Fairford Airshow - 1986

[Knife 04]

Hope this works - having some problems with the quality of photographs I am posting (appear fine on the screen at home and then terrible when posted).

These are from 28 years ago - the small Open Day at RAF Fairford in August 1986 (in between the Air Tattoos of 1985 and 1987)

The weather in the morning was dull and overcast and I think it threw it down all afternoon - hence no flying shots. Apologies for the quality - all scanned from 28 year old prints

Hope you find of some interest

Cheers

Darren

One of the 'home' team on Det with the 11 SG - KC-135 - 60-0350, 319 BW
KC-135 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

KC-135 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

F-15C - 79-0036 BT - 36 TFW Bitburg
13 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

12 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

CF-18A - 188749 749 / 1 CAG Germany
14 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

2 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

F-111E - 67-0120 UH tig / 79 TFS,20 TFW - Upper Heyford
15 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

F-4E - 74-1049 SP r/wh / 480 TFS,52 TFW - Spangdahlem AB, Germany
16 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

C-23 'Pokey' - 84-0466 / 10 MAS - Zweibrücken AB, Germany
11 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

RF-4C 68-0577 ZR gn/wh / 38 TRS,26 TRW - Zweibrücken AB, Germany
6 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

F-16C - 84-1384 HR bl/y, 10 TFS,50 TFW - Hahn AB, Germany
1 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

McD-D Phantom FGR2 - XV469 T, 56 Sqn
5 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

VC-10 - ZA148 G, 101 Sqn - Brize Norton
7 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

Victor K2 - XM717, 55 Sqn
8 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

F-4 Phantom FG1 XT872 T, 111 Sqn
9 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

Lightning - XS898 BM 11 Sqn
10 by Pave Flight, on Flickr

[bigcrow]

Great shots Darren don't recall this open day & also the Bitburg Special Eagle I thought only appeared at the 86 Alconbury Airshow?.. Great scheme.

[venom]

fantastic buddy
colin

[paddyboy]

Hi Darren

That is one awesome post, bud

If my memory serves me well (could be part of a song, that), 1987's IAT was carp for weather as well

Bitburg Eagle and Upper Heyford 'vark pics are standouts for me

Best regards and thanks for sharing

Paddyboy

[Supra]

Fairford 86, what a great set of shots from the days forever gone. I remember being in the pre-H&S Mens toilet (just a vertical plastic tarp' enclosure with a communal trough to a hole in the grass, aye...those were the days etc) when I started to get water drops on me. A quick check to see if any of my adjacent fellow 'pissees' were being pressure exuberant...Hell no! it's raining.
From that time, about 11am until the end of the flying the rain never stopped. During that first couple of hours we took shelter in a crowd-line beer-tent & bravely watched the show from the rain-loaded tent periphery. Then to the car before we got too sozzled to drive home. Through the steamy windscreen with wipers flat-out we saw the 'locals' flyby at about 300feet with a multi-striped boom fully extended! The last item to display was a Sea King (German Navy??) the minute it bowed & flew back to its dispersal, the rain stopped, the clouds broke & for the first time that day we had sunshine. Typical!!
I seem to recall the F-15 patriotic paint was some kind of Nod to the American Bi-Centennial +10 years, but I don't remember if that was 'officially' the reason? Being positive, it's only 62 years 'til we get a "Stars & Bars" UAV. Special!

[Maurits37]

great catch!

[Knife 04]

Thanks for the comments all - much appreciated

Stuart - Had no idea the Bitburg F-15C markings were that special - thought it looked good on the day tho. It was definitely a Fairford shot as I did not manage to get to Alconbury until the early / mid 90s - 1993 I think for the 'Air Tattoo'

Yes Paddy - the weather for the IAT in 1987 was bad - can remember standing in the marquee in the FIAT (yes FIAT) enclosure in '87 with my brother with the water slowly rising around our boots - even more worrying was we were camping and had no idea what the campsite would be like when we returned!

Supra - A good day and remember it much like you - hacked it down all afternoon and once the final display slot had completed we got out of the car to bright sunshine. Can remember an F-4 display during the afternoon being totally engulfed in its own cloud! Great memories and thanks to my girlfriend at the time for taking me

Just scanned a few from the Fairford Airshow of 1984 (prior to the Air Tattoos) will get them processed and posted as and when

Cheers

Darren

[dollar99]

Great shots Darren don't recall this open day & also the Bitburg Special Eagle I thought only appeared at the 86 Alconbury Airshow?.. Great scheme.

I think you'll find you were at the TFM '86 photocall at Waddington that day Stu

Ian

[bigcrow]

Aahh that explains it Ian... As for the Bitburg Eagle it was painted to represent the 1950’s ‘Skyblazers’ aerobatic team which were based at Bitburg in the early sixties.

[Frank the Dog]

Ive really enjoyed this post and the one you've done for 1984. Superb variety of aircraft, some great memories there, many thanks for taking the time to share.

As an aside, the canvas/pole/trench bog was in use at the first Air Tattoo at Fairford in 1985. I remember it well, as it was the only year in the 80s and 90s there was no need to queue !!

Thanks again, if you have any more please share !!