SR-71A (Blackbird) of the 9th SRW USAF impresses at IAT 1985.

One aircraft stood out above all at the 1985 International Air Tattoo, 61-17979, the excellent Black SR-71A from the 9th S.R.W. United States Air Force that arrived from Beale Air Force Base in the U.S.A. After spending the weekend of the public airshow sitting proudly in the static park, Monday would see its pilot put it through what was probably the best-ever U.K. demonstration of the type.

The central theme of the 1985 International Air Tattoo was the 'Sky Tanker', but for many, the memory will be Monday's departure of the Blackbird, which was singing quite literally. 

It was designed by Kelly Johnson and built at Lockheed's Skunk Works; it could reach Mach 3 and over 80,000 feet; it was commissioned by the CIA as a spy plane to replace the U-2 (black) spy plane, which had become vulnerable to Soviet missiles.

Although it had come under hostile fire on numerous occasions, not one SR-71A was lost to enemy fire; the concept was that by the time the aircraft was seen and a missile launched, it would be too far away to be tracked and hit.

A genuine legend of the skies.
     

Following the weekend's airshow, the participating aircraft departed on Monday. We saw the best SR-71A demonstration in the U.K. during its departure flight from R.A.F. Fairford.

61-17979 SR-71A 9th SRW USAF, getting airborne.

Sitting in the Friends of International Air Tattoo grandstand, one had to use a wide-angle lens to capture the entire frame of that massive beast.

Flaming into the grey, overcast Gloucestershire sky.

Still reheating while preparing for a low approach at Fairford from left to right.

We were treated to a show of raw power in typical British weather.

Fast and low!

A left-wing down was followed by the right, and a thank you from the SR-71A crew to the International Air Tattoo.

My grandstand seat vibrates with the "Blackbirds" extraordinary power this time.

The crew retracted the landing gear before returning for a fast pass.

Pouring on the power was a magical moment for lots of us diehards.

The next stop was home.

 Can anybody remember the SR-71A that visited the Farnborough Airshow? Having crossed New York only one and a half hours later, it passed over R.A.E. Farnborough. While turning on finals to land at Farnborough, it flew over the Netherlands at incredible speed. 

We will have to wait a long time to see this near extravagance of power again.

Sadly, 61-17979, SR-71A, 9th SRW, USAF, is preserved at Lackland A.F.B. today.

Happy days!

Historic Royal Saudi air force aircraft found in the desert after the Jeddah Kandara airport closes in 1981.

For years, Jeddah Kandara airport was the gateway to the Western provinces of Saudi Arabia and, for Hajj pilgrims, the pivotal starting point of their pilgrimage to Medina and Mecca.

For an aviation enthusiast, it was home to the number 8 wing of the RSAF and their C-130 Hercules. Air France also had a facility for its international flights. This, in turn, produced many FAF C-160 Transall flights from Djibouti and transits of Pakistan Air Force Mirage-111s and Singapore Air Force T-33s on delivery flights. 
   

Looking out across the airport from my vantage point, one could see a distant group of aircraft scattered across the desert. With temperatures touching 50 degrees Celsius, the heat haze inevitably made serial reading and closer identification of types difficult.

In 1981, the new King Abdulaziz International Airport, north of Jeddah city, opened with all the latest high-tech and glitz, and the now-defunct Kandara Airport became a development site. As with most construction programmes in Saudi Arabia, where speed is the critical factor, a new highway was to be built, progressing across the disused airport.

Amazingly, the new highway drove straight through that group of dumped aircraft, and once the tarmac was laid, I made a trip to the site.

It was not that straightforward. With photography banned and many construction workers busy along the route, I would have to be careful not to be seen, especially when photographing military aircraft. Driving out in a GMC pickup truck would allow me to blend in with the work teams.

Heavy machinery had moved or pushed aside some aircraft at the site. It was an impressive sight, with MK52 Vampires, T-28s, T34s, C-54s, A-26 Invaders, and many more planes dumped in a dust bowl.

Unfortunately, it was more complex than I had thought, and I was trying not to be visible whilst taking the photographs.

Below are the photographs I took while worrying about a passing police car and the construction crews' puzzled looks.

  

Looking out over the vast airport's barren desert, you can see the dumped aircraft in the top left-hand corner. Rumour was that the Catalina (bottom right) belonged to Jacques Cousteau, studying the Red Sea coral reef.

To my disadvantage, photography was always tricky due to the intense heat haze, which was only exacerbated by using a 500mm lens. This is one of my last photographs at the old Jeddah airport.

