May – Page 18 – Airscene News

Fantastic female pilots are the stars of Duxford’s Spring Air Show

Launching the 2011 air show season, ImperialWar Museum Duxford’s Spring Air Show, on Sunday 22 May, celebrates the integral role played by women in the development of aviation.From technological advancement to daring aerial aptitude, in military and civil aviation; aerial adventure and aerobatics; engineering and mechanical endeavour, the achievements of women have informed air travel from its earliest incarnations to its contemporary technological advancement.

The Spring Air Show presents stunning aerial displays by a formidable line-up of superbly talented female aviators.

Anna Walker (flying a Supermarine Seafire and Bucker Jungmann aircraft) has been flying for over 30 years. At the age of 13, she started gliding and moved on to power-flying as a tug pilot. After undertaking formation and aerobatic training, Anna took part in aerobatic competitions, in her Bucker Jungmann, winning three out of every four competitions entered.

Anna now regularly displays at air shows, flying a Bucker Jungmann, a Beech Staggerwing and a Harvard IV. She is the first woman to fly a Hawker Hurricane since the female ferry pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary.

Angie Soper (flying a Yak 11) learnt to fly in 1983 at Biggin Hill, becoming a qualified flying instructor at Stapleford in 1987. Gaining a commercial flying licence, she flew Dart Heralds on night freight runs for British Air Ferries between 1989 and 1990. In the 1990s, she became joint owner of a Harvard and began display flying, before acquiring a Yak 11 in 1998. She also operates a Yak 50 and Yak 52, which are both based on her farm strip.

Diana Britten (flying a CAP 232) embarked on a career in competition aerobatics with only 60 hours flying to her credit. From 1981 to 1986, Diana progressed through the levels from Standard to Unlimited, making her World Aerobatic Championship debut in 1986.

Diana has flown in six World Championships, five European Championships and became the British Aerobatic Champion in 1995, the first-ever non-commercial pilot, and the first woman, to take the title. She followed that with the title of British Freestyle Champion.

Carolyn Grace (flying the Grace Spitfire and a Stampe) is one of only two female Spitfire pilots in the world. She successfully completed her training in the Grace Spitfire in 1990, and hasn’t looked back since, gaining her Display Authorisation in 1991 and adding Aerobatic and Formation qualifications to that in the following years.

Carolyn has perfected a graceful aerobatic display that is immensely popular with air show crowds and Spitfire devotees alike. Judy Leden MBE (flying a hang glider with microlight tug pilot Shelley Smith) is a World Champion hang glider and para glider. Current holder of four world records, Judy has also successfully
completed a long list of daredevil stunts, including flying across the English Channel in a hang glider in 1989, after being released from a hot air balloon 12,000 feet up; and jumping off the edge of Cotopaxi, which at nearly 20,000 feet, is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes.

Competitive successes include winning the Women’s World Hang Gliding Championships in 1987 and again in 1991. She has been British Women’s Champion six times and in 1995, she won the Women’s Para Gliding Championship.

Judy broke the tandem altitude record for hang glider balloon drops in 1998 and also recently broke the Tandem World Aerotowing Altitude Record, with TV presenter Matt Baker. They were towed aloft by a microlight, reaching 11,020 feet. Judy was awarded the MBE in 1989 for services to hang gliding.

Tricia Neville (displaying the Thruxton Jackaroo G-ANTZ) comes from an RAF family. She began by flying gliders at Booker and in 1990 she learnt to fly on Tiger Moths at Cambridge, where she completed her Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL). In 2002, Tricia gained her Display Authorisation.

Although Tricia never originally thought that she would learn to fly herself, she had been an active part of the ground crew for the Barnstormers Flying Circus for over a decade. She has now become an active flying member of Captain Neville’s Flying Circus and takes part in the majority of routines, organising the boys en route.

At the Spring Air Show, Tricia will be leading three aircraft in one of the Flying Circus’ most popular extravaganza displays.

Leah Hammond (flying the Auster) started flying at the age of 16. Once qualified, she did a tailwheel conversion on the Auster, before going on to fly a 450hp Stearman and then flew some 90 hours on the Harvard. At the Spring Air Show, she will be displaying the Auster, which she has been displaying since 2009.

Clare Tector (flying the Chilton monoplane) has been flying since 1999, having initially caught the flying bug as an air cadet in the early 1990s. She achieved her PPL just in time to celebrate the Centenary of Powered Flight in late 2003. Since this time, Clare has taken part in basic aerobatic competition and, in the last few years, has displayed various aircraft in shows at Old Warden.

