News UK – Page 90 – Airscene News

Rare Historic Naval Warbirds to Perform at Air Day

RNHF Swordfish

Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton Air Day 2016on Saturday 2 July will host a rare pair of restored WW2 fighters at the Royal Navy’s premier airshow. Joining RNAS Yeovilton’s resident historic naval aircraft, the UK’s only active Corsair and one of just three Seafires airworthy in the world will both perform solo displays and a joint flypast during Air Day’s five-hour flying display. Underlining naval airpower’s rapid evolution during WW2, these classic types will very much bring naval aviation heritage to life.

The powerful Corsair was in Fleet Air Arm (FAA) service between 1943 and 1947. Many examples equipped the British Pacific Fleet, the Royal Navy’s response to Japan during WW2’s final months. Painted to represent just such an aircraft, The Fighter Collection’s FG-1D Corsair will be making its first Air Day appearance in many years. Also in a British Pacific Fleet scheme, Air Leasing Ltd’sSeafireLFIIIc, which was originally built at the nearby Westland factory, is brand new to the show. Built in 1944 and, after a lengthy restoration, reflown in 2015, it is among the 2,000-plus ‘navalised Spitfires’ produced.

The Royal Navy Historic Flight based at RNAS Yeovilton will also be out in force at Air Day. Its Swordfish I, W5856, will perform in the flying display while its Swordfish II, LS326, plus its Sea Fury FB11, will be on static display. First flown in 1934, the Swordfish was already considered passé when WW2 broke out but on numerous occasionswon its spurs on operations staged thereafter. With its ‘Bismarck 75′ theme, Air Day will acknowledge a landmark Swordfish engagement thattook place 75 years ago during which examples helped sink the German Navy’s largest battleshipat the time – Bismarck. W5856 – Air Day’s flying Swordfish – wears an authentic 820 NAS scheme that directly represents one of these Bismarck attackers.

It was a later conflict, Korea, that saw the Sea Fury rise to prominence. Introduced in 1945, the Sea Fury was the FAA’s ultimate piston-engined fighter. While not currently flying, the RNHF’s Sea Fury FB11 will be just one of the static highlights for Air Day’s expected 40,000 visitors.

Further display team, fast jet and historic aircraft participation news will be announced in due course.Discounted advance tickets can be purchased at www.royalnavy.mod.uk/yeovilton-airday.

Last few tickets available for Open Cockpits Evening

RAF Museum Cosford Open Cockpits Evening

Date: 13-14 May 2016

Time: 6.00pm to 9.00pm

Cost: £12.50 per person

Tickets to the popular Open Cockpits Evening event taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford next weekend are almost sold out. Less than 70 tickets are available for the event on Friday 13 May and all tickets for Saturday 14 May have now gone.

With new aircraft recently added to the line-up, the evening is packed with a mix of modern jets and nostalgic wartime aircraft, meaning there is something to please aviation enthusiasts young and old. The new line-up includes the Folland Gnat F1 – the forerunner of the Gnat T1 trainer which achieved fame with the ‘Red Arrows’ aerobatic team. It was also used by the Finnish Air Force and the Indian Air Force with whom it was successful in combat in the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan, becoming known as the ‘Sabre slayer’ for it success in downing Pakistan Air Force Sabres. Also new to the line-up is the Hawker Hunter nose section – part of an aircraft that served on the front line of the Cold War in RAF Germany from 1955 to 1957 and the FMA 1A58 Pucara – flown by Argentina’s military government during the 1982 Falklands conflict.

With fifteen historic aircraft available for a close viewing both evenings, aviation fans who would like to climb on board are encouraged to purchase their tickets soon, before they sell out. Admission on the evening is by advance ticket only which are available to purchase via the museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford, where you can also view a full list of aircraft open on the night.

Visitors will have exclusive after-hours access to the museum which displays a collection of over 75 aircraft, military vehicles, engines and aviation artefacts within three wartime hangars and the National Cold War Exhibition. To ensure visitors get the most out of this unique experience, the museum’s team of volunteers will be on hand to talk through the aircraft controls and answer any questions they may have.

