Tag: 2015

Eastbourne Gears Up for Final Vulcan Display

Eastbourne gears up for its final Vulcan display next week as the world’s only flying Vulcan bomber makes its last trip to Airbourne, the town’s four day free seafront airshow from Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 August.

Thousands will bid a fond farewell to the cold war jet at 2.32pm on Saturday 15 August which retires at the end of the season, before welcoming the world’s only flying Bristol Blenheim, in its first ever free display.

Along with Eastbourne’s first ever Norwegian MiG-15 jet fighter display, the Belgian NH90 helicopter, Typhoon, Chinook and the RAF Red Arrows, Airbourne crowds will be in for a treat.

Eastbourne Borough Council Lead Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Enterprise, Cllr Margaret Bannister said “This is an astounding year for historic jets and international teams. The Vulcan is adored by many and Airbourne is one of just a handful of opportunities left to ever see this aircraft in the sky.”

The Blenheim joins an impressive historic line up which also features a Norwegian Vampire duo, Kittyhawk, Jet Provost, Bulldog, Spitfire, Mustang and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Local Heroes to Close Day One

Local men Flt Lt Ben Polwin and Flt Lt Toby Keeley, will be returning to home ground after their Hawk duo display on Thursday, as both pilots hail from Sussex. Former Park College student Toby, began his flying career at Hailsham Air Training Corps and has since flown the Tucano, Hawk and Tornado GR4.

Known under the call signs of Ninja 1 and Ninja 2, Ben and Toby will close the show on Thursday with their brand new Hawk duo display and will be meeting fans on the ground during the show.

The Blades Celebrate 10 Years

Celebrating 10 years in the sky, former Red Arrows pilots The Blades, return with a very special display and a chance to win a flight with the team in the Airbourne £1 lottery, with all proceeds supporting the future of Airbourne.

French team Patrouille Reva also bring a highly technical display in their purpose built aerobatic aircraft, along with a packed line-up featuring the Tutor, Royal Navy Sea King, Rv8tors, Breitling Wingwalkers and The Tigers parachute team.

Super Saturday

The Airbourne Live stage on the beach returns thanks to TJ’s Nightclub with live music from 11am to 7.30pm each day, including talent show stars De’Vide of BBC1’s The Voice UK on Friday. The party continues on Super Saturday, a 12-hour extravaganza of flying and entertainment, in a Heart hosted evening presented by Tom, Nicola and Jack from Heart Breakfast. Entry is free, however numbers are limited, so music fans are advised to arrive early.

Featuring dazzling twilight pyro-aerobatics from brand new flying duo AeroSPARX, chart topping band Scouting for Girls headline on stage at 9.15pm, before explosive Saturday night fireworks close the day’s events at 10pm, sponsored by Ansvar Insurance and Frontier Fireworks.

On the Ground

The four day show also features plenty of fun on the ground, including an RAF, Navy and Army exhibition on the Western Lawns with Harrier, Chinook and Gazelle cockpits to climb aboard, children’s entertainment areas and Transformers star car Autobot Bumblebee makes an appearance (Sat & Sun only).

Helicopter pleasure flights offer spectacular views from Beachy Head and at the Bandstand, evening concerts include Big Band Night on Thursday and the legendary pop-punk princess Toyah, on Friday. BBC South East Today also broadcast live from the show from 6.30pm on Friday, as their Festival Friday tour hits town.

Give a Quid

Entry is free, with flying displays part funded by public donations each year, including generous support from Sussex residents David Dickens, Brian Bunce and Jayne Howard. This year collections will be organised by the Rotary Clubs of Sovereign Harbour and Hailsham, with 30% of the proceeds passed onto local charities Kent, Sussex & Surrey Air Ambulance, Riding for the Disabled and Friends of Eastbourne Hospital.

More ways to support Airbourne include donating online, buying an Airbourne Lottery ticket or buying a Souvenir Programme featuring daily updated flying times and money off vouchers for just £4, available from the Tourist Information Centre, Seafront Office, selected newsagents and from programme sellers around town.

Watch, Listen & Tweet

Airbourne is open from 10am each day, with Red Arrows displays at 4pm on Friday, and 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The Bandstand offers exclusive seating in the centre of the display line at £12 per adult, and Park and View areas at Beachy Head cost £5 per day for a birds-eye view of the displays.

Fans can post their airshow selfie to the Tweetwall giant screen on the beach using #eastbourneselfie, tune into Radio Airbourne 87.7FM, supported by Specsavers, for live commentary and updates, or watch online for live coverage by Planes TV at VisitEastbourne.com/AirbourneTV.

