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NAS Oceana Airshow 2017
Home to the United States Navy’s east coast strike fighter squadrons, Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana is one of the largest navy bases in the United States. Every year in mid-September, the base opens its doors to the public giving a chance to see the daily going on at the base up close. Adam Duffield reports on the NAS Oceana Airshow 2017, with additional photography from Duncan Monk and Doug Monk. NAS Oceana is home to no less than 17 Hornet Squadrons with a mix of F/A-18A+/B/C/D Hornets and newer F/A-18E/F Super Hornets that operate under the four assigned Carrier [...]
Royal International Air Tattoo 2017
Tracing its roots back to North Weald in the year of 1971, the first Air Tattoo saw just 100 aircraft from across Europe descend on the Essex found airfield – the idea of the show having been the brainchild of two Air Traffic Controllers. Fast-forward four and a half decades, adding a royal decree along with a permanent home, and the show has become the largest military airshow in the world. With a long and distinguished history of providing the first look at many a new type and display while celebrating key anniversaries in the aviation world, The Royal International [...]
Lightning XR713 56 Sqn scheme
On July 23, 2017 the Lightning Preservation Group’s F3, XR713, was rolled out in a fresh new scheme representing two revered squadrons that once operated the type. Having been partly funded by the Centre of Aviation Photography (COAP), a photoshoot was arranged for a limited number of photographers to capture the first public outing in ‘her’ new dual scheme. Bruntingthorpe is well known in the enthusiast community for its tremendous selection of Cold War jets that have been saved from the scrap heap following retirement from service. With many kept in running order, it is the largest collection of ground [...]
USS George H W Bush – CVN 77
USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), the tenth, and final Nimitz Class nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier for the United States Navy (USN), is currently on its third deployment since entering service in 2009. On it's return from operations with the US Navy 5th and 6th Fleets in the ongoing operation against so-called Islamic State, the ship made a short visit to the United Kingdom. Duncan Monk was aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) whilst at anchor in the Solent, to bring this report. Named after the 41st President and former Second World War naval aviator George H.W. Bush, USS George [...]
RNAS Yeovilton International Airday 2017
Back in 1947, the very first Yeovilton air show took place at its namesake’s Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) found in Somerset. Now, some 7 decades later and the RNAS Yeovilton International Airday 2017 is one of the most highly anticipated shows of the UK airshow season. With the Airday team renowned for attracting numerous rare aircraft both on the ground and in the air, an estimated crowd of some 40,000 people crammed on to the airfield to witness 2017’s showcase of Fleet Air Arm personnel and equipment - once again the team delivering a fantastic family day out. The [...]
Flying Legends 2017
For any warbird fan, the Flying Legends airshow held annually at Imperial War Museum (IWM) Duxford has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best warbird shows in the world and for many it’s a ‘must attend’! With a lineup of over 30 or so aircraft, including a pair of US based P-51 Mustang’s, Flying Legends 2017 promised to be another celebration of historic aircraft and, as Adam Duffield reports, attracted visitors from far and wide. As I sit reflecting on a weekend of unrivalled aviation heritage I feel I must start with a confession – I am not what [...]
RAF Cosford Air Show 2016
RAF Cosford has, for the second year in a row, gained the distinction of becoming the Royal Air Force’s premier event and having been a fixture on the UK airshow calendar for many years now, [...]
NATO Tiger Meet 2016
Between May 16 and 27, Ala 15 of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) hosted this years edition of the annual NATO Tiger Meet (NTM) at their Zaragoza Air Base home. Two years have [...]
Italian Air Force Flying Training
The Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) is significantly modernising its flying training. In 2015, Alenia Aermacchi’s T-346A advanced jet trainer entered service and 2016 will see the recently announced introduction of Tecnam’s P2006T for basic multi-engined [...]
Luchtmachtdagen 2016
After a year of absence in 2015, the annual Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) Luchtmachtdagen returned this year to Vliegerbasis Leeuwarden, in the North of the Netherlands. Whilst the theme of the show was once [...]
First F-35 Lightning IIs arrive in United Kingdom
Wednesday 29th June 2016 saw a significant milestone for the F-35 program, as the first deployment of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II to the United Kingdom commenced with three aircraft landing at RAF Fairford, including [...]
Anatolian Eagle 2016
Large multi-national air exercises where combined air operations can be executed against strategic and tactical targets provide excellent training opportunities for all participants, but the requirements to host this type of exercise are such that [...]
Exercise Tac Blaze 16 – Carlisle
With the sleepy airfield at Carlisle converted into a forward operating base for some serious helicopter hardware, AeroResources’ Kevin Paterson decided it was time to dust off the cameras, charge the radios and head for the [...]
Hangar 11 P-51D ‘Tall In The Saddle’ Unveiling
It had long been rumoured that Peter Tiechman, owner of the Hangar 11 Collection based at North Weald, would repaint his P-51D into a new and authentic scheme. It was already known that the Mustang [...]
Shuttleworth Fly Navy Air Show 2016
When the Shuttleworth Fly Navy show was first announced, anticipation for what could form the display lineup was high. In fact, almost before the first display item was announced, some were pegging it as a [...]
Ex BALTOPS / Saber Strike 2016
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. [...]
Duxford American Air Show 2016
As the 2016 airshow season gets underway, the American Air Show held at Duxford’s Imperial War Museum represented the first of the major shows held under the new Civilian Aviation Authority regulations. Celebrating American and [...]
Exercise Joint Warrior 16-1
Running from April 11-22, Exercise Joint Warrior 16-1 was the latest installment of the long running "wargame" held in the UK. With just 30 ships being involved from 15 nations, this edition of the bi-annual [...]
