Welcome
Welcome to the RAF Waddington International Air Show blog. It is now 15 years since The RAF At Home Day moved to Waddington from RAF Finningley following the closure of that base in the Defence cuts of 1994. The Air Show was marketed from the outset as the “RAF Waddington International Air Show” and normally attracts in the region of 120,000 people over the weekend. All proceeds from the Waddington Air Show are donated equally to the two RAF charities, the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), with a small percentage of the proceeds going to local worthy causes. Since the first event in 1995 the Air Show has raised a total of £2,253,000, of which £280,500 has been donated to local charitable causes and the remainder divided equally between RAFA and the RAF Benevolent Fund. The air show team is led by Colin Reeves who has just left the RAF following his tour as OC Operations Wing at RAF Waddington. Danny Mellor, who recently retired from the RAF is the new Commercial Manager and Katerina Greenlaw is the Advertising and Reservations Manager. Pat Bland is the Display Co-ordinator although he will retire after the 2009 Air Show and be replaced by David Thomas who was the 2008 Vulcan Display Pilot.
2009 Air Show
This year’s air show will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the formation of NATO and we plan to include representative aircraft from all NATO Nations whether flying or in the static display. We are also hoping that the Indian Air Force will return with their Mig 29′s. The Polish National Display Team – The Orliks – will be making a welcome return and we hope that the Patrouille De France will also attend. Many of you will have seen the web article concerning the Saudi Hawks. We have been working with the Team since March 2008 trying to get them to the Show and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we will be successful. Subject to serviceability, we will also have the Vulcan and the newly restored Constellation from Holland. On the ground, we have themed all of our enclosures to represent famous people or aircraft from the history of the RAF and our centre-piece will be an RAF Village featuring recruiting, operational and leisure activities. We will be expanding our hangar displays with the Youth Hangar, concentrating on Science and Technology, occupying all of No 5 Hangar. No 3 Hangar will, as always, feature our main display. There will also be over 200 trade stands, 2 craft marquees, a funfair and a classic car display.
Our new website www.waddingtonairshow.co.uk has just been released – feel free to browse through our new image gallery, enter our photo competition, find out about 2009 participating aircraft or purchase your air show tickets. Our partnership with East Midlands Trains will give you the opportunity to purchase a joint rail and air show ticket from anywhere in the UK, at a discounted rate. A new section of the website, dedicated to air show visitors with disabilities, lists all useful information in one place. We hope that you find our new website exciting and much easier to use and look forward to welcoming you at the 2009 RAF Waddington International Air Show on 4th & 5th July!
Currently adjusting the theme of this blog so that it is more inkeeping with the mail website at http://www.waddingtonairshow.co.uk. Appologies for it’s unsightlyness and hopfully you’ll enjoy the new look shortly.
Posted by Justin | February 20, 2009, 11:41 amHOPE WE CAN GET SOME GOOD FOREIGN MILITARY THIS YEAR. ID LOVE TO SEE THE B1B LANCER FLYING. ALSO THE GRIPEN, MIG 29, RAFALE AND SU30. ALSO SOMETHING DIFFERENT LIKE AN AN225 OR A C5 GALAXY FLYING. LOOKING FORWARD TO WADDINGTON 2009
Posted by Michael Byrne | March 2, 2009, 7:59 pmcant wait to see the vulcan though but i want to see more big planes fly like the a380 and b52 also the b1b lancer
Posted by kiefer | May 11, 2009, 8:12 amMight you possibly be Michael Byrne ex RAF Cosford 48th entry 1963 Teleg – ?
Regards
Dodge
Posted by Roger Braga | September 18, 2009, 11:32 amLove your sentiment re what you would like to see Michael Byrne. Don’t think you’ve got a hope of anything out of that wish list.
But good luck anyway.
Posted by John Walker | March 3, 2009, 4:56 pmAfter a bit of silence from waddington airshow organisors one item has been added to he flying programme in the shape of a French air force Alpha Jet. keep the military jets coming.
Posted by Michael Byrne | March 26, 2009, 6:36 pmhi.sure to be a good show.however just like to point out some aircraft i just love.Greek.Turkish af.heavy metal.F.4 Phantoms.and rare types from the old soviet block.good luck with the show.
Posted by mike field | March 29, 2009, 12:48 pmyawn yawn french aerobatic team on the sunday thank god im going on the sat instead
Posted by Michael Byrne | April 6, 2009, 5:49 pmmore forigen jets plz not long to go
Posted by kiefer | May 11, 2009, 8:14 ammore power as well e.g f-16 f-15 f-14 and f-4s
Posted by kiefer | May 11, 2009, 8:16 amIn terms of the non-aviation items, what are the chances of getting the Army to stump up some display items. Maybe a Challenger tank, Warrior IFV and MLRS etc
Frequently see these at RIAT but at Waddington the most we see are a fixed rapier and the Ex Soviet Gekko.
Posted by Tony Greenfield | June 13, 2009, 11:22 pmwant a good day ?????????…..set off an hour earlier than you would normally…..and follow the signs…..works for me every time.
