Category Archives: Airshow News Military

Royal Jordanian Falcons release 2019 European Tour schedule

AQABA | The national aerobatic team of Jordan today posted the schedule for their annual European tour.

UK and France make up the bulk of the schedule, including an appearence for the first time at Old Warden. The team will also perform in Belgium, Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

Date Show
Jun 29-30 Meeting de l’Air de Cazaux, BA120 Cazaux, France
Jul 7 Shuttleworth Military Airshow, Old Warden, UK
Jul 13 Royal Navy International Air Day, RNAS Yeovilton, UK
Jul 20-21 Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, UK
Jul 27-28 Bray Air Display, Dublin, Ireland
Aug 17-18 Biggin Hill Festival of Flight, London, UK
Aug 24-25 Meeting International de la Somme, Albert – Picardie, France
Sep 7-8 Fête de l’Air Lens, Lens – Benifontaine, France
Sep 15 Sanicole International Airshow, Hechtel, Belgium
Sep 21-22 Athens Flying Week, Tanagra AB, Athens, Greece

Severe flooding causes cancellation of Offutt AFB Airshow

OFFUTT | The Defenders of Freedom Airshow at Offutt AFB this June has been cancelled after the base was hit by severe floods.

The show was scheduled for the 1st-2nd June and was to be headlined by the USAF Thunderbirds and US Navy Legacy Flight. However, in recent weeks the region has suffered severe flooding as heavy rain causes rivers to burst their banks. Hundreds of families have been forced to leave their homes and four people have been killed.

The New York Times reported that on Sunday, one third of Offutt Air Force Base, near Omaha, was underwater.

In a statement, the 55th Wing confirmed that they were fully mission-capable but the flooding has made hosting this summer’s event “untenable”.

“The scope of this historic disaster has touched nearly every aspect of Nebraska including Offutt Air Force Base,” said Col. Michael Manion, 55th Wing commander. “Assessing the impact to the base is ongoing and we will recover, but it is obvious it will be some time before we can return to normal operations or have the capacity to host an event like an air show and open house.

“We sincerely enjoy opening our gates to the public and appreciate the tremendous support we get from Bellevue, Omaha and the surrounding communities and are committed to continuing the open house and air show at the next available opportunity.”

Those who have purchased premium ‘Flight Deck’ seating will be refunded. No other future dates for an airshow at Offutt have been announced.

RAF shortlist three potential new Red Arrows bases

Three RAF bases have been shortlisted as potential new bases for the Red Arrows after RAF Scampton closes by 2022.

In a letter published by The Lincolnite, defence minister Tobias Ellwood told Lincoln MP Karen Lee that the three bases under consideration are RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire and RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire.

Mr Ellwood said the Ministry of Defence will now carry out “detailed studies to assess the suitability of the sites as a potential basing solution.” The RAF are also working with the Civil Aviation Authority to design and allocate the airspace the Red Arrows require to conduct their training flights.

The Red Arrows began life at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, before moving to RAF Kemble (not Costswold Airport) and then to RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire in 1983. In 1995, the team relocated to RAF Cranwell, also in Lincolnshire, although they continued to use Scampton for training flights. The Red Arrows finally moved back to Scampton in 2000.

The base, which is in a poor state of repair, was due to close in 2014, but this was later delayed until 2022. All units will be relocated and the land will be sold off. Scampton is currently home not just to the Red Arrows, but also to the No. 1 Air Control Centre and the Mobile Meteorological Unit.

Of the three bases that could now host the Red Arrows, Waddington is by far the busiest, being the hub for the RAF’s ISTAR capabilities. Around 3,500 people work at the base, and it is home to aircraft such as the E-3 Sentry and RC-135 Rivet Joint. Waddington used to host one of the UK’s largest airshows, but this was stopped after the 2014 show due to an increasing operational tempo.

RAF Wittering is a major station for flight training and is home to a number of units operating the Grob Tutor. RAF Leeming is also a Grob Tutor training base, and is also used by 100 Squadron, who fly Hawk T.1As in the aggressor training role. Both bases are very close to the A1, which may restrict their use for display training.

LIMA ’19 will be Flanker heaven – but other jets will star too

LANGKAWI | The Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition is just a few days away, and rehearsals for the air displays are  in full swing.

An RMAF Su-30MKM Flanker-H performs a solo display at LIMA ’15. Photo: Tom Wittevrongel

Yesterday the Royal Malasian Air Force surprised fans with stunning images of eight Su-30MKM Flanker-H jets flying in formation over Butterworth in preparation for the show. This is significently more than the six first promised for this year’s show or the two that participated in the opening ceremony in 2017. Photos also show an Airbus A400M flanked by six PC-7s rehearsing a flypast.

