The annual Abingdon Air & Country Show was held on Sunday 6th May. The show is a large country show with a diverse range of attractions from classic cars to Irish dancing. The show is the first major outside event in the Oxfordshire area and usually the first display in the UK airshow calendar. Opened in 1932 RAF Abingdon has seen many types of aircraft stationed here including Fairey Gordons, Hawker Hinds, Whitley and Wellington Bombers, Dakotas, Avro Yorks, Hastings, Beverleys, Andovers, Bulldogs and Chipmunks. Later major servicing was done on site for BAe Hawk’s, Hawker Hunters, Sepecat Jaguars, BAe Buccaneer and VC 10 Tankers/Transports. The site was bombed during WWII several times but its darkest day was on the 6th July 1965 when a RAF Hastings (TG577) on a parachute exercise experienced difficulties and crashed with the loss of 43 lives near to the base.

During the war the base was home to No 10 Operation Training Unit, training bomber crews for the assault against Germany. After the War the base was handed over to Transport Command flying Dakotas and later Avro Yorks, one of which was the first aircraft to participate in the Berlin Airlift when the old bomber base sent critical supplies to support the beleaguered people of Berlin against the Soviet blockade. In the 1970`s the base again changed roles and was handed over to Support Command servicing modern aircraft from Hawks to VC 10`s. The RAF ended its operations in 1992 and after 60 years in RAF service the airfield was taken over by the Army and is now named Dalton Barracks in memory of James Dalton, a soldier awarded the VC for bravery during the Battle of Rorkes Drift in the 1879 Zulu Wars. The RAF still have a presence with 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) operating the Grob 109B Vigilante Motorglider. Pumas and Merlins are seen at the airfield quite often on exercise from RAF Benson near by. Apache helicopter can also be seen visiting from time to time.

The Air and Country show has been running since 2000 and has built on its success each year and now attracts international support with past visits of military aircraft from Poland (Navy M28 Bryza) and the United States Army. One of the organisers, who will remain nameless, calls the event the Regional International Air Tattoo (RIAT) - I hope you see the joke. The event was this year supporting the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust, the Trusts Boelkow Bo-105 is based at RAF Benson where the RAF made space to house the civilian operation. Today’s event was being supported by among others Kemble Air Service who provide the usual Air Traffic Control, with Light Aviation / Fire & Rescue service under the direction of Val Moss the fire crew were cleverly disguised as a fire team from RNAS Culdrose. The weather had been great for the week before the show perfect for display flying and photography, but on the day strong cross winds would make life difficult for some of the smaller aircraft and cause some fly in visitors to cancel. The organisers were a little disappointed with cancellations from its international supporters making this years event an all UK show.

Pleasure flights were undertaken by the Air Atlantique Classic Flight with their Percival Prentice and the Twin Pioneer (Twin Pin). Each of the aircraft were busy right up to the start of the flying display with the Twin Pin demonstrating its characteristic short takeoff and landing ability. The strong cross winds were evident during the Twin Pins approach and some of the smaller visitors had to make several approaches before getting onto the ground. Piloting the Twin Pin was Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson! The flying display was started by Rob Davies flying his P-51K Mustang in the colours of Col John Landers “Big Beautiful Doll” of the Duxford based 78th Fighter Group. Based at Woodchurch in Kent with his other aircraft a Yak C11 and AT-6D Texan. Woodchurch has held its own air displays but due in part to the increase in the requirements of Health & Safety and the rising insurance premiums the 2007 display has been cancelled. Many of the smaller air shows in the UK are suffering pressure from the same source, making events like the Abingdon one all the more precious. Rob’s display was excellent giving great views of the P-51 against a changeable sky and giving many people their fist display of the 2007 season.