The museum will close at 5.00pm both days, however the Visitor Centre and Refuel Restaurant will remain open for visitors attending the evening event which commences at 6.00pm and finishes at 9.00pm. Tickets cost £12.50 per person which includes parking. Minimum height restrictions of 1.07 metres will apply.

Catch a ride to Wings & Wheels on the Compass Travel shuttle bus

Compass Travel (Sussex) Ltd are once again providing an invaluable public bus service from Guildford Train Station to Dunsfold Aerodrome for Wings & Wheels. Following the success of last year’s trial, visitors will have the option of public transport to and from the Show four times a day with all profits from the service donated to Help for Heroes by Compass.

The bus will run on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th August and the timetable is as follows:

· Dep Guildford Train Station: 0830 0930 1030 1130

· Dep Dunsfold Aerodrome: 1600 1700 1800 1900

This year tickets can be purchased in advance online through the Wings & Wheels shop (www.wingsandwheels.net/shop). A single fare for an adult is £2.50 and £1.50 for a child aged 5 – 15 years. Each bus carries 44 seated passengers and 27 standing. Seats will be available on a first come first serve basis over the event weekend.

Jamie McAllister, Event Director, Wings & Wheels comments: “The bus service was extremely popular last year and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Compass Travel again. The bus service gives those who have previously been unable to attend an affordable option to join us.”

Managing Director of Compass Travel Chris Chatfield said, “We were really pleased with the success of the first shuttle bus service to Wings & Wheels which enabled us to donate £665 to Help for Heroes. We are looking forward to working with the team again this year and building on the service.”

Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy the full complement from the RAF as they display with the Red Arrows, King Air, Eurofighter and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Spitfire, Hurricane, Dakota) air displays. Also displaying are the Attack Helicopter Display Team and Royal Navy Black Cat Display Team. More aviation displays will be announced in May.

For motorsport fans, supercars and classic and vintage icons put on an awe inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a two hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum. Over in the Wheels Zone you can expect an array of interactive and static displays as wells as two and four wheeled shows in the Stunt Zone and a new Monster Truck arena offering demonstrations and passenger rides.

The show also includes over 25 fixed-price catering outlets, two bars, hospitality facilities, free on-site parking, public camping, lost children point, disabled access, informative show commentary, opportunities to meet the pilots, official show merchandise and grandstand seating.

The 12th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th August 2016, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 21:00.

Advanced rate tickets from £22 for adults or £50 for a family are available. A family ticket consists of two adults and three child’s tickets. Single child tickets (for children aged 5 – 15) will be £7, whilst children under the age of 5 go free. Hospitality packages start from £155 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 and in 2016 will be assisting the fundraising efforts of Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.

Air Tattoo Tickets Flying Out The Door

Royal International Air Tattoo

Saturday tickets for this summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo are set to sell out by the end of April, predict airshow organisers.

Tickets for all the enclosures have already sold out for Saturday, July 8, and admission tickets are set to follow as the Air Tattoo’s Earlybird offer comes to an end on Bank Holiday Monday (May 2).

Highlights such as the first ever international display by the world’s most advanced jet – the F-35B Lightning II – and the Red Arrows are fuelling an unprecedented demand for tickets for the airshow, which takes place on July 8-10 at RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds.

Air Tattoo Head of Marketing Helen Webb said: “After last summer’s 150,000 sell-out, people don’t want to miss out this year. By securing Earlybird tickets by our May 2 deadline, they’ll not only be guaranteed a great day out, but they will be making a saving of £5 off the cost of a standard advance ticket.”

In addition to an eight-hour flying display, visitors will be able to view a wide range of aircraft in the Showground and enjoy a feast of fun-packed interactive activities for the whole family including the Techno Zone, Adrenalin Zone, Vintage Village and Autodrome.

The Air Tattoo is staged annually in support of the RAF Charitable Trust. Tickets for the event are only available in advance. Specially-priced Earlybird tickets are available until May 2 from www.airtattoo.com or by calling 0800 107 1940. All accompanied under-16s go free. Free parking.

Croatia Joins Exclusive Air Tattoo Club

Wings of Storm

The UK display debut of aerobatic team KrilaOluje at RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds this summer will see Croatia become the 56th nation to take part in the Royal International Air Tattoo since it was established in 1971.