Also due to fly in the opening ceremony are two more A400Ms, three EC-725s, two S-61 Nuris, four F/A-18Ds and five Hawk 108/208 trainers. Two of the Hawks are expected to wear special tail schemes to celebrate 25 years of service with the RMAF.

Additionally, the F/A-18D and Su-30MKM will perform flare-filled solo routines on each day of the show.

The suspension of the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft programme has seen fewer jets take part in the flying display (the Gripen and Rafale are usually sure bets) but Malaysia’s upcoming Light Combat Aircraft programme will welcome two new additions to the display. India will contribute the HAL Tejas while Russia will display the Yak-130 in both the flying and static displays. A further rare display performer will be a Pakistan Navy Harbin Z9 helicopter.

Two national aerobatic teams will also wow the crowds. Both are LIMA regulars: Indonesia’s Jupiter Aerobatic Team have flown at almost every edition of the show with their six KT-1B Woongbis, and the Russian Knights will return flying the Su-30SM Flanker-C.

The Jupiter Aerobatic Team perform a graceful display rarely seen at major airshows. Photo: Adam Landau

The only civilian flying display performer will be UK aerobatic ace Mark Jefferies, who will fly an Extra 300L owned by Aerotree in the colours of the locally-based Krisakti Aerobatic Team.

The United States is to be a major contributor to the show, bolstering the static lineup with two F/A-18F Super Hornets, a P-8A Poseidon, KC-135R Stratotanker and C-17A Globemaster III. Two B-25H Stratofortresses will also perform a flypast.

The impressive static display lineup at the 2015 show. Photo: Tom Wittevrongel

There will be plenty of revolutionary drone technology in the static display this year. An in-service United States Air Force MQ-9 Predator will be joined by a Turkish Aerospace Industries ANKA and a Chengdu Wing Loong from China.

Airliners at the show will include an Embraer E190-E2, Airbus A319 and Airbus A321neo. The latter comes from AirAsia Malaysia, who had been due to bring three of the type together for a flypast, but this did not come to fruition.

The Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition will be held on the 26th-30th March 2019. Static and aerial displays will take place at MIEC, Langkawi International Airport, with maritime displays at Resort World Langkawi.

New colours for Saudi Hawks

RIYADH | The national aerobatic team of Saudi Arabia debuted an all new colour scheme at the Saudi International Airshow yesterday.

The seven-ship team, flying the BAE Hawk, were seen painted in a striking green livery with stylised white feather patterns in keeping with the team’s name. Previously the jets had worn a simple green scheme with a white stripe down the side of each fuselage – very similar to the design used by their mentors, the Red Arrows (see below).

The Saudi Hawks performing in their old scheme in the United Kingdom in 2011. Photo: Jim Lucas

The inaugural Saudi International Airshow is being held for the first time this month, featuring a range of Royal Saudi Air Force jets.

The RSAF previously painted a number of jets (a Typhoon, Tornado, two F-15s and an A330 MRTT) in a similar design to the one now worn by the Saudi Hawks for Saudi National Day last September.

Attack Helicopter Display Team is back for 2019

MIDDLE WALLOP | The Army Air Corps will return to the airshow circuit this year with the revival of the Attack Helicopter Display Team (ADHT).

The ADHT have been the AAC’s only airshow team in the last few seasons, and have typically performed at just a small handful of events each year due to the ACC’s considerable operational commitments. For that reason, the team were unable to display at all in 2018.

On Facebook yesterday the team announced their return, adding that training will start at Middle Wallop next week. “Stay tuned for details on the Team and our schedule for the year,” they said.

The much-loved team flies an AH-64D Apache role demonstration, often synchronised to ground pyrotechnics. For the 2015 season, they performed with a pair of Apaches, but since reduced back to a solo display. The same will be true for the 2019 season.

AHDT are the second UK military helicopter team to make a comeback this year: in January it was announced that the Royal Navy Black Cats will also be returning, having not displayed since 2016.

US Navy TACDEMO and Legacy Flight schedules

The US Navy will be upping its airshow participation this year, with an increase in the number of shows receiving Super Hornet demonstrations and dozens of events hosting Legacy Flights.

The TACDEMO will this year feature an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, with the phasing out of F/A-18C Legacy Hornets. The team will perform at eight venues, up from seven last year.

