Tiger Meet (mini) RAF Fairford 1991 I.A.T.

RAF Fairford and the International Air Tattoo hosted a mini Tiger meet twenty-nine years ago. This may be an opportune time to reflect on happier days.

The show's central theme was 'Salute to Gulf War,' which occurred since our last visit to RAF Fairford. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 NTM scheduled for Beja airbase in Portugal, and the cancellation of the World's most significant military airshow at Fairford in the United Kingdom, I thought this was an appropriate post.

The hosts were 74 (F) Squadron Royal Air Force.

They deployed to Fairford with seven Phantom FGR2s from their home base at RAF Wattisham, much further east across the UK.

J-004 and J-012 are both F-16As of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The previous year, 313Sqn, based at Twente Airbase, changed its squadron badge to focus on the Tiger and became an NTA member in October 1990.   

Another keystone member attending Fairford was the Belgian Air Force's 31squadron (Tigers), with their F-16As

The 53rd FS USAF originated from the 36th TFW, based at Bitburg, Germany, with its F-15C/Ds. The TFW had been flying these variants since 1977, when the Eagles replaced their  F-4E Phantoms.
   

EC-12  of the French Air Force arrived with their Mirage F-1C, 16/12-YH being their specially marked aircraft.

Mirage F-1C, 5/12-YQ FAF.

In 1968, 502 squadrons of Jaguares were created at Nacala, Mozambique (airbase 5), with their G-91s.

As the Portuguese retired from Africa, the Ginos were seen replacing the Republic F-84Gs at Montijo airbase, South of Lisbon, and forming 62 Squadron. This was further imposed by the arrival of 202 (Escorpiões) from Tete and 502 Squadron (Jaguares).

That period marked the beginning of the 'Jaguares' name and patch that we use today. In 1978, they became the 301 Esq.

They have gone on to win the Silver Trophy both in 1980/1985.

The 439th Fighter Bomber Squadron was formed on December 31st, 1947, at Wellingore, England. During the Second World War, they relocated their base multiple times across Europe.
They returned to RAF Luffenham in the UK following the war before departing for France.
From France, they moved again, this time to Lahr in West Germany. Their final European base was established in 1971, when they transferred to CFB Baden-Soellingen, operating the CF-104. In 1985, a change of aircraft saw them commence operations with the CF-118.
Sadly, they disbanded in Europe in 1993 and returned to Canada.

Consistently strong in the enthusiasm of their Tiger squadron's specially adorned aircraft.

Tornado GR1A ZG714/H, 13 Sqn RAF, was also present, as was ZG726/K.

The Royal Navy Flying Tigers.
In 1938, they operated with Swordfish, followed by various aircraft types, including the Firefly, Avenger, and Gannets.
In 1960, they transitioned to helicopters, firstly the Whirlwind, followed by the Wessex.
By 1970, they operated the Seaking helicopter with its airborne passive sonar role capability.

1 Letka (CskAF) was welcomed as an external participant with their MiG-29 Fulcrums.

Tiger tails.

In 1970, the 79th switched bases, arriving at RAF Upper Heyford and converting to the F-111E.
January 1991 witnessed them at Incirlik AB in Turkey, taking part in "Proven Force", a joint task force supporting "Desert Storm." The "Loco squadron flew two hundred and three missions without losses.

The 79th FS was inactivated in 1993 and reactivated at Shaw Air Base, South Carolina, in January 1994.

MM6764/53-04 F-104S ItAF.

The 21st Squadron has a long history dating back to 1918. As a Tiger Squadron, it was in 1968 that its F-104s achieved the prestigious status of NATO Tiger member.
As a footnote, they flew a staggering 82,000 hours with the "Starfighter."

In 1962, the 79th TFS at RAF Woodbridge invited all NATO Tiger squadrons to participate in the then-newly formed Tiger Meet.
Although JaBoG 43/1's squadron symbol was clearly a Fox, the pilots decided to bluff that it was actually a mysterious "Bavarian Tiger", and to underline this, their motto became
"Believe it or not, this is a tiger."
By 1980, their G-91s were being transferred to the Portuguese Air Force, and they received the new Alpha jet. The pilots considered this an inferior aircraft, but they were always impressed with their flying skills.
Unfortunately, 1992 saw the disbandment of JaBoG 43.

They participated at Fairford with Alpa Jets  40+57 and 41+63.

65-5911/9-911 TF-104G TuAF ex 27+82 WGAF.

