RAF Cosford Airshow- Sunday 9th June 2019

[FlankerPhoto]

Once again, the only RAF show of the year:

https://www.cosfordairshow.co.uk/

Will update this as and when participants are confirmed:

Flying
Mc Donnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, Swiss Air Force
Boeing A-75 Stearman, TG Aviation
Lockheed P-3C Orion, German Navy
The 'Baby Blue'- 4x SAAB T.17 Supporter, Royal Danish Air Force
Boeing Chinook HC.6/HC.6A, Royal Air Force
Aero Vodochody L-159A ALCA x2, Czech Air Force
SAAB JAS-39C Gripen, Czech Air Force

Static
BAE Systems Hawk T.1, Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering
Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3, Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering
Panavia Tornado F.3, Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering
Panavia Tornado GR.4, Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering
SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3, Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering
BAC Sea Harrier FA.2, Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations
Cessna O-1 Bird Dog 'N5308G', Private Operator
Westland Sea Lynx Mk.88/88A, German Navy

[RyanS]

Once again, the only official RAF show of the year:

For an uneducated American, what makes it an official RAF show? Are other shows that take place on bases unofficial?

[Adam]

Once again, the only official RAF show of the year:

For an uneducated American, what makes it an official RAF show? Are other shows that take place on bases unofficial?

The RAF Cosford airshow is the only airshow organised by the RAF themselves, similar to the USAF-run events like Barksdale AFB or JB Andrews, for instance.

Likewise, the Royal Navy have one "official show", the Royal Navy International Air Day, which is staged at their Yeovilton base.

There is one other airshow held at an RAF base (sort of), the Royal International Air Tattoo, but that is organised by a charity by name of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, a civilian organisation.

There used to be considerably more official shows (the RAF had shows at Waddington until 2014, Leuchars until 2013, Scampton in 2017 and others further back in the past) while the Royal Navy had an "official" Air Day at Culdrose until 2015. For a combination of reasons including base closures, an increasing operational tempo and the general squeeze on funding and resources, most of those have been lost in the past few years. There are only two official military airshows left in the UK now.

I haven't been in this part of the world long, I'd wager @Flightline Uk can flesh this out with some more detail?

[Flightline Uk]

I'm not sure the term 'official' is really the most appropriate as Cosford & RIAT both have 'official' endorsement from the Royal Air Force in different ways.

However, RAF Cosford Air Show is the last remaining UK airshow which is organised by staff directly employed by the Royal Air Force/MoD. The small civilian staff in the Airshow Office are MoD Civil Servants (though to confuse things the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust employs the Event Director) and as the event builds they are joined by RAF Personnel from No 1 School of Technical Training and other Cosford based units. It has survived that way really because its a very stable base with only one flying unit (University of Birmingham Air Squadron) on the airfield, but with a significant campus training many RAF trades within the camp. The show is seen as a great community relations event within an area of the UK where the RAF does not have a massive 'footprint' and therefore still commands support from the RAF Board.

Waddington and Leuchars fell by the wayside due to changes at both stations. Leuchars was transferred to the army during a period of defence cuts which saw its flying units move to Lossiemouth. Waddington fell off the calendar when the station went through development for RC-135 and RPAS operations and is probably now considered too much of sensitive site to host public events. However, all three ran under similar models to Cosford.

Yeovilton (now Royal Navy IAD) is slightly different as it is a partnership between the Royal Navy and a private civilian company. The civilian company manages the commercial aspects of the event (ie the Showground, Marketing etc) while serving Royal Navy personnel run all the operational side of the show. However, like Cosford military personnel do man many of the showground roles (Entrances/info stands etc)

RIAT is very different as they are entirely organised by a civilian organisation, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (which also organised Scampton). They are responsible for the whole event - both commercially and operationally. RAFCTE have a rental agreement to use RAF Fairford for the event. However, that's not to say the Royal Air Force isn't heavily invested into RIAT and in reality it is the event that the service puts most of its weight behind.

In Cosford related news, the German Navy will be sending a P-3C Orion for the flying display and a Sea King Mk88 for static display

[FlankerPhoto]

Poor wording on my part, apologies.

Thanks for the update, shaping up well already!

[Adam]

Danish Air Force Baby Blue (x4 Saab T17) added

[Flightline Uk]

CzAF JAS-39C Gripen solo and L-159 Duo added to the flying display line-up

[n33d4sp33d_85]

To those who're attending the RAF Cosford Airshow this Sunday, the full list of aircraft (flying and static) can be found here: https://www.cosfordairshow.co.uk/whats-on/

[Flightline Uk]

The weather gods smiled on RAF Cosford Air Show's show day. Both the days before and after were marked by heavy rain which made the set-up and the break down of the event a challenge for all involved. The show celebrated the 70th Anniversary of NATO, 50th Anniversary of the Harrier entering RAF Service, 60th Anniversary of the BAC Jet Provost and Women in Defence. The event also attracted the Czech and Slovak Air Forces for the first time as they marked Cosford's wartime role as a deport for Free-Czechoslovak personnel. A full review and images can be found here