RAF Cosford Air Show – Page 7

Big Changes Planned For 2015 Air Show

RAF Cosford Air Show

At today’s RAF Cosford Air Show Media Launch, the event organisers announced a number of major changes to the show which will be held on Sunday 14th June 2015.

A major change for this year is the move to become an advance ticket only event, which Air Show Director Clive Elliott explained; “In order to speed up entry and shorten queues there will be no tickets available on the gate this year. The change puts us in line with many other large public events and means we know how many visitors are coming and can deal with traffic and parking more effectively.” Tickets for the show are already on sale, both online and from various outlets across the West Midlands.

With the show increasing in popularity each year, the car parking areas have been reviewed for 2015, with the introduction of off-base parking. These new car parking arrangements combined with enhanced traffic routes around the airfield mean that organisers are expecting minimal disruption to visitors.

With access to the show being such a key issue, the organisers have again teamed up with Arriva Trains Wales, London Midland, and for the first time Virgin Trains, to bring an increased rail service on Sunday 14th June. Combined rail & air show tickets are available from all manned UK railway stations, with air show admission discounted to £18.00 for those travelling by rail.

Inside the showground, regulars to the show will notice an increased number of static aircraft on display, as well as subtle changes to the site layout. Peter Reoch, part of the Air Show Operations Team said, “We are working hard to get a really eclectic mix of aircraft into RAF Cosford for the show this year. We’re expanding our award winning ground displays to give visitors the chance to interact with a variety of modern and historic aircraft.”

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

Red Arrows Return To RAF Cosford

Red Arrows - Cosford Airshow - Crown Copyright

Organisers of the RAF Cosford Air Show today confirmed that the world famous Red Arrows would again be headlining the show on Sunday 14th June 2015.

Acknowledged as one of the best aerobatic display teams in the world, the Red Arrows have recently revealed a new paint scheme for their Hawk aircraft this year, showcasing them as the ‘Best of British’. The team’s display mixes graceful nine-ship formations with thrilling synchro manoeuvres, all of which involve their patriotic red, white & blue smoke.

Air show spokesperson Peter Reoch said: “The Red Arrows inspire and entertain millions of people annually and we are extremely pleased to see them returning to RAF Cosford. The flying display for this year’s show is filling up fast, with a carefully selected mix of exciting military aircraft, historic warbirds and entertaining civilian acts.”

With the news of the Red Arrows attendance, organisers are again reminding visitors of the new advance ticket only policy, which means unlike previous showstickets will not be sold at the gate. Adult tickets, priced at £22, are already on sale online and will be available from selected outlets from April.

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 and to purchase tickets, visit www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Air Show Debut For Life Saving Helicopter

Cosford Air Ambulance

Visitors to the RAF Cosford Air Show will have the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s newest Eurocopter EC135 helicopter, which was today confirmed for static display on Sunday 14th June.

The iconic red helicopter, which is one of three used by the charity, is taking part in the Midland’s largest aviation event for the first time in 2015, as part of the show’s Search and Rescue theme. The aircraft, registration ‘G-OMAA’ is the first to be wholly owned by the charity and is one of the newest air ambulance helicopters in the UK, with the ability to carry a paramedic and flight doctor plus full life-support medical equipment at a top speed of 155 knots.

Air Show Spokesperson Peter Reoch said, “The Air Ambulance EC135 will be part of our unique ‘SAR Zone’ at the show, which will showcase the work of the Emergency Services alongside an array of Search and Rescue aircraft types. Our award winning ground displays are a highlight for many visitors, which make the RAF Cosford Air Show a great day out for all the family.”

Since 1991, the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has responded to more than 42,000 missions, making it one of the longest established and busiest air ambulance organisations in the UK. Midlands Air Ambulance Charity Air Operations Manager, Becky Tinsley said, “We are extremely proud to be part of the RAF Cosford Air Show. The aircrew will be on hand to give the public a tour of our brand new helicopter, which was purchased purely through the generous donations from the communities we serve. As we have extended our daily operating time into the hours of darkness, it will also give the public an insight into how we fly during darkness.”

To ensure there is no disruption to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s life saving service while the helicopter attends the show, the charity’s aviation partner, Bond Air Services is providing another aircraft to support the charity’s emergency operations.

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 and to purchase tickets, visit www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Swiss To Star At RAF Cosford

Swiss Hornet at Cosford

The organisers of the RAF Cosford Air Show today announced details of the first international participant for this year’s show. Visitors on Sunday 14th June will be treated to a stunning display of noise, power and agility from an F/A-18C Hornet provided by the Swiss Air Force.

The Hornet was designed as a naval fighter with reinforced undercarriage, folding wings and tail-hook, however it is used by many land based air arms across the globe. Air Show spokesperson Peter Reoch said, “The Swiss Hornet Display is likely to be one of the stars of the flying display, and another great attraction for both new and returning visitors to RAF Cosford.This is the first time a Hornet has featured in the flying display at RAF Cosford and will hopefully be the first of many international participants at this year’s event.”

Visitors to the show will be witnessing one of the world’s most capable fast-jet aircraft with the F/A-18C Hornet having a top speed of nearly twice the speed of sound and the ability to climb at 50,000ft per minute.The Swiss Air Force operate a fleet of 32 Hornets, which are used for air defence duties, armed with a 20mm Cannon and Sidewinder missiles.