Parking

Parking is available at Five Acre Field in Lottbridge Drove costing £4 per car with a bus service running to and from the pier. Additional parking is also available to the west of town at St Andrew’s School field, with a bus to Airbourne (Sat & Sun only), and donations to Eastbourne Sovereign Rotary Club. Or beat the traffic and come by bike, using the free cycle park in Howard Square.

For more information visit www.eastbourneairshow.com or telephone 01323 415415.

IWMs newly-painted North American B-25J Mitchell aircraft is revealed

Mitchell IWM Duxford

Today (Thursday 6 August) IWM’s newly-repainted North American B-25J Mitchell was revealed in its new paint scheme for the first time.

The aircraft now represents North American B-25J Mitchell 43-4064, which served with the 488th Bomb Squadron of the 340th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force, United States Army Air Forces, in the latter stages of the Second World War.

The 340th Bomb Group was the inspiration for the Bomb Group represented in American author Joseph Heller’s satirical novel Catch 22. Heller served as a bombardier in the 488th Bomb Squadron. Crews were not allocated a specific aircraft in the 340th Bomb Group and personnel were interchanged between crews and aircraft. As a result, Joseph Heller flew in almost all of the aircraft operated by the 340th Bomb Group.

Missions carried out by Heller and his fellow crew members in B-25J Mitchell 43-4064 formed the inspiration for some of the events in Heller’s classic novel Catch 22.

North American B-25J Mitchell 43-4064 can be seen at IWM Duxford in the Conservation in Action hangar and will be displayed in the newly-transformed American Air Museum, at IWM Duxford, when it reopens in spring 2016.

Chris Knapp, Section Head, Industrial and Large Object Conservation, IWM Duxford, said: “The Conservation Team carried out a structural survey and then a team of three Conservation staff repainted the aircraft within a six week period. I’m really pleased with the work they have done. The only element of the repainting that we didn’t undertake in-house was the nose art as we don’t have a sign writer on our staff. We have carried out painstaking research to ensure that the aircraft matches the original 43-4064. All lines and colour changes are taken from original photographs of the aircraft during the Second World War.”

www.iwm.org.uk

Take a Seat in Our Spitfire

RAF Museum Spitfire

Dreams come true at the RAF Museum this August as we unveil our new sit-in ‘Spitfire Experience’.

For the first time ever, visitors can now climb inside our Mk XVI Spitfire, take the pilot’s seat, learn about the Aircraft and feel the thrill of sitting in one of the most iconic cockpits

Tickets: £4 per person (BoB 75th offer limited to end of September)

Location: Historic Hangars, RAF Museum London

September is the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and to mark this occasion, we are offering a special price of £4 per person to access to Spitfire MK16 Cockpit.

All tickets for the Spitfire Experience contribute towards the ‘Historic Hendon Appeal’.

The RAF Museum receives funding from the MoD that allows the Museum to open its doors to visitors. In order to conserve our collection and improve the Museum we rely on the museum’s supporters – the Museum needs your help. 2018 will mark the 100th anniversary of the RAF and we are looking to transform the Museum through 4 new exhibitions, new learning programmes and better facilities for visitors.

We have already completed part of this project through the new First World War in the Air exhibition and have raised over £12milion towards future works (out of £23milion).

All donations made through the ‘Spitfire Experience’ will support the ‘Historic Hendon’ phase of the project which will tell the story of the museum’s former life as an airfield, it was on the airfield where the museum now stands that Spitfires departed for the Battle of Britain and Winston Churchill first learnt to fly. Donations will also help to ensure that the museum is enjoyed by the local community for generations to come.

www.rafmuseum.org

Monospar Update August 2015

Newark Monospar project

Work is now progressing well on applying fabric to the wing of the Monospar at Newark Air Museum.

This work is now taking place alongside the aircraft in Hangar 1 at the museum, where it is attracting a lot of attention and interest from those people visiting the museum from around the world. Two new recruits have been added to the restoration team, who are both now learning the ‘art’ of fabric application and rib-stitching.

The complex wing folding arrangements can be seen on the re-covered wings that have also recently been refitted to the fuselage.

The General Aircraft Monospar at Newark Air Museum is the only Monospar preserved in the United Kingdom. The aircraft type was designed by H. J. Stieger and VH-UTH was built at Croydon, Surrey in 1935. For over 20 years the aircraft operated as VH-UTH in Australia with both New England Airways (later Airlines of Australia) and Butler Air Transport. On 11th July 1936 whilst carrying the former Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes the aircraft crash landed, fortunately the occupants and the aircraft survived.

