Tag: April

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.

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. 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.

Museum Recreates Aviation Pioneers Office From Single Photo

office RAFmuseum

British aviation pioneer Claude Grahame-White’s office room now open for public viewing…

The Museum is delighted to announce that from this week, Claude Grahame-White’s office on the first floor of the Grahame-White Watchtower will be open to the public as part of the general exhibition.

Quite remarkably Claude Grahame-White’s sumptuous first floor office has been faithfully recreated through careful analysis of a single black and white photograph dating from 1915 – the only known photograph to survive. The colour scheme was noted from a painting.

Great care and attention was taken to source materials from across the world and ensure that the details of the original office were replicated, which ensures the time capsule feel when entering the room.

The office has a style and period charm which Museum visitors will now be able to enjoy at their leisure and copies of historic documents have been re-produced with the intention that these can be handled.

John Waxman: Assistant Director, RAF Museum “It’s wonderful to be opening up this room to our visitors and we have no doubt that it will appeal to a wide audience. The room is a replica of the office where Claude Grahame-White developed his plans for British Aviation which in turn impacted the world. I’m sure it’s charm will resonate with those who visit.”

www.rafmuseum.org

Get On Board For RAF Cosford Air Show

RAF Cosford

Organisers of the 2015 RAF Cosford Air Show announced today that a combined rail travel and Air Show ticket is now available from all manned UK rail stations. If purchased with rail travel to Cosford, admission is discounted to £18.00 per adult, a saving of £4.00 on the standard price. Accompanied under 16s have free entry to the show.

Air Show Commercial Manager Marilyn Summers said, “With the train station right on the doorstep for access to the showground and extra services being put on for the day, we would encourage visitors to take the train if they have the option and just sit back and enjoy the ride to what promises to be a fantastic day out with the bonus of a discounted entrance ticket.”

The RAF Cosford Air Show is the largest aviation event in the Midlands with an exhilarating six hours of aerial displays. It’s a fantastic day out for the whole family with a huge variety of attractions on the ground including this year, for the 70th anniversary of VE Day, the Victory Village, an all-day street party transporting visitors back to 1945. There will also be plenty of opportunities to get hands on with engineering experiments and a great mix of shopping opportunities.

Tickets for the RAF Cosford Air Show 2015 are on sale now, priced at £22 and with free entry for accompanied under-16s. Visit www.cosfordairshow.co.uk to purchase online orfor details of retail outlets selling tickets.

Classic Jet Icons For Anniversary Air Day

Yeovilton Air Day Sea Vixen

From the mighty Avro Vulcan to the feisty MiG-15, classic jet aircraft will be out in force at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton International Air Day on Saturday 11 July. Several will help mark the show’s key theme celebrating RNAS Yeovilton’s 75th anniversary, none more so than the world’s only flying Sea Vixen, based here since September 2014. The former fleet defence fighter in its 899 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) markings will surely take many visitors back to when the Sea Vixen’s unmistakable shape speared regularly through the Somerset skies.

Canberras and Hunters also became a familiar sight over the county and there will be an example of each performing a joint flying display at Air Day. Designed as a bomber, the Canberra became latterly a photo reconnaissance platform and this example is, like the Sea Vixen, globally-unique. In their very smart silver colour scheme, both jets represent British post-war aviation technology at its classiest.

Representing RNAS Yeovilton’s thunderous ‘70s era – the muscular and potent F-4K Phantom FG1 in its newly-applied 892 NAS markings will be on static display. Two examples of the legendary Sea Harrier FA2 will also be on the ground representing the Air Station’s last frontline fixed wing squadrons.

One of the star attractions will be a MiG-15, belonging to the Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron, making a rare appearance in the flying display. The Cold War classic jet fighter will be the first of its kind to display in this country since the late-1990s. The MiG-15 is well known for its role in the Korean War and engaging Royal Navy Sea Furies where remarkably on one such occasion the piston-engined aircraft gained superiority over the jet.