Spitfire PR Mk.XI (PL965) owned and operated by Peter Teichman of the Hangar 11 Collection based at North Weald was the next war bird to display. His PR Mk.XI reconnaissance Spitfire is the last of her type still flying and served during WWII with No16 Squadron RAF in Belgium flying 45 operational missions. After a time as an instructional airframe, gate guard and museum exhibit she returned to the UK in the late 1980’s and was restored to flying condition in the early 1990`s. Owned by the Old Flying Machine Company and later the Real Aeroplane Company she was purchased by Peter Teichman in 2005. Listening to the Spitfire and the Mustang really got the audience in the mood and Peter’s display was very satisfying indeed.

The Messerschmitt Bf 108 was the first really successful aircraft from Prof. Willy Messerschmitt after a sting of failed designs and accidents. The Bf 108 was a real development in touring aircraft with its all metal skin, first flown in June 1934 as the M37 this low wing monoplane was well in advance of its British counterparts. The type became popular due to its handling and soon records were being set with them. One being by Elly Beinhorn when she travelled 2,230 miles in one day from Berlin to Constantinople and back. She called her Bf 108a Taifun and the name stuck with all production Bf 108’s being called Taifun. In 1938 the manufacturer underwent a name change to Messerschmitt Flugzeugbau and the aircraft prefix changed to Me. The type was adopted by the Luftwaffe for communication and liaison duties and was the design base for its much feared brother the Me 109 fighter. The RAF also used two of the type that were in the UK at the outbreak of war. After the war the type was being produced in France as the Nord 1001 Pingouin (Penguin) using salvaged parts and complete aircraft left by the Luftwaffe. The example we see today is flown by Dave Evans based at White Waltham and in its recently added European camouflage scheme made a great contrast to the Mustang and Spitfire.

The single Lynx display was provided by the Lt Steve Gamble, 815 NAS and it was worth watching. The Lynx is well established in UK airshows both with the Army’s Blue Eagle display team, more of them below and the Navy Black Cats Lynx pair. The Lynx showed us that he did not need a partner to work with to impress the crowd. The only thing the Navy display does not do that the army do is the Lynx role. This is because of the very sensitive equipment the Navy helicopter carries for maritime warfare. Away from the display the Lynx showed a small crowd of onlookers in the main car park area the art of station keeping while waiting for his display slot. The Army Air Corps were somewhat diminished in numbers for today’s display due I am informed the Lynx pilot suffering an illness, so the team only sent a single Gazelle supported by the Army Historic Aircraft Flight (XP820) de Havilland Beaver AL Mk.1 being located in the visiting aircraft park. The single Gazelle duly undertook the display but with only one aircraft and with a big sky the performance although faultless was somewhat lost in the distance. We look forward to seeing the full team later in the season.

The Chinook display team (with the Range Rover in the back) were also attending with their first public showing of the new 2007 display and crew. The display was as expected a success with the team showing the truly astounding ability of the big helicopter. And watching like a hawk was the team leader Squadron Leader Dave Morgan who was well pleased with the performance of the new team, Captain Dave Traill, Sqd Ldr Andy Lamb, Flt Sgt Jason Hollingsworth and Sgt Bob Larcombe. One very impressive manoeuvre was not seen by the main audience, on arrival to Abingdon the Chinook had to hover taxi to its parking area and then performed a three point turn on its rear undercarriage only. This was repeated after the display and Checksix suggested to Sqd Ldr Morgan that this should be in the display!

