The 3rd May 2009 marked the 10th Abingdon Air and Country Show held at Dalton Barracks. Michael Buckle reports for Fighter Control from the fantastic event and an exclusive photo shoot with 2009 Hawk Display Team.

The Abingdon show is commonly known in the aviation community to be a great start to the air show season. But it isn’t just an air show, the Abingdon event caters for everyone, from small children to RAF veterans; with a variety of stalls, ground acts and aircraft. Neil Porter and his team never fail to put on a great show for the crowd and with an estimated 10,000 people in attendance, they certainly didn’t disappoint this year.

The day started with a very special and a somewhat rare visitor on the display circuit, a RAF C-17A from near by RAF Brize Norton. Due to its parking location, it wasn’t possible for the Globemaster to arrive during the show, but it did carry out a spectacular ‘run and break’ for the crowds waiting in the car park upon arrival. The aircraft quickly parked up using its reverse thrust and opened up the cargo hold for the public to come and take a look inside.

Sadly due to operational commitments it wasn’t possible for an Abingdon regular, a USAF UH-60 from SHAPE, to make an appearance at the show. However the organisers do hope that the aircraft will be available to attend the show next year.

Despite that small set back, the static park wasn’t short of aircraft. 78 Sqn brought along their latest Merlin HC3A helicopter, which was only delivered in July 2008, and of course the Fighter Control sponsored Hawk Display Team were present with two Hawk T.1 aircraft in this years fantastic scheme.

Before the show Abingdon’s skies are filled with civilian and vintage aircraft arriving for the fly-in; a brightly coloured Piper Cub, DH.82 Tiger Moth and Auster 6A and plenty more all touched down at the field and parked for the public to see.

There was also a very important visitor that stopped by before the air display started – The Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance, in which the show raises funds for each year. Last year the show managed to raise £5,000 for the air ambulance and hopefully a lot more this year with the record breaking crowds they experienced.

As well as a fly-in, Abingdon hosts a brilliant air display and it was very difficult to choose a favourite act from this year. The show was kicked off by a Andrew Dixon his Percival Pembroke C1 which currently based at Bournemouth. Andrew and ‘Percy’ are no strangers to the Abingdon show or the Airshow circuit for that matter, but they always put out a great display for the crowds. Percy is one of two remaining airworthy Pembroke’s on the British register and still remains in its colours from 60 Sqn.

Next up was another Abingdon regular, Neil McCarthy in the syndicate owned Jet Provost from Newcastle Jet Provost Group. However, this wasn’t like any past airshow for Neil and the JP, this year they made their flying display debut and a very impressive flying display it was - Neil certainly knew where to put the aircraft for a good photograph.

As well as the regulars, there was a first for the Abingdon show; a flight of Cassutt IIIM Racer’s – “The Dukes of Cassutt”, a formation display team who are now in their forth display season, flying three of these relatively rare aircraft. The team arrived during the fly-in and parked up in full view of the crowd, showing off their silver, yellow and black colour scheme. Like most teams they took off in formation and filled the display with breaks and crossovers. However I cannot help but feel the display lacked thrill due to its remoteness from the crowd with such small aircraft.

Next up was Flt Lt Bill Ramsey who is the 2009 RAF Tutor display pilot; the tutor is familiar aircraft to many and is used for training air cadets and UAS students which often go on to become pilots in the RAF. Sadly such a small aircraft also gets a little lost, even at smaller shows such as Abingdon, but does have the ability to keep very close to the crowd unlike some fast jet displays which compensates for the size.

Fighter Control were due to sponsor the RAF Tucano display at the show, but sadly the display pilot Flt Lt Mike Rutland had an unfortunate incident whilst practicing the display routine, resulting in the display being removed from the 2009 airshow circuit. It was hoped that the display aircraft would make it to the show as a static piece, but it wasn’t possible.

All was not lost for the Abingdon organisers, Fighter Control were more than happy to step up the sponsorship and sponsor the 2009 Hawk Display Team. Despite the cloudy conditions and low base cloud Fl Lt Matt Barker put the Hawk through its paces, with some high G manoeuvres and topside passes showing the beautiful ‘metal rip’ scheme that’s on this year’s aircraft for the RAF Royal Benevolent Fund.

