Category Archives: TIF News

News, announcements and releases from us at This is Flight.

Five hours of airshow documentaries from 2021

Throughout 2021, we recorded the fourth series of Airshow Dispatches, featuring seven diverse airshows around the world and showcasing some rare and truly memorable displays. With the 2022 season still several months away, now is the perfect time to sit back and enjoy some of the best airshow action that the world has to offer and re-live the highlights of another immensely challenging display season.

S04E01: HUNTER VALLEY AIRSHOW [20 minutes]

One of the first major airshows of the year was the Hunter Valley Airshow in Australia. The show was most memorable for its warbird balbo finale, which featured a Lockheed Hudson, T-28 Trojan, Spitfire, Corsair, Avenger, Boomerang and P-40 Warhawk performing formation flypasts and solo aerobatics. We also enjoyed team aerobatic displays from the Sky Aces and the Air Force Roulettes.

S04E02: MIDLANDS AIR FESTIVAL [50 minutes]

Held in the gardens of the Ragley Hall Estate, the delightful Midlands Air Festival was one of the first European airshows of 2021. It hosted Royal Air Force displays for the first time, including the Red Arrows and the debut of the “Blackjack” Typhoon FGR.4 display jet, as well as the RAF Falcons in their 60th anniversary year. The varied line up of civilian performers included Tiger 9, Team Raven, B-17 “Sally B”, the Turbulent Team and the debut of Peter Teichman’s Russian Spitfire.

S04E03: ANTIDOTUM AIRSHOW LESZNO [50 minutes]

One of our favourite airshows in Europe, this year’s Leszno Airshow surpassed all expectations with strong military and civilian participation. We get up close and personal with the Flying Bulls’ P-38 Lightning, B-25 Mitchell, T-28 Trojan and P-51 Mustang, and fly in the cockpit with Team Blanix, GliderFX and Aerosparx. The Swiss Air Force contributed the Super Puma solo display, while the Polish Air Force performed with Aerobatic Team Orlik, the F-16C “Tiger Demo Team” and a C-130E Hercules, staging its first full airshow demonstration, which included a spectacular flare drop after sunset.

S04E04: IWM DUXFORD FLYING DAY [30 minutes]

A slower pace takes hold at Duxford as we enjoy several lyrical warbird solo displays, from a Spitfire Mk.Ia, T-6 Harvard, P-51D Mustang and Hurricane Mk.I to the rather newer (but equally rare) Nanchang CJ-6, all flying in perfect weather and dramatic cloudscapes. We also explore the history of competition aerobatics, thanks to appearances by the Yak-50, Cap-232 and Extra 300L.

S04E05: LITTLE GRANSDEN AIR & CAR SHOW [30 minutes]

This small airshow, run for the benefit of Children in Need, put together a jam-packed flying display featuring rare types such as the Spitfire PR.XIX, Yak-3UTI, Stinson Reliant, Miles Gemini and Spartan Executive. The highlights, though, came from the locally-based Global Stars, with a thrilling four-ship aerobatic performance as well as Chris Burkett’s Extra 300 being flown alongside a remote-control scale model.

S04E06: AIR LEGEND PARIS – VILLAROCHE [90 minutes]

One of the fastest-growing airshows in the world, Air Legend was founded in 2018, but has already become one of the world’s top aviation events. This year’s warbird focus was on WWII in the Pacific, and so the show featured a re-enactment of the attack on Pearl Harbor and an ultra-rare trio of Corsairs. Two formation teams were among the stars of the show: the Ultimate Fighters (Spitfire, P-47, TF-51 and Buchon) and Classic Formation (DC-3 & three Beech 18s), but we also enjoyed solos from the Skyraider, P-38, F-86 and others. Military highlights included the Patrouille de France, Breguet Atlantique II, A400M, Rafale C, and a pair of two-ship tactical displays featuring the Rafale M and Mirage 2000B/C.

S04E07: WINGS OVER ILLAWARRA [20 minutes]

Held on the eve of the Classic Hornet’s retirement from the Royal Australian Air Force, Wings Over Illawarra will be remembered for featuring the last ever airshow performance by an RAAF F/A-18A. Bringing the event full circle, the RAAF also staged their first ever F-35A Lightning aerobatic display at the show. Classic RAAF warbirds help mark the air force’s centenary, including the CA-18 Mustang, DHC-4 Caribou, P-2 Neptune and English Electric Canberra.

