Alconbury Air Tattoos 1983 - 93 (Updated to incl '92))

[dragonchaser]

This has been a super thread, really like the additions, particularly the AC130H,

[graham luxton]

Thanks Graham
From memory I don’t think the second B-1 was actually there on the Sunday (stand to be corrected though) and it definitely did not fly on the Sunday - we parked up at the end of the runway so we could use the car as shelter and would have got a couple of shots of it with the burners in the dark conditions
Some dim memory rattling around in my head says it left Alconbury on the Saturday after the show as I think there was a picture of it in one of the magazines at the time taxi-ing out - Stuart has a nice shot of it on Flickr - a camo one!

Thanks Darren - video'd both of them departing as a flight on the Monday after the show. Maybe it cancelled on the Sunday due to the weather - looked grim from you're F-111 shots.

[F3]

It is interesting to note that the A-10s on static display in '92 were still wearing Woodbridge/Bentwaters tailcodes 4 yrs. after relocating to Alconbury (indeed the partner of that shown still carried 81 TFW mks). According to the programme notes the A-10s had already left the base, and returned to the States. So the question arises as to where they were from. Had they been re-assigned to Spangdahlem? Can anyone out there enlighten me?

[graham luxton]

Only 2 squadrons of A-10's, the 509th and the 511th, moved in from Bentwaters in '88 leaving the 92nd and 511th remaining there while the 78th and 91st stayed at Woodbridge. The 2 WR's at the show came from Bentwaters where the last A-10's left the 81stFW in March'93.

[F3]

Only 2 squadrons of A-10's, the 509th and the 511th, moved in from Bentwaters in '88 leaving the 92nd and 511th remaining there while the 78th and 91st stayed at Woodbridge. The 2 WR's at the show came from Bentwaters where the last A-10's left the 81stFW in March'93.

Thanks for that Graham. I'd previously thought that all the Bentwaters A-10s had moved. Can you shed any light about what my dad told me about the 1990 (?) show when the static a/c were fenced off which put me off returning until '92 when I just happened to be on holiday in Suffolk.

[graham luxton]

Only 2 squadrons of A-10's, the 509th and the 511th, moved in from Bentwaters in '88 leaving the 92nd and 511th remaining there while the 78th and 91st stayed at Woodbridge. The 2 WR's at the show came from Bentwaters where the last A-10's left the 81stFW in March'93.

Thanks for that Graham. I'd previously thought that all the Bentwaters A-10s had moved. Can you shed any light about what my dad told me about the 1990 (?) show when the static a/c were fenced off which put me off returning until '92 when I just happened to be on holiday in Suffolk.

Don't recall it F3 but as there were 2 shows in 1990 it may have been at the one I didn't attend.

[iainpeden]

Wasn't there an Alconbury show cancelled one year due a bomb hoax - - late 70's, very eary 80's?

[Knife 04]

Thanks Graham
From memory I don’t think the second B-1 was actually there on the Sunday (stand to be corrected though) and it definitely did not fly on the Sunday - we parked up at the end of the runway so we could use the car as shelter and would have got a couple of shots of it with the burners in the dark conditions
Some dim memory rattling around in my head says it left Alconbury on the Saturday after the show as I think there was a picture of it in one of the magazines at the time taxi-ing out - Stuart has a nice shot of it on Flickr - a camo one!

Thanks Darren - video'd both of them departing as a flight on the Monday after the show. Maybe it cancelled on the Sunday due to the weather - looked grim from you're F-111 shots.

Cheers Graham - glad you got them both but still cannot remember the 2nd B-1 being there on the Sunday - getting old I guess!

This has been a super thread, really like the additions, particularly the AC130H,

A couple more for you Dragon Chaser
AC-130H – 96573 – 16th SOS, Hulbert Field AFB, Florida (1) by Darren Currie, on Flickr

AC-130H – 96573 – 16th SOS, Hulbert Field AFB, Florida (2) by Darren Currie, on Flickr

AC-130H – 96573 – 16th SOS, Hulbert Field AFB, Florida - Nose Art by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Darren

[F3]

That's one mean machine. I do like that nose art!

[andrewn]

Hoping you wont mind me adding a few of my own from the Saturday, 21st August 1993....

