Cosford Airshow is back with a BANG!

Welcome to this latest edition of Aerodrome and our regular look at the fascinating world of aeroplanes and the historic aviation scene in the UK.

As far as aviation enthusiasts are concerned, there is nothing quite like looking forward to attending a spectacular Airshow, with great flying content, a strong static display and the prospect of fine weather to get the excitement levels racing and after the problems of the past couple of years, how we could all use one right now! Thankfully, the Airshow team at RAF Cosford were determined that they were going to mark their return to the scene in some style and to present an appropriate aviation related celebration of our Queen's landmark Platinum Jubilee.

In this latest edition of Aerodrome, please join us as we take our place amongst a sell-out crowd in the West Midlands, for an Airshow spectacular which was long overdue and an image rich record of an event which was thoroughly enjoyable on so many different levels. We will see how this show benefited from strong military service support both on the ground and in the air and how an interesting and varied flying programme not only included the unexpected return of the Westland Lynx to a UK Airshow, but could also boast some exciting international participation into the bargain. Although this show has had to endure quite a break between events, I think we can safely say that Cosford Airshow is now back with a Bang!

The UK's ONLY official RAF Airshow

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Having attended hundreds of Airshows and open day events at airfields all over the country over the years, it is quite sobering to acknowledge the fact that the annual Cosford Airshow is now the only official Airshow staged by the Royal Air Force, something which is a sad refection of the current state of things, but a development which always ensures this show can count on incredibly strong support from the public. In actual fact, Cosford can not only now claim to be a standout event in the UK Airshow calendar, but is also one of only a handful of venues across the world which can boast such impressive ground attractions on show day. 

With this active airfield offering a sizeable showground packed with interesting and immersive ground activities to guarantee a fun day out for the whole family, Cosford is also home to one of the foremost collections of preserved aircraft to be found anywhere in the world, the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands. With many unique exhibits within this collection, where else could you see such an impressive selection of aircraft on display, even before the flying entertainment gets underway?

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic restrictions of the past couple of years, the previous Airshow held at Cosford took place back in 2019 and even though organisers tried hard not to cancel their shows in 2020 and 2021, initially announcing show date deferrals as opposed to full cancellations, it would ultimately prove impossible for either show to take place, meaning that Cosford 2022 would be the first time the airfield had hosted Airshow crowds in almost three years. As Cosford prepared to welcome its supporters back once more, it has to be acknowledged that this venue must now be considered one of the most accessible active airfields in the country for vast sections of the UK population and as such, can always look forward to a healthy crowd on show day, no matter what the weather conditions. Indeed, is has to be said, the West Midlands area loves their Airshow and are always ready to show up in their droves to prove it.

Although now firmly established as a training and engineering facility, Cosford is steeped in Royal Air Force history and is a fascinating place to visit, for those with even a passing interest in aviation and the heritage of this region. Helping to maintain the future development of the Force, flying operations are still carried out here under the control of No.6 Flying Training School, whilst the various disciplines of the Defence College of Technical Training prepare engineers and technicians for a future career in Britain’s armed services. Cosford is now home to an impressive collection of former RAF SEPECAT Jaguars and on show days, it is possible to see several of these beautifully maintained aircraft at various positions around the airfield and in the No.1 School of Technical Training hangars.

Without doubt, the biggest draw to Cosford airfield is the magnificent aircraft collection of the Royal Air Force Museum, which occupies three large hangars across the site, as well as the cavernous interior of the impressive National Cold War Exhibition building. Over recent years, Cosford’s collection of exhibits has been greatly enhanced by the addition of several historic aircraft which have re-located from the museum’s Hendon site, making an annual visit to Cosford and absolute must for many thousands of people living a little further north. On Airshow day, a unique aviation benefit of taking your place amongst the crowds at Cosford is the appealing prospect that one or two of the collections incredibly rare aircraft many be temporarily moved out of their hangar to take their place in their creative static displays, allowing enthusiasts the opportunity to take some highly prized photographic records of them outside their normal display surroundings.

Cosford Airshow 2022 - A photographic record

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In addition to the return of the Cosford Airshow, 2022 will be remembered as the year Britain finally retired their BAe Hawk T.1 fleet, with the notable exception of the Red Arrows of course.