The fifth series of Airshow Dispatches will cover a number of events in 2022, with the first episodes expected in April. While the exact list is still TBC, it is likely to include shows in the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

Airshow Dispatches to return for eight episode run in 2021

This is Flight’s airshow documentary series, Airshow Dispatches, will return for at least eight episodes in 2021, with new installments available to watch on our website and on WingsTV.

Now in its fourth year, the online series currently consists 20 episodes, featuring airshows in the USA, UK, Poland, China, Australia, Latvia, Singapore, Spain and Portugal. Featured events have included the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAAF Edinburgh Airshow, Gdynia AeroBaltic Airshow, Festa al Cel and more, with six episodes filmed in 2018, nine in 2019 and five in 2020 – despite most airshows being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The fourth series will chart the airshow industry’s recovery from the pandemic, including a trio of airshows in Australia and a large number of UK events. Subject to travel restrictions, the series will also include airshows in Poland, and potentially the United States.

The first episode, which showcases the Hunter Valley Airshow in Australia, was recorded in March and will be released in May. Although the line up is subject to change as coronavirus restrictions evolve, our current expectation is for episodes at the following:

Episode 1: Hunter Valley Airshow, Australia
Episode 2: Duxford Flying Day: Standing Together, UK
Episode 3: Midlands Air Festival, UK
Episode 4: Airshow Margonin, Poland
Episode 5: Antidotum Airshow Leszno, Poland
Episode 6: Wales National Airshow, UK
Episode 7: Wings Over Illawara, Australia
Episode 8: Australian International Airshow, Australia

All Airshow Dispatches episodes are available to watch for free on our website and YouTube channel. Many are also available through WingsTV, which will also host much of series 4. The series is filmed and directed by TIF’s Adam Landau, along with aviation cameraman Nigel Wolley and specialist airshow drone operator Alex Prins.

Complete Airshow Action 2019 mini-series released by AirshowStuff and This is Flight

It may have been a disappointing airshow season this year, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but This is Flight and our friends at AirshowStuff.com have been putting the time to good use (and helping to deal with the airshow blues) with our latest collaboration: a two-part mini-series commemorating the very best that the 2019 airshow season had to offer!

Two episodes, each running for almost an hour, recap some of the most memorable moments, special one-off displays and unique formations at 14 of the year’s best aviation events, spanning five countries. Part one, released earlier in the year, focusses on modern military action, with highlights including:

US Marine Corps air power at MCAS Yuma
Stunning sunset performances at Goshen from the F-22 and UH-60
The best of RIAT, the world’s largest military airshow, including the Frecce Tricolori, C-27, Finnish F-18C and Spanish Harriers
Jet noise at Oshkosh, including a rare four-ship US Air Force Heritage Flight, plus a rare appearance from a US Navy F-35C
Unusual flybys at Thunder Over Michigan
A rare European appearance from the Saudi Hawks, as well as some classic Sukhoi jets, at Gdynia AeroBaltic
Only the second ever flying display appearance of the T-7 Red Hawk in St. Louis, plus a look at the Red Arrows’ North America tour
Military helicopter action from Festa al Cel, including the Chinook and Tiger
The all-new F-35A Demo Team and the stunning Combined Arms Demo at Aviation Nation

Part two, released today, features warbird airshow action. Highlights include:

Vintage helicopters at the Abingdon Air & Country Show
The largest gathering of Dakotas in decades, making the 75th anniversary of D-Day
Rare WWI aircraft at the Shuttleworth Military Airshow, as well as an historic formation of seven Hurricanes
A sunset MiG-17 display and Berlin Airlift tribute in Goshen
Nonstop warbird action from Oshkosh, including a gathering of sixteen Mustangs, the AirVenture debut of the XP-82 Twin Mustang, and a unique trio of British warbrids
“Corsair Crazy” action from Thunder Over Michigan, with eleven Corsairs in the air together, and an airfield attack demo featuring seven Mustangs
Swedish classic jets at Gdynia AeroBaltic
Low bomber flybys at the Spirit of St. Louis Airshow
Canadian vintage jets – including two CT-133s – at Airshow London

Both episodes are available to watch for free AirshowStuff’s YouTube channel, along with our previous AirshowStuff collaborations: our popular AirVenture highlights compilations.

If you want to see more from the shows featured in Airshow Action 2019, there are longer, unnarated videos of many of the individual performances on the AirshowStuff and This is Flight YouTube channels. You may also enjoy Airshow Dispatches, a documentary series focussing on individual airshows, which can be found here. Many of the airshows featured in Airshow Action 2019 are also included in Airshow Dispatches series two.

