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Friday, May 3, 2019

International Air Tattoo 1981 at RAF Greenham Common.

What was different from the 1979 International Tattoo to the 1981 event? The central theme 1981 was Sea Search and Rescue and some more great aircraft.

 Indeed, the arrival of two Royal Jordanian Air Force F-5Es was exceptional. One of them also participated in the flying program.

Even better, the first U.K. visit of a B-52H and seen with individual D-Day marks.

 The A&AEE Sea Fury VZ345 Taxiing out on the Monday following the show was a great highlight. The Royal Aircraft Establishment contributed some other great aircraft to the International Tattoo of that year. Below, I have included that elusive Devon C2 and Comet 4 A.E.W. and, of course, the DC-3 Dakota that now flies with the BBMF back then in the Royal Aircraft Establishment colours.

British Aerospace displayed their Nimrod AEW3 and Tornado F.2. and European Atlantics were plentiful.

 The U.S. again contributed heavily to the central theme with various HC-130Ns, P-3s, and an S-3A Viking from the U.S.N. Carrier Forrestal.

A footnote: the I.A.T. airshow was only held every two years back in the early days.

International Air Tattoo 1981

VZ345 Seafury T-20 A&AEE, departing the 1981 I.A.T. on departures Monday. Fate:- stored at Duxford for the Imperial War Museum.

International Air Tattoo 1981

VZ467/01 Meteor F8 RAF. To civil register as G-METE.

International Air Tattoo 1981

XA880 Devon C2 RAE. To civil as G-BVXR.

International Air Tattoo 1981

WA662 Meteor T7 R.A.E. Fate:- Doncaster Aeroventure.

International Air Tattoo1981

104761 CF-104G 439SQN RCAF (Tiger colour scheme). Perhaps one of the most iconic F-104s to grace European skies. Passed to Turkey as 62-761.

International Air tattoo 1981

XZ452/101-VL Sea Harrier FRS1. W/O 06 May 1982.

International Air Tattoo1981

XR716/AS Lightning 5SQN R.A.F. Fate:- Scrapped.

International Air Tattoo 1981

XV814/814 Comet 4AEW R.A.E. departing back to R.A.E. Farnborough. Fate:- Scrapped.

International Air Tattoo 1981

D.2-03 F-27MAR Esc.802 SpAF. What a star aircraft for 1981. Stored at Cuatro Vientos and for sale.

International Air Tattoo1981

1161 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. Status:- withdrawn from use.

International Air tattoo1981

69-0255 F-4G SP 81st TFS/10th TRW USAF. Status:- to a QF-4G of the82 ATRS and written off 30 March 2004.

International Air tattoo 1981

XL160 Victor K2 57SQN R.A.F. I nearly forgot how good they looked in these colours. Taxiing into the static park on the Friday arrivals. 
Fate scrapped.

International Air Tattoo1981

A-018 Saab A-35XD Esr722. Fate:- Scrapped.

International Air Tattoo 1981

161122/JA-7 VX-1 P3C USN. Still active as a P3 SPA VPU-2.

International Air Tattoo1981

140110 CP-140 VP-405 RCAF. Active, although not in this pleasing scheme.

International Air Tattoo 1981

1609 C-130E 16SQN RSAF. To Turkey as 68-1609. Note that full gloss finish.

International Air Tattoo 1981RAF Greenham Common

60-0057/5D-C B-52H 410th BW USAF is the first H model to visit the U.K. It is currently with the 93rd BS AFRC.

International Air Tattoo 1981

Here's a better view of the 5D-C D-Day markings. Also, look at the Friends of International enclosure, which has folding wooden chairs. There were also speakers set high on posts and a barbed-wire fence. Indeed, there was no grandstand!

International Air Tattoo1981

74-01563/63 527th TFTAS/10th TFW USAF. To the U.S.N. as 741563.

International Air Tattoo1981

61+01 BR1150 Atlantic MFG-3 WGN. Fate instructional airframe, the fuselage only is visible at Nordholz as 61+21.

1981 International Air Tattoo

49 BR1150 Atlantic 24F FN. Stored at Nimes Garons.

International Air Tattoo 1981

MM40111/41-73, 41 Stormo ItAF. Fate:- Hangared at Cagliari-Elmas, Sardinia, withdrawn from use.

International Air tattoo 1981

35+12 RF-4E AKG51 WGAF. To Turkey as 69-7459.

International Air tattoo 1981

ZA947 DC-3 Dakota 111 RAE. Today, it flies with the BBMF at R.A.F. Coningsby.

International Air Tattoo 1981

MM61992 46-06 C-130H ItAF arrives on Monday, 29 June. Transferred to Brazil as FAB2479.

International Air Tattoo 1981 Greenham Common

63-9816/PA C-130E 193rd ECS/PA ANG, USAF. Fate:- scrapped.

1981 International Air Tattoo

122/D 32F  FN SA321G Super Frelon. It was withdrawn from use and stored at Lanvéoc-Poulmi. On 25 July 1979, it visited the Culdrose air day.

International Air Tattoo 1981

63-7773/PA EC130E 193rd ECS/PA ANG, USAF. Preserved at Fort Indiantown, it carries the 193rd's markings ' Let's roll.'

XZ286/86 Nimrod AEW3 British Aerospace 1981 Greenham Common

XZ286/86 Nimrod AEW3 British Aerospace. It was seen carrying out its display, which included touch and goes, but it was not based at Greenham Common during the show.

