International Air Tattoo 1983 was the year of the Phantom, with an excellent turnout of thirty aircraft and many variants from the RAF, USAF and WGAF.
Once again, aircraft from across the Globe filled the pans of RAF Greenham Common. Lockheed F-104 Starfighters were to be seen in superior numbers, always a pleasing sight.
The USAF sent an SR-71A. It was the only one I have photographed with high-visibility markings. The Royal Jordanian Air Force sent at least three Mirage F.1s, one into the static display and two for the flight line, with one solo aircraft flying.
Once again, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Aircraft Establishment turned out some interesting aircraft. They included their Bedford-based Vickers Viscount, the Bristol Britannia and newly captured Argentinian air force Pucara up from its new home base at Boscombe Down.
Sadly for Greenham Common, this would be its final International Air Tattoo. The following show in 1985 would transfer to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
64-17890 SR-71A USAF 9 SRW/DET-4 Taxis across Greenham Commons runway heading for the static park.
Status:- Today, preserved Edwards AFB/NASA Dryden collection.
105 and 112 Mirage F.1EJs RJAF 1 SQN on the flight line on a very wet afternoon.
Status:- Stored in the desert, Shaheed Mwaffaq.
XT661 Vickers Viscount from RAE Bedford taxing for take off.
108 Mirage F.1EJ RJAF 1 SQN proudly sits in the static park.
Status:- Stored in the desert at Shaheed Mwaffaq.
112 Mirage F.1EJ RJAF is departing for home on Monday morning.
XT661 Vickers Viscount from RAE Bedford taxing for take off.
Status:- Sadly scrapped.
XX367 Britannia 312F RAF A&AEE.
XX367 Britannia 312F RAF A&AEE.
Status:- Scrapped at Kinshasa (Zaire)
ZD485/15 Pucara RAF A&AEE. Status was captured on 14 Jun 1982 and evaluated by the A&AEE at RAF Boscombe Down.
ZD485/15 Pucara RAF A&AEE. Status was captured on 14 Jun 1982 and evaluated by the A&AEE at RAF Boscombe Down.
Status:- Stored at the RAF Museum Cosford.
XT597 Phantom FG.1 RAF A&AEE 25th Anniversary markings, being towed alongside the friends of International Air Tattoo enclosure with its elaborate security measures.
XT597 Phantom FG.1 RAF A&AEE 25th Anniversary markings, being towed alongside the friends of International Air Tattoo enclosure with its elaborate security measures.
Status:- Preserved at Bentwaters.
XV501/B Phantom FGR.2 RAF. With its Falkland Islands marks. The Phantoms were never used in aggression whilst serving in the Falklands, but they did look like they meant business.
XV415/P Phantom FGR.2 92 SQN from RAF Germany at RAF Wildenrath.
XV501/B Phantom FGR.2 RAF 23 Sqn. from RAF Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.
Status:- Sadly, W/O 02 Aug 1988.
XV501/B Phantom FGR.2 RAF. With its Falkland Islands marks. The Phantoms were never used in aggression whilst serving in the Falklands, but they did look like they meant business.
XV415/P Phantom FGR.2 92 SQN from RAF Germany at RAF Wildenrath.
Status:-Preserved Boulmer, 9163M.
38+72 F-4F JG-74 WGAF.
68-0480/RS F-4E USAF 86th TFW from Ramstein Germany.
Status:- Transferred to Greece and now dumped at Tangara airbase.
38+72 F-4F JG-74 WGAF.
Transferred to TTC/20FS 72-1282/HO W/O 16 Oct 1998.
35+65 RF4E AkG-52 WGAF.
35+65 RF4E AkG-52 WGAF.
Status:- Transferred to Turkey as 69-7512.
XT901/Y FGR.2 RAF 56 Sqn.
XT901/Y FGR.2 RAF 56 Sqn.
Status:- No longer smiling, but scrapped.
26+52 F-104G JbG-33 WGAF.
26+52 F-104G JbG-33 WGAF.
Status:- To Turkey as 7074.
26+89 26+83 F-104Gs MFG-2 WGN Silver wings display duo.
26+89 26+83 F-104Gs MFG-2 WGN Silver wings display duo.
Status:- Transferred to Greece as 7435/FG435 and 7429, respectively.
FX-99 F-104G 10 Wing FAB.
FX-99 F-104G 10 Wing FAB.
Status:- Preserved at Markham Airport, Toronto, Canada.
