Events category for articles

A Polish Air Force Fitter farewell

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.

By | October 8th, 2025|Event Reports, Historic Reports, News|0 Comments

The Royal International Air Tattoo 2025

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. 

By | August 13th, 2025|Airshow Reports, Event Reports|0 Comments

AIRVG 2025

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.

By | May 24th, 2025|Airshow Reports, News, Operational Reports|0 Comments

RAF Puma, 54 & out

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Puma HC2 currently serving with 33 and 230 Squadron at RAF Benson, and 84 Squadron at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, will be withdrawn from service on March 31, 2025.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.

By | March 27th, 2025|Event Reports, Historic Reports, Operational Reports|0 Comments

Northolt Nightshoot XXXII

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.

By | March 21st, 2025|Event Reports, Nightshoots|0 Comments

AeroResource 2024 Review

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.

By | January 27th, 2025|Airshow Reports, Staff Blogs|0 Comments

The Royal International Air Tattoo 2024

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.

By | August 22nd, 2024|Airshow Reports|0 Comments

NATO Tiger Meet 2024

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. 

By | July 8th, 2024|Event Reports, Exercise Reports|0 Comments

AIRVG 2024

On May 11, 2024, Zagreb Franjo Tuđman airport hosted AIRVG 2024 in conjunction with the Croatian Air Force to help celebrate the retirement of its last remaining Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed aircraft, and the introduction of its replacement, the Dassault Rafale F-3R. VG stands for the city Velika Gorica where the airport resides. As one might [...]

By | June 7th, 2024|Airshow Reports, Event Reports, News|0 Comments

Iniochos 2024

From April 8-18, 2024, the skies above Andravida Air Base in the northwest of the Peloponnese, Greece reverberated to the sound of fast jets from the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) and a coalition of aircraft from elsewhere in Europe and the Middle East participating in Exercise Iniochos 2024. Ian Harding takes a look at the [...]

By | May 3rd, 2024|Event Reports, Exercise Reports|0 Comments