We have had a few additions to the flying display and also a number of additions to the static display. We have just secured an appearance by a flight of 6 Alpha Jets form the Belgium AF. The French Air Force is also bringing an Alpha Jet as a singleton display. This could well be the last appearance at Waddington of this icon from the training world.
The static display is growing nicely with recent additions from a number of nations providing participants. We now have confirmed aircraft from Germany, the Netherlands, the USA and France and we are very confident of adding to this list. Our flying co-ordinator is in constant contact with a very wide range of operators to ensure the best display possible is brought to Waddington. Keep a close eye on the website.
This year will also see an addition to our renowned music performances. Late afternoon on Saturday and Sunday at the entrance of the Main Exhibition Hangar there will be a Beating of Retreat ceremony performed by the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment. This will be the first time we have had this spectacle and we feel sure it will be well received.
I hope Waddington this year has some fast jet action as it has been sadly lacking in recent years. A single Typhoon does not a display make.
Posted by Tim Bye | May 11, 2009, 8:45 pmi agree totally my friend. it was good to see the mirage 2000 last year but nothing superb this year yet. im sure the guys are trying really hard to get something like a mig-29, rafale or gripen to display. fingers crossed on that one
Posted by Michael Byrne | May 15, 2009, 9:05 amWell Tim, looks like you are right. The fast jet military is again lacking so far in the flying display and doesnt look good for anything too good to be added ie no rafale,mig29,su27s,gripen. etc etc. i hope i get suprised but not holding my breath.
Posted by Michael Byrne | May 20, 2009, 9:35 amafter reading the last comment with no offense i have been to most shows if not there watched them on the net and i must say they do a great job in getting people to turn up and do displays i dont see why fast planes is a issue yes its fun to watch but things like last year with the lancaster was fantastic and well the only part i enjoy the most is when those boys in red fly, the red arrows to me get better and better each and every year and i say go for it guys the sky is yours
Posted by dave hopper | June 9, 2009, 12:24 pmyou air show is good and i love watching all of you and you red arrows
Posted by christina robinson | May 21, 2009, 12:13 pmHave to say I’m disappointed. Last year we had B52 and Mirage, the Year before we had the Indian SU’s. Maybe they’re worried it’ll get rained off again so not bothering.
Posted by Keiron Lammond | May 23, 2009, 6:19 pmHaving looked at the Flying Display list I’ll be giving it a wide birth this year.
Fairford doesn’t look any better, have we upset the yanks?
Posted by Barry Tones | May 25, 2009, 8:28 pmHi,
I’m a little confused to see in the Waddington Leaflet it states a Belgium F16 in the FLYING display? Is this correct?
Posted by Steve | May 27, 2009, 12:29 pmIn March of this year the Belgian Air Force indicated that a F-16 would be available for a flying display at this year’s Waddington Air Show. When we finalised the leaflet the aircraft was still expected, unfortunately since the leaflet was printed, and we print 200,000 copies, the aircraft was withdrawn by the Belgians. This is a constant problem that occasionally does happen and we apologise for the disappointment it causes.
Posted by rafwaddingtonairshow | May 28, 2009, 8:05 amOk thankyou for the reply, that is a great shame. I feel with the obvious lack of any fast-jet aircraft this year it will probably effect numbers a little. It’s a poor show that we won’t even get to see the Tornado or the much loved Harrier.
However, I, like many others will still be attending/supporting the show and I’m really looking forward to it even if it isn’t what I’m hoping for
Posted by Steve | May 28, 2009, 5:30 pmReally disapointed at display list, the lack of fast jets makes the show very poor. i have been to a lot smaller air shows with more flying than there is at waddington. The ticket price can not be justified with such a lackluster list of display aircraft, its such a shame we can not even see our own RAF fighters such as the harrier and tornado. Really hope more aircraft are added as this used to be a really good show.
Posted by harry | June 10, 2009, 2:31 pmvery dissapointing indian mig-29s? saudi hawks? no orange+black display dutch f-16 let hope the f-4f jg71 is the 50th anniversary scheme if it turns up
Posted by steve | June 15, 2009, 12:25 pmHi there…Just been to the Cosford airshow and must say that the euro fighter was great to see and hear,,,To end the show we were treated to the flying display of the good old Vulcan..I have been to Waddinton before on two occasions and on both not been dissapointed..After seeing the list of aircraft and reading the comments already posted I wont be coming…Its sad to see that there will be so few fast jets…prop planes are ok..The pilots are skillful…but you are losing the plot…People need speed and great sound at this event…its akin to F1 racing having production cars going round the track…Good…but we want the best…Good luck Waddington in future events..If you get the jets and dont have rain then the crowds will flock and never complain..
