The third International Air Tattoo, staged at RAF Fairford, featured the first-ever British airshow flying demonstration of the Legendary Lockheed SR-71A (Blackbird) in the flying programme. It flew on Sunday afternoon. The airshow's central Theme for the 1989 airshow was 'Sky Shield 89'. An incredible selection of aircraft attended this now-iconic bi-annual event. It was still a time when one was never sure what would arrive at the show, and it was a surprise for many of us when the two USAF A-10As from England Airbase arrived from Germany, where they were deployed on exercise and, indeed, an aviation photographer's dream with their shark's mouth markings.
The central Theme brought many interesting types, including the very smart CC-115 (DHC-5A) Buffalo from Canada with its bright Yellow colour scheme, the interesting CASA 212 SAR from the Spanish Air Force, P-3 Orions from Australia and New Zealand, European-based Atlantics, and C-130 Hercules in many models all adding to the lineup.
The United States Airforce Strategic Air Command supplied two B-1B Lancers from the 319th Bomber Wing at Grand Forks and two B-52s from the 42nd and 2nd Bomber wings. One of each type is included in the flying program, along with an FB-111A Aardvark from the 380th BW at Plattsburgh. A second example from the 509th BW was seen in the static display alongside an F-111F from the 48th TFW at RAF Lakenheath and an EF-111A from RAF Upper Heyford.
It's best to get on with the photographs. Sadly, it is not my best work, but the slides are thirty-six years old and have been well-travelled.
17967 SR-71A 9SRW DET4 USAF.
79-176/EL A10A Thunderbolt II 76FS 23rdTFW USAF from England Air Force base USA.
79-176/EL A10A Thunderbolt II 76FS 23rdTFW USAF taxiing at RAF Fairford after arrival from Germany.
Status It was moved to AMARG in March 1992.
England Airbase also closed down in 1992.
80-0223/EL A-10A 76FS 23rdTFW. USAF.
115456 CC-115 (DHC-5A) Buffalo 422Sqn RCAF, departing RAF Fairford.
Status preserved at the National Air Force Museum of Canada at Trenton.
69-0248/SP F-4G 480TFS USAFE.
Status conversion to QF-4G Written off 2002.
110 Mirage F1EJ 1Sqn RJAF flew in the display, and 115 was on static display.
C-130, P-3 and CP-140 are joining in the unfinished lineup.
Status preserved Fort Indiantown PA, marked 'Lets Roll'
Status active with 22ARW.
XX830 Jaguar T2A ETPS.
Scrapped.
Status stored 309th AMARG.
86-0123/DY B-1B Lancer 319BW 'Lester' USAF.
Wearing the European One colour scheme.
86-0123/DY B-1B Lancer 319BW 'Lester' USAF.
The 'BONE' at its best.
59-2565 B-52G 'Big Smoo II' 2BW USAF.
Status stored AMARG.
Shoot deployed.
AR-111 S35XD Draken Esk729 RDAF.
Status Stored.
AT-151 Sk.35XD Draken Esk729 RDAF.
Status is last seen at the Mojave Air and Spaceport as N166TP.
Status W/O May 1995.
68-0286 General Dynamics FB-111A (Aardvark) 380BW USAF from Plattsburgh AFB.
Status preserved.
The Spanish Air Force demonstration team "Patrulla Águila" ( Eagle Patrol) performed their aerial demonstration with CASA-101Avio Jets from San Javier in Murcia.
64-0566 MC-130E 'Combat Talon 1' 7SOS/352SOG USAF.
Its Fulton surface-to-air recovery system was used until its 1996 departure to retrieve persons from the ground. It involved an overall harness and self-inflating balloon, of which the MC-130E engaged the line with its Yoke and the individual was reeled into the aircraft.
Status stored.
ZA947 Dakota C.3 RAE. Arriving from RAE Farnborough.
Status current with the RAF BBMF.
Status sadly scrapped.
Status sold to the Pakistan Air Force.
61-0284 KC-135A 22ARW USAF.
Status Active.
83-4616 C-22B ANG/Bureau.
Status stored at BA115 Orange/Caritat Air Base.
Status dumped at Ben Slimane.
Status, active with the AFRC.
D.3B-6 CASA C212 Grupo 22 Eda. This CASA was part of the Sea Search theme and a C212 from Sweden.
TE.12B-41/79-94 of Gruppo 79.
268 and 279/K SH-14B Lynx helicopters from the Netherlands Navy performed an impressive pair display and a solo demonstration.
279/K SH-14D Kon Marine.
Status scrapped.
Portuguese Air Force demonstration team 'Asad de Portugal' with their Cessna T-37c's commencing their display.
The seven aircraft at Fairford were 2404,06,07,14,26,29, and 2430.
Status, 2014, is exhibited at the 'Museu de Ar' at the Sintra Air Base, while the other survivor is 2429, to be found at the Military Hospital in Lisbon.
57-2607 KC-135 146TFS/112TFG Pennsylvania ANG.
Status Used as an Instructional Airframe at Wright Patterson Air Bases School of Medicine.
70-0987/PT LTV A-7D Corsair II 112TFG/Penn ANG.
Looking pristine as it arrives at Fairford.
Status scrapped at Tuson.
73-1002/PT LTV A-7D Corsair II 112TFG/Penn ANG.
Status preserved Greater Pittsburg.
112TFG was seen heading back to the USA.
161219 Vought TA-7H 345 Mira Hellenic Air Force.
It does not look as pristine as the Penn Air Guards A-7s above, but it is a very welcome participant.
Status Stored.
159952 Vought A-7H Corsair II 345 Mira Hellenic Air Force,
Status Preserved as the gate guard at Araxos Air Base.
86-0111 B-1B 'Lancer' 'Ace in the hole' 49BS/319BW USAF.
Departs for home and is still active.
NZ7005/05 C-130H 40Sqn RNZAF.
Status still active with 40Sqn.
Taken from the car park as we always had to leave the F.I.A.T. grandstand on the departures Monday before all the aircraft had departed.
Status preserved at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram.
1710 HC-130H USCG departing with its cargo of an HH-65A Dauphin that had been displayed at the show.
Status Hercules was written off in 2006, and the HH-65A is active as an MH-65A.
ST-32 SF260M BAF was the only visitor from Belgium in 1989.
Status Wfu.
57-2603 KC-135E 'City of Mereno' 336ARS/452ARW/AFRES.
Status active.
58-0195 B-52G 'Eternal Guardian' 42BW USAF from Loring Air Force Base.
Status stored 309th AMARG.
59-2565 B-52G 'Big Smoo II' 2BW is coming from Barksdale Air Force Base and is seen departing ahead of XH558 Vulcan B.2.
Status stored 309th AMARG.
64-14841/OF RC-135V 'Rivet Jiont' 55SRW USAF.
Status active.
142802 CC-142 Dash 8 412Sqn RCAF.
Status to the civil register as C-GJVB.
Happy Days, indeed!