Finally, in what truly might be its swansong season, Avro Vulcan XH558 is returning to give yet another hugely powerful account of itself. The much loved and strongly supported V-Bomber, named ‘Spirit of Great Britain’, will perform a ground shaking flying display and be present on the ground for guided ‘under-wing’ tours, perhaps for the last time ever at Yeovilton.

Advance tickets priced at £20 (adults) and £6 (children 5-15 yrs) are available to order from www.royalnavy.mod.uk/yeovilton-airday.

Air Tattoo Welcomes Delta Force

RIAT Delta Force

This summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo will feature one of the most spectacular fast jet displays on the European circuit.

The French Air Force’s Ramex Delta team of two Dassault Mirage 2000N strike aircraft is set to provide a dramatic and noisy role demonstration at the Air Tattoo, which takes place at RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds, on July 17-19.

The Mirage 2000N is the nuclear strike variant of the type and visitors to the airshow will be able to see this outstanding combat aircraft perform various tactical manoeuvres along the lines of those used in combat.
Last demonstrated in a solo display at the Air Tattoo in 2006, the delta-winged Mirage 2000 entered French Air Force service in fighter form during 1982. It remains a highly manoeuvrable and effective combat aircraft, and has seen extensive operational use in its different variants, not least over Iraq, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Libya.

Air Tattoo Chief Executive Andy Armstrong said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome new display acts to the show. I know many visitors to RIAT 2015 will be looking forward immensely to seeing Ramex Delta in action.”
Also confirmed for this summer’s Air Tattoo is a mass flypast of historic aircraft to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a display by the world’s only airworthy Vulcan bomber and, of course, the legendary Red Arrows.

Other aircraft confirmed for the flying display include the UK debut of Team Zeus from the Hellenic Air Force, a Czech Air Force SAAB JAS-39C Gripen and a Royal Netherlands Air Force Apache helicopter.

On the Showground, attractions include theme areas such as the Adrenalin Zone, ideal for thrill-seekers of all ages; the Techno Zone, which brings engineering to life with demonstrations and hands-on activities designed to engage young minds; the evocative Vintage Village andnew for 2015, theAutodromefeaturing a wide range of rare and exciting cars and motorbikes.

The Air Tattoo is staged annually in support of the RAF Charitable Trust. Tickets for the event on July 17-19 are only available in advance. Special Earlybird tickets priced from £31 are available until May 31 from www.airtattoo.com or by calling 0800 107 1940. All accompanied under-16s go free. Free parking.

Plans For SAR Celebration At Cosford

RAF Cosford SAR

Organisers of the RAF Cosford Air Show today confirmed more aircraft that will be appearing on Sunday 14th June, as part of the Search and Rescue theme.

In the air, visitors to the show will be treated to a search and rescue role demonstration from the iconic RAF Sea King HAR3. The appearance of the yellow helicopter, which has been in service for over three decades, will likely be one of the type’s final public appearances with the Sea King retiring from Royal Air Force service later this year. Showcasing the history of air-sea rescue, a historic American sea-plane will also be taking part in the flying display, a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina. The Catalina was used by both the US Navy and Royal Air Force during the Second World War, landing on water to rescue downed Allied airmen.

Air Show spokesperson Peter Reoch said, “The appearance of the Sea King & Catalina both strengthen the flying display line-up, adding to the colourful and eclectic mix of aircraft already confirmed for the show.” With these aircraft additions, organisers are again reminding visitors that tickets to the show must be purchased in advance. The advance tickets only policy is hoped to further improve the traffic flow into the event, which last year attracted 55,000 visitors.

On the ground, the ‘SAR Zone’ will contain numerous SAR related displays, including RAF Mountain Rescue Service and the West Midlands Fire Service Technical Rescue Unit, who specialise in Urban Search and Rescue. Aircraft already confirmed for static display within the area include a Griffin HAR2, Whirlwind HAR10 and the Midlands Air Ambulance.

