IAT '81 - Greenham Common

[F3]

Sea Search was the main theme of this event attracting maritime patrol a/c from all over the world and helicopters from all over Europe. For the first time a competition was held for both types which was won by a HS748 Coastguarder (which commercially was to prove a failure). There were 31 entrants for Sea Search among the 300 a/c that attended the show, incl. an Argentine KC-130H. This would soon be an enemy during the Falklands War and indeed one of these was shot down by a Sea Harrier, an example of which could be seen in another part of the huge static in the original dark blue/white scheme. They would be repainted allover dark sea grey during that conflict. Also represented was the Super Etendard the type which would present the biggest threat to the British Fleet, armed with the Exocet missile. Within a few months the Vulcan B2MRR heading the Sea Search line up would be scrapped along with the rest of the Scampton wing and it's capabilities missed during the forthcoming conflict when it was necessary to adapt a couple of Victors for the MRR role.

IAT '81 - Vulcan XH560 27 Sqn. by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - KC-130H TC-70 Argentine AF by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - S3A Viking 159768 AA 701VS-30 USN by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - Sea Search line up by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - Super Frelon 122- D 32F French Navy by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 -P-3C Orion 161122 JA-7 VX-1 USN by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - Super Etendard 37 14 F French Navy by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - SHAR XZ451 100 VL 899 NAS by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - Sea Fury T20 VZ345 ETPS by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - Meteor NF11 WD790 RAE by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - F4D 66714 52 TFW by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - AC130A 53-3129 711 SOS AFRES by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 -F-5E 01563 527 TFTAS by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - Noratlas 312-BP by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '81 - Frecce Tricolori by Michael Britton, on Flickr

[BlueBoy67]

Lovely bit of nostalgia!

Thanks for posting.

[paddyboy]

Hi Michael

Yet more great memory-jerkers

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[dragonchaser]

Simply brilliant seeing all these photos from Greenham gone bye, keep them coming

[hvaneupen]

Very nice! I was there too and it was my first IAT:

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=139819

[Punkrunner62]

What a great show that was, and a great set of images to back it up.
Cheers.

[slogen51]

Nice memories

Greenham Common was an A-list show.

[Tim Holden]

When I saw an Argentine Herk and Shar at the same show I wondered if the Shar was the same one that shot down a Herk in the Falklands. XZ451 was the one which Sharky Ward was flying when he downed the Herk less than a year after the show. It was at least a different Herk at the show to the one shot down.

[JAWS]

Great memories of another GC classic !

[Seahawk 11]

Fantastic photos from a great show, I remember it well, big thanks for sharing these,

Rob

[captain scarlet]

Superb set

[Tiger 1]

Brilliant set of photos from this great show... my first IAT at Greenham Common was in 1983 with the 25th Anniversary of the F4... if you have any photos from that year, I would love to see them.

Love the F5 Aggressor and Frecce Tricolori with the Fiat G91s.

Thanks for sharing.

T1

[stingrays4]

Hi many thanks for sharing, I spent many many happy hours at Greenham Common, as I live only six miles away! Was gutted when it moved to Fairford!

[F3]

Hi many thanks for sharing, I spent many many happy hours at Greenham Common, as I live only six miles away! Was gutted when it moved to Fairford!

I'll bet you were. Cruise missiles to thank for that!