Date Show
Mar 30-31 Southernmost Air Spectacular, NAS Key West, FL, USA
Apr 13 Thunder over Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
May 25-26 Bethpage Airshow, Jones Beach, NY, USA
Jun 29-30 National Cherry Festival Air Show, Traverse City, MI, USA
Jul 13-14 Toledo Airshow, Toledo ANGB, OH, USA
Aug 17-18 Sioux Falls Airshow – South Dakota ANG, Joe Foss Field, SD, USA
Aug 31-Sep 2 Cleveland National Airshow, Burke Lakefront Airshow, OH, USA
Sep 21-22 NAS Oceana Airshow, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Legacy Flights will also return in considerable numbers, with several dates posted on the Navy Legacy Flight Foundation website. These will feature the F/A-18 Hornet, FJ-4B Fury, T-45 Goshawk, SB2C Helldiver, T-6B Texan II, EA-18G Growler, A-4 Skyhawk and T-2 Buckeye, among others. One show in Canada is also planned.

Date Show Aircraft
Mar 15-17 Space Coast Warbird Airshow, Titusville, FL, USA F4U, T-45
Mar 30-31 Southernmost Air Spectacular, NAS Key West, FL, USA F4U, F-18
Mar 30-31 Melbourne Air & Space Show, Melbourne, FL, USA T-2, F-18
Apr 2-7 Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In, Lakeland, FL, USA SNJ, SNJ, T-2, T-28, T-45
Apr 6-7 Heart of Texas Airshow, Waco, TX, USA SB2C, T-45
May 3-5 Central Texas Airshow, Temple, TX, USA Wildcat, T-45
May 10-12 Chennault International Airshow, Lake Charles, LA, USA SB2C, T-6B
May 18-19 Hangar 24 Craft Brewery AirFest, Redlands, CA, USA FJ-4B, F-18
May 25-26 Miami Beach Air & Sea Show, Miami Beach, FL, USA AD-4, T-6B
Jun 1-2 Offutt AFB Defenders of Freedom Air Show, Bellvue, NE, USA T-2, T-6B
Jun 15-16 Wings Over Northern Michigan Airshow, Gaylord, MI, USA A-4, EA-18G
Jun 22-23 Vectran Dayton Airshow, Dayton, OH, USA A-4, F-18
Jun 29-30 National Cherry Festival Air Show, Traverse City, MI, USA Bearcat, F-18
Jun 29-30 Quad City Airshow, Davenport, IA, USA F4U, T-45
Jul 4 Tacoma Freedom Fair & Airshow, Tacoma, WA, USA AD-4, EA-18G
Jul 6-7 Gig Harbor Wings & Wheels, Tacoma Narrows, WA, USA AD-4, F-18
Jul 13-14 Toledo Airshow, Toledo ANGB, OH, USA F4U, F-18
Jul 22-28 EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, WI, USA EA-18G, T-45, T-6B & warbirds
Aug 9-11 Abbotsford International Airshow, Abbotsford, BC, Canada A-4, F-18
Aug 17-18 Sioux Falls Airshow – South Dakota ANG, Joe Foss Field, SD, USA FJ-4B, F-18
Aug 24-25 Rochester International Airshow, Rochester, NY, USA F4U, T-6A
Aug 31-Sep 2 Cleveland National Airshow, Burke Lakefront Airshow, OH, USA F4U, F-18
Sep 7 Northern Illinois Airshow, Waukegan, IL, USA T-2, T-45
Sep 12-15 National Championship Air Races, Reno, NV, USA FJ-4B, F-18
Sep 21-22 NAS Oceana Airshow, Virginia Beach, VA, USA F4U, F-18
Oct 4-6 Great Pacific Airshow, Huntington Beach, CA, USA F8F, F-18
Oct 12-13 Atlanta Airshow, Hampton, GA, USA F4U, T-45
Oct 19-20 Wings Over Houston Airshow, Ellington, TX, USA F4U, EA-18G
Nov 1-3 Florida International Airshow, Punta Gorda, FL, USA F4U, T-6B
Nov 1-3 Stuart Airshow, Stuart, FL, USA F4U, T-6A

Spanish Air Force airshow dates 2019

Spain’s two military aerobatic teams, Patrulla Aspa and Patrulla Aguila, have announced their schedules for 2019.

Patrulla Aguila, who fly seven C-101 Aviojets, will perform at overseas events in Portugal, the Netherlands, France and Austria. Patrulla Aspa, flying five EC-120 helicopters, have just two overseas shows; one in Portugal and one in Switzerland.

Display dates for the air forces EF-18 Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon solo displays have not yet been released.

