Tornado F3

Each year RAF Waddington plays host to one of the biggest airshows in the UK. The undoubted highlight in 2008 was the return to the airshow scene of Avro Vulcan XH558. This program includes the Vulcan’s emotional return to Waddington and practise display before the event, as well as the aircraft’s main display and formation flypast with the Avro Lancaster.

The RAF Role Demonstration also provided a thrilling spectacle and material from onboard the E3D, Tornado F3s, Chinook and Apache add to the excitement.

The worlds oldest flying Spitfire displayed as did the only Mk1a Spitfire – with a cockpit minicam.

As if that were not enough the event boasted the only Hurricane Mk1, a genuine Battle of Britain veteran.

Several ‘Cold War’ jets on display complemented the new and award winning Cold War Museum hangar and the RAF supported the event in force to mark their 90th anniversary; history from the BBMF, team excellence from The Falcons and the Red Arrows, breathtaking performance from the Typhoon and an explosive Role Demonstration of RAF air power.

The Biggin Hill International Air Fair is not only one of the most famous worldwide aviation events but it is also the largest privately organised airshow in Europe.

2008 was testament to that with the airfield reaching capacity as thousands flocked to the former World War Two fighter station for a great mix of flying display participants.

Everything that displayed is included, several with on-board mini-cams including most of the aircraft in the role demonstration.

RAF Valley in Anglesey is home to the historic No 4 Flying Training School, Strike Commands Air to Air Missile Establishment and also search and rescue helicopters.

The show naturally attracted a big contingent of current and historical RAF types and we include these in Part II including the RAF Valley Solo Display Hawk.

In Part I we show the foreign participants including the national aerobatic teams of Italy and Chile and also some rare privately owned ex-military jets, all of which saw service at Valley at some stage.

The event centres around World War II fighters and bombers and, in particular, B17 Flying Fortress, Sally B, joined this year by the French B17, Pink Lady. We feature these in Part I plus, from the same era, RAF, US Navy and a host of USAF types. The massed formations of these aircraft are quite breathtaking.

In Part II we include several aircraft from the 'fabric and string' era and in this 75th anniversary year of the founding of the RAF, we feature a wide range from the RAF's past but the Tornado and Red Arrows bring us up to date with a contrast.