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.
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.
VZ345 Seafury T-20 A&AEE, departing the 1981 I.A.T. on departures Monday. Fate:- stored at Duxford for the Imperial War Museum.
VZ467/01 Meteor F8 RAF. To civil register as G-METE.
XA880 Devon C2 RAE. To civil as G-BVXR.
WA662 Meteor T7 R.A.E. Fate:- Doncaster Aeroventure.
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.
XZ452/101-VL Sea Harrier FRS1. W/O 06 May 1982.
XR716/AS Lightning 5SQN R.A.F. Fate:- Scrapped.
XV814/814 Comet 4AEW R.A.E. departing back to R.A.E. Farnborough. Fate:- Scrapped.
D.2-03 F-27MAR Esc.802 SpAF. What a star aircraft for 1981. 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 the82 ATRS and written off 30 March 2004.
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. Fate:- Scrapped.
161122/JA-7 VX-1 P3C USN. Still active as a P3 SPA VPU-2.
140110 CP-140 VP-405 RCAF. Active, although not in this pleasing scheme.
1609 C-130E 16SQN RSAF. To Turkey as 68-1609. Note that full gloss finish.
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!
74-01563/63 527th TFTAS/10th TFW USAF. To the U.S.N. as 741563.
61+01 BR1150 Atlantic MFG-3 WGN. Fate instructional airframe, the fuselage only is visible at Nordholz as 61+21.
49 BR1150 Atlantic 24F FN. 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. To Turkey as 69-7459.
ZA947 DC-3 Dakota 111 RAE. Today, it flies with the BBMF at R.A.F. Coningsby.
MM61992 46-06 C-130H ItAF arrives on Monday, 29 June. Transferred to Brazil as FAB2479.
63-9816/PA C-130E 193rd ECS/PA ANG, USAF. Fate:- scrapped.
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.
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. Delivered to Taiwan as 4153.
TC-70 KC-130H 1SQN Argentinian air force. 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. Transferred to Turkey in 2001.
1161 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. Fate:- Wfu.
1151 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. Fate:- 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 in West Germany.
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, displaying its short landing capability. It was sold in South Africa on the civilian register as ZS-SRA.
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. Now civil as N35378.
69-5796 HH-53C 67th ARRS USAF. Passed to the 309th AMARG.
TC-70 KC-130H 1SQN Argentinian A.F.
35+58 RF-4E AKG-51 WGAF. Passed to Turkey as 69-7505.
'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. 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. 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.
A-018 Saab A-35XD Esr722. Fate:- Scrapped.
161122/JA-7 VX-1 P3C USN. Still active as a P3 SPA VPU-2.
140110 CP-140 VP-405 RCAF. Active, although not in this pleasing scheme.
1609 C-130E 16SQN RSAF. To Turkey as 68-1609. Note that full gloss finish.
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.
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!
74-01563/63 527th TFTAS/10th TFW USAF. To the U.S.N. as 741563.
61+01 BR1150 Atlantic MFG-3 WGN. Fate instructional airframe, the fuselage only is visible at Nordholz as 61+21.
49 BR1150 Atlantic 24F FN. 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. To Turkey as 69-7459.
ZA947 DC-3 Dakota 111 RAE. Today, it flies with the BBMF at R.A.F. Coningsby.
MM61992 46-06 C-130H ItAF arrives on Monday, 29 June. Transferred to Brazil as FAB2479.
63-9816/PA C-130E 193rd ECS/PA ANG, USAF. Fate:- scrapped.
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.
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. Delivered to Taiwan as 4153.
TC-70 KC-130H 1SQN Argentinian air force. 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. Transferred to Turkey in 2001.
1161 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. Fate:- Wfu.
1151 F-5E 11SQN RJAF. Fate:- 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 in West Germany.
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.
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. Now civil as N35378.
69-5796 HH-53C 67th ARRS USAF. Passed to the 309th AMARG.
TC-70 KC-130H 1SQN Argentinian A.F.
35+58 RF-4E AKG-51 WGAF. Passed to Turkey as 69-7505.
'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. To Carson helicopters as N10051.
40 and 32 12F FN F-8 Crusaders, on the flight line and flying both days.
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!