This is a sad aspect to the 2007 airshow season as due to the operational requirements of No 28 Squadron at RAF Benson and the need to press new Merlins (6 purchased from the Danish Government) into service, the Merlin display has been withdrawn from the 2007 calendar. The new Merlins and crews are an urgent requirement to support operations in Afghanistan. Similarly six Chinooks that have been in storage due to a software dispute with Boeing for several years are being downgraded so they can be introduced into service. The Merlin Team comprising, Pilot Flt Lt Ben Russell, Pilot Flt Lt Jim Porter, No 1 Crewman Sgt Dave Bryson, No 2 Crewman Sgt Andy Unsworth, Team Manager Flight Sergeant Gareth Attridge, Ops Officer Flt Lt Adam Booth did however make a dynamic arrival as it landed on the hard standing and created a dust cloud that looked like it could have been in Iraq or Afghanistan. The aircraft will attend at shows but as a static display only as there will not be a display crew available. This is we think is the first impact on the UK display scene from the ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Another helicopter on static display was a the Puma Hc Mk.1 of No 33 Squadron also at RAF Benson Piloted by Flt Lt Baz Stokes. First flown in 1965 and entering service with the RAF in 1971 the Puma has been the main workhorse of the RAF’s battlefield helicopter fleet for many years. The puma force has also been under pressure due to overseas commitments, the loss of two Pumas in a fatal accident in April only added to this. Although not displaying the crew from No 33 Squadron on departure did a flypast down the display line to salute the crowd and organisers, well done to them.

The Pembroke replaced the Avro Anson as a light transport and was used for flight crew training too. Today’s display by the Bournemouth based aircraft of South Coast Airways G-BNPH/WV740 gave the crowd good views of the aircraft top and underside and was a real crowd pleaser. The Pembroke was hardly designed to be graceful but its display surely was. Hawker Hunter 'Blue Diamond' T Mk.7 (XL577) (G-BXKF) of Delta Jets based at Kemble provided a taste of the cold war with its fast jet display. Built in 1958 she first flew in 1958 before being delivered to RAF Chivenor. She remained in service until the 1980’s then became a instructional airframe at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. Purchased by Delta Jets in 1996 she has been lovingly restored to glory over seven years. This is a beautiful aircraft and a welcome addition to any flying list or static display. Delta Jets are facing a battle of a different sort with the local government in its area who are trying to stop flying operations at its base in Kemble. A petition is available to sign to help keep flying operations at Kemble at http://www.deltajets.com .

The Tutor, piloted by Flt Lt Andy Preece , 1 EFTS put on a spirited display in the RAF elementary trainer no doubt that these manoeuvres are not in the elementary flying syllabus. The training theme was taken over by the Tucano with Flt Lt Bobby Moore, 1 FTS in the special colour scheme celebrating the 90th Anniversary of 72 Squadron. Another fine example of display flying from the powerful training aircraft. At the end of the display a technical problem forced Flt Lt Moore to land, but after a short stay he rectified the problem and took off for home. The last aircraft from the RAF was the BAe Systems Hawk flown by Mike Child from 208 Squadron at RAF Valley. The Hawk is one of BAe Systems biggest success stories with over 700 variants being sold to various countries including the US Navy who know it as the T45 Goshawk. The Hawk display is always impressive if sometimes a little distant and it was great to have another fast jet in the display line up.

The last of the modern aircraft was the Extra 300L of Denny Dobson. A professional display pilot Denny has over 1000 public displays under his belt. The Extra 300 is a popular aircraft with display pilots and is the mount of well known teams such as the Blades and Jordanian Falcons. Denny’s display is a high energy display with the amazing high-G manoeuvres that airshow crowds have come to expect from the Extra 300. Denny is perhaps best known for his limbo flying when he fly’s as low as 1mtr to get under tapes being held on poles. If a prize was being awarded for the most vicious aircraft of the day it would go to a DeHaviland Chipmunk, by far the most ferocious “Chippy” ever seen by this correspondent and a pleasure to see now. Its nice to see a sense of humour being displayed as well as aircraft.

All in all the display was well worth the visit and it was easy to see why Abingdon is gaining a growing reputation in the UK aviation community for its air display. Even with the disappointing international cancellations and the strong cross winds the Abingdon team delivered a very entertaining afternoon and gave a great start to the UK 2007 display season.
Checksix UK would like to thank Neil Porter, Colin Smith and the rest of the Abingdon team for their help and cooperation. We look forward to next years event, on 4th May !

Will Moore / Checksix UK

Release 4.0/2008

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