In 2010, she was a recipient of the Fiona McKay Flying Bursary through the de Havilland Educational Trust, giving her a chance to learn how to fly the Tiger Moth. Earlier this year, she was invited to become an Apprentice Display Pilot with the Shuttleworth Collection.

Royal Air Force 208 Squadron will be displaying the BAE Systems Hawk, flown by Flight Lieutenant Juliette Fleming.

The flying programme wouldn’t be complete without a display by Jeanne Frazer, IWM Duxford’s Flying Display Director, who will be flying a Piper L4 Cub.

See some of the world’s premier female pilots perform breathtaking flying displays at the Spring Air Show, in a celebration of the women who have courageously led the way in aerial adventure.

Announcing the IWM Duxford Air Show App 2011

Imperial War Museum Duxford is launching an innovative and exciting Smartphone application for the 2011 air show season. Available from mid -May 2011, the App will give real time, up-to-theminute information about what is flying at our air shows, as the aircraft display. Available for both Android and iPhone platforms, the App will also include an extensive library of photography, statistics and information about classic aircraft you can see flying in the air shows and where in the Duxford exhibitions you can find out more about them.

As a special introduction, the App will be FREE for a limited time at launch. It will be available for download prior to the Spring Air Show and on the day itself – IWM Duxford will be providing wifi access at the museum for live downloading.

This dynamic guide to the Spring Air Show, and our other air shows throughout 2011, is a first for Duxford and demonstrates the Imperial War Museum’s commitment to innovation in new technologies. It aims to be the most innovative air show app around.

For further information go to www.iwm.org.uk/duxfordairshows

Air Tattoo Aircraft in D-Day Tribute

This summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford will feature a tribute to a Wiltshire-based aircraft that was involved in preparations for the historic Pegasus Bridge landings on D-Day during World War Two.

Among the hundreds of aircraft taking part in the Air Tattoo, on July 16-17, will be a Dakota from the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, painted in D-Day invasion stripes and with the markings carried by No233 Squadron Dakota FZ692. This aircraft was delivered to No233 squadron at RAF Blakehill Farm, Wiltshire in March 1944, and on the night of June 5 1944, 30 Dakotas from the squadron took gliders and parachutists from the 3rd Parachute Brigade to Normandy, returning later in the day to drop supplies.

Nurses stationed at Blakehill Farm who looked after wounded soldiers on evacuation flights became the first female RAF aircrew to fly into the combat zone. A Dakota from No233 Sqn became the first aircraft to land at a British-controlled airstrip in France after the invasion, on June 13. The squadron went on to provide aircraft towing gliders that carried troops from the 1st Airborne Division to Arnhem for Operation Market Garden, the attempt to capture key bridges across the Rhine in September 1944.

This summer’s Air Tattoo will be marking its 40th anniversary and hosting a gathering of specially-decorated ‘Tiger’ aircraft from the NATO Tiger Association. ‘Tiger’ aircraft come from NATO squadrons that have a Tiger or Big Cat in their emblem and their association marks its 50th anniversary in 2011. The ‘operational’ spotlight STAR 11 will focus on aircraft and equipment involved in the roles of Strike and Reconnaissance.

Tickets are available by visiting www.airtattoo.com or calling 0800 107 1940. All tickets must be purchased in advance. All accompanied under-16s go free.

Armed Forces Day for all 3 Services

Saturday 26th June 2010

10.30am – 3pm

All guests must pre-register

Come and celebrate the Museum’s annual joint service Armed Forces Day on 26th June.

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is inviting Veterans, young and old, from all three services to join as one to celebrate the Museum’s Armed Forces’ Day on Saturday 26th June. During this special reunion, hosted by Museum staff, all Veterans will be treated to a full day’s programme of events and activities including a talk entitled ‘An Event on 30th August 1940′, plus special film screenings. Both depict the Battle of Britain, marking this years 70th Anniversary.

Veterans will be treated to tours around the Museum’s Conservation Centre. Here, Veterans and their guests will be able to view work on current restoration projects, such as the Handley Page Hampden, in an area not normally open to the public.

In addition to these activities the Museum will be holding a raffle on the day enabling Veterans to win tickets to some of the top local attractions, specially commissioned items and much much more.

Attendance at this event is by pre-registration only; with all pre-registered Veterans and their guests receiving a FREE drink on arrival. There will be a special lunch available at a discounted rate for guests to enjoy together in a designated area surrounded by aircraft. There will also be a chance to speak to some of the exhibitors including the Aerospace Museum Society, Robert Harrop figurines and Tony Bramham military drawings.

