Tag: 2014

Vintage Film Night at the Fleet Air Arm Museum

Vintage film - Airship

Friday 16th May, the second of a new series of film nights at the Fleet Air Arm Museum will screen a number of films from the archive.

The rare footage from WW1 and WW2 and the early 60s show the development of Royal Naval aviation from the earliest days of the Royal Naval Air Service, forerunner of the Fleet Air Arm, through to the 1990s.

Says Barbara Gilbert Senior Archivist “We all know about the trenches on the Western Front during the First World War but not many people realise that the Royal Naval Air Service had bases in the Aegean. From these airbases, they operated not only aeroplanes but airships. This vintage footage gives us a glimpse of what was involved.”

Other films to be screened will include, 1930s footage of the Fleet Air Arm showing off its carrier-borne squadrons of Fairey IIIFs and Blackburn Ripons from HMS Renown and HMS Furious.

A WW2 film following recruits as they join the Fleet Air Arm and a film of life on board the Floating Fortress that was HMS Victorious in the Mediterranean circa 1960 when her air group consisted of Supermarine Scimitars, De Havilland Sea Venoms and Westland Whirlwinds.

Tickets for the film night can be obtained on line at www.fleetairarm.com or from the door on the night. Tickets cost £5.00 for film night only or £12.50 to include supper in the museum’s Swordfish restaurant prior to the screening.

Airshow to aid RAF charity

The organiser of Folkestone Airshow 2014, Open Air Promotions Ltd, has named the RAF Benevolent Fund as official charity partner for the event.

Director Yvonne Holder said that the organisation did wonderful work supporting serving and former RAF personnel and their families and it was fitting that it benefited from an event in which so many iconic military aircraft would take part. “Our donation will be a share of the money received from the sale of souvenir programmes. Cover price will be £3.50, of which 50p will be given to the Fund”.

Paul Hewson, regional director of the RAF Benevolent Fund, said that the charity was ‘absolutely thrilled” to have been chosen as an official partner for what promised to be Folkestone’s biggest and best air show. “Few people realise the extent of the work we do. Every year, we spend more than £20 million on a wide range of support services and without the generous support of events like the Folkestone Air Show it simply would not be possible to provide them on the scale we do”.

Folkestone Airshow takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8. The flying programme on the first day will feature the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic team.

www.folkstoneairshow.com

Airscene 2015 Airshow Calendar Competition

This years competition opens officially  this coming thursday (1st May) and will close on 30th September 2014.

Prizes have been coming in thick and fast with the latest contribution coming from Terry Jones Art ( www.terryjones-art.co.uk ), with two commemorative prints on offer. Both prints can be seen on the following page http://www.terryjones-art.co.uk/red%20arrows%20special.htm – the Jon Egging print has been allocated to first prize and the Sean Cunningham print to 2nd prize.

Terry is very generously donating the proceeds from sale of both prints to the Jon Eggings Trust and The Royal Air force Benevolent Fund respectively. In the hope of winning one of these great prizes, it is understandable you may not wish to make apurchase at this time, but do please make a donation to either (or both) of these very worthy charities in the meantime.

The RIAT tickets have now also been allocated to 1st prize, other airshow tickets are awaiting confirmation and will be detailed as soon as possible. This years prize table now stands as follows:

1st Prize

£150 voucher (to include p&p) courtesy of Key Publishing Ltd

RIAT – pair of public entry tickets for sunday July 19th 2015 (valued at £39 each) (R)

Flt Lt Jon Egging (Red Arrows) Commemorative print courtesy of Terry Jones Art (valued at £75)(UK)

Family ticket to Newark Air Museum (valued at £21 each)

2nd Prize

£100 voucher (to include p&p) courtesy of Key Publishing Ltd

Flt Lt Sean Cunningham (Red Arrows) Commemorative print courtesy of Terry Jones Art (valued at £75)(UK)

Pair of family ticket to Newark Air Museum (valued at £21 each)

3rd Prize

£50 voucher (to include p&p) courtesy of Key Publishing Ltd

Family tickets to Museum of Berkshire Aviation (valued at £8.50 each)

1st runner up prize

Wingman 16″ x 12″ print courtesy of Oxon Images (Value = £33.90)(UK)