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 and to purchase tickets, visit www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Belgian Display Approved And Ready To Go

The organisers of RAF Cosford Air show have confirmed that the Belgian Red Devils display team have this afternoon got the stamp of approval from the show’s Flying Control Committee. The Red Devils fly four SF.260M training aircraft and bring the number of display teams at this years’ show to four.

The aircraft have an exciting red paint scheme featuring the Belgian flag on the aircraft underside and their tight aerobatic display is particularly well suited to Cosford. This will be one of only two UK performances by the team this year. Air Show spokesman Group Captain Mark Manwaring who is Chairman of the show’s Flying Control Committee said “This is a fantastic display with some very exciting manoeuvres. As this is their first UK display this season it fell to us to ensure it adheres to the strict rules applied to UK air display.”

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.

Tickets to the show are no longer available online or via the phone line, but can be purchased at the advance ticket price of £20 per adult from the RAF Museum in Cosford, the Midland Air Museum in Coventry, Tourist Information Centres across the Midlands, selected branches of Midcounties Co-operative and Arriva Trains Wales for combined travel and admission. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate at £25 per adult (subject to availability). There’s FREE car parking and FREE admission for all under-16s accompanied by an adult.

http://www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Carol Vorderman Returns To Cosford Air Show

Carol Vorderman at Cosford

For the second year running TV presenter Carol Vorderman will be visiting the RAF Cosford Air Show to help promote the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) exhibition which will be one of over 100 trade and exhibition attractions at the Show this year.

RAF Cosford is home to state-of the-art training schools for RAF Engineers and Technicians with a variety of specialities and many of them will have their own displays showcasing the skills and offering hands-on opportunities to visitors. Alongside this will be a dedicated area where other organisations such as local academic establishments, STEM Ambassadors and engineering companies will offer a wide variety of exhibits designed to capture the imaginations of young people thinking about future careers or qualifications.

Carol will spend some time in the area during the morning talking to the public and helping promote STEM to visitors. She says “I’m really pleased to be coming back to the RAF Cosford Air Show, it’s a great day out and I’m particularly looking forward to trying some of the interactive activities in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths exhibition”.

The action-packed flying display featuring many Air Show favourites such as the Red Arrows, Typhoon and Vulcan starts at midday. This year RAF Cosford welcomes the Belgian Red Devils Aerobatic Display Team to the Air Show for the first time. In addition two RAF transport aircraft, the Voyager and C17 will be making an appearance. The RAF Cosford Air Show provides a family day out for every age group. The showground, which opens at 8.30am, includes a funfair, an assortment of inflatable rides coupled with laser shooting and an assault course for the more active, whilst there is a huge opportunity for shopping in the traders’ village and craft fair. Finally, The RAF Museum exhibits provide a visual record of flight throughout the proud history of the Royal Air Force.

www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Cosford Air Show Traffic News

Air Show spokesman Amanda Butcher said “Last year’s record crowds saw considerable congestion and long tail backs in the surrounding area so we have worked hard with all the local agencies to come up with a number of changes which we expect to bring a much improved traffic flow and improvements to the car parking arrangements”

Major changes include the use of accredited personnel to direct traffic at the key junctions. This will enable organisers, in conjunction with the Highways Agency and the Police, to give priority to the busiest routes rather than relying on traffic lights and existing road priorities. The gate to the show from the A464 will also be open to the public longer which will reduce the pressure on the M54.

In addition, a professional car parking company, who are experienced with major events, will be working with RAF Cosford personnel to improve the car parking entry and exit systems and ensure that traffic flows within the car parks are managed and controlled.

Amanda Butcher went on to say “We will be able to get people on and off the site more quickly and also be able to respond to any build up of traffic on the local roads by changing the flow priority. As a result we are confident that we will see a significant improvement this year.”

With only a couple of weeks until the event, ticket sales are still at record levels and the organisers have again recommended the purchase of advance tickets, these are priced at £20 for adults with children under 16 coming free. Tickets are available through many Midcounties Co-operative stores as well as online and from the RAF Museum.

www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Belgian Devils Debut At Cosford

Red Devils

The organisers of the RAF Cosford Air Show have announced the first confirmed international participant for the flying display on Sunday 8th June. The Belgian Air Force ‘Red Devils’ will be making their debut appearance at the Show, performing with four SF.260M training aircraft and bringing the number of display teams to four.

The aircraft have an exciting red paint scheme featuring the Belgian flag on the aircraft underside and their tight aerobatic display is particularly well suited to Cosford. This will be one of only two UK performances by the team this year. The Belgian Air Force are strong supporters of the RAF Cosford Air Show, and in recent years have provided both flying and static aircraft for the event. Air Show Director Amanda Butcher said, “We are particularly pleased to welcome the Belgians back this year. We enjoy hosting international participants at RAF Cosford, and the Red Devils make an exciting addition to our already packed line-up.”

Other display teams confirmed for 2014 are The Red Arrows, the Blades and the Yakovlevs. Along with the aerial displays, there is plenty to see and do on the ground at the Air Show, including a craft fair, arena displays, military exhibitions and fairground rides. Displays confirmed so far for the Free Radio Arena include the RAF Massed Pipes and Drums, field gun displays, and drill demonstrations.

With less than four weeks till the event, and ticket sales at record levels, the organisers have again recommended the purchase of advance tickets, these are priced at £20 for adults with children under 16 coming free.

www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

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.”

– 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.

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.