Latest Articles
RAF Marham Enthusiasts Event 2017
Home to the UK’s Tornado Force, RAF Marham once again opened its doors and welcomed a group of aviation enthusiasts on to the base for an evenings photography of based aircraft. Adam Duffield joined them on May 11 to photograph some of the based jets in their natural surroundings, with additional images from Mark Ranger. Held for the first time around the same time 12 months ago, the event for enthusiasts featured as one of my personal highlights of the year for 2016. After that event, the organisers stated that they hoped to be able to run similar gatherings in [...]
F-35A Deployment to RAF Lakenheath
Eight F-35A Lightning IIs from the 34th Fighter Squadron ‘Rude Rams’ along with pilots, maintenance specialists, security and other support personnel from the active component 34th Fighter Squadron and the Air Force Reserve's 466th Fighter Squadron, both based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah recently undertook a three week deployment to RAF Lakenheath. Mark Kwiatkowski reports from the Suffolk base, with additional images from Craig Sluman and Duncan Monk. This historic deployment was the first operational US Air Force F-35 Lightning II deployment to Europe (putting aside the visit of Luke AFB F-35As to RIAT 2016), and is a natural progression following [...]
Hellenic Air Force RF-4E Phantom Retirement
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 operation. Although the F-4E will continue to serve with the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) under 117 Combat Wing at Andravida Air Base - operated by 338 Mira (Fighter Bomber Squadron) and 339 Mira (All Weather Squadron) - it was an emotional two days at Larissa [...]
Australian International Air Show 2017
Air Power in Action was the theme of the 13th biennial Australian International Air Show and Aerospace & Defence Exposition held at Avalon Airport, Geelong, Victoria. Held as two concurrent events comprising an airshow and exposition, the air show is quite rightly marketed as the premier event of such ‘South of the Equator’. For the uninitiated, the show follows the feel of both Farnborough in the UK and Langkawi in Malaysia given the mix of civilian and military companies and aircraft that are represented. This year the show ran from February 28 through March 5 and, as the title suggests, [...]
Gazelle 50th Anniversary Commemorative Fly-in
On April 7, 1967, legendary French helicopter Test Pilot Jean Boulet took the Sud Aviation SA.340 on its maiden flight. To mark this important anniversary and celebrate the success of what we now know as the Gazelle, Threshold.aero organised a gathering of the type at the ‘home’ of Army Air Corps (AAC) aviation - Middle Wallop in Hampshire. When designed by French company Sud Aviation, the intention was for the Gazelle to replace the companies Alouette II – in fact, the prototype itself flew with a tail boom from an Alouette II. This did not last for long though as the [...]
US Air Force Air Education & Training Command
Life in the United States Air Force (USAF) begins with the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) with their mission to "recruit, train and educate Airmen to deliver air power for America". Often nicknamed ‘The First Command’, over 30,000 students – both domestic and international – train with the 19th Air Force and the many units falling under the command of AETC that include Air Force Recruiting, Air University, Technical Training, Flying Training, Air Force Guard and Air Force Reserve. In total 17 bases across the United States report to AETC, covering almost every aeroplane in the force’s inventory. On [...]
Dawlish AirShow 2015
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 [...]
Red Bull Air Race – Ascot
Once again the Red Bull Air Race championship returned to Ascot for Round 5 of the 2015 season. With British double champion Paul Bonhomme in the lead of the series, could he extend his lead [...]
Army Air Corps Lynx AH7 Retirement
Friday 31st July 2015 saw an historic moment for the British Army Air Corps (AAC), with the retirement of the Westland Lynx AH.7 helicopter. The Lynx has been a key asset to the AAC for just [...]
RNAS Culdrose Air Day 2015
When it comes to travelling to an airshow within the UK, RNAS Culdrose ranks as one of those with the highest potential mileage for most people. However, based on the 2015 event, it also ranks [...]
Old Buckenham Airshow 2015
Billed as Norfolk's premier airshow, the Old Buckenham Airshow returned on the first weekend of August to the small airfield in central Norfolk. Known for its friendly atmosphere, the show promised a 3-hour flying display [...]
Anatolian Eagle 2015-1
The annual international Anatolian Eagle exercise held at Turkey's Konya air base took place in early/mid June against a backdrop of continued fighting against ISIL in Syria and Iraq, the conflict in Yemen between Shiite [...]
Royal International Air Tattoo 2015
The Royal International Air Tattoo, better known as RIAT, has set its place as the pinnacle of the British airshow scene, especially given its long history of providing first looks at new types, debut displays [...]
Shuttleworth Military Pageant
Of all the shows at Old Warden, the Shuttleworth Collections Military Pageant is amongst the busiest it holds throughout the year and often features an interesting array of visiting display aircraft. Harry Measures provides this [...]
Flying Legends 2015
For any warbird fans just the mention of the name Flying Legends will immediately bring to mind the largest and most focussed warbird show in the UK. Adam Duffield returned to Duxford for the 2015 [...]
RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2015
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, [...]
Vulcan XH558 Restoration Part 2
Having discussed the ‘Delta Lady's return to flight, James Innes interviews Kevin Rumens, one of XH558’s Display Pilots. Better known as Kev, he is lucky enough to have displayed the aircraft both in service with [...]
G-JOEY Trislander Retirement
June 28th 2015 will see the retirement of a Channel Islands aviation Icon, G-JOEY the Britten Norman Trislander. JOEY is operated by Aurigny Air Services, based in Channel Islands. This much loved aircraft has seen [...]
