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Part two - Top of the Pops

Gary Parsons takes a look at the flying displays. Nice. Photography by the author with additional pictures by Damien Burke (where credited).

So to the flying displays - the main reason we all go, of course. It isn't our intention to criticise any particular flying demonstration, as events this year have proved that pilots risk their lives in merely taking to the skies for the enjoyment of others. But, one must look at the acts in context of their environment - some will be suited to Fairford, some not.

With Fairford's two-mile crowdline being such a vast stage on which to perform, you need speed, noise or size to keep the spectator's attention from wandering to food, trade stalls or checking out the talent in the crowd. Some acts have this in abundance, but some don't and would be better suited to small theatres such as Shuttleworth, where a small, precise display can be enacted nearer the crowd than the display lines at Fairford will allow. It is with this in mind, and the fact Vicki O'Neill and Abs were around, that we have compiled our hit parade based upon Saturday's show, not a reflection on the skills of the respective pilots but considering the uniqueness of the act, its display impact, suitability for the Fairford stage and general 'wow' factor for the non-enthusiast. Awarded either a Hit, Miss or simply OK, it's not intended to be anything other than controversial...

Segment timings are as advertised with actual in brackets if different.

10:00 - Wright to RIAT - 100 years of flight
This segment sounded as if it would cover everything in the display, and maybe that was the intention - however, the somewhat highly-priced programme brochure had just two items listed in this ten-minute slot.

First was Boeing Stearman towing a banner, followed by the Blue Eagles. The length of the banner represented the length of the Wright Brothers' first flight in December 1903, a remarkable illustration of the pace of development since then. A nice idea, but we think would have been more impressive behind a 100 Squadron Hawk (sound of organisers slapping their foreheads in the RIAT offices). Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

Second was a duo by the EADS historical flight's Etrich Taube and Albatros D1 replicas, but conditions prevented the frail Etrich from taking part. This immediately highlighted the problem in a single biplane performing at Fairford - great for the press tent and VIP enclosure, but it's unlikely anyone else even knew it had taken off. Keep 'em at Old Warden for best impact. Air-Scene UK verdict - Miss

10:10 - Display team
It seems that the RIAT titling team lost some imagination for the next slots!

Straight into a display went the Blue Eagles - thankfully a five-ship once again this year with the return of the Lynx AH7. A team that suffers from being too familiar to the enthusiast, the highlight is always the Lynx solo but, as with the biplanes, only occupies a small part of the display line. Go and see them elsewhere to appreciate their skills. Air-Scene UK verdict - Miss

10:25 - Solo displays
Time for some fast-jet action!

Waking everyone up was the Hungarian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum, ably flown by Captain Zoitan Szabo who walked away with the 'As The Crow Flies' Trophy awarded by the FRIAT fraternity. Always a popular with the crowd, the MiG doesn't have 'fly-by-wire' and Szabo's 'Cobra' manoeuvre was particularly impressive, the nose pitching up aggressively followed by quick application of the afterburner. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Having to follow that was Flt Lt Mike Hayes in the Jaguar GR3 - not an easy job with the much less agile Anglo-French ground-attack aircraft. Making as much use as he could of the Jag's low-level capabilities, it was always going to be in the shadow of the MiG. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

First F-16 action of the day came from the Belgian Air Force, and the Falcon is always an act to catch - tight three-sixties mean he's always around, with plenty of ear-splitting noise and action. With 'smokewinders' fitted, the F-16 is close to the ultimate attention-getter - only familiarity is starting to count against it. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Familiarity is also something that affects the Hawk, it always needing at least eight brightly-painted buddies to really make an impact. Maybe when the Red Arrows make that move to the Tucano (it's just a matter of time) the Hawk will seem more impressive. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

Now to something you don't see every day - a Slovenian Army demonstration with the PC-9M. Although struggling to keep everyone's attention, its uniqueness means it must be a hit, as RIAT is very much about the new, unusual and rare. It was perhaps a reflection on the ordinariness of the overall programme that made the PC-9 as notable as it was...Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Last of this solos slot was Captain Mark Birkfeldt flying the JAS-39 Gripen. Not as 'in-yer-face' as the Typhoon or F-16, it's still a little hot-rod of a machine and just needs some smokewinders to really make a big impact. Captain Birkfeldt certainly impressed the judges, taking the Shell Oil UK 'Sir Douglas Bader Trophy' awarded for the best overall flying display. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

11:05 - Display team
Second team of the day - and one that surprised many!

Flying no less than four Stearmans, the Utterly Butterly team surprised many with their always-by-the-crowd display of wingwalking and barnstorming in the traditional sense. Splitting into pairs, they were always in view to most on the crowdline. Often derided by the enthusiast, as an entertainment item they are quite superb and very photogenic - who wouldn't refuse the opportunity to take pictures of lycra-clad young ladies? So enthusiastic was their display they earned themselves a 'red card' for low-flying - oops! Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

11:15 - Ocean Watch
First segment of the day to suffer a cancellation with the withdrawal of the French Navy E-2C Hawkeye, it otherwise provided a platform for Naval flying at its best.

