Mildenhall Air Fetes

[Knife 04]

Good morning all

On the Friday before the last weekend in May (traditionally a bank holiday weekend or Memorial Weekend in the US), many of us old enough to remember used to make our way over to Mildenhall for the Air Fete. It is now 22 years since the last one! No internet to know what would be arriving - just turn up and hope for the best!

A brilliant weekend with a great atmosphere, burgers & beers provided by the hosts, the USAF

A couple from each of those I attended and have tried not to post those that have appeared before / in other places - these are a mixture of slide & negative scans

1985
F-4E - 68-0379 86th TFW USAFE (2) by Darren Currie, on Flickr

P-3C 161408 - LC-88, VP-8 USN by Darren Currie, on Flickr

C-5A - 68-0225 - 436th MAW, Dover AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1986
Anybody recognise anybody?
SR-71 - 17980 Det 4, 9th SRW RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Buccaneer S.2B - XW530/HF - 12 Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1987
F-4C - 64-0707 - 171st FIS / 191st FIG / Michigan ANG - BDRF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Team 17th Recon Wing, RAF Alconbury by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1988
SR-71 - 64-17971 - Det 4 - Getting airborne in a storm! by Darren Currie, on Flickr

F-111F - 71-0886 / LN, 492d TFS, 48th TFW, Lakenheath by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1989
F-16C Fighting Falcon - 86-0254 / WR '11' - 527th AS, RAF Bentwaters by Darren Currie, on Flickr

B-1B Lancer - 86-0114 'Wolfhound' - 46th BS / 319th BW, Grand Forks AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1990
Tornado F.3 - ZE764 / DH - 11 Squadron, RAF Leeming by Darren Currie, on Flickr

B-52G - 92585 'Swashbuckler' - 69th BS, 42nd BW Loring AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1991
Tornado GR1 - ZA447 / EA 'Mig Eater' - 15 Squadron, RAF Laarbruch , Germany by Darren Currie, on Flickr

EC-135H - 61-0291 'Anglian Lion' - 10th ACCS, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1992
C-2A Greyhound - 162172 / JM-26 - VR-24, NAS Sigonella by Darren Currie, on Flickr

F-117A - 85-0830 / TR - 37th Fighter Wing, Tonopah by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1993
Tornado GR.1 - ZA399 / AJ-G - 617 Squadron 'Dambusters', RAF Marham by Darren Currie, on Flickr

A-10A - 82-0655 / SP - 510th FS, 52d FW, Spangdahlem AB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1994
F-14B - 163215 - VF-103 'Sluggers', USS Saratoga by Darren Currie, on Flickr

MC-130H - 84-0476 - 7th SOS, RAF Alconbury by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1995
MH-53E - 163057 - HC-4 'Black Stallions' Norfolk NAS by Darren Currie, on Flickr

RC-12K - 85-0154 - 1st MIB, Wiesbaden by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1996 - Missed this one as my sister was getting married

1997
MC-130P & MH-53J - 352nd SOG, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

EA-6B Prowler - 161882 / MD-04 - VMAQ-3 'Moon Dogs' - Aviano AB Italy (Deployed) by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1998
AC-130U - 90-0167 - 'Ghostrider' - 4th SOS, Hulbert Field by Darren Currie, on Flickr

F/A-18A - 161960 / MG-00 - VMFA-321 by Darren Currie, on Flickr

1999 - Not held due to Kosovo

2000
F-4F - 38+43 - Jagdgeschwader 72, Hopsten AB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

B-2A - 90-0040 / WM 'Spirit of Alaska' - 509th BW, Whiteman AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

2001
F-16CJ - 91-0352 / SP '52FW' - 22nd FS, 52nd FW, Spangdahlem AB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

MC-130H - 86-1699 'Merlins Magic' - 7th SOS, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Well done if you made it this far - hope you found of interest. As Paddy often says 'Oh for a time machine!'. We didn't know we had it so good back then

Enjoy the weekend

Darren

[Seacat192]

Excellent selection Darren.

Never went to an Air Fete.

[luke28]

Some awesome memories there and some excellent clear photos. Thanks for sharing!

[Fighterfoto]

Sorry for getting in your Prowler shot!

[F3]

Great set Darren. If I ever get around to doing a book on Air Fete I'll be in touch!!!
Incidentally I have just a doz copies of the Air Fete book left @ £20 incl. P & P. Great Father's Day gift. Message me for details if you require one.
Also the Finningley book is due out shortly. I'd recommend getting an advance order in if you fancy one as the initial print run will be just 50 copies.

[KeBul]

Lovely set Darren,

Great quality scans, good memories and top aircraft.

Thanks for sharing, really enjoyed viewing these.

Kev

[Canopus]

What an amazing set, brings back many happy memories I can almost smell the burgers !!

[Mustang531]

Some great memories there and I managed a good run of Air Fete visits, I missed the final one because we'd just moved house and I wasn't allowed out to play. I ended up having to do boring stuff like hanging curtains. Thanks for sharing these with us and I can almost smell those burgers too.

[Sparky 119]

You never know what you had till it’s goneCracking set of reminders

[F3]

Some great memories there and I managed a good run of Air Fete visits, I missed the final one because we'd just moved house and I wasn't allowed out to play. I ended up having to do boring stuff like hanging curtains. Thanks for sharing these with us and I can almost smell those burgers too.

If you'd like to find out what you missed you can catch up in the Air Fete book (see above) if you have nt already got a copy.

[Fibrous Freddie]

Thanks for these. Just fabulous...
Great times...

[tim_3216]

Great set Darren. Lovely crisp, impeccably scanned images. The subject matter isn't too shabby either.

Static photography at the air fetes was always 'cluttered', but you knew to expect that so no great disappointment. These images sum up perfectly the unique atmosphere of this legendary annual event.
Thanks for sharing.

[raptor9]

Oh boy. Great times!

[Rugbyref]

And then the PX would only sell in US$, so those left over greenbacks from US holidays came in handy.

[warthog56]

Hi Darren. Great memories which add to Mick's excellent Mildenhall airshow book. Besides the wonderful (usually) selection of aircraft I seem to remember the smell (and smoke) from all the barbeque stands with cold drinks , including 25p cans of Budweiser, being "fished" out of old bath tubs/oil drums full of ice! Happy days!!!!

[quid21]

Great photos of the great shows. I can't say I was ever disappointed with anything about Airfete, but then back in those days there was such a huge variety when compared with now.

Still, I like to get the Kraft BBQ sauce out around this time of May, put on my rose tinted glasses and eat my BBQ sauce and beer soaked burger while sipping the obligatory Bud.

[monkeypuzzle11]

Fantastic images Darren. I never got to see the SR71 flying. Would have loved to see it...

[James Cutting]

Absolutely lovely set of shots there mate, really well edited and put on show Always love the Air Fete stories, and the pictures.

Really wished I could have experienced at least one!!

[H.A.Bucken]

No, can't see mysell in any shots. I used to go in on foot on Saturdays having parked the Clan up the speedway road. I believe the f.p. that used to go under the lights at the nee 11 end to what we called the water-tower entrance is no more. Sometimes that gate was opened as early as 0700L so we managed to shoot the static with very few people around as those in the carparking areas weren't let loose until after 0800L.
Memories, and we've got Airfete weather up here in the S. Lakes this weekend.
Roger

[Petepilot]

Cor...
Blimey...
Burgers....
Beer...
Great aircraft...
Pure nostalgia!
Thanks for sharing ("more please", of course!)