Driving out to the dust bowl, this is the first view of the wrecks.

Vampire Mk52s and DHC-1 Chipmunks 

55281 T-34A RSAF

450 C-54 RSAF is now preserved at the Riyadh Museum, static outside.

The serial number of the Cambrian Airways DC-3 is unknown. Interestingly, the sand has stripped away some paint, revealing the RAF Auxiliary Air Force marks. Any information on this aircraft would be much appreciated.

A closer study of those markings shows it is far from its old home at Cardiff Rhoose Airport.

Vampires, Harvard, and Chipmunk aircraft with the city of Jeddah beyond.

205 T-6 Havard RSAF.

 Probably HZ-ABE, but the star here was the far A-26 of the RSAF. Sadly, a police car stopped on the new road 'gulp.' I am not 100 per cent sure, but this aircraft was TA-26B 301 RSAF, now displayed at the Riyadh museum.

5B-CAV Cypriot registered DC-3. Looks like it suffered a fire. I am unsure if this was a Haji transport aircraft bought for spares. I have a reference to 5B-CBD being preserved, or is it the same aircraft?

Beech 18, under the cheatline, clearly carries the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but above it is too badly weathered to read. This aircraft is now perched on a pole at a roundabout in Jeddah. 

A historic 'seal', the similarity to this Saudia airline wingless F-27, and a beached seal?

450 C-54 RSAF and other various types.

611 DHC-1 Chipmunk RSAF.

49-1681 T-28A RSAF.

This aircraft was previously assigned to the Mobile Air Material Area at Brookley AFB, Alabama.

In 1957, it entered the Military Assistance Programme (MAP) and was transferred to the Royal Saudi Air Force as 681.

603 DHC-1 Chipmunk RSAF and Vampire MK52.

509 Vampire MK52 RSAF.

Vampire MK52 RSAF Identity is unknown. These two aircraft, presumed to be instructional airframes, were transferred to the engineering faculty at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. 

51-7723 T-28A RSAF.

T-28A s/n 51-7723 (MSA174-576) was also assigned to (MOBAR) Air Material Command at Brookley AFB before transfer to the Royal Saudi Air Force as 7723 through the Military Assistance Programme (MAP)

Seen here at King Abdulaziz University, where it would later become a ground instructional airframe.

  

51-7723 T-28A RSAF.

What an impressive aircraft the T-28 was! 51-7723 still looks great after years of neglect in the desert.

There you have it, looking back some thirty-eight years. Thank goodness I wasn't arrested, and I can enjoy looking at the slides from a bygone era. They were all captured on Kodachrome 64.

Anybody familiar with Jeddah back then would probably know of the Hotel Kandara, standing right opposite the Kandara airport's terminal and Haji terminal, quite the oasis for a Western worker based in Jeddah. 

Happy memories, indeed!

International Air Tattoo 1981 at RAF Greenham Common.

What was different from the 1979 International Tattoo to the 1981 event? The central theme of 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 was 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 the 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 US again contributed heavily to the central theme with various HC-130Ns, P-3s, and an S-3A Viking from the US Navy Carrier Forrestal.

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

VZ345 Seafury T-20 A&AEE, departing the 1981 I.A.T. on Monday. 

Status:- Stored at Duxford for the Imperial War Museum.

VZ467/01 Meteor F8 RAF. 

Status: To be registered in the civil register as G-METE.

XA880 Devon C2 RAE. 

Status:- To civil register as G-BVXR.

WA662 Meteor T7 R.A.E. 

Status:-Doncaster Aeroventure.

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

Status:-Passed to Turkey as 62-761.

XZ452/101-VL Sea Harrier FRS1. 

Status:-W/O 06 M06 May2.

XR716/AS Lightning 5SQN R.A.F. 

Status:- Scrapped.

XV814/814 Comet 4AEW R.A.E. departing back to R.A.E. Farnborough. 

Status:- Scrapped.

D.2-03 F-27MAR Esc.802 SpAF. What a star aircraft for 1981. 

Status:-Stored at Cuatro Vientos and for sale.

1161 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. 

Status:- withdrawn from use.

69-0255 F-4G SP 81st TFS/10th TRW USAF. 

Status:- to a QF-4G of the 82 ATRS and written off on 30th30 March 4.

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.

A-018 Saab A-35XD Esr722. 

Status:- Scrapped.

161122/JA-7 VX-1 P3C USN. 

Status:- Still active as a P3 SPA VPU-2.

140110 CP-140 VP-405 RCAF. 

Status:- Active, although not in this pleasing scheme.