KrilaOlujefly six Swiss-built PC-9M turboprop aircraft and are renowned for performing attractive and imaginative display sequences including dynamic close-formation, opposition and solo elements. Its pilots and aircraft are drawn from the ranks of the 93rd Air Base at Zemunik near Zadar on the Adriatic coast.

Since its first public appearance in 2004, Croatia’s national aerobatic team, whose name translates as Wings of Storm, has displayed around the world but it has never before appeared in the UK.

The name KrilaOluje salutes a major Croatian military operation named ‘Oluje’ (Storm), which took place in August 1995 during the country’s war of independence from the former Yugoslavia. It was the climax of that campaign and a major event in the wider Balkan conflict of that era.

Another treat for visitors to RIAT 2016 comes in the form of the KrilaOluje support aircraft, a Mil Mi-171 transport helicopter, which will be on static display.

RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises’ Chief Executive Andy Armstrong said: “The Air Tattoo team is always extremely happy to add new countries to the long list of participating nations, and Croatia’s presence in 2016 is sure to be a highlight of the show. Not only will this be the display team’s first appearance in the UK but it will be the first time any Croatian aircraft has appeared here. For this reason alone, I am sure they will receive a particularly warm welcome when they touch down in July.”

www.airtattoo.org

The American Air Show at IWM Duxford

Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 May

Celebrating the reopening of the transformed American Air Museum

May Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 May) will see the American Air Show at IWM Duxford, celebrating the reopening of the newly-transformed American Air Museum .

Over the weekend, vibrant flying displays will be accompanied by evocative living history, veterans’ voices and powerful film and music to show the developing relationship between Britain and America through the World Wars, Cold War and into the present day.

In addition to the dynamic flying display, visitors will be able to meet living history groups representing the United States Air Force in the Second World War and during the Vietnam era, listen to nostalgic music performed by Miss Holliday Swing, The Bluebird Belles and Pete Wayre and explore the newly-transformed American Air Museum, containing the best collection of American aircraft on display outside North America.

Highlights of the flying programme include:

• Epic flying displays depicting the bomber operations of the Second World War, the war in the Pacific and the Vietnam War.

• Thrilling contemporary displays by the Patrouille de France (Saturday only), the Red Arrows (Sunday only) and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

• Two replica Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a biplanes and a replica Nieuport 17, representing the relationship created between Britain and America during the latter stages of the First World War.

• Four North American Harvards, key training aircraft for British and American pilots, take to the skies to represent the British-American alliance reinforced while America remained neutral in the Second World War. The Harvards are followed by a Spartan Executive and a Ryan STA, glorious 1930s aircraft that were also used for training purposes.

• Archive sound and film footage places visitors on an Eighth Air Force bomber airfield in the Second World War as the ground crew await the arrival of the last B-17 Flying Fortress to return from a mission. B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B flies in, accompanied by two P-51 Mustangs and a TF-51 Mustang, the fighter aircraft that accompanied the huge bombers for part of their mission. Following a poignant display by B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B, the Mustangs are intercepted by a Hispano Buchón (Messerschmitt Bf 109) and a thrilling tail chase ensues.

• As two Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft fly in, large screens are filled with footage of American paratroopers and, in a filmed interview, Henry ‘Duke’ Boswell, a paratrooper in the Second World War, describes his experiences as a young man carrying out combat jumps, including on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The two C-47 aircraft are followed by a de Havilland Dragon Rapide and a Piper L-4 Club.

• Demonstrating the war against Japan in the Pacific, a North American B-25 Mitchell, Mitsubishi A6M Zero Replica, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Grumman FM-2 Wildcat and Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, take to the skies accompanied by archive film footage of the Doolittle raid.

• In commemoration of the decade-long Vietnam War two North American T-28 Fennecs take to the skies to the unmistakable sound of Jimi Hendrix. Bell UH-1 Iroquois (‘Huey’) and Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (‘Loach’) helicopters fly through accompanied by the dramatic Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner. The Vietnam display concludes with a display by a North American OV-10 Bronco and a Shorts SC-7 Skyvan to the rousing music of The Doors.

