RNAS Yeovilton airshow 2019 aircraft highlights.

Once again, It's that time of the year. I've piled myself into the van and hit Yeovilton running.
I have seen a few shows here as the years have passed (Lots). I love Yeovilton because the backdrop sometimes allows you to take photographs that could have been made on a training mission away from a military base. At other times, trying to catch the on-base action is excellent.

The following photographs are my take on the 2019 arrivals at RNAS Yeovilton.

XX399 Wildcat AH.1 1Regt departs Yeovilton, passing in front of ZH857 Merlin HM.2 Royal Navy.

 ZZ398 AW159 Wildcat AH.1 of the Army Air Corps departing on its training mission. Firstly, we are treated to some training on base.

ZZ375 and ZZ381 Wildcats HMA2 815NAS RN.

 The first big heavy arrives A7-MAB/MAB C-17A 12Sqn Qatari Airforce, landing on runway 27.

A7-MAB/MAB C-17A landing and dispersing the Rooks.

Caught backtracking on runway 09 A7-MAB/MAB, too big for the taxiways.

MAH/211 Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules Qatar Emiri Air Force making its approach to Yeovilton.

MAH/211 C-130J-30 Qatar Emiri Air Force touching down at Yeovilton.

MAH/211 rolling.

ZM143 F-35B Lightning II RAF.

ZM143 F-35B Lightning II RAF.

ZJ124/H Merin HC.4 Royal Navy.

ZJ125/J Merlin HC.4 Royal Navy.

ZJ125/J Merlin HC.4 Royal Navy.

ZJ137/W Merlin HC.3 Royal Navy.

ZJ137/W Merlin HC.3 Royal Navy.

ZJ137/W Merlin HC.3 and ZJ125 Merlin HC.4 Royal Navy.

Merlin mania!

ZJ125 Merlin HC.4 Royal Navy.

Commando assault salute to the public.

Commando assault salute.

Commando assault final.

Merlin HC.4 and HC.3 head home.

ZH856 Merlin HM.2 Royal Navy.

ZH856 Merlin HM.2 Royal Navy.

036 T-6A Texan II Hellenic Air Force.

036 T-6A Texan II Hellenic Air Force

ZH857 Merlin HN.2 Royal Navy.

ZH857 Merlin HM.2 Royal Navy.

F-AZYI/52 Breguet 1050 Alize. Armor Aero Passion.

130612 CC-130J-30 Hercules RCAF.

140117 Lockheed CP-140 RCAF.

99-0062 C-17A Globemaster III USAF.

08 Blue Alenia C-27J Spartan Lithuanian Air Force.

U.20-2 Cessna 550 Citation II Spanish Navy. Support aircraft for the EAV-8Bs.

VA.1B-37/01-925 and VA.1B24/01-914 McDonnell Douglas EAV-8B Harriers arrive at RNAS Yeovilton.

VA.1B-24/01-914 EAV-8B Spanish Navy.

VA.1B-37/01-925 EAV-8B Spanish Navy.

A lump in the throat moment for many at RNAS Yeovilton on Friday afternoon.

VA.1B-37/01-925 EAV-8B prepares for landing.

FA-101 F-16AM Belgian Air Force.

G-CIBW/XT626 Westland Scout AH.1. Historic aircraft flight trust.

ZF448 Tucano T.1 RAF.

MM62298/41-03 P-72A Italian Air Force.

 G-RNHF/VX281 Hawker Sea Fury T 20S Makes its last pass after completing its display validation late in the evening.

What a fabulous aircraft to finish on.

Happy Days! 

Invasione italiana di Tornado at RAF Honington July 1993

The first deployment of twelve aircraft arrived on the twelfth of July 1993, four from 6 Stormo at Gedi and eight from the 36 Stormo at Giola del Colle. They included aircraft from 156 Gruppo Autonomy.

I spent some time up there hoping to catch some of the action.

Sometimes, there is little to say about a great few days out. Obviously, they were more prolific in years gone past. I came across them recently. They are all from slide film, 64 ASA Kodachrome.

I spent some time up there hoping to catch some of the action.

The ground crews ate and drank most evenings in the local Bury St Edmunds public houses. The consensus regarding the food was that the Lasagne was far from how Mama made it...   