All-in-all this promises to be an exciting day that will enable Veterans to meet up with old friends, reminisce over shared experiences, and enjoy themselves in the authentic atmosphere and setting of the Royal Air Force Museum. With former Service Men and Women joining in from across Shropshire and the West Midlands, Armed Forces’ Day is set to be a truly memorable and sentimental gathering for Veterans and their guests to enjoy.

To make your reservation please call 01902 376 252 or send an email to the Museum at cosfordarmedforcesday@rafmuseum.org, stating your name, telephone number, service you were in and the name of your guest.

Entry to the Museum is free of charge. The Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm). For further details about Armed Forces’ Day please visit www.rafmuseum.org.

F16 Leads Dynamic Airshow Programme

The Belgian F16 is leading a packed line up for Airbourne 2010 as the international aircraft is the latest to be confirmed to appear at this year’s Eastbourne Airshow.

Airbourne is getting set to welcome a packed display of fast planes in 2010 as the Blades Aerobatic Formation team are also confirmed to be flying at the event this summer joining a programme that already includes the iconic Red Arrows.

Organisers of the world’s biggest free seafront airshow have just confirmed that the high performance international jet and Blades display team, famed for flying for the Beckhams, will dazzle visitors when Airbourne returns from 12-15 August.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure, Cllr Neil Stanley said “We are very excited to be welcoming the international F16 and highly skilled Blades display team for Airbourne 2010 and adding to what is already shaping up to be one of our best airshows yet. With the Eurofighter Typhoon already confirmed to fly in this year’s programme, the addition of the Belgian F16 makes Airbourne a truly international affair and I hope airshow enthusiasts have made a date in their diary for what promises to be a flying extravaganza!”

The F16 and Blades are the latest displays to join an action-packed programme that promises crowd favourites, the Red Arrows, as well as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight commemorating 70 years since the Battle, and the Breitling Wingwalkers set to dazzle with their gravity-defying stunts aboard the wings of their Boeing Stearman Biplanes.

The agile Eurofighter Typhoon will impress visitors with its display over Eastbourne seafront this summer, with the RAF Tucano, Hawk and Tutor also set to display.

It’s not just the skies that will be filled this August either. Airbourne promises just as much action on the ground, with entertaining arena displays including the Essex Dog Display Team, evening concerts at Eastbourne Bandstand, an interactive RAF Village with replica aircraft, plus the return of the Friday evening Come Fly With Me display.

For more information on Airbourne 2010 or to find out how to upgrade the airshow experience with a day out in the Aviator Club hospitality marquee, visit www.eastbourneairshow.com or telephone 0871 663 0031.

The Battle of Britain Beacon

At a fundraising dinner last night, The Royal Air Force Museum announced its vision for the future.

As part of its modernisation and development plan the Royal Air Force Museum has undertaken the initial planning for a new Battle of Britain Exhibition building at its London site.

The provision of suitable funding, and the agreement with interested parties and authorities with whom the Museum is consulting widely, will dictate when the Trustees of the Museum will take the final decision to proceed with construction.

It is very fitting that in the year of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain the Royal Air Force Museum, as part of its modernisation and development plan, has undertaken the initial planning for a new Battle of Britain exhibition building at its Hendon site in London. Provisionally called the “Battle of Britain Beacon”, the plan looks towards the construction of a striking, landmark building which will do appropriate justice to this most defining event in the world’s history. The exciting concept will allow wider public access and ensure that the Museum’s unique collection of Battle of Britain aircraft, memorabilia and archives is preserved for the education and enjoyment of future generations. The building in its final form will include the latest audio/visual techniques to bring to life all aspects of the Battle, from the work of the groundcrews, whose tireless endeavours kept the aircraft in the air, through the life of the civilian population, to the gallant efforts of those who fought in the skies above Great Britain.

The new exhibition building will complement the successful modernisation already achieved at Hendon with the refurbishment of the Graham White Hangar, the imminent refurbishment of the former airfield watchtower and the opening of Milestones of Flight exhibition building. It will also allow the current somewhat restricted Battle of Britain Hall on the site to be used to display more of the Museum’s aircraft and archive collection. The Museum’s Cosford site has also seen the opening of the impressive National Cold War exhibition building opened in 2007 which has ensured the preservation of many of the important Cold War aircraft which we under threat

Currently the Museum is consulting widely about the ‘Battle of Britain Beacon project.’ The Museum hopes to complete the project within the lifetime of the surviving Veterans of the Battle.

http://www.battleofbritainbeacon.org/

Museum Launches National Photography Competition.

