Archive for the ‘UK Event News’ Category

British Airways 747 Retires to Dunsfold Aerodrome

Thursday, October 22nd, 2020

747 retires to Dunsfold

Dunsfold Aerodrome is delighted to confirm a second 747 will be taking up residence on the airfield from today, Thursday 22nd October, where it will begin its new life as a TV and film set.

The retired British Airways 747, registration G-CIVW, will depart from Cardiff Airport as flight number BA9178E, landing into the Aerodrome in Surrey at 14:15*.

Jim McAllister, Chief Executive, Dunsfold Aerodrome, comments: “The 747 is a unique and important piece of aviation history and we are excited to be taking delivery of this retired aircraft at Dunsfold Aerodrome. Whilst G-CIVW will no longer fly, the aircraft will be preserved and given a new lease of life in the world of TV and film, training and special events.”

The aircraft, affectionately known as the Queen of the Skies, was built in Everett in the United States and entered the British Airways fleet on 15 May 1998. Its last flight was on 11th June 2020 from Bournemouth to Cardiff and, since then, the aircraft has been stored at Cardiff Airport.

G-CIVW will keep its Chatham Dockyard livery which was first introduced in June 1997. The livery takes its name from the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent and was based on the original flag used by Admiral Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The Chatham Dockyard livery was created for BA by the Admiral’s Original Flag Loft factory in Chatham which had made flags for more than 400 years.

The aircraft, like many other 747s, has ties with the world of film, having flown many actors worldwide in its cabins and visited film set hotspots like Los Angeles and New York. In its new role it will feature more prominently in front of the camera, used to mock up interior and exterior shots for TV and film.

With an aviation heritage that includes the development of military aircraft such as the Harrier, Hawk and Hunter, Dunsfold Aerodrome is the perfect fit for the generation-defining 747.

Please note that due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Aerodrome will not be open to spectators for the 747s final flight and landing.

To watch a live stream of the landing please go to our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dunsfoldparkofficial/

Headliners announced for D-Day 75 event

Thursday, March 28th, 2019

D-Day at Solent Airport

Organisers of D-Day 75 in Fareham are delighted to announce some high-flying headline acts for a weekend event to commemorate the special anniversary.

The Great War Display Team will take to the skies over Fareham in replica World War One aircraft and the Round Canopy Display Team will do a parachute display at the Solent Airport event.

The World’s only wing walker display team, the AeroSuperBatics, will perform and a spitfire G-Spit will carry out a flypast before joining a P51 mustang for a static display during the special event on Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June.

The Round Canopy Display Team will be at the event on Saturday, but all the other acts will perform on both days – and there’s more acts still to confirm, which Fareham Borough Council will announce in due course.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 25 March and reflect the family-friendly focus of the event with a ticket option that includes unlimited free funfair rides and children’s activities.

A family ticket (two adults, two children) bought in advance is £25 for one day or £40 for the weekend; adult tickets are £8 each day or £15 for both and all-inclusive children £8 for one day or £12 for both. Under 2s go free. Concessions and non-inclusive children’s tickets are also available.

A total of 7,000 tickets will be available for each day with tickets expected to sell out fast, so people are advised to get them early.
Aircraft is the focus of the event and Solent Airport at Daedalus is the perfect place to mark the occasion. It was the busiest airport in the UK on D-Day with more than 400 aircraft movements – the largest number from any UK airbase.

Tickets can be bought in advance from Ferneham Hall, online and at the Control Tower at Solent Airport. Free parking permits can be requested when buying tickets and will be issued on a first-come first-served basis.

Children’s activities will include a fun fair, face painting, craft activities, character walkabouts and a vintage car display. Arena events will include a display from the children’s motorcycle display Green Rockets team, historical re-enactments, marching bands and music from the D-Day era.

To mark the event, a special D-Day memorial plaque will be unveiled by the Mayor of Fareham on Saturday 8 June.

