On May 5, 2017, the Hellenic Air Force retired its final three RF-4E ‘Recce’ Phantom II aircraft during a ceremony at their home base of Larissa. The retirement brings to an end the use of the ‘Recce’ Phantom in Europe, as final RF-4E Phantom Squadron - 348 MTA – bows out after 64 years of continuous [...]
Found in the north-eastern corner of the Czech Republic near the border with Poland, the small city of Ostrava is the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region and, since its inception in 2001, been the setting for the annual NATO days show. Duncan Monk reports from Ostrava NATO days 2016. This show has grown from a [...]
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire has regularly seen United States Air Force (USAF) long-range bombers deployed to support ongoing multinational exercises in Europe, namely BALTOPS (Baltic Operations) and Saber Strike, over the last couple of years. Duncan Monk reports on the 2016 exercise and its participants. Touching down on RAF Fairford’s 3,046m long runway on June [...]
From its initial conception and drawings made in 1957 by Ralph Hooper, the P.1127/P.1154/Kestrel went on to become the well-known and much loved icon of British aviation - the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. The first production Harrier GR1 (XV738) was flown for the first time on December 28, 1967 by Hawker Test Pilot Duncan Simpson OBE [...]
The 31st of March 2016 heralded another sad day in the history of UK military aviation as the iconic dark green Westland Sea King HC4 Commando helicopters, affectionately known as 'Junglies', were retired from active service after nigh on 36 years of providing a heavy lift and troop carrying capability to the Royal Navy and [...]
A few miles from the small town of Pershore in Worcestershire near Birlingham lies a small private collection of vintage jet aircraft. Rescued from the scrap mans axe over 20 years ago by local produce farmer Graham Revill, the aircraft have sat outside and are gradually succumbing to rust and rot with one of the [...]
Moving from its traditional Bank Holiday to a week earlier really paid dividends for the Dawlish Airshow 2015 team, with a cracking line-up that included the Royal Air Force Typhoon and a last minute 'raise the eight for 558' campaign that saw the Avro Vulcan XH558 added just two days prior to show day thanks [...]
The Royal Navy’s premier airshow, the RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2015 in Somerset, opened its gates to nigh on 37,000 visitors on Saturday 11th July 2015. With over five hours of spectacular flying displays, pyrotechnics, ground displays and aircraft a plenty to admire, the Senior Service yet again pulled off another gem of a show. [...]
Now in its 7th year, the 2015 Throckmorton Air Show took place on Saturday 6th June. With the headline displays including Vulcan XH558 making its debut display of its final season, and the appearance of the newly restored Bristol Blenheim, a sell out crowd of 20,000 people descended on the former RAF Pershore site at [...]
The 8th May 1945 - Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day as it is more commonly known, was celebrated for the 70th time earlier this month. Over the weekend 23/24 May 2015 IWM Duxford held its own dedication to those that fought both in the air and on the ground - The Duxford VE [...]
