Red
Arrows' Silver Anniversary Airshow, Scampton 1989
In celebration of
the Reds' 35th anniversary, here is a reminder of the 25th birthday bash held at Scampton
on 4 October 1989. A ticket only affair, it was one of the highlights of the year for many
with plenty of autumn sunshine welcoming the various display teams from around Europe. As
commitments to the airshow season had finished, the event was graced by Spain's Patrulla
Aguila,
Portugal's Asas do
Portugal,
Switzerland's
Patrouille Swiss,
France's Patrouille de
France



& Italy's Frecce
Tricolori.
A
good selection of NATO hardware was also in evidence, ably supported
by BAe's EAP and Hawk 200, operating out of the company's facility
on the north side of the base. Amongst the RAF types on view were
a 45 Squadron TWCU Tornado GR1, 229 OCU Tornado F3 and Tucano accompanied
by a Hunter and Meteor of the resident training schools.
A
Gnat in full Red Arrows scheme provided a bit of history to proceedings,
it being ten years since the type had provided the necessary inventory.
1999 also marks the 20th anniversary of the team receiving its first
Hawk, although it was not until 1980 that the type was used for official
display flying. XX251 was the first Hawk to be dedicated to the team,
being delivered on 17 August, 1979 in readiness for the winter training
season. The remaining eight followed through until November when the
ninth, XX266, was delivered on the 15th. Of the nine original Hawks
delivered, four are still current in January 1999, click here
for a rundown of the fleet.
Perhaps the most unusual participant
at Scampton was the cargo version of the BAe 146 that the company
tried to develop as a short to medium haul military workhorse, unfortunately
ultimately without any success.

Items of particular interest to the
enthusiast included the Canadian CF188s, one of which performed a
sparkling display incorporating the famous 'square loop', the Portuguese C130 accompanying
the Asas do Portugal and BAe Hawk demonstrator ZH200, making a rare appearance
away from Warton.

Although initially cloudy, the
day brightened considerably just prior to the flying display commencing at 13:00, and with
the low sun behind the crowdline some spectacular photography was to be had. 
Starting with the venerable
Bulldog, all the visiting
teams gave a full routine, interspersed with contributions from a
Belgian Alpha Jet, the CF188 and regulars such as the Jaguar, Tornado
F3, Tucano, Harrier GR3, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Vulcan
B2 XH558. It was left to the home team to
close the show, the setting sun at 17:30 providing a memorable backdrop
to their final performance of the season.
Led by Squadron Leader
Tim Miller, the team comprised of Red 2 Flt Lt Al Hoy, Red 3 Flt Lt
Martin Cliff, Red 4 Flt Lt Guy Bancroft-Wilson, Red 5 Flt Lt Dom Riley,
Red 6 Flt Lt John Rands, Red 7 Flt Lt Steve Johnson, Red 8 Squadron
Ldr Jeff Glover and Red 9 Flt Lt John Newton. Team Manager (or "Mange")
was Squadron Ldr Andy Stewart.

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