On 22nd August 1961 VH-UTH piloted by Dr J Morris and B J Harrison took-off from Darwin, Australia on a 12,000 mile journey through 22 countries to Lympne airfield, England. The aircraft and crew survived monsoon, war, revolt and prison, the story of the flight was the subject of a book Two Men in a Flying Machine, written by Dr Morris.

After flying on to Biggin Hill, VH-UTH later spent a number of years at Panshangar, Herts. The aircraft was then bought by the Tiger Club and it was moved to Croydon. By 1967 VH-UTH was in open storage at Booker, and it was falling into bad repair. The aircraft was first moved to Newark and later in 1972 to the museum’s Winthorpe Airfield site.

A sad epitaph to the Monospar’s history was the death of pilot and author Dr J. Morris in a flying accident in the spring of 1981.

The restoration programme for VH-UTH commenced during the summer 1995, when its wings were taken to Innsworth, allowing work to be undertaken by members of the Cotswold Aircraft Restoration Group.

Since its return to Newark the restoration work has progressed steadily, with the work being undertaken without any working drawings or airframe plans. Work will soon commence on the ‘top hat’ longerons on the Monospar fuselage. Once this has been undertaken the fuselage fabric will also be applied.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Last Flying Bristol Blenheim to Make Free Airshow Debut at Eastbourne Airbourne

The only flying Bristol Blenheim bomber in the world is set to make its free air show debut this August, when it displays for the seafront crowds at Airbourne: Eastbourne International Air Show.The recently restored WW2 bomber, which flew its first public display in May, is yet to display for fans at a free airshow. It will join the Belgian NH90 helicopter and the Norwegian MiG-15 jet, all new attractions to Airbourne, in a truly international line-up.

The free four day airshow which returns from 13 – 16 August, has added the new attractions to its packed flying programme which already includes the final display season of the Vulcan bomber, plus the Typhoon, Chinook and RAF Red Arrows display teams.

The Blenheim’s first display will be on Super Saturday on 15 August, a 12 hour extravaganza of flying, ground displays and twilight pyro-aerobatics, plus live music on the beach from chart-toppers Scouting for Girls and Saturday night fireworks at 10pm.

Eastbourne Borough Council Lead Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Enterprise, Cllr Margaret Bannister said “The Blenheim will be an awesome addition to Airbourne and a wonderful tribute to those who flew during World War Two. Along with our first ever MiG and the NH90, it’s fantastic to see Airbourne attracting teams from Norway, France and Belgium, bringing a spectacular international programme to the show.”

The only flying Blenheim in the world, it took 12 years and 28,000 man hours to rebuild, and played a major part in WW2, scoring the first combat victory of any aircraft using its own radar. Its joins an impressive historic line up which also features a Norwegian Vampire duo, Kittyhawk, Jet Provost, Bulldog, Spitfire, Mustang and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, with a four-ship formation from the Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota.

A new star attraction for the show, the MiG-15, was originally developed by the Soviet Union, and became one of the first successful swept-wing jet fighters, playing a major part in the Korean War.

It joins the brand new Hawk T2 duo display, The Rv8tors, Breitling Wingwalkers, Royal Navy Sea King, Tutor, The Tigers Parachute Display team and French team Patrouille Reva.

The Blades return in their 10th anniversary year to display for the crowds, along with a special prize of an aerobatic flight and hospitality for two at their home base at Sywell Aerodrome. The prize is available to win in the Airbourne lottery, with tickets costing £1. Tickets are available now at the Tourist Information Centre, Seafront Office and at the show.

The four day show also features plenty of fun on the ground, including a military exhibition, children’s entertainment areas, helicopter pleasure flights and evening concerts at the Bandstand, including Big Band Night on Thursday and the legendary pop-punk princess Toyah, on Friday.

The Airbourne Live stage on the beach, sponsored by TJ’s nightclub, will feature music throughout each day and into the early evening, with a wide variety of acts to be announced over the coming weeks.

Airbourne: Eastbourne International Air Show returns from 13 – 16 August 2015 and entry is free.

For more information or to book online visit www.eastbourneairshow.com, or email events@eastbourne.gov.uk, or telephone 01323 415442.

Telling the story of the Battle of Britain

Battle of Britain Airshow Duxford

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show at IWM Duxford on

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September

Advance Tickets Only.