"Also has to be one of the best-looking aircraft ever built".

No other aircraft could match the sound emitted as they were downwind for landing.

A Tiger on their patch since 1950, in 1980, 192 squadrons became NATO Tiger members with their squadron F-104Gs. They also became a NATO "all-weather" squadron assigned to NATO command. In March 1993, they transitioned to the F-16C/D at Balıkesir Air Base. 

The French Air Force GI-312, based at Mont-Marsan, arrived with four CM-170R Magisters: 572/312-AD, 509/312-AC, 529/312-AX, and 544/312-TM.

142 Squadron of ALA 14 emerged in 1980 with the delivery of Mirage F1 fighters to the Los Llanos airbase close to Albacete. They became members of the NTA while participating in the 1986 Nato Tiger meet at BA103 Cambrai in France.
   

The 1 Letka (CskAF) supported the meeting with Mig-29 5616 and 7501 and their L-39ZAs 2430 and 2436.
They also arrived with MiG-23ML 4644 from 2 Letka, which was supported by AN-12 2105 from 1 DROPRAVNI  and TU-134A 1407 from 3 DROPRAVNI.

572/312-AD CM-170R GI-312 FAF seen departing Fairford.

572/312-AD CM-170R GI-312 FAF

544/312-TM CM-170R GI-312 FAF.

A sight that would not be repeated again as the three CM-170R Magisters of the French air force depart from the Mini NTM, 

544, 312-TM, GI-312 FAF showing the spirited Tiger spirit.

  

336 Sqn RNorAF depart home with F-5As 132, 222, and 909 F-5B.

222,132 of 336 Sqn. RNorAF.

Previously, observers at NATO Tiger Meet 1991 saw Fliegerstaffel 11 become a full member with their F-5Es. Three aircraft arrived. I recall they were late and parked outside the hangar area at Fairford all weekend. It was certainly great to see them; it was just a shame that no one aircraft carried individual 'Tiger' marks.

63-7037/9-037 f-104G 192 Filo departing the 1991 Tiger meet.

65-5911/9-911 TF-104G heading home on Monday morning.

Flottille 11F of the French Navy is the oldest and most prestigious Squadron of the French Marine Nationale.

In 1967, they departed their base at Hyères in southern France for Landivisiau in northern France, where they have remained their home to this day. In 1978, they bid farewell to the "Etendard" and began missions on the "Super Etendard."
Their Tiger heritage is quite distinct and well-deserved. The "Clemenceau" aircraft carrier held the Tiger crest from which they were assigned in 1960.
When the "Clemenceau" aircraft carrier was retired in 1997, it was allowed to retain its NTA status.
"Having shown true Tiger spirit."

MM6764/53-04 F-104S departing for home.

2436 (232436) 1SQN 11W seen departing RAF Fairford.

The hosts, 74 (F) Squadron RAF, with their Phantom FGR.2s, line up to depart.

Number 74 (F) Squadron operated fighter aircraft from 1917 to the 1990s and became an NTM member in 1961 when it joined the B2 Super Mystères of EC1/12, the French Air Force, at RAF Woodbridge, alongside its hosts, 79TFS USAF, with their F-100 Super Sabres. 

Number 74 (F) Squadron operated an aerobatic team with Lighting F. 1s between 1962 and 1963. The nine jets, named the "Tigers," made them the World's first Mach 2 team.

Here, Phantom FGR.2 XT895/Q departs for its home base.

"Tiger Tiger" 

China visit 1979, rare Chinese Airforce, PLAAF aircraft including extraordinary photos of C-47B Dakotas, Il-12 (Coach) TU-4 (B-29) Harbin B-5s (Il-28s) and more.

Inconceivable nearly forty-five years ago! I had set out on the most exciting of journeys, travelling across China, Mongolia and Russia by road, train, boat and plane. It had taken years of wanting before I found and had permission to take the right of passage and set out on this unknown adventure.

 As a passionate traveller, my love of military aviation was not the primary consideration for my photography, given the potential consequences of being caught trying to take aviation photographs.
On occasion, though, I had to take the risk and try to be very discreet.

Sadly for me, photography from behind the scratched and grazed perspex window of old IL-14s and the occasional IL-18 is understandably tricky at the best of times. The thought of being seen taking these photographs was inconclusive to the best results, but I tried, as did the Monsoon conditions, to ruin my photography.    

