Royal Navy Air Power Demo at Air Tattoo

One of the biggest displays of Royal Navy airpower will be staged at this summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to mark 100 years of naval aviation. More than 40 fixed wing and rotary aircraft, from training squadrons and the front line as well as from the Royal Navy Historic Flight, will combine in unique formations in a dramatic demonstration of Fleet Air Arm aviation during the past century.

First female pilot to join the Red Arrows

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, is proud to announce that a female pilot is one of two candidates selected to join the world-famous ‘Diamond Nine’ for the 2010 display season. The successful candidates Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore of number X111 Squadron, RAF Marham and Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank of number 1(Fighter) Squadron, RAF Cottesmore, will fly as part of the 2010-2012 display team, enthralling millions with their exhilarating manoeuvres, demonstrating the skills and excellence of the Royal Air Force, promoting British industry and contributing to defence diplomacy. The Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots will join the Red Arrows in September 2009 to begin training for their three-year tour with the team, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

Olympics prompts display of unity

Two of the UK’s most prestigious airshows have worked together to reschedule their previously published show dates for 2012 in order to operate harmoniously alongside the Olympic Games in London. The airshows in question, the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) and Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) have a history of supporting one another and working together. In 2008, FIA organisers Farnborough International Ltd (FIL) extended the hand of friendship to RIAT customers when its show was unavoidably called off due to extreme weather conditions, by opening the doors of Farnborough’s public airshow to members of Friends of RIAT who had been disappointed by the cancellation of the event which is held yearly at RAF Fairford.

RAF C-17 for Abingdon

In a major coup, the Abingdon Air & Country Show in Oxfordshire on Sunday May 3rd has, subject to operational requirements, secured an appearance from the RAF’s largest aircraft – the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. No 99 Squadron at nearby RAF Brize Norton will be flying in one of its five C-17s to the show at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon Airfield, early on the morning of May 3rd.

Second place for Britain’s Bonhomme in thrilling Abu Dhabi season opener

Britain’s Paul Bonhomme was pipped to the post today in the first race in this year’s Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Abu Dhabi. Hannes Arch of Austria came from behind to win the race with Nicolas Ivanoff of France taking third place. Britain’s Nigel Lamb established himself as a force to be reckoned with this year, taking fourth in the sizzling heat of the capital of the United Arab Emirates.