Book before Monday 3 August to receive 50% off child tickets and 10% off adult tickets

This September, IWM Duxford’s The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show will tell the story of this vital aerial battle in its 75th anniversary year.

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show will be an immersive and poignant experience for everyone. Epic flying displays, including a massed flypast of twenty Spitfires, will be combined with wartime music and the voices of men and women who served. Living history groups will recreate the daily life of RAF Duxford as a Battle of Britain Fighter Station in 1940.

The flying display explores the development of the Battle of Britain and its significant role in the Allied victory of the Second World War. The Coming of the Second World War demonstrates how RAF Duxford prepared for active service, the arrival of the Supermarine Spitfire, and the importance of the radar stations that formed an integral part of the Air Defence of Great Britain.

This flying display shows the aircraft that were flown by the RAF at the outbreak of the Second World War, including the Hawker Nimrod Mark I, Hawker Nimrod II, Gloster Gladiator, Hawk 75, de Havilland Tiger Moth and Boeing Stearman. The development of radar defences are represented in a flying display by an autogyro, de Havilland Hornet Moth and a Kirby Kite.

The Outbreak of the Second World War looks at the events that followed Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, when Britain stood alone against the German forces. We mark this with a display by the Bristol Blenheim, accompanied by two Hawker Hurricanes and a Hawker Sea Hurricane.

The beginning of the Battle of Britain is commemorated by a Spitfire scramble. Hispano HA-112 MIL (Buchon) aircraft fly in and as the scramble bells sounds, living history interpreters representing RAF fighter pilots race to the airfield and Supermarine Spitfires chase off the enemy aircraft.

Visitors will hear the audio memories of Battle of Britain pilots, recalling waiting to scramble and the exhilaration of the dogfight.

As the Battle of Britain developed, so did the tactics of the pilots of RAF Fighter Command.

A flying display of North American Harvard and Yale aircraft demonstrate the varying formations and tactics employed by the RAF as the Battle of Britain continued.

The Duxford Big Wing came into operation for the first time in a patrol over North Weald. This key moment in Duxford’s history is honoured with a massed flypast of twenty Spitfires taking off from this historic Second World War airfield.

The sacrifice made by Battle of Britain pilots and the feat of winning the Battle is commemorated with contemporary displays including the Red Arrows (Sunday only) and the Aerostars (Saturday only).

www.iwm.org.uk

Cosford Museum Apprentice jets off for stateside scholarship

Cosford Scholar

An Apprentice at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has been awarded a scholarship with the Flying Scholarship for Disabled People (FSDP).

The 2015 scholars were officially announced at a special ceremony held at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) earlier this month. The successful applicants were presented with their scholarship certificates by FSDP patron HRH Prince Faisal of Jordon and Honorary Air Commodore Sir Stephen Dalton. Each scholar also received a Pooleys Private Pilot Licence starter kit containing all the essentials needed for their new venture, presented to them by Sebastian Pooley, Managing Director at Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd.

Museum Apprentice Bethany Colburn, aged 21 from Albrighton, was selected from a panel of judges as their top scholar and will have the life changing opportunity of spending five weeks at the American Aviation Academy in San Diego, California. Bethany will be jetting off in September and will enjoy thirty five flying hours and associated ground schools whilst in America and will be partnered with a fellow FSDP scholar.

Bethany, who was born with mild cerebral palsy which affects her mobility, went through a tough recruitment process to win her spot in this year’s selection. Following an initial application, each applicant was assessed by a team of experienced adjudicators consisting of FSDP Trustees and supporters at a pre selection board meeting. The top twenty four candidates then went forward to the selection stage at RAF Cranwell in a four day process, which included; meeting with Trustees and former FSDP scholars, now acting as mentors, before being interviewed and undergoing a medical assessment to ensure they are fit enough to fly.

Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP), is a charity that provides a ‘once in a lifetime’ challenge for disabled people to help them realise their abilities through the medium of learning to fly. By the end of the training programme, some scholars are flying solo and many go on to achieve their Private Pilot’s Licence. Students who impress their Chief Flying Instructor during a general handling flying test and who reach an acceptable standard of competence, compatible with the nature of their disability, are awarded the FSDP Wings.

The FSDP is in memory of Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader KBE DSO and Bar DFC and Bar DL who, after losing both his legs in a flying accident, went on to achieve fame in World War Two as a fighter pilot. Following his death in 1982, organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo introduced Flying Scholarships for Disabled People to continue Bader’s indomitable spirit. Since then, nearly 400 disabled people have been awarded scholarships.