Family tickets to Museum of Berkshire Aviation (valued at £8.50 each)

Mono print T-shirt courtesy of Cosford RAF Museum (valued at £12.99)

2nd runner up prize

Apache Storm 16″ x 12″ print courtesy of Oxon Images (Value = £33.90)(UK)

Family tickets to Museum of Berkshire Aviation (valued at £8.50 each)

Mono print T-shirt courtesy of Cosford RAF Museum (valued at £12.99)

3rd runner up prize

B17 Bomber Escort 20 ” x 10″ print courtesy of Oxon Images (Value = £30)(UK)

Mono print T-shirt courtesy of Cosford RAF Museum (valued at £12.99)

Good Luck everyone!

Mighty Vulcan To Roar Over Cosford

Vulcan - credit Andrew Brown

Ticket sales for the RAF Cosford Air Show are expected to get a big boost following today’s announcement of new aircraft for the flying display. After much speculation the organisers have today confirmed that the Vulcan will provide its full display for the second year running. The Avro Vulcan aircraft, registration no XH558, is the only aircraft of its type still flying anywhere in the world and makes a welcome return to the Midlands premier aviation event.

Other important news released today was the appearance of two operational aircraft from RAF Brize Norton. The giant C17 and Voyager aircraft will be making their first ever appearance at the RAF Cosford Air Show.

Air Show Spokesman Amanda Butcher said “These three new aircraft make a great addition to our line-up and give us the opportunity to showcase to our audience RAF aircraft involved in current operations as well as the iconic and popular Vulcan.”

Other aircraft appearing at the show as part of the 5 ½ hour flying display include the Red Arrows, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Blades. The ground attractions include an arena featuring the Field Gun teams and the RAF Combined Pipes and Drums as well as a craft hangar and a wide display of other attractions

– Standard air show tickets can be purchased online at www.cosfordairshow.co.uk or by calling the 24-hour ticket line on 0871 230 1083 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges). Advance tickets are priced from £20, representing a 20 per cent discount on tickets bought on the day (£25 subject to availability). There’s FREE car parking and FREE admission for all under-16s accompanied by an adult.

Air Tattoo Makes Aviation History

F35B copyright USMC

AVIATION history will be made in the UK this summer when, in a major airshow ‘first’, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Joint Strike Fighter, makes its much-anticipated European debut.

This hugely important multi-role combat aircraft, which has never before been seen outside of the US, will display at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford on July 11-13.

Three examples of the F-35B, the short take-off/vertical landing version of the Lightning II optimized for operation from austere bases and smaller ships, will be based at RAF Fairford: two from the US Marine Corps and one destined for the UK. The flying displays on all three days of the airshow, will see participation by one aircraft.

The aircraft’s appearance at Fairford will allow a whole new audience to see at close quarters this highly advanced multi-role platform, which, in F-35B form, will demonstrate the ‘hover’ capability required for operation from, for example, Britain’s forthcoming new aircraft carriers.

Its appearance at RAF Fairford in July will be the latest in a long list of legendary military aircraft that have made their UK debut at the Air Tattoo. These have included the F-14 Tomcat in 1976, the MiG-23 in 1991, the Typhoon in 1995 and the V-22 Osprey in 2006.

Air Tattoo Chief Executive Designate, Andy Armstrong said: “Not only will people witness aviation history being made at the Air Tattoo this summer but they will also see a breath-taking demonstration of the future of combat aviation. Those people who, like me, enjoyed seeing the legendary Harrier display its hovering capabilities in the past will relish the opportunity to see its state-of-the-art successor.”

In the words of Lockheed Martin, the F-35B combines for the first time ‘the most lethal fighter characteristics: supersonic speed, radar-evading stealth, extreme agility and short take-off/vertical landing capability.’

The stealthy Lightning II is a vital aircraft for the air arms of the nine countries who have, thus far, signed up to become part of the programme: apart from the US and UK, also involved are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey.

The type is rapidly entering service with the US Air Force in CTOL (conventional take-off and landing) F-35A guise, and with the US Marine Corps in F-35B form. The UK plans to procure 138 F-35Bs for joint operation by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and has begun pilot and maintainer training on the aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The F-35 will, in future, become a common sight in our skies – but it will perform its first international display at this summer’s Air Tattoo.

