A sell-out crowd of 60,000 attended this
year’s Aviation News-supported RAF
Cosford Airshow on Sunday, June 10. The
event was part of the summer-long RAF100
celebrations that commemorate the service’s
centenary – and it did so in style. Blessed
with excellent weather, the show featured an
interesting and varied six-hour ying display,
with the Polish MiG-29 Fulcrum being a
particular highlight, along with an impressiveperformance, as usual, by the RAF Battle of
Britain Memorial Flight.
The static aircraft park was especially
large and diverse, with many of the
types that have served with the RAF
over the years being represented. Types
that are no longer airworthy, such as a
McDonnell Douglas Phantom and an
English Electric Lightning, were brought in
by road especially for the event, backingup airframes loaned by the resident RAF
Museum. A trio of jets – a Panavia Tornado
GR4, an HS Buccaneer S.2B and a
SEPECAT Jaguar – were on show together
in Gulf War ‘pink’ liveries, a sight that has
not been seen since the early 1990s.
Another thoughtful touch was the provision
of a raised gantry that gave excellent
views of the ground displays. Access was
available for a small additional charge and
was greatly appreciated by photographers.
Next year’s show is on June 9.The Finnish Air Force marked its centenary
with a two-day public airshow at Jyväskylä
airport and the co-located Tikkakoski Air
Base on June 16-17. The ying displays
featured Finland’s Midnight Hawks team withits specially marked BAe Hawks, plus other
current types including a Learjet, McDonnell
Douglas F-18 Hornets, a Hawk duo, Pilatus
PC-12NG, NHIndustries NH-90 and Border
Guard AW119 helicopters. Among the manyhistoric aircraft participating were a Gloster
Gauntlet, a pair of Fouga CM-170 Magisters,
Saab Sa rs and the Swedish Air Force
Historic Flight’s Saab Draken.
An additional bonus was provided
courtesy of Finland’s HX Fighter Programme
to replace its current F/A-18s. All four
contenders vying for the contract were
keen to impress military, official and public
spectators with ying and static displays.
There was a Swedish Air Force Saab JAS
Gripen, Euro ghter Typhoons came from
Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK, and the
French Air Force sent a trio of two seat
Dassault Rafales. Boeing’s contribution was
two EA-18G Growlers own by test pilots
John Tougas and Al Bradford in the markings
of VAQ-129 to support its F/A-18E/F bid.
Dr Kevin Wright54 Aviation News incorporating Jets August 2018AIRSHOW NEWS
AIRSHOW NEWS
Part of the impressive static display at this year’s Cosford Airshow. Crown CopyrightCapacity Cosford
The Finnish Air Force Midnight Hawks display team practising the day before the show.
Dr Kevin WrightFinnish AF Marks Centenary in Style
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