Air Fete 1987

[Knife 04]

The Friday before the last Bank Holiday in May would be the time when a large number of us would make our way to Mildenhall in East Anglia for the annual Air Fete over the weekend. Those not able to make the arrivals would be there over the weekend

The US Air Force hosts were fantastic serving burgers, polish sausages from the bbq (TAC Donalds / SAC Donalds etc) which were of course accompanied by a 'ice cold Bud' served from opening to closing! From 'break dancing' police directing traffic to the program & Air Fete sticker sellers - it all made part of the weekend we enjoyed so much and looked forward to all year

Thought I would kick off the weekend with some shots from 1987 - weather was good that weekend and came home with the usual Air Fete 'sun tan' (ie the ability to fry eggs on my face, shoulders, arms and legs)

Hope you enjoy and find of interest some of the US types on display (all I have done so far) - a trip down memory lane

- Apologies for number & quality as these are scanned negs

10th ACCS
EC-135H - 61-0285 'Silver Dollar' - 10th ACCS, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

EC-135H - 61-0285 'Silver Dollar' - 10th ACCS, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

EC-135H - 61-0286 'Dark Angel' - 10th ACCS, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Det 4, 9th SRW
SR-71 Blackbird (Habu) - 17964 - Det 4, 9th SRW, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

SR-71A Blackbird (Habu) - 64-17973 - Det 4, 9th SRW, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

SR-71A Blackbird (Habu) - 64-17973 - Det 4, 9th SRW, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

SR-71A Blackbird - 64-17973 - Det 4. 'Asymmetric Thrust' by Darren Currie, on Flickr

SR-71A Blackbird (Habu) - 64-17973 - Det 4, 9th SRW, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

SR-71A Blackbird (Habu) - 64-17973 - Det 4, 9th SRW, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

306th Strategic Wing
KC-135R - 61-0314 - 19th ARW, Robins AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

KC-135R - 306th Strategic Wing & F-111Fs - 48th TFW by Darren Currie, on Flickr

KC-135R - 61-0314 - 306th Strategic Wing, RAF Mildenhall by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Bravo Squadron
C-130E - 317th TAW, 'Bravo Squadron', MAC, USAF by Darren Currie, on Flickr

48th TFW at Lakenheath
F-111F Aardvark - 70-2416 / LN "Miss Liberty" - 494th TFS / 48th TFW, RAF Lakenheath by Darren Currie, on Flickr

F-111F Aardvark - 70-2416 / LN "Miss Liberty" - 494th TFS / 48th TFW, RAF Lakenheath by Darren Currie, on Flickr

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

Ford Mustang 5.0L - 87B-3133 - TR-1 Chase Car, RAF Alconbury by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Some other USAF(E) units attending
FB-111A Aardvark - 68-0265 'Net Results' - 380th BW, Plattsburgh AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

A-7D Corsair II - 71-0308 / MI - 107th TFS, 127th TFW - Michigan ANG by Darren Currie, on Flickr

A-7K Corsair II - 80-0291 / MI - 107th TFS / 127th TFW - Michigan ANG by Darren Currie, on Flickr

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

C-130B - 59-1533 '7' - 145th TAS, North Carolina ANG by Darren Currie, on Flickr

RF-4C Phantom - 69-0367 / ZR - 38th TRS / 26th TRW, Zweibrücken AB, Germany by Darren Currie, on Flickr

EF-111A Raven - 67-0052 / UH 'Cherry Bomb' - 42nd ECS / 66th ECW - RAF Upper Heyford by Darren Currie, on Flickr..

B-52G Stratofortress - 58-0178 - 69th BS / 42nd BW, Loring AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

B-52G Stratofortress - 57-6510 - 69th BS / 42nd BW, Loring AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

HC-130H - 64-14853 - 305th ARRS, AFRes, Selfridge AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

A-10A Thunderbolt II - 80-0160 / WR - 510th TFS / 81st TFW , Bentwaters by Darren Currie, on Flickr

F-5E Tiger II - 74-1568 / 68 - 527th TFTAS / 10th TFW RAF Alconbury by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Hope it brought back some good memories from then - enjoy the weekend and thinking back to all those great shows sadly now long gone

best

Darren

[3Greens]

Hi Darren,
Just an amazing trip back in time We always got down late on Thursday ready for early morning Friday arrivals and to stake a 'pitch' on the approach
Once things quietened down into Snushells chippie in town for tea. Early start Saturday around the static then burgers and Bud from our American hosts at regular intervals throughout the day.
Just can't be beaten

Thanks for posting mate
Best regards
Keith (3Greens)

[Proteus]

One of the best sets of pictures on here, many thanks.....

[The Phantom]

Every one a snorter

So many great types and camo schemes back then

[johnwickenden]

oh yes !!!!

Nothing wrong with those shots....every one's a winner.

God I miss Air Fete !!

[binbrook87]

Great shots from what was a great show. Oh how we miss Air Fete

[MR TERRY GREEN]

Greatly missed.Wonderfulpictures.

[Nighthawke]

Simply Air Fete! Great photos. I missed going in for a year or two post-Libya so extra good to see these.

[SW Sky Blue]

Excellent Darren, great memories

Kev

[Thunder]

All excellent subjects , but the "Sulfs" and "Varks" do it for me Superb quality considering these are 33 yrs old and scanned

[matt e]

nice set,especially the SR-71 and F1-11`S

[DanBeeden]

Brilliant shots Darren, capturing the atmosphere very nicely indeed. The Lakenheath F-111F looks absolutely immaculate. So many highlights and types sadly missed. Thanks for sharing.

[Ferrari]

Every picture's brilliant, but I just love those EC-135s.

Thanks for posting.

[Imac]

Hi Darren

Fantastic set and what memories

My children are 39 & 37 now and it was only last week we were talking about the burgers, the "dancing policeman" and the Blackbird

For me, every time, that was the show To echo the guys above, one of the best posts ever and times we will never experience again I am sure it has made many smile

Thanks for posting and for the great memories

Ian

[Sparky 119]

These take me right back, the first Air Fete that I attended and as above with a very young family at the time. Who can forget the leaking Blackbird

[dragonchaser]

Excellent post, I can almost smell those burgers, and Polish sausages, washed down with a Bud, fantastic stuff

[paddyboy]

Hi Daz

Awesome post

Saves me putting mine up

Never missed a single Fete

Best regards and see ya soon(ish)

Paddy

[Richard B]

Camping in Bert's garden end of becks row was a popular place. Was chips sold out of the side of the kitchen window of a house down the rd at a night time if my memory is correct.

[SpilsbyPete]

I have to agree with everyone's comments

Great Show and Great Food and Drink,Great Goodies and Atmosphere

I see in the shot of the patrol car,A man on the aluminium camera box
Also great memories of Cut and Bruised legs carrying that thing around all day

Pete

[pwhite]

Abosolutely agree with every comment. The very first Air Fete i went to featured a B58 Hustler, now when would that be ?
From a very old man who lives on his memories, and looking out for little dot's in the sky