The story of British and American collaboration in conflict concludes with an exploration of modern warfare and the causes of conflict in the Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq.

www.iwm.org.uk

Royal Navy Black Cats confirmed for Wings & Wheels

Royal Navy Black Cats

Wings & Wheels are thrilled to confirm the dynamic Royal Navy Black Cat four-man helicopter display team will be delighting audiences on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th August in their front-line Lynx maritime attack helicopters.

Not seen at Dunsfold Aerodrome since 2013, the Lynx is the backbone of the Fleet Air Arm and front-line operations by the frigate and destroyer fleets. Operating over the ice of Antarctica and the sands of the Gulf, the expanse of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and the confines of the Strait of Gibraltar or English Channel, the Lynx truly is a jack of all trades.

The fearsome helicopter is capable of taking on enemy ships (with Sea Skua missiles), enemy submarines (with Sting Ray torpedoes or depth charges), and smaller surface targets courtesy of machine-gun pods or sniper rifles.

The aircrew and engineers are all volunteers from 702 Naval Air Squadron and the Lynx Wildcat Maritime Force based at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset. The name ‘Black Cats’ is derived from the fierce cat depicted on the 702 Naval Air Squadron emblem and the term ‘blackcatting’ which is naval slang for one-upmanship – doing or owning something better than someone else.

Jamie McAllister, Event Director, Wings & Wheels comments: “We are delighted to confirm that the Royal Navy Black Cats will be flying at Wings & Wheels on both days this year. With the very best of aviation excellence headlining the Show and highly skilled pilots demonstrating the expertise with which they handle their aircraft, Wings & Wheels is one event people will not want to miss!”

The Royal Navy won’t just be displaying their prowess in the air but also in the static ‘Wings Zone’ with a Royal Navy Merlin Helicopter and Royal Navy Hawk on show. The Royal Navy Mobile Recruiting Van (MRV) manned by Royal Marines will also be demonstrating team building activities in the arena and will be on hand to answer any questions.

Wings & Wheels has an all-star line-up of RAF display teams this year. The Red Arrows, Typhoon, King Air and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) (Spitfire, Hurricane, Dakota) will all be displaying at Dunsfold Aerodrome on both days, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th August 2016 as well as the Attack Helicopter Display Team from the Army. More aviation displays will be announced in May.

Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy supercars and classic and vintage icons put on awe inspiring displays of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a two-hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum. Over in our Wheels Zone is an array of interactive and static displays as wells as two and four wheeled shows in the Stunt Zone and a new Monster Truck arena offering demonstrations and passenger rides.

The show also includes over 25 fixed-price catering outlets, 2 bars, hospitality facilities, free on-site parking, public camping, lost children point, disabled access, informative show commentary, opportunities to meet the pilots, official show merchandise and grandstand seating.

Advanced rate tickets from £22 for adults or £50 for a family. Single child tickets (for children aged 5 – 15) will be £7. Children under 5 go free. Hospitality packages start from £155 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 and in 2016 will be assisting the fundraising efforts of Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.

Major Shackleton Repaint Now Underway

Newark Air Museum Shackleton

The major repaint of Avro Shackleton WR977 is now underway at Newark Air Museum.

Scaffolding started to be erected around the whole of the sixty (60) year old aircraft on Monday 4th April and the scaffold installation was completed and officially handed over to the museum on Thursday 7th April.

Some initial pressure washing work was undertaken on the airframe on Friday 8th April. After a short induction session on Saturday 9th April from the museum’s Restoration Manager the first restoration team went on to the airframe later that day. In reasonably benign weather conditions some excellent progress was made by nine members of the newly established WR977 Painting Team, who travelled to the museum from around the UK.

This project will involve cleaning, de-corrosion and repainting work and will be carried out with major support of the aircraft’s owners, the Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association.

Opportunities still exist to support this work programme, which is running seven days a week, as and weather allows. Details of this volunteer appeal can be found in the News & Events section of the Newark Air Museum website www.newarkairmuseum.org

Avro Shackleton WR977 was moved from RAF Finningley in spring 1977, just prior to Her Majesty the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Review of the Royal Air Force. WR977 is believed to be the longest serving Shackleton Mk3 Phase 3 airframe to have flown with the RAF.