The Royal Air Force Museum has today launched a national photography competition as part of its calendar of activities to commemorate 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Accordingly, it is inviting members of the public to send via the Museum’s website , www.rafmuseum.org, their photographs of various Battle of Britain Events that will be taking place around the country this summer.

Paul Hudson, Head of Marketing, at the Royal Air Force Museum states:

‘ During the course of summer 2010 all organizations who are part of the Royal Air Force Family, will be holding a range of events from air shows to historic weekends to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of those young pilots who fought so hard to protect our freedom and liberty during the summer of 1940.

The Museum would like members of the public who are attending such events to help us document this summer’s events by submitting their photographs via the Museum website so that we may create an electronic archive of this year’s commemorations for future generations.’

To participate in this competition, all that people have to do is to attend one of the 70th anniversary events listed on the Royal Air Force’s website, www.raf.mod.uk, and then send their best images online to the Museum. The competition is open to all UK residents and has two categories; one for best image taken by a child and one for best image taken by an adult. Prizes will be awarded for each winning photograph with each image being displayed at the Museum as part of the Museum’s annual RAF PR Photograph of the Year exhibition in January 2011.

For more information about the competition please visit www.rafmuseum.org or call 020 8205 2266. To view the Calendar of 70th anniversary Battle of Britain events please visit http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/battleofbritain70thanniversary.cfm

New Acquisition at RAF Museum

BRISTOL BRIGAND TF.1 RH746

1946 Built by the Bristol Aircraft Company at Filton to contract 4628, c/n 12634, as one of the first production batch of thirteen Bristol Type 164 Brigands, RH742 – RH754, equipped as TF.1 torpedo-fighters, which served at Development Units at Gosport and Thorney Island from May 1946, but never entered service with first-line Coastal Command Squadrons.

16 Mar 46 Awaiting collection from Filton.

5 Apr 46 Issued via Controller, Research and Development (CRD) to Bristol, Aircraft Co, Filton.

18 Jun 46 Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), Boscombe Down, Wilts. Photo – Air Enthusiast September/October 1999 p.29. See also RAFM P005275-6 and PC79/1/7-8.

Air Torpedo Development Unit (ATDU) Gosport, Hants -present 31 July 1947.

15 Oct 47 Bristol Aircraft Co for unspecified repair.

29 Apr 49 ATDU Gosport; still present 31 December 1949.

(Undated) Ministry of Supply – Controller of Supplies (Air) – CS (A)

(Date unknown-possibly 1956-58) Struck off Charge for scrap and delivered to the famous Clayton Vale, Failsworth (Droylesden, South Manchester) scrapyard of Unimetal Ltd, situated at a former mill.

Noted as being present at Failsworth in the 2nd Edition of ‘Wrecks and Relics’ (1963)

Part of a large collection of aircraft, including Meteor 7/8/9s, Provost T.1s, Vampire T.11s, three Supermarine Swifts, many Balliol T.2s, Neptune MR1s and Firefly AS.5/6s, acquired by the yard in the mid 1950s which remained dumped and decaying until the yard was cleared in May1981.

The Brigand lay for many years on its side with one wing lying on top of the gutted fuselage and the other nearby, corroded and covered in graffiti, with the cockpit area particularly battered and the engine nacelles also extant in the 1970s.

18 May 81 Fuselage by road to North East Aircraft Museum (NEAM), Usworth, Sunderland (along with Swift F.4 fuselage, a Balliol cockpit and Firefly fuselage), being on loan from the yard’s owner. Placed in store.

19 Apr 2001 Fuselage and a few smaller components including rudder and tailcone to Kemble Airfield, Glos for display with Bristol Aero Collection (BAC),Photo as displayed – Wrecks and Relics 18th Edition, 2002.

April 2010 Aircraft remains purchased by RAF Museum.

This is the only Brigand in the UK, albeit incomplete. The only other known partial survivor is one wreck recently reported in Malaya – the Malaysian jungle wreck is former 45 Squadron aircraft RH755 which crashed in January 1951. It comprises several large components, including a tail fin, undercarriage leg, propeller unit and complete engine. Some parts possibly recovered for Malaysian AF Museum.

www.rafmuseum.org

New Director General Appointed

The Royal Air Force Museum Trustees are pleased to announce that Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye OBE has been selected as the Director General, Royal Air Force Museum with effect from 9th June 2010.

Peter Dye is the current Director Collections and Deputy Director General. He has been Acting Director General since 1st February.