TIF is looking for photographers and videographers in the USA to join our team!

Over the last few years, This is Flight has grown to become one of the most extensive airshow news, review and video websites in the world. Each year, our dedicated reporters attend dozens of airshows globally, producing detailed reviews, feature articles and documentary films.

We are now looking for reporters to join our team to expand our written and multimedia coverage, particularly in the United States. We can’t hide the fact that it can be exacting work at times, but if you love sharing your passion for aviation with others, it will ultimately be a rewarding experience, with exciting opportunities along the way.

ROLE 1: AIRSHOW REVIEWER

IDEAL APPLICANTS WILL:

Attend at least three major airshows annually, primarily in the USA (we may consider other regions)
Be reliably able to photograph a mix of aircraft types, including at low shutter speeds
Have detailed knowledge of their country’s airshow industry, and broad understanding of airshows globally
Have excellent written English

RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

Writing detailed, critical reviews (typically 1,000-2,000 words) of individual airshows
Submitting unique, high-quality images featuring all or most performers at the show
Conducting interviews, where appropriate, for feature articles

TO APPLY, YOU MUST SUBMIT:

A complete airshow review (minimum 1,000 words) or a 400+ word excerpt, about a show from the past two years
At least 20 images from the same show, including fast jets and propeller-driven aircraft
A short message introducing yourself, and explaining why you would like to contribute to This is Flight

EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR WORK:

ROLE 2: VIDEOGRAPHER

IDEAL APPLICANTS WILL:

Attend at least two major airshows annually, excluding those in the UK
Be reliably able to film a mix of displays to a high standard
Be comfortable conducting interviews and filming people, such as pilots, ground crew and spectators
Have broad knowledge of the airshow industry, particularly in their country
Be able to quickly edit basic videos

RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

Recording long-form video clips of all or most of the performers at a given airshow for Airshow Dispatches
Recording more imaginative footage for trailers, compilations and Airshow Dispatches title sequences
Conducting interviews and obtaining cockpit footage from performers

TO APPLY, YOU MUST SUBMIT:

Video footage of three acts (one fast jet, one large formation team and one light propeller-driven aircraft), each featured for at least four minutes and recorded at the same airshow, within the last two years
A short message introducing yourself, and explaining why you would like to contribute to This is Flight

EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR WORK:

Airshow Dispatches S02E08
Airshow Dispatches S03E01
Note: Videos will not be edited by you

Our website is non-commercial, which unfortunately means we cannot pay our contributors – that means our team all contribute out of their passion for aviation, and we would expect you to do the same. However, there are many exciting opportunities for our contributors to take advantage of.

For example, our contributors often benefit from media access and privilaged viewing positions, as well as the chance to meet and work with some of the biggest names in aviation. Many have also been invited to take part in media events, rides or air-to-air photoshoots, included aerial photoshoots with the USAF Thunderbirds and rides on board historic bombers, among others. Two of our team have also gone on to work for a major aerobatic team as videographers and media managers, travelling with them to airshows across Europe and Asia.

A history of published work is not necessary. Applications will be reviewed by a selection of existing editors and contributors, who will determine whether you are likely to fit in with our coverage, and attain the high standards of reporting that we always strive to achieve.

If you would like to apply, please send the required application material via email to enquiries@thisisflight.net. Images and videos can be attached by a sharable link from WeTransfer. We will usually reply promptly if we wish to follow up on your application.

We look forward to hearing from you!

50 minutes of action from EAA AirVenture 2019

We’ve teamed up once again with our friends at AirshowStuff.com to bring you 50 minutes of the very best action from EAA AirVenture 2019 in Oshkosh. With 10,000 visiting aircraft and 600,000 visitors, AirVenture is considered the world’s greatest aviation celebration. This year’s highlights included a mass gathering of P-51 Mustangs, a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day and demonstrations by a variety of modern and vintage fighter aircraft for the ‘Year of the Fighter’ theme.

This year’s film combines the very best of AirshowStuff’s video material, recorded throughout the week at AirVenture 2019, and the unique format of This is Flight’s Airshow Dispatches video series. You can find plenty more videos from AirVenture 2019 on the AirshowStuff YouTube channel, or watch the complete first two seasons of Airshow Dispatches on our website. The first episode of season three was released earlier this month.