60 Super Etendard FN 11F. 50 of the same unit has departed for its display, chocks away.
60 Super Etendard FN 11F. 50 of the same unit has departed for its display, chocks away.
Status:- Crashed on 07 Nov 1995.
108 Etendard 1VP 16F FN joins the Alize and Super Frelon of the French Navy in the static park.
108 Etendard 1VP 16F FN joins the Alize and Super Frelon of the French Navy in the static park.
Status:- Crashed on 21 Nov 1983.
56 BR 1050 Alize 4F FN departing for France on Monday of departures.
60 SA321G Super Frelon 32F FN.
Status:- Preserved at the Rochefort Naval Aviation Museum.
56 BR 1050 Alize 4F FN departing for France on Monday of departures.
Status:- Scrapped June 2008.
72-0175/PT A-7D 146 TFS Penn ANG USAF. 72-0194 was parked alongside in the static, their support tanker 59-1484 KC-135E Penn ANG was also in the static and an EC-130E 63-9817 193rd ECS Penn ANG USAF.
72-0175/PT A-7D 146 TFS Penn ANG USAF. 72-0194 was parked alongside in the static, their support tanker 59-1484 KC-135E Penn ANG was also in the static and an EC-130E 63-9817 193rd ECS Penn ANG USAF.
Status:- 72-0175 preserved at Tinker AFB, 72-0194 scrapped HVF West. The KC-135E was returned to the 309th AMARG, and the EC-130E was dumped at HVF West.
79-1713 KC10A 2 BW USAF arrives at Greenham, outshining all comers in its high-vis colours.
79-1713 KC10A 2 BW USAF arrives at Greenham, outshining all comers in its high-vis colours.
Still active with the 60th AMW.
80-0544/HR F16A 50th TFW USAFE partnered by 80-0563 in the static, having transitioned from their F-4E Phantoms and making their first appearance with the F16A. They were the first USAF overseas unit to receive the F-16A.
80-0544/HR F16A 50th TFW USAFE partnered by 80-0563 in the static, having transitioned from their F-4E Phantoms and making their first appearance with the F16A. They were the first USAF overseas unit to receive the F-16A.
Status:- Transferred to Jordan as 220.
69-6609 HH1N 67 ARRS USAF.
69-6609 HH1N 67 ARRS USAF.
Status:- To the civil register as HB-BPU.
256/V Atlantic 321SQN MLD, seen before its incident with the photo bus, which damaged a wingtip.
256/V Atlantic 321SQN MLD, seen before its incident with the photo bus, which damaged a wingtip.
I later read that the same bus driver was involved in a collision with a boat. Neither accident was of his making.
Status:- First transferred to France as 63 and then Pakistan as 94, preserved at the Karachi Air Force Museum.
XP753 Lightning F.3 LTF RAF.
XP753 Lightning F.3 LTF RAF.
Status:- Whilst being flown as above by Flt Lt Thompson on 26 Aug 83, the aircraft stalled trying to avoid the clifftop near Scarborough, where it was due to display, sadly claiming the life of its pilot.
99+35 Canberra WGAF GeoMilAmt.
Transferred to Portugal as 15222.
MM61961 PD.808 71 Gruppo AMI Taxis for take-off on departure day.
MM61961 PD.808 71 Gruppo AMI Taxis for take-off on departure day.
Status: Preserved at the Museo Storico dell'Aeronautica Militare Italiana.
62-4462 T-39A 58 MAS USAF visiting the show.
62-4462 T-39A 58 MAS USAF visiting the show.
Status:- Now an Instructional airframe at Charleston.
132001 CC132 412 SQN RCAF.
XR443 Sea Heron C.1, RN Yeovilton station flight.
Status:- Exported to the US civil register, serial unknown.
NZ7271 B.727 40 SQN RNZAF.
Status:-Stored on New Zealand's South Island at Christchurch.
132001 CC132 412 SQN RCAF.
J-252 F16A 322 SQN RNethAF 40th Anniversary SQN marks.
Status:- Sadly, it suffered a fatal bird strike on 04 Oct 83, resulting in the pilot's loss.
K-3021 and K-3026 both NF5A 314 SQN RNethAF.
Status:- K-3021 was transferred to Turkey as 70-3021.
XT459/D Wessex HU.5 845 SQN RN.
Preserved at the National Museum of Flight, East Fortune airfield, Lothian, Scotland, it was a Falklands veteran.
Once again, a fantastic four days of pure military aviation joy and a nostalgic trip back in time, reading this report.
Happy Days!
