Page 17 - issue03.05.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, May 3, 2019 P16 Royal Air Force News Friday, May 3, 2019 P17

Feature RAF Cosford Air Show By Simon Mander
IT’S SHOW TIME
IT’S SHOW TIME Chinook showcase

ICONIC
THE
Chinook
helicopter
will
performing at the show. be Fact File
● Chinooks can operate from
The RAF has one of the
largest fleets of CH-47s in land or ships into diverse
environments, from the Arctic
Celebrating 70
Celebrating 70 JET PROVOST:T PROVOST: the world, primarily used for to the desert or jungle.
troop movements, resupply
JE
● They can be heavily
battlefield
and
casualty
L
Landmarkandmark
years of Nato &
years of Nato & evacuation. agile aircraft armed but are primarily
used for trooping, resupply
its
However,
despite
and battlefield casualty
size, the workhorse is an
evacuation under threat from
extremely
65 of Jet Provost and the flying display will both ground and air-based
65 of Jet Provost
enemies.
its
showcase
incredible
manoeuvrability to visitors.
The Odiham-based ● They can lift up to 55 troops
or 10 tonnes of mixed cargo.
Chinook Display Team ● Chinooks respond to
Provost through to Strikemaster – rovost through to Strikemaster –
OP GUN pilots from across pilots from across P crew are part of a fully- UK emergencies including
the world are set to battle it the world are set to battle it t to show the aircraft’s evolution.o show the aircraft’s evolution. operational squadron where resupplying snowbound
g
Otherther
Tout in the skies over RAF out in the skies over RAF O groundround attractionsttractions they combine their daily farmers in Northern Ireland
a
Cosford as the air show season Cosford as the air show season in training demands with and moving tons of aggregate
include the Vintage Village, where clude the Vintage Village, where
prepares to get underway.prepares to get underway. visitors will be transported back isitors will be transported back practising displays. WORKHORSE: But RAF Chinook is surprisingly agile and manoeuvrable to help reconstruct flood
v
More than 50,000 aviation fans More than 50,000 aviation fans t to World War II and immersed in o World War II and immersed in defences damaged by winter
are expected to converge on the are expected to converge on the c storms.
classic music, period re-enactors lassic music, period re-enactors
famous Shropshire station to watch famous Shropshire station to watch and vintage aircraft such as an Avro nd vintage aircraft such as an Avro Display team members for 2019
a
six hours of flying displays by six hours of flying displays by Anson, De Havilland Tiger nson, De Havilland Tiger ● Mark 6 Chinooks have
A
cutting-edge combat jets, vintage cutting-edge combat jets, vintage glass cockpit avionics and
warbirds and iconic choppers.warbirds and iconic choppers. RAF in 1993, Sqn Ldr operations in March 2018, a Digital Automatic Flight
The RAF display teams will be The RAF display teams will be Turner completed flying Flt Lt Kerry was posted Control System which greatly
stepping centre stage to stepping centre stage to training on the Tucano, to 18(B) Squadron where enhances handling and safety,
showcase the swing role showcase the swing role Gazelle and Griffin before he currently serves and particularly when operating
Typhoon and Chinook Typhoon and Chinook gaining his wings in is soon to return from his in recirculating dust or snow
during the show, which during the show, which 1998 at Shawbury. He second operational tour on conditions.
will also feature one of the was posted to 18(B) Sqn Op Newcombe in Mali.
will also feature one of the
few UK performances by
few UK performances by to fly the Chinook and
the Red Arrows. is a Qualified Helicopter operated from HMS Ocean in
Moths and Hawker Hurricane.
The famous aerobatic Moths and Hawker Hurricane. Instructor and has served the Mediterranean. He has
The famous aerobatic
Air Show Chairman, Wing
aces have cut back their
aces have cut back their Air Show Chairman, Wing on Chinook Marks 2, 4, 5, 6, recently returned from Op
Commander Jamie Thompson,
British shows to fly the flag Commander Jamie Thompson, 6a and Merlin Mk3. His 25- Newcombe.