MM7068/36-46 and MM55010/36-56, Itaf Tornados arriving from 36 Stormo at Giola del Colle.

MM55010/36-56, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7024/24, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7018/6-02, Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf from Brescia/Ghedi.

MM7033/6-03, Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf. 

MM7063/63, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM55011/36-55, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf. I believe this aircraft to be W/O 6-6-07.

MM55011/36-55, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7034/6-34, Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf.

MM7063/63, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7070/70, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7024/24, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM5011/36-55, Tornado Itaf leads out a three-ship. 

MM7068/36-46, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7062/62, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7018/6-02 Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf from Gedi.

MM7029/6-25, Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf.

MM7068/36-46, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7055/55, this aircraft is not listed as part of the deployment, I presume it, and 66 below are visitors I was unaware of at the time.

MM7066/36-30, Tornado 36 Stormo presumed visitor as the only replacement aircraft was MM7053/53, arriving on 19/7/1993. That may have been to replace MM7056/36-52, the single aircraft I appear to have yet to record.

I had better crack on and produce the photos of the RAF Tornados captured in the same period.

Happy Days!

Spangdahlem Airbase Open House 1994 and the Belgian Air days at St Trueiden

Spangdahlem airbase, home of the 52nd Fighter Wing of the United States Air Force Europe, was staging its Saturday morning open house in Germany while further North across the border in Belgium, Saint-Trueidens, Brustrum airbase, was hosting the 1994 Belgian Air Day. 

The weekend of the 17th and 18th of September 1994 was a busy time for Military aviation enthusiasts across Europe. Travelling between the two events was also fun as the route involved driving on the part of the Spa Francorchamps motor racing circuit, home of the Belgian Grand Prix. My white Ford Transit had never seen such speed...

The weather favoured Spangdahlem with cloudy sunshine, while St Truiden featured low clouds and rain all weekend. 

Here are the photographers from these two Military aviation events.  

A view over some of the European visitors. All giants of their generation.

84-0009/SP F-15C 52nd FW USAF. The status is active with the 194th FS CA ANG.

84-0027/SP F-15C 53rd FS USAF. The status is active with the 493rd FS/LN.

81-0991 A-10A 81st FS USAF. Current with the 66th WPS/WA.

58-0035 KC-135R 22nd ARW USAF. This aircraft is still active now with the 92nd ARW. 

29+18 MiG-29G JG73 GAF. Transferred to Poland as 4120.

MM7125/3-13 AMX 132 Gruppo ITAF. Aircraft is preserved at Vina di Valle museo Storico dell'Aeronautica Militare Italiana.

MM7142/3-04 AMX 132 Gruppo ITAF. Status is stored but cut into three pieces following the CFE treaty. 

MM6750/37-04 F-104S-ASA 18 Gruppo ITAF. Aircraft preserved at Istrana airbase.

MM6794/37-20 F-104S-ASA 18 Gruppo ITAF. Wfu at Grazzanise airbase.

Now, the Belgian Air Days 1994.Where I sat in the car virtually all weekend with a good friend from Germany, watching the rainfall. Thanks for the company, Horst...

2312 L-410-UVP-E20M 242 TSL Czechia A.F. Still active.

38+33 F-4F JG-74 GAF. Wfu.

46+35 Tornado IDS GAF, Taxis for taking off. Currently still in service.

E12/7-PR and E25/7-PK Jaguar E's of EC.02/007 FAF are displayed in the gloomy weather. Both aircraft were stored at Chateaudun Airbase.

Seven Alpha Jets from 9Wing of the Belgian Airforce assembled at Brustrum, with six aircraft flying as a display team.

Belgian flag.

AT-03/19/24/27/28/30/31, six flying and one spare ship.

Flaming in the gloom J-251 F-16A 313 Sqn RNethAF. Now scrapped.

94+12 Mil-8TB MHGrp GAF. Status preserved.

46+35 and 45+79 Tornado IDS JBG-32 GAF, Departing on Monday morning. Tornado 46+35 is still active, while 45+79 has been scrapped.

R91 61-ZI C-160R Transall FAF is seen departing. Status stored at Orleans Bricy.

XX492/A T.1 Jetstream 45Sqn RAF. Now preserved at the Newark Air Museum.

There you have it, another great weekend spent at two significant European Military air events. 

Those were the Days!