I am going to try something a little different for this review and rather than include lots of supporting text, let the photographs taken on the day to the talking for me. If you were at the show yourself, you will know just how enjoyable an event it turned out to be, but for those who were unable to make it, hopefully these images will help to give you an idea of how the day went. Splitting everything into sections, I will attempt to cover most of the highlights from the show, although no review could ever really do a Cosford Airshow justice, as there simply is so much to see - if I miss anything out, I will try to condense this into a UK Airshow overview edition of Aerodrome as something of a Christmas Special. For now though, I will begin each section with a short introduction, before adding several related images for your enjoyment - I do hope this format will meet with your approval, but please feel free to drop me a line if you have any suggestions, as it is always great to hear from our readers.

Historic Helicopters have an away day at Cosford

One of the most distressing aspects about getting older when you are an aviation enthusiast, is how many service retirements of different aircraft types you to have to endure over the years and how many former favourites are either consigned to museum display if they are lucky, or potentially much worse if earmarked for disposal. With the helicopter proving its versatility throughout the post war years, classic helicopters which helped to cement its operational credentials have been replaced by much more capable, yet arguably less charismatic types in recent times and aircraft we remember so fondly from Airshows past have now slipped into the history books ....... or so we all though!

An impressive group established in 2013 with the aim of securing, preserving and restoring to flying condition a fleet of vintage former military helicopters, Historic Helicopters have astounded everyone with what they have achieved since that date. Operating from their facility in Chard, Somerset, they began by returning famous Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 XJ729 to the UK Airshow circuit, which was an impressive achievement in itself, but then took everything to an entirely different level when going on to acquire multiple aircraft types, including Wessex, Sea Kings and something else which was just a little bit special. The Historic Helicopters team provided exceptional support for this year's Cosford show, with their SAR presented Whirlwind, Wessex and Sea King gracing the static display, with a further two helicopters taking part in the flying display.

In addition to their beautiful Royal Navy Wessex HU.5 gracing the Cosford skies, this year's show marked the triumphant and rather unexpected first post retirement UK Airshow appearance of their Westland Lynx AH.7, an aircraft type many enthusiasts feared they would never see in the air again. Thanks to the incredible ambition and commitment of the Historic Helicopters team, they continue to amaze the watching historic aviation world with their achievements, with their magnificent fleet of helicopters must now be considered an appealing Airshow line-up in their own right. The post retirement Airshow debut of the Lynx was definitely a highlight of this year's show and for those lucky enough to see it, we will always be able to boast 'I was there!'

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Cosford could boast an impressive selection of helicopter types, with Historic Helicopters making a significant contribution to the display, both on the ground and in the air. The show would also mark the Airshow debut of their stunning new Westland Lynx AH.7, a real treat for all those in attendance.

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Anarchy 1 or 'Blackjack', this Typhoon is a stunner

One of the main attractions of attending an Airshow is the opportunity to see the latest RAF hardware going through its paces, just as the crowds used to enjoy at the great Hendon pageants in years past. Airshows have always been an effective way for the force to engage with the general public and to harvest a new crop of young recruits to bolster the future ranks of our military services, something, I am pleased to say, appeared to be in fulsome evidence at this year's Cosford show. Indeed, with most of the major RAF display teams having a media presence on the showground, the pilots had the opportunity to take the adulation of the crowd in person this year, whilst their colleagues plied them with the leaflets and brochures which could make such a lasting impression on a young mind.

One aircraft I was definitely hoping to see at this year's show was the RAF display Typhoon, not the standard grey one which is usually pressed into service following the latest technical issue the team have suffered with the main aircraft, but the flamboyantly painted jet which is colloquially referred to as 'Blackjack'. Although this aircraft has been seen sparingly at Airshows over the past couple of years, it has attracted plenty of attention by virtue of its distinctive colour scheme and whether you are a fan or not, there is no denying that this is a real head turner. I must have been to RAF Coningsby six or seven times over the past couple of years, hoping to take photographs of ZJ914, but have been thwarted on every occasion, not even seeing a fleeting glimpse of it in her hangar. A recent engine change will hopefully see this stunning RAF No.29 Squadron jet thrilling the crowds this coming summer and if the Cosford display is anything to go by, we are all in for quite a treat.