Posted by JOHN BIRDSALL | June 20, 2009, 12:13 pmI have noticed that last year the harrier jet didnt fly although there was a static display, we love to watch the harrier fly so please say there will be one flying this year?
Posted by katrina | June 21, 2009, 6:31 pmGood view from our flat roof, between Newark and Hykeham Road.
Sorry no Red Arrows Love Heart for daughter F.
She saw 4 years ago age 5 and was convinced there was an F in the middle for her.
We are waving like mad if any stray aircraft fly this direction.
Posted by R and F Ellis | July 4, 2009, 11:58 amHi All,
Whist I appreciate arranging an air display must be complex and time consuming. I have to say that the lack of “fast Jets” today was a dissappointment. I have been at waddington all day left at 3.30 to aviod large queue’s and didn’t see one at all. I’m now home in Hykeham(lincoln) and have just heard the Typhoon displaying, In past years we were treated to harrier’s….tornado’s….and more importantl;y there was a mix of fast and graceful displays.
john
Posted by John | July 4, 2009, 4:13 pmThank you for a great day AGAIN, pity about the Vulcan not your fault tho. I want to say a big thank you to ALL the boys and girl cadets who look after us so well in the disable area, they are a credit to you.
Posted by Ann | July 4, 2009, 5:15 pmWaddington 09 Sat, fantastic weather some great displays, however record numbers made traffic so mad even though we set off early we never entered the actual show untill 1145, in addition it was dispointing to see the show is turning into a major fair ground attraction and was very over priced ! I have no issue with the entry charges however once in the show the cost of drinks, food, ice cream’s and even some souvenir’s and more so the rides make it off putting for a choice of a family day out in the future, the show is spoiling this event and taking the attraction away from the actual displays by including all the fairground rubbish.
Posted by Lindsey | July 5, 2009, 7:36 ami went to the air show on saturday and wow i was amzed i have always wanted to go and i finaly went yesterday they was lots to see and a spectalir air show especially tge red arrows…. if you heading there for the day id leave an hr earlie lots and lots ov traffic other then that it was a fab day..
Posted by shaun | July 5, 2009, 10:30 amthe air show was the best one i have bin to
he red arrows was amzings but on saturday they never did the love heart but on sunday at 4 o clock they did the love heart
Posted by matty | July 5, 2009, 7:18 pmSorry all, went on Saturday, and came home somewhat dissappointed, no fizz at all, a flat lack lustre affair, and with weather as it was who remembers when the dutch belg and norwegian F16 would try and out do each other, at least one of them in a 15000 ft power climb, and set off all the car alarms, plenty of firepower sat in static but they hadnt brought the matches, chinook only thing that did it for me, left a little early went home had a barbie and went to karaoke, wished it have been better rgds Al
Posted by rick | July 5, 2009, 9:34 pmHi All
Is it me or was there a lack of fast Jets displaying at the recent airshow? I counted 1 which was the typhoon. Gone are the days when we saw F16′s Harriers, Tornado’s. For me they make an airshow, an airshow….
Posted by john shear | July 8, 2009, 6:41 amQuite right Rick! On the one hand we get excuses for the RAFs poor showing due to operational commitments, on the other hand the static park stays static. I don’t really get the point of having these exotic visitors zapping in only to stay static all weekend.
As for the Vulcan mess yet again, don’t start me……….
Posted by Dave | July 8, 2009, 12:30 pmloved it thought it was amazing but the one thing that was dissapointing was the vulcan didnt fly that would have been the highlight of my year but im off next year so hopefully it wil be up and running then and the lynx and chinook were amazing and i think it was the apache with the lynx but it was really giid
Posted by steven | July 6, 2009, 12:00 pmFlying contribution not as good as before. Far too many gaps with
nothing happening. Why the cost-cutting with the tannoy system.?
Must improve for 2010, and who let the Vulcan’s M.O.T. run-out
the day before the show.?
Posted by ron mitcham | July 6, 2009, 12:24 pmwent on sunday and left very disappointed no vulcan all though not waddingtons fault. the typhoon was the only fast jet flying no f16s tornados or harriers. however the typhoon red arrows and the chinook were outstanding.
Posted by antony | July 6, 2009, 5:13 pmwent on sunday with all family as usaul very dissapointed whith whole show esp flying.hope its better next year or will give it a miss and go to lowestoft instead
Posted by clive longhorn | July 7, 2009, 10:19 amHad a brilliant time at the air show, met lots of friendly people. The weather was great. People I spoke to were very impressed with the display – only thing which spoiled it was no Vulcan. I would recommend anyone to attend – better than Sunderland Air Show anytime. The Red Arrows were fantastic as ever, the Chinnok was amazing and what a finish with the trident – I could have done with a pair of ear protectors which most of the children were wearing. Lovely to see young childen dressed up in red arrows jump suits.
Keep up the good work RAF Waddington
Posted by Ann Dunn | July 9, 2009, 8:18 amis there any secure cycle parking?
Posted by rob bradley | July 3, 2010, 8:26 am