First Thunder Day of Season a Great Success!

Yorkshire Air Museum Thunder Day

Over the past few years, as some of the propeller driven aircraft within the Yorkshire Air Museum’s collection have been brought into ‘live’, engine running condition, we have refined the “Thunder Day” concept into a very popular event, enjoyed by hundred’s of people.

The first of these events for 2016 got the new season off to a roaring start on Sunday 3rd April and, for the first time, we have a short, professionally shot video of the activities, to give a flavour of the event., which can be viewed on the following link:: (Please credit Neill Watson – Octane Factory)

http://yorkshireairmuseum.org/latest-news/thunder-day-review

The show featured engine runs of two of the Museum’s WWI bi-planes, in the form of the Port Victoria Eastchuch Kitten and Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a; the imposing WWII Douglas Dakota; post war 1947 De Havilland Devon VIP Transport (known to have carried Lord Mountbatten) and the Cold War jets of the BAE Nimrod MR2 XV250 and the mighty Handley Page Victor V-Bomber XL231 “Lusty Lindy”.

The Museum’s volunteer Fire Team, trained to meet Civil Aviation Authority standards, provided much entertainment for visitors from the start, with children having fun with the fire hoses and culmination with a simulated aircraft rescue activity, using the mighty 38 ton Reynolds Boughton Chubb Pathfinder airport fire tender and six-wheel Range Rover rapid intervention vehicle to spectacular effect.

The next of these exciting events takes place on Sunday 5th of June, and it is planned that the Museum’s live Blackburn Buccaneer XN974 will be taking part once again, after a complete repaint into the striking Fleet Air Arm colours it originally bore. This aircraft performs an impressive display with all its control surface movements and wing-folding routine as it would on board an aircraft carrier.

Thunder Day – Ready to Roar!

Thunder Day at Yorkshire Air Museum

Following winter maintenance and successful pre-season engine tests, our live aircraft are set to bring the new season roaring to life on Sunday 3rd April for the first of the new season’s “Thunder Days”!

The WWII Douglas C-47 Dakota made a smooth start up in February, following the successful replacement of two cylinders, pistons, heads and valves on the troublesome starboard engine, along with the resetting of all the valve clearances and timings of both the Pratt & Whitney engines. The aircraft also performed well in the well-subscribed Nightshoot photographic event on Friday 18th March, so all is looking good.

Like the post war De Havilland Devon twin-prop, both these aircraft start amidst a belch of smoke, and sometimes a flame or two, making a great spectacle for visitors to enjoy at close, but safe, distance, under the watchful eye of the Museums volunteer Fire Team. This highly trained group will also be providing the early birds with some fire team activities, give kids (of all ages!) the chance to have a go knocking down some bollards with a jet of water. Later, they will be performing a very realistic rescue scenario, to hone their Civil Aviation Authority accredited skills, which should be exciting to watch!

The evocative WWI bi-plane fighters, in the form of the Royal aircraft Factory SE5a and the diminutive Eastchurch PV8 Kitten, designed as a ‘Zeppelin killer’, will be started up both late morning and during the afternoon, complementing the newly opened ‘Gas Bags to Super Zeppelins’ exhibition. Another fascinating display for visitors to enjoy.

The real thunder will be provided by the mighty jets of the Nimrod MR2 XV250, with its four Rolls Royce Spey engines, and the ever popular and impressive Handley Page Victor XL231, which will make the ground shake as the four Rolls Royce Conway’s power up. The heady smell of aviation fuel will fill the air after these aircraft have done their stuff! A true treat for all the senses at this popular event!

Programme of Activities:
10:00am Museum Opens
10: 30am Fire Team activities
11:15am SE5a and PV8 Kitten
13:00pm De Havilland Devon
13:45pm Douglas Dakota
14:30pm Nimrod XV250
15:15pm Victor XL231
15:50pm SE5a and PV8 Kitten
16:00pm Aircraft emergency Rescue (from Nimrod)

Admission: £12 Adult; £10 Concession (Seniors, Students, Serving Forces Personnel); £5 Child (5-15) and £30 Family (2A + 3 CH.).