Posted by jerry | June 15, 2009, 4:53 pmi missed last year, i take the wife for her birthday. she loves the jets. listning to the sky roar and boom. but there,s nothing yet that blows her skirt up come on waddington get it together.
Posted by kim | June 26, 2009, 6:49 pmWaddington is listed as the Premium RAF Air Show. Where does it get that heading from maybe it is the only one? I spent most of my life in the RAF and was involved in a number of Shows at Finningley in the 60′s and can honestly say they were better then, than this hotch potch of a flying display. I would ask why we cannot get a flypast of various RAF aircraft such as the Queen manages on her birthday after all we are paying to see this but then again we do not award Knighthoods. One day we may get back to repaying the public what they pay for. I am dissalusioned and ashamed that a Service I was once proud of has come down to this level!!!
Posted by Roland | June 29, 2009, 10:19 amAll this obsession with fast jets!! must have a Mirage 2k or Su 27 or Mig 29 or its a no-go.
There are about 100,000 people going to Wadders and they all don’t want whizz bang crash. What they need (and what they’ll get) is a broad range of aircraft types from the wingwalkers at 100mph to the Typhoon at 500mph, from the small to the large.
Posted by MikeD | July 3, 2009, 12:11 pmi have been reading the comments of some people i am only 15 years old and i have been going since i was 7 the airshow isnt about fast jets we should be appreciate what the raf can do for us im looking forward to the airshow this weekend bring on the show boys.
Posted by reece | July 3, 2009, 8:20 pmWould love to say had a great time but having bought the tickets and seats months ago didn’t even get in the grounds! Having left home before 8 reached Lincoln before ten and was still sat in the queue at 1.45 with a stroppy teenager and disappointed 11 year old, soon after this we gave up and started heading home. Hope to have better luck next year, please sort out the traffic!
Posted by Heather Fisher | July 4, 2009, 6:42 pmi didn’t reckon much to waddington airshow my brother said that their where nearly all the same type of plane doing the same types of tricks but got to admit loved the para shooting, french airplanes, red arrows (best flying ever) and the euro star the roar was amazing hope you could have a better line up, program and more bigger planes.
Posted by lena | July 5, 2009, 6:28 pmHi
just been to the waddington airshow 2009 just reading comments about the airshow and lack of fast jets and i was so disappointed not to see any just the typhoon and the red arrows and hawks didn’t know about the f-16 not flying till i seen these comments and then we heard that the vulcan was not flying because of paper work was not up to date. I am from N.Wales and travelled a long way to see this show i was told that waddington show was 1 of the best around. i do agree they did put on a very good show with what they did have but i would like to know why there were F15s,F-16s,Harriers and Tornados that were static could they not have flown even a couple of these, also no sea king display that was promised. Sorry to the RAF at waddington that this sounds like i am ripping into them when i know they work hard to try and put the best show they can on but still disappointed about the jets the rest of the show was great.
Posted by Steve | July 5, 2009, 6:36 pmi agree about the fast jet, but i did enjoy the lynx& apache display. plus it being the 60th anniversary of NATO i thought it could have been a lot better. the other moan i have is the rip off prices of refreashments.
Posted by kevin | July 6, 2009, 11:00 ammoany old man
Posted by kevin | July 6, 2009, 7:15 pmI’ve attended the Waddington show since childhood in the ’70s and ’80s and now I take my own son. I appreciate all the enormous effort it must take to organize and operate a show of this size and the huge problems there must be in securing display craft. But I must say, this was the most lack-lustre display of recent memory. Correctly or otherwise, the majority of people who attend do so for the visceral thrill of fast, noisy jets, whether new or old or foreign or domestic. The lack of these makes for a very flat and disappointing show. Last year we had Tornados, a Mirage 2000, the Vulcan, and the “tactical demonstration” at the end. This year, we had…one Typhoon, and that on so late that many of us who had heeded the advice being broadcast over the tannoys, had already left. Choppers and trainers and Hawks and wing-walkers and Sentinels just do not make for entertainment or excitement. I mean no disrespect to them or their skilled pilots or ground staff or to the many people who have laboured long and hard to secure their attendance, but an air show is primarily that – a SHOW, and you need headline acts as well as fillers. Promoting the RAF, recruitment, demonstrating how our tax pounds are spent or the necessity of air power – the blunt fact is that if you do not entertain the crowd they will not attend and will not therefore be receptive to any messages you wish to convey. The dull display combined with the usual variability of the weather means I am unlikely to make the 120 mile drive next year.