Prior to joining the Museum, Peter served in the Royal Air Force for over 35 years. With a degree in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College, he has more than 20 years experience of frontline operations, including the maintenance and support of numerous aircraft types ranging from the Victor and Vulcan to the Jaguar and Tornado. He was awarded the OBE for his achievements in support of the Jaguar Force during the Gulf War.

His grandfather and father both served in the Royal Air Force during the First and Second World Wars respectively, imbuing him with a deep affection for the Service and a passion for its people, achievements and traditions. This has been reflected in his writing on aviation history and, in 2004, his successful efforts to erect a memorial at St-Omer to those members of the British Air Services who had served in France and Belgium during the Great War. He is currently studying for a part-time PhD, at Birmingham University, on the Royal Flying Corps.

Air Vice-Marshal Dye says:

“Since joining the Museum I have been hugely impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication of its staff and their many impressive achievements in the face of considerable challenges. I am delighted to be able to lead the Museum as it builds on these successes and to have the opportunity to work with its many friends and supporters in creating an exciting and innovative future”

www.rafmuseum.org

Festival fund-raising

Wounded servicemen and women are set to gain a major boost from Southend Festival of the Air 2009.

An organisation called Help for Heroes – which supports those wounded while serving their country – has been chosen as the Festival’s official charity.

Badged official collectors will circulate among the seafront crowds at the Festival on Sunday 24th May and Monday 25th May.

There will also be a special stall selling memorabilia and promoting the work of Help for Heroes.

Help for Heroes was launched in October 2007 to help members of the Armed Forces injured in the course of serving their country.
It was borne out of an immense respect for the courage, humour and professionalism of the men and women of the Armed Forces who put their lives in danger, on a regular basis, on our behalf
Help for Heroes has raised, on average, over £1 million per month to help our wounded – a total of more than £12 million committed or designated
The majority of the money raised has been allocated for building much needed rehabilitation facilities.
Much of this money comes from fundraising events organised by people across the country
Help for Heroes supports other service charities, and aims to supplement the available facilities and care so those in rehabilitation get the very best facilities and treatment in order to recover from their injuries and rebuild their careers.
It benefits members of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF
More details are available from http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Enterprise, Tourism and Regeneration, Councillor John Lamb says: “We are very pleased that Help for Heroes is the official charity for Southend Festival of the Air 2009.”

At all our previous Airshows we have always had an immense amount of loyal help from members the of the armed services, both airborne and on the ground, so we are delighted to try to give a little bit back by helping a charity which supports their wounded colleagues.

“We hope that as many people as possible will dig deep into their pockets and give as much as they can to this very worthy cause.”

Check out the latest details of Southend Festival of the Air 2009 on www.southendairshow.com

Last Chance to Book for the Airbourne Ball

The first ever Airbourne Lift-Off Dinner takes place on 30 May and fans of the World’s biggest FREE seafront airshow are being encouraged to book quickly for the last remaining tickets.The Chatsworth Hotel will host a special Airbourne dinner evening on Saturday 30 May to celebrate the lead-up to the annual Eastbourne event, with proceeds to go towards the fighting fund to support Eastbourne Airshow.

With the final batch of tickets now available, airshow enthusiasts have only a couple of weeks to book their place at the packed evening, which will include an airshow-themed menu, Rat Pack entertainment from singer Tom Fitzpatrick, engaging guest speaker Group Captain Gordon Bruce and the opportunity to bid for exclusive RAF memorabilia in an after-dinner auction.

Director of Tourism for Eastbourne Borough Council, Norman Kinnish said “The Airbourne launch dinner is a great opportunity for airshow fans to really show their support for the 2009 event and enjoy an evening to remember. Guests can certainly look forward to an impressive evening and with tickets almost sold out; this really is the last chance to enjoy an exclusive dose of Airbourne action before the airshow in August.”

Organised by the Lions Hotel, owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar, is the first Eastbourne businessman to pledge his support for Airbourne, which returns to the town from 13-16 August this year.

Proceeds from the evening will be donated to Airbourne 2009 and contribute to the fighting fund to save the event’s future.

Tickets for the Airbourne lift-off dinner cost £40 per person and are available to book now, online from VisitEastbourne.com E-shop as well as from the Tourist Information Centre and Chatsworth Hotel. Guests can look forward to a scrumptious 5-course dinner, including themed courses such as ‘A fine display team’ for starters and ‘the final fly past’ for the finishing course of English and Continental Cheeses.

For more information on Airbourne visit www.eastbourneairshow.co.uk or telephone 0871 663 0031