Events category for articles
Thursday, 2nd October 2025 marked the 33rd edition of the RAF Northolt nightshoot, once again attended by AeroResource editors Mark Empson and Nick Thompson. Photographers enjoyed favourable conditions—despite some cloud cover, the skies remained dark and free from London’s light pollution, with mild temperatures and no wind or rain. A regular highlight of the UK’s [...]
There is no question that the ‘historic’ first fighter deployment by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to Europe captured the imagination of the aviation community far and wide. It got everyone discussing the possibilities and speculation surrounding the composition of the deployment; how long? how many aircraft? etc, which only added to the tension the aviation community felt. No surprise then that there were no official details provided by the RAF in the build-up, and It was not until the JASDF provided limited details that the military ‘rumour mill’ truly got going; and how it did!! Ian Harding was on hand at both RAF Coningsby and RAF Brize Norton during the deployment to capture this historic occasion.
On the 10th and 11th of September, a significant chapter in the history of the Polish Air Force came to a close, as the nation officially retired the Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter from active service. Operated by Poland for over four decades, the iconic swing-wing fighter-bomber served as a mainstay of the country’s tactical strike capability throughout the latter stages of the Cold War and into the 21st century. In this article, Mark Empson explores the Su-22's storied career within the Polish Air Force and reports from the retirement celebrations that marked the end of operations for this cold war era aircraft.
The COVID-19 pandemic curtailed any opportunity for the Royal International Air Tattoo to mark its 50th anniversary with the scale of celebration it deserved. In 2025, however, RIAT was presented a new occasion for commemoration: the 40th anniversary of its first show at RAF Fairford, now firmly established as the Air Tattoo’s modern-day home. We look at this year’s show and also reflect on the event’s future in light of the discussions that have dominated the post-show discourse. Over the course of the show weekend, the AeroResource team was on the ground in Gloucestershire.
AIRVG24 was all about the passing of the Mikoyan MiG-21 in Croatian Air Force service, then AIRVG25 was all about the acceptance into service of the Dassault Aviation Rafale. The unique presence of the entire fleet of 12 Rafales (ten single-seat and two twin-seat aircraft) in one row in front of the crowd line was really the focal point of the whole event. Chris Lofting was present to record this truly historic event for the Croatian Air Force and its adoring public. Chris also provides his unique insight into the origins and service of Croatia’s Rafale fleet now in service.
The Westland Puma HC2 currently serving with 33 and 230 Squadron at RAF Benson, and 84 Squadron at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, will be withdrawn from service on March 31, 2025. Ian Harding provides a brief review of the helicopter at the end of an illustrious 54 years operational career which commenced with the types first operational flight on September 29, 1971. Throughout this period, the Puma, its aircrew and maintainers have been deployed on numerous operations including combat operations, exercises, provided humanitarian relief, and during more recent times, provided search and rescue capability and fulfilled fire-fighting duties. The Puma had become a genuine ‘jack of all trades’ and will therefore be sadly missed.
On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the 32nd edition of the RAF Northolt Nightshoot took place under near-perfect conditions. Attendees enjoyed a clear night with no rain, wind or cloud cover - even the temperature was kind! The entire AeroResource team was present to witness the impressive line-up of aircraft Phil Dawe MBE, RAF Northolt Station Commander and the event volunteers had secured for the event.
With the UK weather Gods providing just a few moments of relief from the grey skied gloom that seems to have engulfed us this winter, the AeroResource team have taken time to look back at 2024’s highlights. 2024 saw the first full year of the new writing and editorial team at AeroResource and we hope that the increased output, both here on the site and across social media haven’t gone un-noticed. We’ve covered a number of events both at home and abroad and hope to provide more articles through the coming year.
For more than 50 years, the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) has developed and expanded in a fashion few could have managed looking back to the initial events held at North Weald in Essex in the early 1970s. It is now considered one of the best if not the best, military aviation event in the world lasting six days. Aeroresource were on hand all 6 days to report on the event.
After a 10-year absence Germany played host to the 2024 edition of the NATO Tiger Meet (NTM). Like the meet of 2014, hosting duties fell with Schleswig AB and specifically Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 “Immelmann” (TLG 51) who opened their arms to the member units of the NATO Tiger Association (NTA). AeroResource were on hand in the variable north German weather for the 2 spotter days hosted by the NTA and TLG 51 to witness the exercise in full swing.