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 for this summer’s Air Tattoo, on July 11-13, are available until May 31 from www.airtattoo.com or by calling 0800 107 1940. All accompanied under-16s go free. Free parking.

Thunderbirds Are Go.. At The RAF Museum

Date: 11th May

Time: 10.00 – 5.30pm

Entrance: £7 Adults/£5 Children

In a special one-day event, ‘Model Futures’ celebrates the art of science fiction model making in film and television with talks and presentations by industry insiders.

Since the early days of silent films, model effects – or ‘miniatures’ – have played an important role in creating screen illusion. With the use of models film-makers can create scenes – or even entire worlds – that would otherwise be impossible to capture on film.

British film-makers have proved particularly inventive in developing the art of miniatures, allowing the UK to become a world leader in the production of science fiction and fantasy films – notable successes including 2001; A Space Odyssey, and the Star Wars, James Bond and Superman franchises. Television too has provided a showcase for model making skill, in series such as Dr.Who and Blake’s 7, and most famously in the many programmes devised by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson – among them Thunderbirds, UFO and Space:1999.

Speakers include:

Alan Shubrook, Model-Maker: 1200pm

Model maker Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, The Secret Service, UFO. Alan will be providing an exclusive presentation of his own collection of backstage photos from his days working on the shows.

Mat Irvine, Special Effects Designer: 1.30pm

Doctor Who and Blake’s 7; through Horizon and QED and onto award-winning dramas Edge of Darkness and The Singing Detective

Mike Trim, Special Effects Designer: 3pm

Thunderbirds, and its successors Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Joe 90, the Secret Service and UFO

 www.rafmuseum.org

RAF Museum gets funding for First World War in the Air Exhibition

WW1 in the Air Exhibition

The Royal Air Force Museum is delighted to announce that it has received a confirmed grant of £898,558 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the creation of ‘The First World War In The Air.’ This major new exhibition, will allow museum audiences to discover and explore the unique and often overlooked role of air power during the First World War through the incredible stories of the men and women who took part.

The creation of new exhibitions and supporting activities will be delivered across the museum’s two public sites and online. It will include programmes for lifelong learning, volunteering, apprenticeships and public events. The four-year project will mark the Centenary of the First World War, exploring the development of air power as an integral part of modern warfare and end by celebrating the birth of the RAF in 2018.

London:

A brand new permanent exhibition will open in December 2014 in the museum’s historic Grahame-White Factory: this Grade II listed building was an active aircraft factory during the First World War. The Museum site in North London has a rich history and played an important role in the early development of British aviation. English aviation pioneer Claude Grahame-White described the area as ‘the birthplace of aerial power.’

Using the RAF Museum’s world-class collection of aircraft, documents, film and photographs ‘The First World War in the Air’ will reveal how aviation changed the character of war driven by innovation, sacrifice and a spirit of adventure.

The exhibition will explore what it was like to be involved in the earliest days of military aviation through the story of Britain’s air services, the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. These two organisations merged on 1 April 1918 to become the world’s first independent air force, the Royal Air Force. This story will incorporate the experiences of pilots, ground crews and factory workers as well as the local North London community.

As part of this new exhibition the museum will develop unused spaces in the Grahame-White Factory. A ‘drawing office’, equipped with sketching tools, open drawers filled with facsimiles of original technical drawings and aviation-related publications, will give visitors a ‘balcony view’ of the aircraft and hangar. A community space will provide an area for the local community and volunteers to develop programmes at the museum. A new temporary exhibition gallery will enable local schools to stage a series of First World War related displays from April 2015.

Visitors will also experience improved orientation with a new signage system and landscape design, providing better connection and easier access to the building.

Cosford:

A new exhibition will be created at the museum’s site in Cosford (West Midlands) that will tell the national story of the First War in the Air using content, displays and aircraft. The exhibition will be enriched by individual stories of pilots such as ‘local hero’ pilot, Lt. Kevin Furniss, who was posted to France in April 1917. Shot down on his second mission he died as a Prisoner of War on 29 April 1917 aged 19. He was born and bought up in Trysull, a village on the outskirts of Wolverhampton and attended Wolverhampton Grammar School. The Museum will be using his story and artefacts to engage with schools, as well as in informal learning activities.

