RAF Waddington Air Show - 01/07/12

RAF Waddington held its annual air show over the weekend of 31/06-01/07. It was noticeable that the level of military participation was somewhat reduced compared with previous years, an almost inevitable result perhaps of the number of operational commitments being undertaken not just by the UK, but other NATO forces.  That said, aircraft from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Saudi Arabia were among those making the journey to Lincolnshire.

As with many other events in the UK this year, the weather during the show was mixed – on both days morning sunshine soon gave way to cloudy, overcast skies and showers, conditions that prevented the visiting aerobatic teams from giving their full displays.

Below is a selection of photos from the static and flying displays.

Saab ‘s company  demonstrator,  SE-LRA,  was in the static display promoting the Saab 2000 MPA Swordfish maritime patrol aircraft.

Another Saab product, Saab 340AEW 100004, known in Swedish Air Force service as the Tp100 Argus.

Avro Anson T21 G-VROE painted in RAF colours as WD413.

The Polish Navy sent PZL-Mielec M28 Bryza 1114.

Heritage Aviation’s BAC Jet Provost T5A G-BWSG still retains its RAF markings, in this case XW324/U of the Central Flying School.

Based at Cognac-Chateaubernard, Grob G120AF F-GUKE of the French Air Force.

OGMA Portugal-built DHC1 Chipmunk G-DHPM, another aircraft displaying its military heritage as 1365 of the Portuguese Air Force.

The German Air Force is one of the few remaining operators of the McDonnell F4 Phantom and was represented at Waddington by JG-71’s F4F 38+28 sporting commemorative markings.

Former L’Aeronavale Morane-Saulnier MS733  143, now on the UK register as G-MSAL.

One of the oldest aircraft in the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s inventory is Dassault Falcon 20ECM 053. Operated by 717 Skv at Rygge, this aircraft first flew in 1966.

Highly-polished Beech G18S N45CF is normally based at Birrfeld in Switzerland.

Star of the show, for me at any rate, Boeing 737-7ES ‘Wedgetail’ of the Royal Australian Air Force, though its positioning in the static display, closely surrounded by fence panels, did little for us photographers.

Another aircraft a long way from home was Boeing 757 NZ7571, one of two of the type operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 40 Squadron. Special markings commemorate the 75th anniversary of the RNZAF.

 

Displaying in the kind of skies probably seldom seen in their home country, the Royal Saudi Air Force display team , the ‘Arabian Nights’ , flying the BAe Hawk T65.

Swiss Air Force McDonnell Douglas F/A18C Hornet J-5014.

USAF Boeing RC135V 64-14841/OF, flown by an RAF crew in preparation for the type entering service with the RAF in 2014.

Making their UK air show debut were the ‘Black Eagles’, the aerobatic team of the Republic of Korea Air Force. The KAI T50 Golden Eagle is their chosen mount.

Helicopter pleasure flights for the public were undertaken by, amongst others, Bell 206L Long Ranger G-RCOM and Bell 206 Jet Ranger G-ISPH of East Midlands Helicopters.