Posted by AWED | July 6, 2009, 2:22 pmHi
Having visited 2 major airshows in a month cosford and waddington i would just like to say both were in our opinion great even if the fast jets were not the dominant aircraft both days gave us glorious weather and a fantastic atmosphere
I upgraded my ticket for the waddington visit to the Bomber Harris Chalet the extra cost was totally well worth it the service and facilities were second to none and the food was fantastic(well done catering staff)and to bypass all those queues trying to leave the site was in itsself worth the ticket price
Our only major disapointment was the non appearance of the Vulcan but having served 14 years at Raf Scampton during the Vulcan years the disappointment wasnt a major issue
Looking forward to next years show
Posted by george alan moor | July 7, 2009, 4:18 pmHi
I went to the Sunday show, with some concern that there would be a last minute problem with the Vulcan, because of past no shows, and not knowing of the problem of not having the new permit to fly. I was stunned when it was announced that it would not be flying, and this at the main RAF show and the ancestral home of this Vulcan. This will undoubtably do great harm to the future fund raising required to keep this aircraft airworthy and flying. The organisers did their best with the available aircraft, but the lack of fast jet participation was very disappointing. All of the teams were good. particularly the Red Arrows as always. but the show needed much more variation. particularly foreign miltary.
Posted by John | July 7, 2009, 5:39 pmI thoroughly enjoyed the Waddington Airshow and like most people loved the Red Arrows best of all. This is the 3rd Waddington Airshow that I have been to and I am very impressed with how well organised it is. I was also very impressed with all the RAF staff, who were very polite and friendly. Thanks to everyone that was involved in organising this great event.
Posted by Penny | July 8, 2009, 2:40 pmHi there, this was the first airshow I had been to for a number of years and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What was disappointing was that the display planes etc had no signage giving basic details such as the name of the plane, its main functions, speed etc and some of its history. I imagine that like me, some of the people (including children) that go to these events may know little about some planes and having such details would be both interesting and helpful.
Thanks
Posted by Annabel Sogan | July 8, 2009, 3:10 pmHi there,
I know you guys work hard to put the show on from start to finish and a big well done for that !!!
Just hoping that 2010 is going to show some more fast jet action (millitary) as 2009 was sadly lacking.
fingers crossed !!!
Jim.
Posted by Jim Stafford | March 30, 2010, 1:13 pmWhile I can understand peoples dissapointment at last years lack of fast air, just remember the commitment our air force and others are under. If you don’t like what is put on , don’t go. The staff at Waddington have to give up their weekend to make sure Joe public are looked after, and it’s done with courtesy and with a friendly smile. I find the airshow agreat day out, no pressure, just enjoy what’s going on and stop bitching about the lack of things. The last government cut our forces to the bone, and anything that flies from the RAF is a bonus to any displays in the UK, SO JUST GO AND HAVE A GREAT DAY, don’t have too high an expectation of mass jet formations
Posted by Andy Ratcliff | June 25, 2010, 10:35 amMr Ratcliff, due to the lack of fast air in reasent years I took a trip to RIAT 2010 last Saturday, well what can I say !!!! pleanty of fast jet action and although as you say there is a certain commitment the RAF is engauged in they sertainly put on a fabulous show, as did the other nations.
Unfortunatly Waddington just isnt in the same league !!!! which is a shame but there you go.
So if you are after tame displays the you stick to Waddington, if on the other hand you want thrills and speed from the boys in the fast jets then its Fairford all the way !!!
Oh by the way dont know if you have noticed but lots of people work weekends….as do I !!!!
Thats the way it is these days.
Posted by Jim Stafford | July 20, 2010, 2:55 pm