68-0056_UH by n andrews, on Flickr

WM167 by n andrews, on Flickr

XX885 by n andrews, on Flickr

XX885_2 by n andrews, on Flickr

WH953 by n andrews, on Flickr

87-0338_SP by n andrews, on Flickr

ZD670 by n andrews, on Flickr

ZD670_3A by n andrews, on Flickr

XV218 by n andrews, on Flickr

4494 by n andrews, on Flickr

[F3]

Not at all, esp. as I missed that one being away on holiday in the sun. My dad went and from what he told me you could have done with some sun and I can see why. Looks like there were some interesting a/c there tho' esp that Belizes badged Harrier.

[ST24]

Lovely, the AR shows were great. You've got your dates mixed up though--your '86 shots are' 85(you did go!), your '87 shots are' 86 (though J-358 is '87), and your' 88 shots are '87 (glorious wx!)
Some noteds if I may-
' 83 featured the last public XV sq Bucc, TWU Hunters and 50sqn Vulcan
'85 first F1CR, and one of the last CAF' 104s.
'86 was low key, WGN torn was only foreign flyer.
'87 was superb, V hot, recall the display Lightning display and spare departing to Aalborg and the Norg F-5 display pilot was celebrating his 30th birthday!
'88 dull wx, French Twin Otter and N262 were highlights but far side. 527th only had 1 F-5E on static, indeed the Bentwaters show the following wknd had the first aggressor F-16
No show in' 89
'90was standard fare but with a 2BW buff static and first display season for home based hogs. French Tw' otter and N262 again.
'91 superb - Debut Portuguese A-7display!
'92 A-10 in the "new" grey scheme
'93 2nd B-1 was far side, 1417flt GR3 was on loan to 233OCU, foreign flyers were F1pair and a gutsy F-4F.
Hope that helps..

[dragonchaser]

Thanks Graham
From memory I don’t think the second B-1 was actually there on the Sunday (stand to be corrected though) and it definitely did not fly on the Sunday - we parked up at the end of the runway so we could use the car as shelter and would have got a couple of shots of it with the burners in the dark conditions
Some dim memory rattling around in my head says it left Alconbury on the Saturday after the show as I think there was a picture of it in one of the magazines at the time taxi-ing out - Stuart has a nice shot of it on Flickr - a camo one!

Thanks Darren - video'd both of them departing as a flight on the Monday after the show. Maybe it cancelled on the Sunday due to the weather - looked grim from you're F-111 shots.

Cheers Graham - glad you got them both but still cannot remember the 2nd B-1 being there on the Sunday - getting old I guess!

This has been a super thread, really like the additions, particularly the AC130H,

A couple more for you Dragon Chaser
AC-130H – 96573 – 16th SOS, Hulbert Field AFB, Florida (1) by Darren Currie, on Flickr

AC-130H – 96573 – 16th SOS, Hulbert Field AFB, Florida (2) by Darren Currie, on Flickr

AC-130H – 96573 – 16th SOS, Hulbert Field AFB, Florida - Nose Art by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Darren

many thanks Knife cracking shots.

[dollar99]

Very nice thread, Alconbury was usually worth a visit for the show.

Darren, FYI it's Hurlburt Field, been there, done that was in the rain that bounced up to waist height off the concrete But that's another story

[stuie492]

I attended the 1992 Alconbury airshow... Was it me or did you feel American that day. American personnel walking about with their family's....bbqs on the go.... Was awesome.... Remember an f16 starting up on the static line ready to go home... Health and safety went right out the window....Canadian f18 pilot showed me round the cockpit.. Got video with me perched on the side... I could of fallen but back then... Who cared lol

[andrewn]

Adding these for posterity....

Air Tattoo 92 by n andrews, on Flickr
Air Tattoo 93 by n andrews, on Flickr

[MR TERRY GREEN]

Alconbury always had interesting aircraft .

[andrewn]

A few more from the show on 12th August 1990...

XX895 by n andrews, on Flickr

85-1461 by n andrews, on Flickr

80-1088 by n andrews, on Flickr

85-1552 by n andrews, on Flickr

69-7262 by n andrews, on Flickr

3848 by n andrews, on Flickr

85-1477 by n andrews, on Flickr

58-0087 by n andrews, on Flickr

[deakus]

Really enjoying this thread, went to a few of these shows in the 80's as a boy, these pics bring back that excited feeling of wonderment and inspiration and sensory overload. Maybe my Dad will have some pics somewhere.

[Unknown74]

If I also remember rightly the 1988 Air Tattoo featured the first Alconbury based A-10-Thunderbolt IIs, Also I reckon they missed a massive trick, it was disappointing that they couldn't have arranged to have one of the first Aggressor F-16s parked on Static next to the final F-5E Tiger IIs now that would have been some sight.