Date Show Aircraft
Mar 27-31 International Educational Opportunities Exhibition, Madrid, Spain Aguila, Aspa
Apr 21 25th Aniversario de la creación del Escuadrón de Vigilancia Aérea 13, Totana, Spain Aguila
May 3 Bodas de Plata en la Academia General del Aire, San Javier, Murcia, Spain Aguila
May 11-12 Open day, Armilla AB, Granada, Spain Aguila, Aspa
May 18 Open day, Getafe AB, Spain Aguila, Aspa
May 25-26 Meeting de l’Air de BA115 Orange, Orange – Caritat, France Aguila
Jun 1 Day of the Armed Forces, Spain Aguila
Jun 14 50th Anniversary of the Movie ‘Battle of Britain’, Tablada, Seville, Spain Aspa
Jun 14-15 Luchtmachtdagen, Volkel, Netherlands Aguila
Jun 15 Open Door, Tablada, Seville, Spain Aspa
Jun 29-30 67th Anniversary of the Portuguese Air Force, Viseau, Portugal Aguila, Aspa
Jun 30 Festival Aéreo de Motril, Granada, Spain Aspa
Jul 5-7 Züri Fäscht, Zurich, Switzerland Aspa
Jul 12-13 Open day, Malaga, Spain Aguila
Jul 12-14 Festival Aéreo Torre del Mar, Malaga, Spain Aguila, Aspa
Jul 21 Festival Aéreo de Gijón, Playa San Lorenzo, Gijón, Spain Aguila
Jul 24-45 Day of Santiago Apóstol, La Coruña, Spain Aguila
Jul 25-27 14th Criterium Aeronáutico y 36th Vuelta Aérea a Galicia, Lugo, Spain Aguila, Aspa
Sep 6-7 AirPower, Zeltweg, Austria Aguila
Sep 14-15 Vuelta Ciclista a España, Madrid, Spain Aguila
Sep 17 Día de la Ciudad Autónomica, Melilla, Spain Aspa
Sep 27 Bodas de Oro en la Academia General del Aire, Murcia, San Javier, Spain Aguila
Oct 12 National Day, Madrid, Spain Aguila

Czech jet trio brings thunder to Cosford Airshow

A trio of Czech Air Force jets are set to fly at this year’s RAF Cosford Airshow as the event’s international lineup continues to grow.

The CzAF’s JAS-39C Gripen display is already the second solo jet demonstration confirmed for the event. The display has been seen before  in the UK at the Yeovilton Air Day and the Royal International Air Tattoo, winning the The RAFCTE Trophy for the Best Flying Demonstration by an Overseas Participant at the latter event in 2017.

Also joining the show will be a pair of L-159 ALCAs, last seen in the UK in 2017. The duo previously performed with flares and ground pyrotechnics – and the Cosford Airshow’s tweet, saying the display would “bring the fire”, indicates that the same will be true this year.

The Cosford Airshow is scheduled for Sunday 9th June. Already confirmed for the flying display are the Swiss F/A-18C Hornet solo display and rare UK flying display appearances from the German Navy P-3C Orion and the Danish Air Force’s main display team, Baby Blue.

RAF Chinook Display 2019 airshow schedule

The RAF Chinook Display 2019 airshow schedule has been released, with the team due to perform at 15 events in the UK and Channel Islands.  Currently there are no international appearences planned.

Date Show
May 25-26 Duxford Air Festival,  IWM Duxford, ENG, UK
Jun 1-2 Torbay Airshow, Torquay, ENG, UK
Jun 9 RAF Cosford  Airshow, ENG, UK
Jun 15-16 Dunsfold Wings & Wheels, Dunsfold Park, ENG, UK
Jun 22-23 Weston Air Festival, Weston-super-Mare, ENG, UK
Jul 6-7 Wales National Airshow, Swansea Bay, WAL, UK
Jul 19-21 Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, ENG, UK
Jul 25 RAF Odiham/RAF Marham Families Day, ENG, UK
Jul 26-28 Sunderland International Airshow, Tyne & Wear, ENG, UK
Aug 10-11 Blackpool Airshow, ENG, UK
Aug 16-17 Airbourne: the Eastbourne International Airshow, ENG, UK
Aug 22 RAF Wattisham Families Day, ENG, UK
Aug 23 Sidmouth Regatta, ENG, UK
Aug 30-Sep 1 Bournemouth Air Festival, ENG, UK
Sep 12 Jersey International Air Display, St. Aubin’s Bay, Jersey (CHI)