The display pilot for this season is Flt Lt Adam O'Hare and he has put together a dynamic display of power and agility, highlighting why the Typhoon is one of the most effective multi-role aircraft in the world today. His Cosford display started in formation with a BBMF Spitfire, but once unleashed from holding station with the slower WWII era classic, proceeded to burn up the sky - is it any wonder we love aeroplanes.

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A truly international affair

Over recent years, the show organisers at Cosford have not only been able to boast an impressive array of RAF assets and historic aviation participants in the flying programme, but have also called upon the support of their international friends, many of whom are only to pleased to take part in the show. In many cases, these exotic aviation additions to the flying programme are making their only UK display appearances for the year and as such, are highly prized by organisers and enthusiasts alike. This year, the Airshow team were able to boast contributions from both France and Belgium, including two thrilling fast jet performances from aircraft at opposite ends of their respective service careers.

Making their only UK display appearance of the year, the Armee de L'Air sent their display Rafale C jet, a hugely capable multi-role aircraft which is in service with both the Air Force and their Navy. There are always comparisons made between this French jet and our own Eurofighter Typhoon, but when the French are in town, they always come ready to put on a show. Fast and extremely agile, the Rafale is a breathtakingly capable machine, with its pilot able to throw it about the sky with consummate ease, almost as if this aircraft was specifically designed to perform at Airshows. Now in service with several air arms around the world, Rafale is again one of the premier combat aircraft of the modern era and I am sure FAF pilots would back themselves and their Rafales against any opposition, be that friendly or hostile. 

At the other end of the jet fighter spectrum, the Belgian Air Force sent one of their F-16 Fighting Falcons to remind the West Midlands that despite the fact that the F-16 has been in world service for over 40 years now, it is still an extremely potent performer and from an Airshow perspective, is still one which is capable of stealing the show. Marking the UK debit of their display aircraft in its new 'Dream Viper' scheme, the F-16 more than held its own against the younger jet aircraft in the display, clearly demonstrating why this aircraft is still regarded as a competent performer and one many air forces with be reluctant to retire. Expected to also perform at this year's Royal International Air Tattoo, Cosford had the scoop of hosting the first UK display of the thrilling Belgian Air Force F-16.

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Airshow royalty - The Red Arrows

It doesn't matter how many times you have seen them display, whenever you know the Red Arrows are in your vicinity, you can't help but join the rest of the crowd in scouring the skies for your first glimpse of them. Now an indelible part of the Airshow scene in the UK, if you want to keep your crowd both spellbound and entertained, you had better hope that the Red Arrows are available on the dates you plan to hold your event. It was announced earlier this year that the team would be performing as a seven ship for the 2022 season, due to operational pilot redeployments, a display number reduction which usually only happens due to crew illness or aircraft serviceability issues. The last time this happened for a full display season was ten years ago, which was obviously another Royal Jubilee year.

Thankfully, despite being two Hawks down, the Reds put on their usual polished display and even forced the sun came out to watch their performance, a development which allowed the team to deliver their full display. Interestingly, with the retirement of Britain's Hawk T.1 fleet earlier in the year, the Red Arrows are now the only operators of this famous training aircraft, one which itself has now been in Royal Air Force service for over 45 years.

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Falklands 40 Display

As this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War and the liberation of the islands which were subjected to a hostile invasion by Argentinean forces on 2nd April 1982, show organisers were determined to mark the occasion in style and had some impressive assets at their disposal. In what is still a relatively recent development, the Museum at Cosford took delivery of a true Falklands War icon and arguably the most famous individual aircraft in post war RAF history, Boeing Chinook ZA718 'Bravo November'. The only RAF Chinook to see service during the Falklands War, this magnificent aircraft would go on to serve with distinction through several further combat deployments and has only recently retired from service. As befitting an aircraft of this stature, Bravo November was earmarked for museum display, with the RAF Museum at Cosford selected as the fortunate custodians of this legendary aircraft. We were hoping that she would be pushed out of her hangar for this year's show, but that proved not to be the case - not that much of a surprise really. Interestingly, the commentary team announced that the Chinook which took part in the flying display was actually older than Bravo November - these machines really are amazing.

