Exclusive seating at Eastbourne Bandstand is a fantastic way for visitors to settle down for the day and take in the magnificent flying displays overhead. With lots to take in on the ground too, visitors can return to the Bandstand throughout the day knowing they have their own seat go to back to. I’m sure the exclusive seating will prove a hit again this year, especially with such a packed four days of flying coming up in August!”

Airbourne visitors can book now for exclusive seating for just £12 per adult or £7 per child for the day and choose from the promenade deck or upper balcony.

This year visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy the exclusive seating into the evening with the Bandstand opening on the Sunday evening with the chance to watch the spectacular firework finale from the historic venue. Visitors should keep checking the Bandstand website for more details and how to book tickets.

For more information on Airbourne 2011, including the flying line up which will be announced later this week, go to www.eastbourneairshow.com or call 0871 663 0031. Exclusive seating can be booked online from www.eastbournebandstand.co.uk or by calling 01323 410611.

The Face of Courage

Portraits of the British at War

1940-45, by Eric Kennington (1888-1960).

Free Art Exhibition – 10th June to May 2012

The Royal Air Force Museum London is proud to announce the re-opening of its Art Gallery to the public on Friday 10th June with the installation of an exhibition of portraits by renowned wartime artist Eric Kennington. The guest curator of the exhibition is the Senior Research Fellow in History of Art at Kingston University, Jonathan Black, who has mounted two other shows about Kennington in the last decade.

For much of his distinguished career, Kennington was counted amongst the ranks of exceptional portraitists such as: Hans Holbein the Younger; Albrecht Dürer; Franz Hals; Van Gogh and Augustus John. Many of his artistic contemporaries rated him as the finest draughtsman of his day, while he enjoyed the admiration of prominent public figures such as Winston Churchill; George Bernard Shaw and T.E. Lawrence.

The exhibition will present about three dozen works covering all of the Armed Services, the Auxiliary Services, London Transport and some notable civilians. Pictures have been loaned by the National Portrait Gallery, the Imperial War Museum, the National Army Museum, the Tate, the National Maritime Museum, the Ministry of Defence and by Kennington’s family and other private lenders and art dealers.

Kennington was among a handful of British artists who distinguished themselves as official war artists in both World Wars. His portraits were widely hailed not only as works of art, but also as capturing the indomitable spirit of British and Allied Servicemen in the struggle for victory.

This exhibition, the first to focus specifically on his Second World War Art, seeks to re-assess Kennington’s significant contribution to British War Art and to acknowledge his undoubted standing as one of the great British portraitists of the Twentieth Century. In a ‘People’s War’ he produced unforgettable images of ordinary men and women who displayed extraordinary courage and resilience under exceptional circumstances.

www.rafmuseum.org

US Promise Air Tattoo Show of Force

United States military aircraft will be out in force at this summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.

The Air Tattoo, which takes place on July 16-17, traditionally displays the largest range of US aircraft in the UK and this year will see around 18 fast jets, transport and specialist aircraft as well as helicopters touching down at the Cotswolds airfield.

Among those taking part are two F-16 multi-role fighters and two A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from 52 Fighter Wing at RAF Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany; a giant C-5B Galaxy from the 312th Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California and a B-52H bomber from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Base, North Dakota.

Also participating in this summer’s airshow will be three US Air Force Special Operations aircraft: an MC-130E Combat Talon from Elgin Air Force Base in Florida and an MC-130H Combat Talon II and MC 130P Combat Shadow based at RAF Mildenhall. All three aircraft have the capability to deliver troops and supplies into hostile territory as well as carrying our low-level refuelling missions.

Other USAF aircraft taking part include an RC-135 from the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, based in Nebraska and two F-15s and an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. The primary mission of the HH-60G is to recover personnel from war zones. The US Marine Corps will be represented by a KC-130T refuelling aircraft from Fort Worth in Texas.

The US Navy will be sending a P-3C Orion from the Maritime Patrol Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) and a Mercury E-6B command and control aircraft for static display. The FRS provides flying training to naval aviators and naval flight officers prior to them joining the fleet whilst the Oklahoma-based Mercury E-6B, provides command and control communications. Both are for static display.

Air Tattoo Deputy Director of Air Ops Rob Windsor said he was delighted that once again the US military felt able to support the Air Tattoo.