Belgian Air Force 'Swallows' display team 1981

ST-25 Siai 260MB of the Belgian Air Force 'Swallows' display team.

RT-684 TF-104G 726 SQN RDAF 1981 Greenham Common

RT-684 TF-104G 726 SQN RDAF. Delivered to Taiwan as 4153.

TC-70 KC-130H 1SQN  Argentinian air force 1981

TC-70 KC-130H 1SQN  Argentinian air force. Active.

122/D Super Frelon 32F F.N 1981 Greenham CVommon

122/D Super Frelon 32F F.N. in the static park.

79-0076/B.T. 53rd TFS/36th TFW USAF 1981 Greenham Common

79-0076/B.T. 53rd TFS/36th TFW USAF on the flight line.

20+01 F-104G JBG 31 WGAF

20+01 F-104G JBG 31 WGAF. Transferred to Turkey in 2001.

1161 F-5E 11SQN RJAF Greenham Common 1981

1161 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. Fate:- Wfu.

1151 F-5E 11SQN RJAF Greenham common 1981

1151 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. Fate:- Wfu.

CF-104G's of the Canadian armed forces 1981

CF-104G's of the Canadian armed forces.

Four display aircraft and two spares are CF-104G's 104756, 827, 826, 862, 822 and 749 RCAF 1981

Four display aircraft and two spares are CF-104 Gs 104756, 827, 826, 862, 822, and 749 RCAF from their European base at Solingen in West Germany.

CC-132 132001 CAF Greenham Common 1981

Canada flew three aircraft types in the 1981 flying program. Seen here is CC-132 132001, which was sold and given civil registration C-GJSZ.

115463 424SQN RCAF CC115 Buffalo 1981

115463 424SQN RCAF CC115 Buffalo, displaying its short landing capability. It was sold in South Africa on the civilian register as ZS-SRA.

A-10A 81st TFW USAF 1981 Greenham common

77-0242/WR A-10A 81st TFW USAF. Five aircraft participated, one static with green camouflage and another four for flying, including 242. This aircraft passed to Alconbury (A.R.) and was scrapped on 28 January 2016.

XM352/92 Jet Provest T3A 7 FTS RAF 1981 Greenham common

XM352/92 Jet Provest T3A 7 FTS RAF. Now civil as N35378.

69-5796 HH-53C 67th ARRS USAF 1981 Greenham common

69-5796 HH-53C 67th ARRS USAF. Passed to the 309th AMARG.

TC-70 KC-130H 1SQN Argentinian A.F. 1981 Greenham common

TC-70 KC-130H 1SQN Argentinian A.F.

35+58 RF-4E AKG-51 WGAF 1981

35+58 RF-4E AKG-51 WGAF. Passed to Turkey as 69-7505.

'Karo As' Austrian air force with their SAAB 1050E aircraft 1981

'Karo As' Austrian air force with their SAAB 1050E aircraft. They are 427/G, 434/D, 4312/A, 424/D, 404/D and 414/D.

U-280 SP-61A Esk 722 RDAF 1981 Greenham Common

U-280 SP-61A Esk 722 RDAF. To Carson helicopters as N10051.

40 and 32 12F FN F-8 Crusaders 1981 Greenham Common

40 and 32 12F FN F-8 Crusaders, on the flight line and flying both days.


53-3129 AC-130A 711th SOES/AFRES USAF. Fate:- Preserved at Eglin A.F.B. as 'First Leader'


64-14853 HC-130H 305th ARRS/AFRES USAF. Fate:- Stored 309th AMARG.


65-0974 HC-130H ARRS/NY ANG USAF. Today, it is still active as an HC-130P.


69-5827 HC-130N 67th ARRS USAF. Fate:- Stored with the 309th AMARG.


66-8714/SP F-4D 23rd TFS/52nd TFW. Fate:- Stored at N.A.S. Fort Worth.


68-3805 OV-10A 601st TCW USAF. To Venezuela as 2865.


115463 CC115 RCAF.


159768/701-AA VS-30 S-3A USN USS Forrestal W/O.


K-3019 NF-5A 315SQN RNethAF. Fate:- To Turkey as 3019.


Fiat G-91PAN 'Frecce Tricolori' ItAF is making its last visit to the International Air Tattoo with the G-91.


63-8003 KC-135A 410th BW USAF, now an R model with the NJ A.N.G., taxis into the static park. Note those irritating speakers right in front of the friend's enclosure. Still, everybody looked happy, even if the weather felt more like Winter. The RAE DC-3 ZA947 is waiting to cross. Happy Days.


062 Seaking MK43 330SQN RNorAF. Still active.


118 Etentard 1VP 6F FN. Fate:- Scrapped.


161130/LD-2 VP-10 P-3C USN. Status, stored 309th AMARG.


161011/LK-1 VP-26 P-3C USN. Status scrapped.


ZA267 Tornado F2 British Aerospace. Status to Syerston as an Instructional airframe.


MM6251/7 Fiat G-91PAN making its last visit to an International Air Tattoo.


M-439 SE3160 Alouette 111 ESK722 RDAF. Status to civil register as HB-XOF. Behind the tail rotor can be seen the Belgian Naval H-34A B-4/OT-ZKD.


40+81 Alpha Jet JBG43 WGAF.To the civil register as N81XA.


At the show's close, it was apparent that the newer aircraft were becoming superior to older types, and a considerable change was coming.
Reflecting on that change, one now looks back with fond memories and wishes to re-visit all those ageing slides or photographs for some rich diversity.

I'm still searching through the past!

Happy Days!

















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