British shows to fly the flag
said: “The RAF Cosford Air Show
for UK business with a series of
for UK business with a series of said: “The RAF Cosford Air Show CZECH MATE: Nato allies Czechoslavakia are set to roar in with the Gripen fast jet (front two aircraft here) year career has taken him
displays in the States. is an amazing family day out for around the globe; he has
Ticket sales for Cosford are our visitors. With so much to see seen operational service in
already up on last year with and do on the ground, the flying Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Iraq,
organisers urging aviation display is almost a bonus.” and Afghanistan and more
enthusiasts to book now for the Profits from the event are recently in the Caribbean
chance to see the Arrows in one donated to RAF Charities, with on HMS Ocean undertaking
of their few UK appearances this more than £1million raised in the ■ Team manager, Flt Lt hurricane relief missions.
summer. last six years. Oliver (Oli) Bayliss. Flt He has also flown in the ■ Chinook Display Team
Organisers have already With no tickets available at the Lt Bayliss (above) joined Falkland Islands, USA, co-pilot: Flt Lt Anthony
confirmed aircraft from Belgium, gate, those wishing to attend are the RAF in 2007. He Canada, Jordan, and ‘Ant’ Jewitt. Flt Lt
the Czech Republic, Denmark, being encouraged to buy them underwent Elementary throughout Europe from Jewitt (above) joined the
Germany and Switzerland. now, priced at £29 and available Flying Training at RAF Arctic Norway to the RAF in 2008 on a Pilot’s
Air show operations manager from the Air Show website, RAF Church Fenton in Yorkshire Mediterranean. Bursary and completed ■ Chinook Display Team
Peter Reoch expects more countries Museums at Cosford and Hendon, before being streamed to flying training at Wyton, crewman: Sgt James
to take part as the show gets closer. and selected Tourist Information fly helicopters. He was Shawbury and Benson. ‘Beggsy’ Begg. Sgt Begg
He said: “Our theme celebrating Centres. posted to 28(AC) Sqn to Posted to 18(B) Squadron (below) also joined the
70 years of Nato is attracting A full list of aircraft coming learn to fly Merlin Mk3, in 2016 he is a member of RAF in 2009 as a Weapons
rare aircraft from across Europe on June 9 is available on the show on which he completed his the Mighty ‘B Flight’. He Systems Operator and was
including the Royal Danish website www.cosfordairshow.co.uk. first operational tour on has worked with Royal posted to 18(B) Sqn. He
Air Force’s ‘Baby Blue’ Op Herrick in Afghanistan. Navy and British Army has deployed on numerous
display team, who have not Posted to the Chinook and helicopters and undergone operations including
performed in the UK for a BBMF: Spitfire PS915 SHOCK AND AWE: Apache display at a previous Cosford Air Show 18(B)Sqn in 2014, he has specialist training in the Afghanistan and most
number of years.” flown on recent operations United States, France and recently Mali as well as
Fast-jet fans are well on Operation Newcombe in Spain. Most recently he exercises in the USA,
catered for with the Czech Mali last year and exercises returned from Operation Germany, Falklands and
Gripen, Swiss Hornet and throughout the UK and US. Newcombe, operating across Europe. He served
RAF Typhoon, Tornado, He has around 1,200 hours the Chinook with French on HMS Ocean during
Harrier and Jaguar. flying experience. Puma, Cayman and Tiger Ex Griffin Strike and has
Civilian-operated aircraft helicopters. approximately 1,100 hours
will also take to the skies on Chinook.
including a display debut ■ Chinook Display Team ■ Chinook Display
from Chief Tech Phil Burgess co-pilot: Flt Lt Aaron Kerry Team crewman: Sgt Rob
flying his unique DR107 ‘One (above). Flt Lt Kerry joined ‘Gredders’ Gredington. Sgt
Design,’ unlimited aerobatic the RAF in January 2009 Gredington (below) joined
aircraft. and completed helicopter the RAF in September
training at Shawbury. He 2009 as a Weapon Systems
he event also marks was selected to fly the Operator and was posted
T65 years since the first Chinook and joined 27 to 18(B) Sqn. To date he has
flight of the Jet Provost. In BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT: Fans’ favourite Squadron in January 2016. more than 1,000 hours on
the air there will be a unique ■ Chinook Display Team Here he was involved the aircraft, deploying to
formation flying display and captain, Squadron Leader in overseas exercises in operations and exercises
a number of aircraft will be RAF TYPHOON: Set to thrill the crowds with a mesmerising display of speed and power Jon ‘JT’ Turner (above). Sweden, Norway and overseas including the
arranged chronologically on Commissioning into the America. On return from USA, Europe, Falklands and
the ground – from the Piston