Nigel Wilson brought his very colourful Yak-52 to the show, displaying the aircraft perfectly with very tight banks and low passes. Nigel’s flying log book is filled with aircraft, including Spitfires, Bulldogs and Tiger Moths but he’s now very happy flying acrobatics in the Yak which is based at Earls Colne, Essex and is wearing Russian Air Force markings.

Following Nigel was Rob Davis in “The Big Beautiful Doll” his P-51D Mustang and you certainly cannot beat the sound of its Rolls Royce Merlin engine roaring past the crowd. The Mustang has recently been involved in the production of the film Red Tails – an Action Drama telling the story of the Tuskegee Airmen from the 332nd Fighter Group during World War II. The aircraft was painted for the filming, however has since been re-painted into its former scheme by Nigel.

Sadly, there wasn’t a Hunter from the Delta Jet’s team present this year, however they did kindly loan the show a DC Starter so it was possible for the Vampire Preservation Group to attend with WZ507. The clouds parted allowing the VPG’s Chief Pilot Matt Hampton to put on a show stopping display. Matt kept it low during take-off and proudly tipped the aircraft on its side allowing the photographers to get that perfect “topside” picture – making it in my opinion one of the best displays of the show.

Another veteran displayed in front of the rare blue skies that we were suddenly blessed with; A C-47 Sky Train flown by John Dodd ‘wowed’ the crowds with his great display of such an elegant aircraft. The Sky Train marked “Drag Em Oot” is currently residing at East Kirby before it is flown to Normandy, France in June, so it was a great opportunity to catch the aircraft before it moves on.

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment's Parachute display team - "The Tigers" were in attendance utilising the RAF’s Chinook helicopter that was at the show to display. The helicopter took the team up to 7,000ft where the wind was tested using a ribbon to insure it was safe to jump by predicting the winds direction and speed. Once the ribbon fell, the team were ready to display, they jumped in singletons and formated in the skies before separating for landing directly on target which was rewarded with a huge round of applause from the crowd.

The Abingdon organisers were very successful in attaining aircraft that are currently heavily involved in operations overseas. Not only was a C-17 in attendance, there was also a Chinook helicopter display. First, the Chinook took to the air as the jump aircraft for The Tigers, before landing in front of the crowd to drop off the remaining jump crew in a storm of grass generated from its own rotor wash.

The Chinook then took off into it’s display routine which is always a crowd pleaser and it defiantly didn’t disappoint at Abingdon; performing the 270° Quick Stop, Peddle Turn and ‘See-Saw’ manoeuvres which demonstrate the real versatility of the aircraft, which is such a vital asset in the Middle East at the moment.

The show was then coming to a close, but not before the C-17A departed back home to RAF Brize Norton; many members of the crowd remained after the display to see the mighty Globemaster take the skies, and what a take-off it was! – The aircraft was airborne in no time but the pilot kept it low before taking a hard right bank away from the crowds. But that wasn’t all, the C-17 entered Abingdon’s circuit for a “Run and Break” just like he did upon arrival - the pilot flew the aircraft down the runway centreline and made a left break towards the crowd before departing home.

As Fighter Control were the proud sponsors of the Hawk Display for this years show, the FC team were given the opportunity to meet the 2009 display pilot Flt Lt Matt Barker and team manager Tom Saunders the following day.

Matt, who is in his first year as the Hawk display pilot is currently at the Central Flying School, RAF Valley teaching pilots to instruct on the Hawk and recently was approved his PDA (Public Display Authority) making him able to carry out the routine this year. We were also given an exclusive photo shoot with the team on the Monday, providing us with great photo opportunities.

The author would like to thank Neil Porter, Mark Rouse, Matt Barker and Tom Saunders for their help and hospitality over the weekend.

Author & Photography: Michael Buckle with additonal photography by Mark Rouse and Lee Hathaway.