A range of market stalls and food and drink stalls will be at the event and families can also bring their own picnics and use designated seating areas.

Chairman of the Daedalus Steering Group, Cllr Trevor Cartwright, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce such amazing headline acts for our special D-Day 75 event. The skies will be full of incredible aircraft and parachutes – it will be a real sight.

“Tickets are now on sale and we’ve had so many enquiries that we’re expecting them to sell fast. We only have a limited number of tickets, so don’t delay in getting them.

“This is going to be an incredible event which will be remembered for years to come so come along and join in the fun celebrations.”

Further details are available at: http://www.fareham.gov.uk/leisure/out_and_about_in_fareham/dday75.aspx

Fawley Armed Forces Day – Free Show this Weekend

Wednesday, June 27th, 2018

Fawley Armed Forces Day

Organisers of the Fawley Armed Forces Day taking place Saturday 30 June 11.00 – 16.00 at the Gang Warily Recreation and Community Centre are thrilled to have received confirmation that there will be a fly past by both a Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft (weather dependent) at approximately 15:50pm. This is in addition to the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Parachute Display Team who will perform their unique routine at approximately 12:00pm.

2018 is the centenary year of the Royal Air Force, 100 years since the end of WW1 and the 10th anniversary of Armed Forces Day so please come along to show your support for our service personnel. The event will also include live music, a large bouncy castle world, human hungry hippos, a petting farm, fun fair, stalls, bar, food vendors and once again weather dependent, a large military vehicle display.

Fawley Parish Council would like to thank ExxonMobil, Ice Cleaning Services, the All Saints Fawley Events Team, the Ministry of Defence and County Councillor Alexis McEvoy for their sponsorship and support for this event.

Farewell to the Sea King at RNAS Yeovilton

Saturday, February 20th, 2016

RNAS Yeovilton Sea King's

The end is sadly in sight for another iconic military aircraft; the last ever flight of the Royal Navy HC4 Sea King, with only 7 now left in active service at Yeovilton, the only UK RN based that is still operating any HC4 Sea Kings.

The weather was predicted wet and wild, but thankfully the day turned out to be a bright dry day. We were all gathered in the squadron briefing room, to hear the CO give his thoughts on the Sea King, and being rather reserved when talking about the Sea King which we all have seen both at air shows and more commonly on search and rescue sorties around the UK.

The most amusing tale was from an exercise in Norway when a white out occurred and each aircraft was following the one in front, with a loss of visual contact the pilot kept going on the instruments only to catch up with the aircraft in front and being so close the other aircrew looked for wheel marks on the hub above the rotors.

The last flying day for the Sea King is the 31st March 2016, of which by then all the crews will be fully trained on the Merlin HC3 replacement.

RNAS Yeovilton Sea King

One of the last seven is ZA298 which is planned to go into the Yeovilton Museum at the end of March. This aircraft seems unable to be destroyed as it has been shot at with 7 rounds going through the airframe in conflict in Afghanistan, where it was bought back to an operating base and repaired quickly before flown back to bastion. This one is not going down without a fight!

Back to Yeovilton, after the brief by the staff and the CO we were mustered into three waves with each wave being split into two groups, Avengers 1 (ZE427) & 2 (ZG821). This was to allow air to air photos of each aircraft with the sun lighting up the aircraft beautifully, videos were also taken on wave three.

After boarding the helicopter we were offered to be harnessed in so that we could take photos and video at the edge of the open door, we had a short taxi to allow what can only be described as the most graceful take-off I have ever experienced. Climbing to and then flying over Somerset at about 500 feet with the door open and turning round at Glastonbury Tor, with the Sea King flying so gracefully it seems difficult to believe that she is over 40 years old.

Once back at base and after a short taxi to the apron stand, we were fortunate to be able to gather for the final photos as the sun set on the airfield and on an experience that will not be forgotten for a long time.

by Ian Birdsey