This story and others will complement new First World War themed interactive and educational activities including a linked site activity trail.

Online:

The development of an online version of the museum-based exhibition will also include the digitisation and wider public access to historical documents such as the Casualty Cards, Casualty Forms and Muster Roll, that tell the story of the men and women of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force. This will be of particular interest to genealogists and family historians.

Peter Dye, Director General of the Royal Air Force Museum: “We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us the support needed to tell the important story of air power in the First World War. It is of particular significance to us because of the related heritage of our London site, an active airfield and aircraft factory throughout the war, and because it embraces the birth of the Royal Air Force, built on the achievements of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. It is greatly encouraging that the public have been able to play a major part in determining the content of the new exhibition area and the selection of exhibits. As well as being a national story, the project will help the local community to understand how much their neighbourhood changed as a result of aviation and the long-term impact on their lives.”

Sue Bowers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for London: “The role played by aircraft in the First World War is largely overlooked. This centenary project will redress the balance and in so doing explain how aviation itself was given a significant boost as a result of the conflict. It will also enable the wider story of the first air war pioneers and the fledgling RAF to be told.”

Helen Grant, Minister for the First World War centenary programme: “In the run up to the start of the First World War Government centenary programme I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting ‘The First World War in the Air’. These enduring exhibitions will bring to life the start of air power – and the personal stories behind the aviation advances – during the war years. They will provide engaging local and national material and activities for visitors to discover and explore.”

www.rafmuseum.org

More Military Displays For Cosford Air Show

Army Air Corps Apache

Today the organisers of the RAF Cosford Air Show revealed a number of exciting additions to aircraft appearing at this year’s event.

Following on from last year’s popular Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) demonstration, which saw Prince Harry in his first air show appearance, the RAF Chinook and Army Apache will again be at Cosford as part of the planned six-hour flying display. As well as performing their individual displays, they will showcase the combat capabilities of the two helicopters in an exciting joint demonstration with the RAF Regiment. Other helicopters taking part in the flying display include the Royal Navy Lynx, making a welcome return with its ‘Black Cat’ solo routine.

The Navy are also represented by the Royal Navy Historic Flight displaying the Swordfish & Sea Fury, joining a number of historic aircraft already confirmed for this year’s event including the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Great War Team.

On the ground, a number of military aircraft join the resident Jaguar fleet, with an Army Air Corps Defender and RAF King Air being the latest additions to the static displays.

Details of where to buy tickets can be found on the RAF Cosford Air Show website, with advanced tickets held at last year’s price of £20 and children under-16 and parking free.

www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Italians In Air Tattoo Show Of Force

Frece Tricolori

The Italian Air Force has confirmed no fewer than five flying items for this summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds.

Headlining the Italian involvement in the weekend’s flying display on July 12-13 will be the country’s national aerobatic team, the world-renowned FrecceTricolori. Flying 10 examples of the Aermacchi MB339 PAN jet trainer, the Frecce are joining celebrations to mark the 50th display season of their British counterparts, the Red Arrows.

Few aerobatic teams can claim to be as exuberant as the Frecce, famed for the closeness of their large formations, the spectacular manoeuvres of their soloist, and the spine-tingling finale flypast set to the tones of Pavarotti while the MB339s stream in smoke the colours of the Italian flag.

Tremendous support for the Air Tattoo is also being provided by Italy’s air force flight test centre, the RepartoSperimentaleVolo (RSV). It will this year send four aircraft to give solo displays, comprising a Eurofighter F-2000A Typhoon, Panavia A-200 Tornado, AMX International A-11 and Alenia C-27J Spartan. The RSV’s test pilots always put on top-quality performances, those in the twin-turboprop C-27J transport being especially notable for their aerobatic agility, and regular winners of Air Tattoo flying display trophies.

A particularly rare item is the AMX attack aircraft, not seen in a British flying programme since 2001. The Typhoon will provide an interesting contrast with the Royal Air Force example also displaying, while the Tornado is expected to be the sole representative of the swing-wing combat aircraft in the flying display during this, the type’s 40th anniversary year.

