aviation - the past, present and future of flight

Great War Display Team to the Lockheed

Martin F-35 Lightning II. But RAF100 was

the primary theme and this landmark year

was celebrated with a memorable formation

 ypast by the BBMF Lancaster  anked by a

Tornado GR4 and a 617 Sqn Lightning in a

Dambusters’ tribute. Another stand-out event

was the display from an RAF100-marked

Airbus A400M. It performed sharp pull-ups

and turns that I certainly didn’t expect from

such a large transport aircraft. A diamond-

nine Euro ghter Typhoon formation also got

the camera shutters going into overdrive, as

did the Red Arrows.

Commentator Ben Dunnell, who was

excellent throughout the day, announced

in the morning that a ‘surprise act’ had

been added for the mid-afternoon slot.

This turned out to be a Northrop B-2A

Spirit stealth bomber, escorted by a

18 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2018

The French Air Force Mirage 2000D

Couteau Delta pair. RIAT

B-2A 82-1068 Spirit of New York

during its single  yby. RIAT

Left: French Navy Rafale M 05 at the end of its

display on the Saturday. Nigel Price

Below left: One of the slowest  xed-wing

aircraft to attend, but one of the most

welcome, was an Estonian Air Force Antonov

An-2. Key-Craig West