For the first time, tickets for the RAF Cosford Air Show 2015 are advance sale only. Adult tickets are priced £22.00 with accompanied under-16s coming free! For more details on the event, hospitality packages and to purchase tickets, visit www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Bristol Sycamore Helicopter Goes To Bristol Aerospace Centre

Bristol Sycamore

The RAF Museum is pleased to announce the transfer of Bristol Sycamore HR.14 XL824 to the Bristol Aerospace Centre

The Bristol Sycamore was the first British-designed helicopter to serve with the Royal Air Force. Produced by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, it was employed on search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare duties.

The Sycamore entered service with 275 Squadron of the RAF in April 1953, and went on to serve with nine squadrons in total. It was used during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) for deploying Army foot patrols into the jungle. The type was used by the Royal Air Force Central Flying School for pilot training.

This particular example served with No. 284 Squadron in Cyprus during the late 1950’s before returning to the UK in the mid 1960’s. Following a brief stint at the Central Flying School, it was allocated to the RAF Museum in the late 1960’s. It was then loaned out to Manchester Air & Space Museum for public display between 1982 and 2008. Since then it has been in RAFM storage facility at MoD Stafford.

Ian Thirsk, Head of Collections RAF Museum: “We are very happy for the team at the Bristol Aerospace Centre and cannot think of a more appropriate recipient for the Sycamore. As a new organisation celebrating the UK’s rich aviation heritage we would also like to wish them the best of luck and look forward to working together in the future.”

Lloyd Burnell, Project Director at Bristol Aero Collection Trust, said “We are delighted that the RAF Museum has elected to gift its Bristol Sycamore HR.14 to the Bristol Aerospace Centre, which will provide a fitting home for the helicopter as part of our extensive collection of Bristol aerospace products.The Bristol Aerospace Centre is a new £16 million industrial museum and learning centre at Filton, one of the birthplaces of the UK industry, and is due to open in Spring 2017. We already have significant financial backing from corporate and other partners and were recently awarded a £4.7 million grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund. We look forward to continuing to build upon our strong relationships with the RAF Museum as we deliver the project”

www.rafmuseum.org

Vulcan to Headline Airbourne Super Saturday

Airbourne fans have a Super Saturday in store at this year’s air show in Eastbourne, as organisers announced this week that the Vulcan bomber will be topping the bill that day, in a 12 hour extravaganza of flying, ground displays, live music, twilight pyro-aerobatics and fireworks.

The free four day event which runs from 13 – 16 August will also feature the world famous RAF Red Arrows on Saturday, along with displays throughout the afternoon from the Eurofighter Typhoon, Tutor, a new Hawk T2 duo display and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which features a four-ship formation from the Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota.

Featuring live music and entertainment on the Airbourne Live beach stage throughout the day, the festival fever continues into the evening with live bands, a twilight aircraft pyrotechnic display and finishes with a fantastic fireworks display across the seafront at 10pm.

Eastbourne Borough Council Senior Head of Tourism & Enterprise, Philip Evans said “We’re really upping the festival factor this year, bringing the Airbourne atmosphere into the evening. It’s not only great for air show and music fans but it’s great for our local economy too, encouraging more people to stay longer and dine into the evening, while experiencing Eastbourne’s seafront at its most vibrant.”

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 flying display is part funded from public donations each year at Airbourne, thanks to local resident David Dickens and collections organised by Marco and Cathy Giorgi along with the Rotary Clubs of Sovereign Harbour and Hailsham, with 30% of the proceeds also passed onto local charities.

The Airbourne Live stage on the beach 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. The RAF Red Arrows are confirmed to display over three days, with more flying displays to be announced over the coming weeks. All flying is subject to RAF operational commitments, weather and serviceability.

The flying display is part funded from public donations each year at Airbourne, thanks to contributions by Sussex residents David Dickens and Brian Bunce and the collections organised by Marco and Cathy Giorgi and the Rotary Clubs of Sovereign Harbour and Hailsham, with 30% of the proceeds also passed onto local charities.

To beat the crowds, there are exclusive seating areas available at the Bandstand and exclusive hospitality available on the Western Lawns with tickets on sale now.

For more information or to book online visit www.eastbourneairshow.com.