Bastille Day flypast
Sunday 14 July 2013, Champs Elysee, Paris This was my first time at this annual festival and, with bright weather, it did not disappoint.The crowds are enormous and the flypast starts around 10 am with the Alpha Jets of the Patrouille de France...
Phantom Finale
27-28 June 2013 This eagerly awaited event marked the end of the McDonnell F4 Phantom in German Air Force service. The smoke and noise of this popular aircraft will be sadly missed by aircrew and enthusiasts alike.
Public Affairs Visit To JG73
26 June 2013 This was an opportunity to see the based Typhoons of JG73 in action with full access o the two ‘barn’ areas that have replaced hardened shelters in the post cold-war era. the shelters at Laage still stand as a...
Le Bourget Paris Airshow 2013
17-23 June 2013 This year’s Salon was a very different affair, lacking as it did any presence from the United States military who were suffering from the limitations of sequestration. With a large portion of their defence capability grounded or stood down...
100th Anniversary of Dutch Aviation
14-15th June 2013 This eagerly awaited airshow attracted a good variety of military and historic aircraft and thousands of spectators, particularly on the Saturday. Arrangements were good though a long detour in and out was needed to reach the car parks. They...
AeroExpo 2013
31 May – 2 June 2013 AeroExpo is now firmly established as a premier general aviation event in the UK. Around a thousand light aircraft visit over the three days which, this year, were blessed with fair weather. Numerous other pilots and enthusiasts...
EBACE 2013
Palexpo, Geneva; Cointrin Airport, Switzerland21-23rd May 2013 This year’s Geneva show was generally upbeat in the exhibition halls but the overall atmosphere was one of concern for the industry, particularly in the Eurozone. Visitor numbers held up but the visiting aircraft park was...
Frisian Flag Exercise 2013
15-26 April 2013, Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands In a similar style to last year, European military airmen gathered in northern Holland to train for realistic combat operations flying two sorties a day spread over two weeks. This year participants were slightly reduced...
Middle East Business Aviation – MEBA 2012
11-13 December 2012, Dubai World Central Airport This relatively young trade show has now moved into third place behind the NBAA in the USA and EBACE in Geneva as a showcase for executive jets and all their associated trimmings. Previously hosted at...
Tactical Leadership Programme 2012
This was the first flying day of this exercise; the base itself is home to the Spanish Air Force, flying Mirage F1EE and Typhoon aircraft. Spain was not participating in this exercise and it was mid afternoon before briefings were complete and...