Time	Item
00:01	Mass warbird arrivals
00:02	Twin Tigers
00:04	Yak-110
00:05	XP-82 Twin Mustang
00:06	P-51B/C/D/H Mustang x18
00:08	P-51C Mustang
00:09	Spitfire Mk.IX
00:10	US Air Force Heritage Flight (P-51D/A-10C/F-22A/F-35A)
00:11	US Air Force F-35A Lightning II
00:13	US Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II
00:15	US Air Force Heritage Flight (P-51D/A-1/A-10C)
00:17	Trojan Thunder
00:18	Rocky Mountain Renegades
00:20	Team Oracle
00:21	Adventures of Aviore
00:23	Firefighting demonstration
00:26	Canadian Forces CT-114 Tutor
00:26	US Navy Blue Angels
00:27	US Air Force Thunderbirds
00:28	Showcase: British warbirds
00:29	Showcase: Jet warbirds
00:31	Showcase: WWII bombers
00:32	Showcase: Dakotas
00:34	US Navy Legacy Flight (FJ-4 Fury/EA-18G Growler)
00:35	US Navy Legcy Flight (T-2 Buckeye/T-45 Goshawk x2)
00:37	US Navy F-35C Lightning II
00:38	US Air Force low approaches/flybys (F-35A/F-22A/A-10C)
00:39	US Air Force F-22A Raptor
00:41	US Air Force Heritage Flight (F-22A/P-51D x3)
00:43	Julie Clark (T-34 Mentor)
00:44	Class of ’45
00:46	Aeroshell Aerobatic Team
00:48	Randy Ball (MiG-17F)
00:50	MiG-17F vs. Shockwave Jet Truck
00:50	Redline Airshows
00:51	Fireworks

ABOUT THIS IS FLIGHT

This is Flight is an international airshow news, review and video website founded in 2013. With reporters based in North America, Europe and beyond, we specialize in informative event reviews and feature-length documentary films from dozens of airshows around the world each year, including our flagship Airshow Dispatches video series. This is Flight also provides photographic and video coverage for several airshows and aerobatic teams.

ABOUT AIRSHOWSTUFF

AirshowStuff is a leading provider of media coverage for airshows and aviation as a whole. What started as a weekend hobby in 2005 has grown tremendously over the years and we now reach over one million people each month through our forums, blog, and social media channels. We are #AvGeeks first and foremost, and we work hard to promote aviation interests to our global audience. We have four primary team members, all based in the United States, as well as a larger network of media partners and friends that help us in our mission.

This is Flight teams up with AirShow360 to expand airshow coverage

This is Flight, based in Europe, and AirShow360, based in America, are excited to announce the two organizations will be collaborating to bring more coverage of air shows worldwide.

With a large number of professional contributing reporters, photographers, and videographers working together throughout the world and sharing their unique perspectives from in the air and on the ramp, audiences of both AirShow360 and This Is Flight will experience unparalleled coverage of airshows throughout the world.

Look out for the first work in our exciting collaboration over the coming weeks!

Find out more about AirShow360 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Four hours of airshow documentaries from 2018

Throughout 2018, we recorded feature-length airshow documentaries at no fewer than six airshows in Europe and Asia. With our first 2019 films just a few weeks away, now is the perfect time to relive the highlights of last year.

THE ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO [90 MINUTES]

Where better to start than with a full recap of the Royal International Air Tattoo, the official international celebration of the RAF’s centenary? This film was recorded across six days and features almost every aircraft that flew at the show – as well as several that didn’t. Several displays include cockpit footage.

JERSEY INTERNATIONAL AIR DISPLAY [30 MINUTES] [4K]

Taking a rather different tone is the Jersey International Air Display in the Channel Islands. This show brings together the best of the British and French airshow scenes, with rare displays such as the Nord Noratlas and Dassault Flamant duo taking centre stage. Also look out for the classic jets of the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight.

ZHENGZHOU AIRSHOW [40 MINUTES]

Time next for a trip to China, where some of the world’s best-known civilian aerobatic teams assembled for the Zhengzhou Airshow. As well as dynamic daytime shows by the likes of the Yakovlevs, the show also featured a night display, starring Aerosparx and the Global Stars. This film was recorded across nine days and brings you the best of the action.

WINGS OVER BALTICS [30 MINUTES]

The Baltic Bees Jet Team are of course the stars at their home show, which is set to become a regular event on the European airshow circuit. Also look out for Team Orlik of the Polish Air Force, Scandinavian Airshows’ Catwalk act and a thrilling performance by a Lithuanian Antonov An-2 biplane.