He said: “The US Air Force, US Marine Corps and US Navy rarely display in the UK in such numbers and thanks to them the Air Tattoo has become known as the place in Europe to come each year to see many of their assets. We are hugely grateful.”

This summer’s Air Tattoo will be marking its 40th anniversary and hosting a gathering of specially-decorated ‘Tiger’ aircraft from the NATO Tiger Association. ‘Tiger’ aircraft come from NATO squadrons that have a Tiger or Big Cat in their emblem and their association marks its 50th anniversary in 2011. The ‘operational’ spotlight STAR 11 will focus on aircraft and equipment involved in the roles of Strike and Reconnaissance.

Tickets are available by visiting www.airtattoo.com or calling 0800 107 1940. All tickets must be purchased in advance. All accompanied under-16s go free.

Brought to Life

Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June

AirSpace

Tales of wartime endeavour are Brought to Life during Spring Half Term.

Every day between 10.30am and 2.30pm, visitors have the opportunity to handle items from a range of military campaigns, comparing and contrasting objects from the past and present. By getting hands-on with military equipment, they can learn more about the war as it was fought on the front line.

Visitors can learn more about the meaning of bravery in the field of conflict, making their own individual medals and then finding out the history and meaning behind such accolades.

On Wednesday 1, Thursday 2, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 June between 11.00am and 1.00pm, veterans from a wide range of military conflicts will be chatting to visitors about their experiences and sharing their own personal memories of their time at war.

Veterans from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Army and the Home Front from the Second World War will be present, together with ex-servicemen from the Royal Anglian Regiment and the Parachute Regiment who served in the Malayan Conflict, the Falklands War and Northern Ireland, in addition to veterans of the Korean War.

Men and women of varying ages, backgrounds and experiences, they have fascinating and individual stories to tell about their own personal war. Veterans will have artefacts and photographs with them, which they are happy to discuss with visitors.

Veterans attending Brought to Life include:

· A member of the Royal Anglian Regiment (1986 to 1994) who served in Germany, the Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland, the UK and Canada.

· An Able Seaman in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

· A Second World War evacuee who later served in the Royal Navy.

· A Second World War RAF electrician responsible for keeping airfields operational.

· A National Service conscripted serviceman who served in Trieste and then in the Korean War from 1951to 1952.

· A member of the Royal Anglian Regiment and the 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry.

· A Sergeant in the Army during the Second World War.

· A member of the Parachute Regiment (1982 to 2003) who completed seven tours of Northern Ireland and served in the Falklands War.

· A Petty Officer in the Royal Navy during the Second World War who served in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

· A member of the Parachute Regiment (1971 to 1974) who completed four tours of Northern Ireland and who also carried out Jungle Warfare Training in Malaya.

· A member of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd East Anglian Regiment (1959 to 1961) who served in the Malayan conflict.

· A Captain in the Royal Engineers, who during the Second World War was a Troop Leader, assisting the Irish Guards Armoured Section.

· A Sergeant in the Royal Marines during the Second World War who provided bombardment support to the Land Forces at major landings.

· A Royal Marine (1978 to 1982) who was in 41 Commando and did a tour of duty with the United Nations in Cyprus in 1979.

· A Lance Corporal in the 1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment in the early 1950s who served in the Korean War from 1951 to 1952.

· A Royal Marine during the Second World War whose ship was one of the first to land at Sword Beach during the Normandy Landings in June 1944.

· A Gunner with the Royal Artillery during the Second World War, who served in India, Changi, Taiwan and Japan and was held in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp.

· A member of the Royal Air Force (1944 to 1953) who flew with Bomber Command just after the end of the Second World War, then with Fighter Command from 1949 and who flew some of the earliest jets, including the Vampire and Meteor.

· A Field Gunner in the 94th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, who served at Normandy and Arnhem.

· A schoolchild on the British Home Front during the Second World War who will share her memories of rationing, air raid precautions and growing up during the 1940s.

· A member of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War who served in Bomb Disposal and on escort duties for submarines and shipping.

· A member of the Royal Anglian Regiment (1973 to 1979) who was stationed in Peterborough, driving Land Rovers and 4 tonners to transport personnel and equipment for use on deployment.

· A telegraphist in the Royal Navy during the Second World War who served on HMS Uganda, took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and was part of an escort that took Winston Churchill to the USA in 1943.