Making a welcome appearance was a Sea Harrier FA2 from 899 Squadron, as it won't be long before the axe falls on this still very capable fighter. Its display always seems more dynamic than the RAF one, but maybe that's because we just don't see it as often. Not quite as good as last year's two-ship routine, but RAF operating rules won't allow it (boo!). Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Always creating an impact with its size and noise is the Nimrod MR2, a suitably brief display a consequence of its limitations as an aerobatic aircraft! Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Next on was a real rarity - a French Navy Falcon 10 from Escadrille 57S, Landivisiau. We'd much rather have seen the Hawkeye or Rafale, but the Falcon was worth the take-off and landing - otherwise it was too much a bizjet to really impress. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

Last in the 'Ocean Watch' theatre was the FRADU team of four Hawks, unofficially called the 'SeaHawks'. Mostly comprising ex-Red Arrows jockeys, it maybe suffered as a result of being too familiar once again - Hawks, teams of Hawks, etc...Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

12:25 - The Heavies
Well, one or two of them anyway. One would be hard-pressed to claim that a Ju-52 is a 'heavy', or a Tornado, but the Airbus certainly was...

Making a very leisurely run-in, the EADS/Amicale Ju-52 allowed many to go the lavatory, queue for an ice-cream and have quick nap. Not a fault of the aircraft, but it does highlight one problem that the flying programme did suffer from, lengthy gaps between items and poor continuity - this would cause problems later in the day. The Ju-52 had been at Duxford the week before for Flying Legends, a much more appropriate place to get 'up close and personal'. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

Now, if one was to say that an airliner was one of the stars of the show, you'd think we had forgotten to take the tablets - but such was the performance of the RNZAF Boeing 757. It's been in the country for a while, performing crew training out of Brize Norton, and if this is the way that they train them to fly then New Zealand will an entertaining place to go - it's obvious where all the ex-Skyhawk pilots are transferring to! Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Onto the biggest heavy of the day, the Airbus A330 - one 'borrowed' by AirTanker Ltd., one of the consortiums bidding for the UK FSTA contract, to demonstrate its potential tanker capabilities. Still in primer yellow, it flew in formation with two German Navy Tornados 'on the wing', as if ready to receive the baskets from the hypothetical refuelling pods. An impressive sight, it illustrated the size of the beast as the Tornados were mere specks alongside. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

13:00 - National display team
One of four teams representing its Air Force, first up are...

...the Royal Jordanian Falcons. A regular sight in the UK this summer, the four Extra 300s are a little small for the Fairford arena, but always entertain with some spirited flying. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

13:15 - Lazy Lunch
The point at which… A stiff breeze prevented a display from the RAF Gliding & Soaring association.

Another rare French display, this time from an Army TBM700 - but, unlike the earlier Falcon, the lack of noise, speed or gravitas meant that many wouldn't have noticed it. About as exciting as a cold croissant at breakfast despite its Khe-San approach. Air-Scene UK verdict - Miss

Much the same could be said about the Firefly from JEFTS, Barkston Heath - a shame as it was an excellent display of aerobatics and skill. But, unless you had planned on watching, it wouldn't have distracted you from the donut stand. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

Another award winner followed, that of the renamed Team Apache, previously known as 'Team Khalifa' until a change of sponsorship earlier this year. Still Europe's only pure civilian jet aerobatic team, we think they lack a little dynamism when on the stage with the best air force teams in the world - they really need to headline smaller shows to make a real impact. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

Last of the lazy lunchers was a familiar act to RIAT, that of the Belgian Air Force Magister. Woefully underpowered and long in the tooth, it's trademark low-level take off is always a winner and saves it being consigned to the 'miss' category. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

14:35 (14:00) - Aircraft of the jet age (part one)
We should have had the Red Arrows now, but the display programme was juggled for a very good reason - so onto Aircraft of the jet age - mostly jets, as one would imagine, but also a C-130J and C-27J?

Thundering to the sky was the Luftwaffe F-4F, always a crowd-pleaser with its mix of stone-age jet technology and brute power. Plenty of smoke, who cares about the environment? Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Another F-16 display, but sufficiently different from the Belgian one to keep the interest was the performance of the Dutch example. Not as impressive as last year's flare-enhanced award-winning demo though. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Now the main change to the programme - taking to the skies some two hours earlier than planned, Sqn Ldr Richie Matthews demonstrated the F-117A with some dramatic turns at the end of his straight-and-level runs - it was obvious that orders dictated no 'aerobatics'. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Two EF-18A Hornets from the Spanish Air Force then performed a slightly unusual flypast - one slow, one fast! Operating out of Waddington as part of Exercise Nomad, it was all over in the blink of an eye - many must have missed it. Still, it was good to see them! Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

Then came THAT formation - 'nuff said! Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

14:05 (14:48) - National display team
Second up - the home team.