1609 C-130E 16SQN RSAF. 

Status:-To Turkey as 68-1609. Note the full gloss finish.

60-0057/5D-C B-52H 410th BW USAF is the first H model to visit the U.K. 

Status: Currently with the 93rd BS AFRC.

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! And not like today, there were no arguments; everybody just got on with it.

74-01563/63 527th TFTAS/10th TFW USAF. 

Status:- To the U.S.N. as 741563.

61+01 BR1150 Atlantic MFG-3 WGN. 

Status:- Instructional airframe, the fuselage only is visible at Nordholz as 61+21.

49 BR1150 Atlantic 24F FN. 

Status:- Stored at Nimes Garons.

MM40111/41-73, 41 Stormo ItAF. 

Fate:- Hangared at Cagliari-Elmas, Sardinia, withdrawn from use.

35+12 RF-4E AKG51 WGAF. 

Status:- To Turkey as 69-7459.

ZA947 DC-3 Dakota 111 RAE. Today, 

Status:- Today it flies with the BBMF at R.A.F. Coningsby.

MM61992 46-06 C-130H ItAF arrives on Monday, 29 J29 Junetatus:- Transferred to Brazil as FAB2479.

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

Status:- scrapped.

122/D 32F  FN SA321G Super Frelon. It was withdrawn from use and stored at Lanvéoc-Poulmi. On 25 J25 July 9, it visited the Culdrose air day.

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. It was seen carrying out its display, which included touch-and-goes, but it was not based at Greenham Common during the show.

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

RT-684 TF-104G 726 SQN RDAF. 

Status:- Delivered to Taiwan as 4153.

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

Status:-Active.

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

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

20+01 F-104G JBG 31 WGAF.

Status:- Transferred to Turkey in 2001.

1161 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. 

Status:-Wfu.

1151 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. 

Status:-Wfu.

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

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

Canada flew three aircraft types in the 1981 flying program. Seen here is CC-132 132001.

Status:-Sold and given the civil registration C-GJSZ.

115463 424SQN RCAF CC-115 Buffalo, demonstrating its short-landing capability.

Status:- Sold in South Africa and placed on the civilian register as ZS-SRA.

77-0242/WR A-10A 81st TFW USAF. Five aircraft participated, one static with green camouflage and the other four for flying, including 242. 

Status:- Transferred to USAF Alconbury (AR.) and scrapped on 28 J28 January 6.

XM352/92 Jet Provest T3A 7 FTS RAF. 

Status:-Now on the US civil register as N35378.

69-5796 HH-53C 67th ARRS USAF. 

Status:- Passed to the 309th AMARG.

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

35+58 RF-4E AKG-51 WGAF. 

Status:- Passed to Turkey as 69-7505.

The 'Karo As' display team from the 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. 

Status:- To Carson helicopters as N10051.

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

53-3129 AC-130A 711th SOES/AFRES USAF. 

Status:- Preserved at Eglin A.F.B. as 'First Leader'

64-14853 HC-130H 305th ARRS/AFRES USAF. 

Status:- Stored 309th AMARG.

65-0974 HC-130H ARRS/NY ANG USAF. 

Status:- Today, it is still active as an HC-130P.

69-5827 HC-130N 67th ARRS USAF. 

Status:- Stored with the 309th AMARG.

66-8714/SP F-4D 23rd TFS/52nd TFW. 

Status:- Stored at N.A.S. Fort Worth.

68-3805 OV-10A 601st TCW USAF. 

Status:- To Venezuela as 2865.

115463 CC115 RCAF.

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

Status:- W/O.

K-3019 NF-5A 315SQN RNethAF. 

Status:- To Turkey as 3019.

The Italian Air Force's 'Frecce Tricolori' Aerobatic demonstration team were making their last visit to the International Air Tattoo with the Fiat G-91PAN.

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 Royal Aircraft Establishment DC-3 ZA947 is waiting to cross. Happy Days.

062 Seaking MK43 330SQN RNorAF. 

Status:- Still active.

118 Etentard 1VP 6F FN. 

Status:- 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. 

 Behind the tail rotor is the Belgian Naval H-34A B-4/OT-ZKD.

Status:- To the Swiss civil register as HB-XOF.

40+81 Alpha Jet JBG43 WGAF.

Status:- To the civil register as N81XA.

At the show's close, it was apparent that newer aircraft were surpassing older types, and a significant change was on the horizon.
Reflecting on that change, one now looks back with fond memories and wishes to revisit all those ageing slides or photographs for some rich diversity.

I'm still searching through the past!

Happy Days!