· A Second World War schoolchild who enjoyed playing on the bomb sites and later joined the Royal Air Force.

· A Second World War evacuee.

· A member of the British Resistance Organisation (Churchill’s Secret Army) (1940 to 1943) who then joined the Royal Air Force and was a Flight Sergeant until 1947.

Different veterans will be attending on Wednesday 1, Thursday 2, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 June.
Attendance by veterans is subject to availability.

War Memorial by Richard Walker

In addition, local artist Richard Walker will be showing his latest work, War Memorial, in AirSpace.

This large-scale painting took two years to paint and a year and a half to research. It is made up of 35 separate canvases, brought together in five panels, which is based on a medievalist judgement painting.

The painting is a war memorial, dedicated to the people who served in the GreatWar. It centres on marking the memory of people and actions via their individual possessions and associated objects. The material objects left behind become a reference to that person, marking their absence.

The images in the paintings are of objects and ephemera from the different branches of the military services, including uniforms, medals, medical kits, signal flags and some weapons. In addition, there are private and personal objects included, which were found in many family archives, such as personal letters, postcards, photographs, memorial plaques, newspapers and commemorative items.

They are arranged in such a way that they imply a sense of cause and effect with personal objects from the Front balanced against objects that reference warfare.

Richard Walker lives and works in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, where he teaches art and art history at Kimbolton School. He studied Fine Art at the Central St Martin’s School of Art, London, graduating in 1989, after which he worked in the medium of sculpture, until about ten years ago, when he started exploring military objects and aircraft through the medium of complex ink drawings.

War Memorial will be on display in AirSpace throughout Spring Half Term. Richard Walker will be in attendance at ImperialWar Museum Duxford from Saturday 28 May to Friday 3 June, from 10.30am to 2.30pm, hosting timed talks to discuss War Memorial in more detail and to answer visitors’ questions. More detail on the timed talks will be available on arrival at the Museum.

To see examples of Richard Walker’s work go to http://picasaweb.google.com/113993138387162629653

Brought to Life presents the experiences of war through the first-person stories of those who fought so valiantly for their country throughout 20th century conflicts. It gives visitors the opportunity to hear directly from these unsung heroes.

www.iwm.org.uk/duxford

Female pilots wow the crowds at the Spring Air Show

Thousands of visitors visited Duxford for the Spring Air Show on Sunday 22 May.

Despite blustery weather conditions, a fantastic flying programme wowed the crowds, including Anna Walker flying the rare Supermarine Seafire alongside Carolyn Grace in the Spitfire; aerobatic pilot Diana Britten in the CAP 232; Polly Vacher in the Piper Dakota, Helen Holliday in the Vans RV6, Tracy Curtis-Taylor in the Ryan PT-22, Clare Tector in the Chilton, Tizi Hodson in the Firefly, Mel Saggers in the Prentice and Anna Walker in the Jungmann.

Flight Lieutenant Juliette Fleming drew the flying programme to a close with a spectacular performance in the RAF Hawk.

Visitors enjoyed a packed day of entertainment, with the Museum open as usual and a range of exciting activities on offer throughout the day, including an Airfix Make and Paint Zone, a Military History Hands On History Zone with costumed interpreters chatting to visitors, children’s rides, mini tank riding and a fun Second World War dressing up and paintball area.

The next air show will be Flying Legends on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July 2011.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/duxford

RIAT 2012 anyone??

Want to be the first with tickets to the Royal International Air Tattoo 2012?

In that case you may be interested to know that the winner of this years calendar competition will be the first with a pair of tickets to RIAT 2012 AND a DVD of RIAT 2011.

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world’s largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July, usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The show typically attracts a total of 150,000 to 200,000 spectators over the weekend.

RIAT 2011 will be held on 16-17 July 2011. This year’s Air Tattoo will look back over the past four decades as it celebrates the show’s 40th anniversary with a series of special aerial displays and ground entertainment. It will also host a gathering of specially-decorated ‘Tiger’ aircraft from the NATO Tiger Association. ‘Tiger’ aircraft come from NATO squadrons that have a Tiger or Big Cat in their emblem and their association marks its 50th anniversary in 2011.

