-

RAF Waddington Airshow 2013

Text:	Urs Schnyder
Pictures:	Urs Schnyder

RAF Waddington is situated in the Heart of Bomber country just a few miles south of Lincoln. Built during WW1 and opened in 1916 the base has been in continuous service since. It is also home to Avro Vulcan XM607, the aircraft that flew the first black buck mission to the Falkland islands.
It is however better known for its annual Airshow that normally takes place on the first weekend in July. 2013 being the 19th time this has taken place. As such it is the biggest airshow hosted by an RAF base and always attracts interesting participants from abroad.
Besides the actual airshow on Saturday and Sunday, aircraft enthusiasts have the possibility to enter the base on Thursday and Friday before the show and Monday after when there is a special area near the end of the runway reserved for them. For the amount of 5£ you can stay the whole day and take pictures of the arriving aircraft.

Boeing E-3D Sentry 8 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Bombardier Sentinel R.1 5 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

145'000 Spectators

As a lot of the arriving aircraft will be part of the static display, this gives a good opportunity to take pictures of them in the air. Especially on Friday the landing pattern is as busy as Heathrow because most operators want to arrive as late as possible. As the distance to the runway is not that great, it is possible to take good pictures without big lenses. It is advisable however to arrive early otherwise the front row is already occupied.

This year the weather also promised to be exceptional, and so it was with Sunshine and no clouds during the whole weekend. In fact the weather was almost too good for taking pictures because you have the sun in front of you most of the day.
It was in fact so hot that people were always reminded by the airshow speaker to wear hats and drink enough water.
The weather also helped to attract about 145’000 visitors over the two days. One got the impression that there was no space on the base that was not occupied by spectators.
Most people especially from abroad may not be aware that the earnings from the airshow go to different charities. Since 1995 2.5 million pounds have been raised for this purpose. Each year about 100’000 £ go to the RAF Benevolent fund and the RAF Association.

Panavia Tornado GR-4 617 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Vickers VC-10 K.2 101 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Beech King Air 45 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Avro 846 Empire Test Pilot School (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

RAF

This year there were 160 display aircraft (flying and static) from 26 different organisations in the UK and abroad. About 2000 service personnel were on duty to help making it a success. Besides the display in the air, there are also a lot of things to see on the ground. However, as the flying starts at about 10a.m. and continues until about 5:30 p.m. there is precious little time to see everything. Fortunately the station remained open until 8 p.m. so there was some time to look around after the flying had finished.
The flying started each day with a flypast of the stations resident squadrons, this being No. 8 flying the Boeing AEW1 Sentry and no 5 flying the Raytheon Sentinel R1. No 5 Squadrons Sentinel also sported a special paint 100th anniversary paint scheme on the tail. On Sunday the Sentinel flew in formation with the Red Arrows. The Arrows flew their 4500th display on the Saturday. As usual, they gave a perfect show.
With small variations the program was similar on both days with the Patrouille de France only displaying on Saturday. They were the last ones flying on Saturday and thus ended the show.

EADS Typhoon FGR.4 3 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

EADS Typhoon FGR.4 29 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

EADS Typhoon FGR.4 6 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Merlin MH-1 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Boeing Chinook HC.3 27 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Avro Vulcan B.2 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Hunter T.7 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Bae Hawk T.1 Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Avro Lancaster and two Supermarine Spitfire (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Avro Lancaster and a Panavoa Tornado of the 617 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Douglas Dakota ZA947 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

2013 being the 70th anniversary of the Dambuster raid, there was a special formation flypast, with a Tornado of the present 617 Squadron flying in formation with the BBMF Lancaster. Coming over from Sweden in strength was Saab, who not only brought along some of their current maritime surveillance and patrol aircraft based on their Saab 2000 airliner, but in addition the whole historic flight. It was the first time that the J29 Tunnan had visited the UK mainland. Add to this the two Jas-39 Gripen from the Czech Air Force and it gave a good impression of Saab involvement in military flying.