RAF Museum Apprentice, Bethany Colburn said:

“Despite having cerebral palsy, while in California my aim is to fly solo using the rudder pedals! I want to make my sponsors proud and show everyone, able bodied and disabled alike; that despite having limitations anyone can adapt and overcome given the right opportunities and belief. Thanks to FSDP having that belief in me, I am now on the most incredible life changing journey; that I hope will lead to more opportunities to progress my career in engineering and aviation. The scholarship has given me the boost, to continue the battle against perceptions and not give up the fight. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the team at the RAF Museum. The Apprentice Scheme has been a wonderful learning experience which has provided me with an excellent foundation for the future.”

RAF Museum CEO Maggie Appleton said:

“The RAF Museum’s apprentice scheme was introduced over ten years ago with a vision of preserving heritage aviation skills. Since then, the scheme and its participants have gone from strength to strength; winning awards and accolades and our conservation centre is now listed as one of the country’s Top 100 Apprentice Employers in the UK. We are extremely proud of Bethany for gaining her flying scholarship and happy to have contributed to her success story.”

Now at the end of her four year Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Engineering Manufacture and having achieved her Level 3 NVQ Extended Diploma in Fabrication – Sheet Metalworking; Bethany hopes that the skills and experience she has gained at the RAF Museum, combined with the flying scholarship are the perfect platforms into a long and successful career in aviation engineering.

For more information about the RAF Museum Cosford, visit www.rafmuseum.org/cosford or call 01902 376200.

Exciting 2015 Wheels Zone Line-up

Dunsfold - Wheels Zone

The revamped Wheels Zone & Parade is set to be the most interactive motoring attraction the show has seen this August Bank holiday weekend, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August.

Motoring exhibitors are travelling from all over the South East to show off their beautiful machines including the Surrey Hills Mini Group, Skyline Owners Club, Porsche GB, RAF Typhoon Rally, Dragsters and many more. Spectators can also expect to see an eclectic mix of vehicles from vintage classics to modern favourites from our solo entries.

New to the Wheels Zone for 2015 we have special interactive displays from Transformer Car Hire. They’ll be bringing their incredible Transformers motion picture replicas, along with some extra surprises for our audience to get involved with. Children and adults alike can have their photographs taken as they get up close and personal with the movie doppelgangers. Eagle eyed visitors will also be able to spot The UKG Stig wandering around the arena, catch him if you can for a selfie!

We look forward to welcoming back our 2014 display winners Jaguar Enthusiasts, Muddy Diffs Overland and DS3 Club, who will be sporting even more interesting and inviting display arrangements. DS3 Club will be showcasing their traditional English mad hatter style tea party, whilst Muddy Diffs Overland have an even bigger and more impressive camping display with trenches and camping equipment. Jaguar Enthusiasts have been avid supporters of Wings & Wheels over the years and are always catching our visitor’s attention with their outstanding array of vehicles.

Surrey Youth Motorcycle Trials Sports Club will be demonstrating their off road sports bikes, a must for all motorcycle fans to go along and watch as the clubs members, aged from 4 to 70 years old, show off their skills

Visitors can also look forward to seeing our popular crowd line parade as a mixture of old and new automobiles grab everyone’s attention as they slowly show off their metal.

Emily Hooton, Wheels Zone Co-ordinator comments: “We can’t wait to see our visitor’s reaction to all the new and visually stunning exhibitions we have in the Wheels Zone this year. From our static groups and interactive displays to having two Stunt Zones – there is something happening all day for everyone in the family to enjoy.”

Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy the world famous Red Arrows, RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, RAF Eurofighter Typhoon & Spitfire (Synchro Pair), Vulcan, Chinook, The Blades and a host of other modern and historic aircraft during the five 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 two hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum, and over in our Wheels Zone you can expect an array of interactive and static displays to wander around.

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.

Tickets start from £22 for adults, £50 for a family (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 – 15yrs), £7 for children aged between 5 and 15yrs and under 5s are free. Hospitality packages start from £150 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 2015 will be assisting the fundraising efforts of Help for Heroes and Brooklands Museum Trust.

The Big Push

RAF Museum

The First World War in the Air exhibition at the RAF Museum has been shortlisted for the National Lottery Awards 2015, which is fantastic news for the Museumand fans of aviation.

There is a five-week public vote period which ends midnight 29th July.

The Museum will compete against six other projects and voting is conducted by phone and online.

Please support the Museum by voting online for free at http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/first-world-war-air or by calling 0844 836 9670 (calls cost 5p max, plus network charges may apply)

*Each person can vote only once.