Entering service in October 1952, the PLAAF IL-28s (NATO code name Beagle) were all converted to Harbin H-5. A total of 424 aircraft passed through the Harbin aircraft works.
Here, 3194 is seen taxiing and captured at the former Guilin airport and airbase in the early evening sunlight.

Taking another flight sometime later into Wuhan, interestingly, the IL-14 had to make a refuelling stop at Nanching. A few passengers and I had to disembark during the process. Alighting from the aircraft, I was reminded of how quickly one could be caught off guard while taking photographs. Below the parked planes, fully armed Red Guards were patrolling among the newly arrived and already parked aircraft. (Seen above).

All the IL-14s I had seen and flown on were in the 600 serial range, meaning that they were operated by the Civil Aviation Administration. This said, all of the aircrews were fully armed Red Army pilots who would board the aircraft after the few passengers were seated and then continue to lock themselves into the cockpit behind a steel door. I imagine the cabin crew worked for the CAA.

   

Walking back out to the refuelled aircraft, I managed to steal a photograph of C-47B Dakota's 5021 and 5011. These aircraft were obviously still airworthy, despite being delivered to Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Chinese Forces during World War II.
  

 These airframes are Lisunov LI-2s, licensed-built in the USSR; behind them are AN-24s, and in the foreground is a Nanchang Y-5.

Further away, another three LI-2s, 324, 308 and 322. 41 aircraft of this type were delivered to China, where they were retired in 1986.

Lisunov LI-2's 318 and 304.

 What you notice is that there is no B- in the serial numbers of these aircraft. This is also the case with the IL-14s. From what I have read and the fact that military pilots were flying them, it probably means that they are still classified as Military. However, showing markings for the CAA, my visit coincided with the changeover period from the entire Military to the Civil Aviation Administration. Another factor is that they never flew out of China.

8398 Nanchang Y-5A.

It had not been there when we landed, so it was an excellent moment to see an operational Tupolev TU-4 (NATO code name Bull), a USSR-licensed-built B-29, of which 25 examples were delivered from the USSR in 1953. In the first years of operational service, they were flown by highly paid pilots from the USSR conducting missions against Taiwan.

 Sadly for me, in 1979, the heavy rain and scratched window versus distance, say no more!

The coolies in the foreground are not naturists? They worked in the rice paddies on the massive airfield in the monsoon rain.

It was a long taxi for our ancient IL-14, passing rows of Harbin B-5 en route to the runway.

Again, there are many more Harbin B-5s in the Monsoon conditions.

After I arrived in Wuhan, I found the giant Yangtze River to be seventy-five feet deep in flood, and all river ferries had been cancelled from Wuhan, with no onward transport available for the journey to Chongqing. I had a problem. Luckily, I got on a late Sunday afternoon flight to the PLAAF airbase at Yichang. Yichang sits just below the massive Yangtze River gorges, which are the front line for the construction site of the giant hydroelectric dam that has completely flooded those gorges today.

As IL-14 (688) landed at Yichang, I was greeted by no less than 12 IL-12 (NATO code name Coach) lined up on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

35041 IL-12 (Coach) is reminiscent of the RAF Hastings.

IL-12 (Coach) 35240 is obviously a slightly different model.

IL-12 (Coach) 35241 is again a little different in its model.

IL-12 (coach) 35340 is the star of the 12-aircraft lineup, with its revised nose cone.

It was extraordinary that there was a brick-making business out on the airfield. IL-12 (Coach) 35147 seen beyond.
The modern-day airbase houses an IL-76. Is the brick business still there?

IL-14 668.

Monsoon madness, rain, rain and more rain. At Chungking, a Nanchang Y-5A is being towed off the flight line.

  

IL-14 668 lands at Chungking; out on the airfield, a cow munches on the grass while a local with an umbrella takes a shortcut across the airport; it is common practice.

My onward transport from Chungking to the city of Shanghai.

  

IL-14 614 Chinese Civil Administration.

AN-24 B-468 Chinese Civil Administration.

IL-14 634 seems like an old friend.

What luxury an IL-18! One of my all-time favourite aircraft.

Xian and its Warriors beckoned.

Tridents on the ramp at Shanghai Old Airport.

Nanchang Y-5A 8261 arrived on the flight line, along with locals passing across the old airfield at Xian.

Nanchang Y-5A, 8261.

That was it. Then I was off to Beijing to see the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, and catch a train to Datong, where they built over 20 Pacific-class steam engines every month by hand. Finally, crossing the border into the Gobi Desert and Outer Mongolia... 

Happy memories, indeed!