To find out more about RIAT and this years airshow please visit www.airtattoo.com/airshow

For rules & entry to this years competition please visit www.airscene.co.uk/competitions.php

Celebrate Fathers Day in style at the Military Vehicle Show

Imperial War Museum Duxford celebrates Father’s Day on Sunday 19 June with the power, excitement and thrill of the Military Vehicle Show.

Hundreds of military vehicles of all shapes and sizes will be on display, including a 1943 Excelsior Welbike, 1966 Daimler Ferret, 1943 Dodge WC63, 1924 Morris Bullnose Home Guard Staff Car and the iconic Sherman Tank. The very rare Sturmgeschutz III assault gun, Germany’s most produced armoured fighting vehicle during the SecondWorld War, will also be on display.

A number of military vehicles normally on static display at the Museum will move out of Land Warfare for the Military Vehicle Show. Land Warfare will be open as usual and visitors will be able to take a sneak peek behind the scenes in the workshop where military vehicles are being conserved and rebuilt.

Activities will take place across the Museum with a number of living history groups bringing military campaigns to life:

The 1939-45 Living History Society’s British Airborne Forces section will represent military personnel from 1942 to 1945, who deployed by parachute and glider into the European, North African and Far Eastern theatres of war.

On display will be a living history encampment, with troops under canvas in Orderly Offices and accommodation sections. There will also be a Motor Transport Section, with motorcycles and jeeps, together with a recreated traditional British pub.

Displays will include weapons and personal kit, tactical communications equipment, field engineering and demolitions apparatus. The Society’s Auxiliary Territorial Service section will also be in attendance, portraying the essential supporting role of women working with vehicles and communications during the Second World War.

The Burma Mule Living History Group will be discussing the Forgotten War, with Burma Star veterans chatting to visitors about their wartime experiences, period equipment and mules carrying authentic war-issue pack saddle and loads.

The Royal Ulster Rifles represent the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the regiment in North-West Europe from 1944 to 1945. The Royal Ulster Rifles uniquely had both battalions present during the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944. After weeks of bitter fighting, the 2nd Battalion had the honour of being the first Allied unit to enter the French city of Caen. Through some rare and authentic exhibits, the Royal Ulster Rifles aim to demonstrate what it would have been like to experience the D-Day Landings at first hand.

There will be guided tours of the Normandy Experience in LandWarfare at 12.00pm and 2.00pm and, as part of the regular programme of Funday Sundays at IWM Duxford, there will be craft activities, object handling sessions and the opportunity to meet a wartime costumed character in Hangar 4: Battle of Britain.

At 2.00pm there is the opportunity to see the military vehicles in action as they take part in a cavalcade along Duxford’s runway, with accompanying commentary. Following the cavalcade, one of the amazing vehicles on display will be awarded Best in Show.

There will also be a Military and Aviation Book Fair in the American Air Museum, together with a range of themed traders, mini tanks on display and the opportunity to ride in a tank between 10.30am and 1.00pm.

The Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicles Association will be holding its 2011 UK National Championship at the Military Vehicle Show.

This event is included in standard admission to the Museum. Children aged 15 and under go free when accompanied by an adult.

For the first time, exclusively for Military Vehicle Show, digby trout Restaurants will be offering a traditional Sunday lunch to make Father’s Day extra special for all the family. It will be served in the Conservation Hall, under the wings of some of Duxford’s mightiest aircraft, from 11.30am to 3.30pm. Lunch is £19.95 for adults and £9.95 for children. To purchase tickets for the Father’s Day Lunch, call 01223 497 511.

Enjoy the power, excitement and thrill of Military Vehicle Show – the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day!

www.iwm.org.uk/duxford

60th Anniversary of Valiants First Flight

First Flight 18th May 1951

Wednesday 18th May 2011 will mark the 60th Anniversary of the first flight of the Vickers-Armstrongs Valiant. Part of the Royal Air Forces V-Bomber nuclear deterrent during the 1950’s and 1960’s, the Valiant was the first of the V-bombers to make it into the air, when prototype WB210 took to the skies on 18th May 1951.

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is home to the world’s only complete example, Vickers-Armstrongs Valiant B (K).1 XD818. The Valiant is on display in the Museums award winning National Cold War Exhibition, the only place in the world where you can see all three of Britain’s V-Bombers: Vulcan, Victor and Valiant on display together under one roof.