The SAAB - Show

Saab 340-MRA Maritime Patrol (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Saab JA37 Viggen (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Saab J29 Tunnan (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Saab 105 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Saab JAS39 Gripen (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

The F-16

Another reliable supporter of UK airshows is the Belgian Air Force, This year it was present with 3 F-16. One of them deservedly won the first price for the best static display while there was also a colourful flying participant. The Dutch Air Force also had brought along an F-16 for the flying display which wore an impressive colour scheme in their national colours of orange showing a lion on the wings. They provided a Chinook for the static which is not seen that often.
However, the most impressive F-16 display this year was given by a member of the Turkish Air force called SoloTurk. He was the only one taking off with the wind and as soon as the wheels had left the ground he put up an impressive show. No less enthusiastic was his commentator who really lived with the demonstration. It is to be hoped that this was not the last time he displayed at an airshow. The aircraft was also in a very interesting paint scheme. It is really hoped that colours are coming back as in my opinion there is nothing more boring than a line up of grey aircraft.
Another participant from the middle east were the Royal Jordanian Falcons with their Extra 300.

Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16A 312 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Turkey Air Force F-16C 141 Filo `Wolf` (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Belgium Air Component F-16A No 349 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Belgium Air Component F-16A No 350 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Belgium Air Component F-16A No 349 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Agusta A109 Mangusta Belgium Air Component (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Boeing Vertoll CH-47D Chinook Royal Netherlands Air Force(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Royal Jordanian Air Force, Extra 300 from the Falcons (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Two Wingwalker Boeing Stearman (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

The guests

Aero L-159 Albatross Czech Air Force 212 Tactical Squadron (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Saab JAS39 Gripen Czech Air Force 211 Tactical Squadron (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

PZL M28 Bryza (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Agusta-Bell AB412 303 Sqn. Royal Netherlands Air Force(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton US Navy (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Extra 300 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Morane Saulnier 733 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Aero L-29 Delfin (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Bücker Jungmann (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Piaggio 166C (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Extra 300 from the Blades(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Training

De Haviland Dh-82 Tiger Moth (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Miles Master (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Auster AOP- (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

De Haviland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Jet Provost Mk.3 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

BAC Strikemaster Mk.5 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Foland Gnat T.1 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Short Tucano T.1 72 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Bae Hawk T.1 208 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Bae Hawk T.1 100 Sqn RAF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder

Support from Home came from the Royal Navy with the Lynx and a Merlin while the Army sent an Apache helicopter. The RAF displayed the Tucano and Typhoon as well as the Chinook which won the price of best display flying. Not to forget of course the BBMF and the RAF Falcons parachute display team.
One of the most famous Aircraft at the show was of course the Avro Vulcan XH558 which was supposed to end its career at the end of the year. However, it has been announced that provided enough money is collected, there is a possibility to keep it flying until 2015. There is no doubt that this will be achieved. It is always impressive to see the Vulcan screaming down the runway and taking off to display. It is amazing, how agile this big bomber is in the air.
Not to forget the civilian teams like the Gnat duo, the Hawker Hunter or the Breitling wing walkers whose girls never fail to amaze.
This years show surely goes down as remarkable, not least because of the weather which was outstanding. No doubt, a lot of people are already looking forward to 2014 when the airshow takes place on the weekend of the 5th and 6th of July.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Flt Lt Odille Carpe and her team for providing press facilities and thank them for their hospitality.

Fleet Air Arm

Westland Sea King 849 NAS (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Westland Merlin HM-2 824 NAS (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Westland Lynx HAS-7 702 NAS(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Army Air Corps

Islander Army Air Corps (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Apache AH-1 Army Air Corps 622 Sqn (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

PAF

Dassault Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

-	last update 18. August 2013	Written 10. August 2013	-	-
-	Corrections, additions and remarks please send to the Webmaster Michael E. Fader			-
-	If information from this site is used as source material please credit www.wings-aviation.ch			-
-	If this page does not have a navigational frame on the left, click HERE to see the rest of the website.			-