RIAT 2015 Hangar Party Awards

RIAT Awards

THE Battle of Britain featured at Sunday night’s awards ceremony at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, with two of the coveted prizes going to air displays commemorating our Second World War heritage.With the Air Tattoo staging a commemorative flypast and salute to ‘The Few’, it was fitting that the 75th anniversary of the conflict should be remembered at the Sunday Night Hangar Party, the traditional finale to the event.

The ceremony was introduced by Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson, Chairman of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and President of RIAT, who said: “This has been one of our greatest shows ever. There’s been a tremendous response from the public, and fantastic displays which have wowed the crowds: thank you to all who contributed.”

The presentations kicked off with an impromptu award by Andy Armstrong, Chief Executive of the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises and Director of RIAT, who presented his own RIAT CEO Award – six bottles of champagne – to the Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment Tornados from the RAF, and the German and Italian Air Forces.

The Paul Bowen Trophy – presented in memory of the Royal International Air Tattoo co-founder Paul Bowen for the Best Solo Jet Demonstration – went to the Finnish F-18 flown by Capt Ville Uggeldahl. The trophy was presented by Andy Armstrong.

Capt Uggeldahl said: “We have not performed at the Air Tattoo since 2009, so to take this award home is absolutely a great honour. We were up against some impressive performers this year, so this is a great surprise.”

The Sir Douglas Bader Trophy – presented for the Best Individual Flying Display – went to the German Bolkow Bo105 helicopter. Alan Smith, Chairman of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, presented the trophy to Capt Torsten Mobius who said: “I’m very surprised. It’s the first time I’ve been to Fairford and to win this trophy is just great.”

Wg Cdr Jonathan Nixon, chairman of the Flying Control Committee, presented The Cannestra Trophy for the Best Flying Demonstration by an overseas participant. The trophy went to the Slovenian Pilatus PC9 trainer, flown by display pilot 1st Lt Andrej Fiorell. He said: “I am very proud to have won this award. When you consider all the fighter jets displayed by other countries it’s wonderful to take this award home to Slovenia.”

The Steedman Display Sword – presented by The Royal International Air Tattoo in memory of the late Air Chief Marshal Sir Alasdair Steedman, Chairman of the International Air Tattoo (1981-1988), for the Best Flying Demonstration by a UK participant – was awarded to the Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon and Spitfire Synchro Pair.

Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson presented the sword to Typhoon pilot Flt Lt Ben Westoby-Brooks, who said: “I’m honoured to receive such an award. We wanted to do something special this year to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and I’m so glad that we’ve had such a great reaction from all who’ve seen the display, and that we’ve been able to tell the story of ‘The Few’ who gave their all in the summer of 1940. We’re doing it for them and for their memory.”

Spitfire pilot Flt Lt Antony Parkinson MBE was unable to attend the ceremony, and was represented by Flt Lt Nige Parker of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The As the Crow Flies Trophy, awarded for the best overall flying demonstration as voted for by the Friends of the Royal International Air Tattoo, was presented by Jim Glover, Non-Executive Director of the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises. The award went to the Vulcan To The Skies Trust, a fitting tribute to Vulcan XH558 in its final display season.

Vulcan pilot Martin Withers said: “I’m proud to receive this on behalf of the whole team. What’s happened with the Vulcan over the years has been a tremendous experience, and we really appreciate this recognition of the effort that’s gone into it. We’re delighted to receive this for XH558’s last display at RIAT, and we will treasure it.”

The Best Livery award, for the aircraft with the best special paint scheme, went to the Hellenic Air Force Zeus Demo Team. Andy Armstrong presented the award to demo pilot Maj Sotiris Stralis who said: “It has been a pleasure for the Hellenic Air Force display team ‘Zeus’ to participate for the first time at RIAT 2015, and a true honour to be awarded the best painted aircraft trophy. See you next year!”

Finally, the top award, the King Hussein Memorial Sword – presented in memory of the late HM King Hussein of Jordan, Patron of the International Air Tattoo (1983-1989) for the Best Overall Flying Demonstration – went to the Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary Flypast, led by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The sword was presented by Commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force, Major General Mansour Al Jobour.

The flypast involved private owners as well as pilots from the military, and they were all recognized. Brian Smith of the Old Flying Machine Company was flying one of the oldest Spitfires in the flypast – MH434. He said: “It is the first time, that civilian and military warbirds were meshed together to perform, and everybody pulled together to produce a magnificent spectacle.”

www.airtattoo.com