This British four jet bomber went into active RAF service in 1955 and played a significant role during the Cold War period. With a wingspan of 114ft, over 108ft in length and a height of over 32ft, the Valiant had a bomb capacity of a 10,000lb nuclear bomb or 21 x 1,000lb conventional bombs. In total 107 aircraft were built, each carrying a crew of five including two pilots, two navigators and an air electronics officer. The type was retired from RAF service in 1965 due to structural problems.

RAF Museum Cosford Curator, Al McLean says:

“The Valiant was the first of the V-bombers to enter service, the first to drop a nuclear weapon and the first to go into combat. One of the few pilots to have flown all three of the V bombers also described the Valiant as being the nicest to fly of the three. “

The Museums Valiant B (K).1 XD818 was one of eight Valiant’s specially modified by Vickers for involvement in Operation Grapple – the testing of Britain’s first H-bomb. The modifications included measures to protect the aircraft and crew, instrumentation for scientific operations and the addition of extra and special equipment for navigational and bombing requirements. The modified aircraft carried the metal anti-flash screens for the crew and bomb bay cameras to record the bomb drop characteristics.

The Museum is open daily from 10am. Entry to the Museum is FREE. For further information please contact the Museum on 01902 376200 or visit www.rafmuseum.org

RAF Yearbook Offers Inside View

The RAF’s rapid initial response to the recent Libyan Crisis and its continuing role in Operation Ellamy is uncovered in the 2011 Royal Air Force Yearbook.

The RAF’sofficial yearbook also offers an insider’s view of operations at Camp Bastion along with special reports and photos from the frontline at Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.

Featuring articles by some of aviation’s most respected writers, the RAF Yearbook gives a fascinating insight into behind-the-scenes RAF operations, deployments as well as the new technology that is set to take the Service into the future. From the state-of-the-art remotely-piloted Taranis aircraft to the RAF’s new airlifter, the A400M, readers will be able to learn all about the Royal Air Force’s increased capability in the 21st century and beyond.

As well as looking forward, the RAF Yearbook 2011 celebrates important milestones such as the Spitfire’s 75th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of both the Air Cadets and the RAF Search and Rescue Force with a series of fascinating, in-depth articles.

With the RAF Yearbook 2011 comes a free eight-page pull-out colour supplement telling the story of the RAF’s involvement in the UK’s most exciting military airshow – the Royal International Air Tattoo – during the past 40 years and how the airshow has contributed to UK Defence Diplomacy since 1971.
The official RAF Yearbook 2011 is now on sale at WH Smith, Tesco and all good newsagents, priced £4.99. It can also be purchased at www.airtattooshop.com

The yearbook, which is published by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, helps raise money for the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. For details about the charity, visit www.rafct.com

Duxfords New Air Show App Goes Live Today

Imperial War Museum Duxford has today launched an innovative and exciting Smartphone Application for the 2011 air show season.

The Duxford Air Shows 2011 App is now available for download from the Apple store and Android marketplace.

The App provides a dynamic on-the-day flying schedule for each of the Museum’s famous air shows, which automatically updates the phone screen with details of each aircraft taking part in the show as its display commences.

It also provides an extensive library of photography, statistics and information about over 150 classic aircraft, some of which can be seen flying in the Duxford air shows, and where in the Museum’s exhibitions you can find out more about them.

App users can keep a log of their favourite aircraft, add them to a schedule and receive a live countdown to inform them when that aircraft will take to the skies. With a map highlighting useful amenities at the Museum, the App is an indispensible tool for ensuring maximum enjoyment of Duxford’s celebrated air shows.

Duxford’s first air show of 2011 is the Spring Air Show on Sunday 22 May.

Whether you are in the audience at Duxford eagerly awaiting the first aircraft display or are virtually engaging with the air show from elsewhere in the world, the Air Show App will keep you informed of all aircraft displays as they happen.

As a special introduction, the App is FREE for a limited time. It can be downloaded at any time in the run up to the Spring Air Show and on the day itself. IWM Duxford is providing wifi access at the Museum to help people download on the day.

This dynamic guide to the Spring Air Show, and our other air shows in 2011, is a first for Duxford and demonstrates the Imperial War Museum’s commitment to innovation in new technologies and to improving our visitor experience. It aims to be the most innovative air show app around.

For further information go to www.iwm.org.uk/duxfordairshows