RNAS Yeovilton airshow 2019 aircraft highlights.

Once again, it's that time of the year. I've piled myself into the van and hit the road to Royal Navy aircraft yard Yeovilton, for the airshow arrivals day. This year, it will be highlighted by a pair of Spanish Navy AV-8s, which will continue to RAF Fairford's International Air Tattoo next week. I cannot wait to see them.

I have seen a few shows here over the years (Lots). I love Yeovilton because the backdrop sometimes lets you take photographs that could have been taken 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 for AIR Day 2019.

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 Air Force, 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. Armour 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 12 Italian Air Force Tornado aircraft arrived on the twelfth of July 1993, 4 from 6 Stormo at Gedi and 8 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 by, and I came across these slides recently. They are all from slide film, 64 ASA Kodachrome and hopefully captured all the action of their visit to RAF Honington.

The ground crews ate and drank most evenings in the local public houses in Bury St Edmunds. The consensus regarding the food was that the lasagna 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. MM7066 70/36-30 below are visitors I was unaware of at the time.

MM7066/36-30, Tornado 36 Stormo, was presumed to be the only replacement aircraft, as MM7053/53 arrived on 19/7/1993. That may have been to replace MM7056/36-52, the single aircraft I appear not to have recorded.

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

Happy Days!