The Red Arrows were, of course, one of the highlights for the crowd so how else could we mark them? Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

14:35 (15:25) - Aircraft of the jet age (part two)
Another juggle of the programme saw the Typhoon up early - much to the dismay of some!

Surprising even the usually on-the-ball commentator Sean Maffett was Typhoon, Maurizio Cheli taking a slot some two hours earlier than scheduled. A dynamic display, the residents of Fairford village certainly got the best view as the display line seemed to have shifted miles northwards - still, enough could be seen to know that a new level of display act is upon us. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Having a hard job to follow that was the RAF Harrier GR7, also suffering from being the second Harrier display of the day. Maybe it's just us suffering from too many Harrier shows, but it just doesn't seem as dynamic as it should - perhaps a tactical scenario should be built in? But, it's always a crowd-pleaser. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Talking of tactical displays, next up was the RAF C-130J demo with its 'tanks', soldiers and plenty of smoke. Always a crowd pleaser, ideally the Harrier could combine to beat up the airfield - there's an idea! Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Akin to the F-16 is the French Mirage 2000C display, all noise, power, turnin' and burnin'. Another award winner, and rightly so. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Delayed from earlier in the day, the German Navy Tornado was next up, the MFG-2 machine fortunately being the special paint-job seen in formation with the mighty A330. Keeping it low on take-off, it was amazingly the first Tornado display of the day - very much stealing the RAF's thunder! Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

'Most hairy landing' award of the day would have gone to the Alenia C-27J, which seemed intent on continuing its G-222 predecessor's role of causing an incident sometime over the weekend - thankfully the one-wheeled landing was successful, but one suspects not deliberate - overall the display was not quite as enthusiastic as the Italian RSV used to manage, but still spectacular for a transport aircraft! Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

15:35 (16:35) - National Display Team
Third top team to go - the Tricky Freckleori

It's that last manoeuvre that does it for me - you know, the one where they all head to the middle and cross with seemingly feet to spare. If you ever have the chance to stand at the epicentre of a Frecce Tricolori display - don't. Your screams will be heard for miles...Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

16:05 (17:00) - Coalition Air Power
A tribute to those aircraft involved in the recent Gulf conflict.

First on, the star of the 1999 Tattoo - the B-2A Spirit. Direct from the States, its airshow appearances get more restrained every year - just one pass, medium level, together with its F-15 escorts, before departing for an overnight stay at Mildenhall. All very un'spirit'ed - we wondered why they bothered. Not even its 'wow' factor can save it from our bin. Air-Scene UK verdict - Miss

Making some amends were the crew of its ACC stablemate, the B-1B Lancer. Always value for money for its take-off alone, nothing, simply nothing can match the noise and thunder of its departure. It's as if the sky is literally being torn aside - just a shame then that the flypasts weren't a bit more enthusiastic. Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Tornado action by the bucketload next - two displays within the next half-hour by the RAF GR4 and F3, followed by a flypast of four Marham-based GR4s as an Operation Telic tribute. The RAF solos were of the usual standard, but suffered as a result of being so late in the day and after the German Navy example - a case of not enough variety, too close together. Poor planning by the organisers, we say. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

In between the Tornados was a demonstration by the A-10A Thunderbolt II, Captain Matt Kouchokos giving the 'Hog an energetic work-out after a lengthy period of inactivity shortly after take-off while the extremely over-zealous commentator got the crowd into a frenzy of excitement. It was just so good to see an A-10 in UK skies again that we forgive him...Air-Scene UK verdict - Hit!

Just before the four Tornado GR4s, a four-ship F-16C Falcon formation represented the American participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom - but, all over in the blink of an eye. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

17:20 (18:00) - A Fighter Century
Supposedly a double-header of Spitfire and Typhoon, plans were dashed with the Tiffie's earlier performance.

So it was left to Rolls-Royce's Spitfire PS853/G-RRGN to perform alone, and stem the tide of people leaving the show - but, as we all know, Duxford is the place to fully appreciate the finest aeroplane in the world - not Fairford. Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

17:30 (18:15) - National Display Team
Last, and for Saturday only, the...

...Patrouille de France. By this time many had headed for the car parks - the French team did their best, but after eight hours it's hard to hold even the most avid of enthusiast's interest - where's the beer tent? Air-Scene UK verdict - OK

Sunday differences included the RAF Tucano replace the Slovakian PC-9M, the Polish Team Iskry deputise for the Patrouille, the Royal Navy Lynx duo swop with the TBM700 and the Swedish C-130 stand in for the RAF C-130J. Absentees were the F-16 four-ship, curiously many RAF solos and of course that Reds/F-117A flypast...

So, the final tally - 22 hits, 17 maybes and 4 misses. What does it all mean? Not much, but that you can't please all of the people all of the time - Fairford did a pretty good job this year, however! Was it just too long? Maybe, but if it had ran to time, maybe not!

Part three: Tributes, themes & exotica

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