PORTUGAL AIR SUMMIT [20 MINUTES]

One of Portugal’s few airshows, this event saw some extremely dynamic flypasts from the Portuguese Air Force as well as displays by a pair of aerobatic teams flying the Yak-52: Jacob52 and the locally-based Yakstars. GliderFX close the show with Portugal’s first ever pyrotechnic air display.

MIDLANDS AIR FESTIVAL [20 MINUTES]

The inaugural Midlands Air Festival featured an impressive lineup of British civilian airshow acts, from the BAC Strikemaster to the Stampe Formation Flying Team and the UK debut of P-47D Thunderbolt “Nellie”. We also take a quick look at the Nightfire event.

Re-live the highlights of Oshkosh 2018

We’ve teamed up with our friends at AirshowStuff.com to produce a compilation of the highlights from EAA AirVenture 2017 in Oshkosh, USA. With 10,000 visiting aircraft, Oshkosh is considered the world’s greatest aviation celebration, and this year’s show themes included Year of the Tanker, RAF100 and the 80th anniversary of the T-6 Texan. Highlights include:

Mass flypasts from the Warbirds of America
Yak-110 aerobatic display
Classic RAF aircraft: the Spitfire, Meteor and Jet Provost
F-16C Viper Heritage Flights and mini-demos
F-22A Raptor low passes
USAF tanker parade: C-130, KC-135 and KC-10
B-1B Lancer night departure
F7F Tigercat pair

Our 30-minute retrospective includes excerpts from the best and most memorable displays of the week; it will premiere at 23:30-00:00 UTC on Wednesday 19th December. If you enjoy it, visit the AirshowStuffVideos YouTube channel for dozens more films of individual performers at the event, and our own channel for more airshow documentaries.

90 Minutes of Action from the World’s Biggest Military Airshow

We’re very proud to release our latest feature-length programme featuring the highlights of more than 25 hours of flying at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2018.

Adam Landau hosts 90 uninterrupted minutes of aviation action, featuring stunning ground and cockpit footage, as we take an action-packed look back at the event – from the power of the Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27P Flanker to the awe-inspiring panache of the Frecce Tricolori and the modern marvel that is the F-35A Lightning II, there’s something for everyone.

We also delve into the Royal Air Force’s past, with timeless displays from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron to celebrate RAF100, seen performing back-to-back with modern RAF assets such as the Red Arrows, Typhoon FGR.4, Chinook Mk.6 and A400M Atlas.

Other notable highlights include a rare flypast by a B-2A Spirit, the Canadian Forces’ CF-188A Hornet, no fewer than four examples of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, solo and pairs displays by the Dassault Rafale, the two Mirage 2000Ds of Couteau Delta and a unique formation of the Swiss PC-7 Team with an F/A-18 Hornet.

We also feature footage from the arrival days, including the one-off display by a French Navy Breguet ALT-2 Atlantique II.

It all adds up to one of the largest and most varied airshows in recent memory, and with our free documentary programme you can re-live its highlights once again.

Want to find out more? For more from the Royal International Air Tattoo, you can find our illustrated review of the show here or head to SoundCloud for our Smoke On podcast. You may also enjoy the official DVD, avaibable here.

TIF teams up with Aerosparx & GliderFX

This is Flight is proud to announce a partnership with two of the most innovative aerobatic teams in the world, which will allow us to bring exciting new content to our readers and viewers.

Aerosparx, flying two Grob 109s, are the only display team to fly aerobatics in formation, with pyrotechnics, at night. GliderFX, meanwhile, display with an MDM-1 Fox, and hold the world record for the most number of rolls while on aerotow. They also perform dusk pyrotechnic displays and daytime aerobatic shows. Both teams are led by eight-time national glider aerobatic champion at the unlimited level, Guy Westgate.

This is Flight’s editor, Adam Landau will be filming and editing videos for the teams when they perform at airshows around the world over the next few seasons, which has already included airshows in China and Portugal. Deputy editor Alex Prins will be taking photographs for the team. This will allow us to bring exclusive new content to This is Flight from a huge variety of airshows we would otherwise be unable to cover. We are also aiming to publish a feature-length documentary, entitled ‘Sparks Will Fly’, at the end of this year.

We look forward to working with Aerosparx and GliderFX over the coming months; follow their Facebook page to see our work with the team, and look out for content from far-flung airshows on our own website, social media and YouTube channel as well!