With other aircraft in the museum also having Falklands links, the aircraft which were arranged outside for our enjoyment were Argentine Air Force FMA Pucara A-515 and Westland Wasp HAS Mk.I XT420, which served abord HMS Hecla during the conflict, in a casualty evacuation role. There was also a rather attractive Sea Harrier FA2 (ZH796) keeping an eye on the other exhibits, but whilst this may be related to the aircraft which proved so decisive during the conflict, it is a later incarnation of the Navy's former VSTOL fleet defender.

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Royal Air Force Flypast

The finale of this year's show was a strange combination of sedate pairs flypasts by two sections of current RAF training aircraft and the promise of a flypast and hovering demonstration by a squadron example of the RAF's latest combat aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning. This final display act proved appealing a prospect enough to keep everyone glued to their seats, instead of making a quick getaway to beat the traffic, a clear indication of the fact that the UK public have yet to truly welcome this capable new aircraft into their display hearts and are still waiting to see exactly what it can do.

This section began with a flypast by two RAF Valley based Beechcraft Texan T.1 trainers wearing their smart black liveries, aircraft which now perform the basic fast jet training role previously undertaken by the recently retired Tucano. They were followed by two Hawk T.2 jets again from RAF Valley and wearing the same black training livery, but this time representing the opposite end of a student pilot's training, that of operational conversion to the aircraft they will go on to fly. With its fully configurable digital cockpit, the Hawk T.2 may share many visual similarities to its famous predecessor, however, this is a very different beast indeed. The question is, have the RAF got enough of them, with just 28 jets in their inventory and usually much less than this available for flight operations at any one time, shouldn't we be thinking about purchasing a few more?

The aircraft which took the honour of bringing the latest Cosford Airshow to a close was the RAF's latest combat jet and one which was representing one of the most famous squadrons in Royal Air Force history, No.617 Squadron 'The Dambusters' from RAF Marham. Although this cutting edge fifth generation aircraft has been in service for some years now, the UK Airshow going public have yet to take this hugely capable aircraft to their hearts, partly because it hasn't been released for full air display performances at this stage and partly because we still have particularly fond memories of our previous jump jet, the iconic and much loved Hawker Siddeley/BAe Harrier. 

Although clearly not part of the design brief when the aircraft was being developed, there is nothing quite like seeing a 28 ton jet supported on a column of air, defying gravity in a noisy, yet incredibly impressive manner and whilst we have seen the F-35 perform such a feat at a UK Airshow previously, it is yet to reach the performance heights of its famous VSTOL predecessor. Despite this, I am certain that this day will come in the not too distant future. For this latest performance, it was nice to see an F-35 wearing some tail markings for once, in addition to the fact it was representing one of the RAF's most famous squadrons. The display itself consisted of two flypasts, with the second seeing the aircraft transitioning to the slow hover, making a noisy and slightly more sedate pass along the crowd line, before finally applying power and speeding its way back to Marham. 

The F-35 was a welcome and noisy way in which to bring this latest Cosford Airshow to a close and was perhaps a pointer to an RAF star performance at an Airshow in the very near future. That is where we are going to leave this particular review, however, we still have much more show content to bring you from Cosford in a forthcoming edition of Aerodrome, even if we do save this for our Christmas Special edition. For now though, we hope you have enjoyed this look at this year's impressive Cosford Airshow.

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I’m afraid that’s another edition of Aerodrome in the can, however, we will have more aviation delights for you in just four weeks’ time. Should anyone have an interesting aviation related story of their own they would like to share, or details of an interesting aviation heritage project taking place near to them, please do consider sending details to us here at Aerodrome, so we can share them with our ever-growing, worldwide blog audience, who I am certain would be delighted to hear about it. 

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The next edition of Aerodrome is scheduled to be published on Friday 23rd July.

Now in our seventh year of publication, thank you for continuing to support our Aerodrome blog.

Michael

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