Air Tattoo spokesman Richard Arquati commented: “All of us at Fairford are delighted at the support Italy has confirmed for RIAT 2014. The addition of the FrecceTricolori to the Red Arrows’ birthday celebrations is great news, and such a level of participation from the RSV has not been seen for many years.”

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 for next summer’s Air Tattoo, on July 11-13, are available until May 31 from www.airtattoo.com or by calling 0800 107 1940. All accompanied under-16s go free. Free parking.

2014 Bournemouth Air Festival Takes OFF

UKs leading seaside resort gets ready for an incredible 4-day summer extravaganza of land, sea and air display entertainment… it’s more than just an airshow!

31st March 2014: The 2014 Bournemouth Air Festival, supported by Mouchel and City Fibre Gigler has been launched and this year’s incredible line up features 4 days of the Red Arrows displays, a host of land, sea and air assets from the Royal Navy, Pier to Pier county show trading stalls and the return of three fantastic evenings of Night Air entertainment … certainly proving the 2014 Festival is set to be much more than just an airshow!

With entertainment on land, sea and air the 7th Bournemouth Air Festival will be welcoming back aircraft favourites and a number of Festival firsts as well as the new Patrons 100 Club designed for local businesses and individuals with a passion for aviation. Last year organisers successfully funded a third Night Air display and again the intention is to organise three evenings of entertainment and bridge the early evening gap with even more flying and music!

If last year was big, this year is bigger and better as the Royal Navy demonstrates their land, sea and air abilities. At sea will be a 4 ship fleet, which includes the French Navy’s FS Sagittaire alongside the RFA Argus, HMS Westminster and HMS Mersey, in the air check out the return of the Black Cats Helicopter Display Team, Royal Navy Historic Flight and Sea Kings. On the ground will be an impressive joint Army village area, hosting the much anticipated amphibious demonstration. Celebrating the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines, there will also be unarmed combat demonstrations and the historic Beat Retreat performed by The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood.

Royal Navy Commodore Jamie Miller said; “2014 will be the greatest ever concentration of Naval force yet seen off Bournemouth, needless to say I am keeping some surprises back – but rest assured this will be our best year yet!”

With a full allocation of RAF display aircraft, the UKs leading seaside resort is set to welcome back the Red Arrows on ALL 4 days of the Festival, a first for the event, and the mighty Typhoon Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition get set for the Tutor, Tucano, RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team and incredible Battle of Britain Memorial Flight displaying with the Dakota, another first for this year’s flying programme.

RAF Wing Commander Alf Garnett said; “The Air Festival is a high priority event for the RAF, in terms of audience numbers it’s perfect for showcasing our aircraft and offers a first class arena for engaging with the public and showing them what we do for them on a daily basis.”

The onshore interactive Forces village areas, the Royal Navy at the heart of the Festival with the Army and Royal Marines, and the RAF located in the Waterfront at Pier Approach area, will give Festival goers a chance to find out more about each Force as well as talk to those with first-hand experience, check out displays, speak to the Careers teams, charities and have a chance to try out military equipment.

Jon Weaver, Air Festival Director added; “For us as a Festival, the organisers, teams of people behind the event and the hundreds of thousands of people who attend, it really shows how far we have come to have such superb Royal Navy and RAF support. This is our seventh Air Festival and with some great confirmations including the Red Arrows performing on all four days, return of the Typhoon, superb Naval contingency and Night Air entertainment, we hope this will keep us on top and news still to come, as we get closer to the event, will only get better!”

Setting Bournemouth Air Festival apart from the other air events is the stunning Night Air programme. Supported by the Patrons 100 Club members and their Ambassador local hotelier David Bailey they will again be funding three nights of evening air displays as well as supporting this year’s Air Festival charities. The entertainment certainly doesn’t stop with the last aircraft as there will be live music at the Bournemouth stage and big name acts and live music on the Wave105 Corona music stage at Boscombe Pier, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until 10pm.

With announcements of civilian aircraft participation still to come, as well as the Wave105 Corona stage line up and huge seafront and cliff top trading areas the 2014 Air Festival is certainly set to be the event of the summer!

www.bournemouthair.co.uk