FighterControl

Today, July 1st, saw an event held to mark the anniversary of the first RAF Bulldog flight, a mere 50 years ago! Held at Church Fenton (aka Leeds East) with Bulldogs accompanied by a number of Pups and Chipmunks. Pic heavy - apologies, I got carried away!

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-3 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-8 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-10 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-12 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-13 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-14 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-15 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-17 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-28 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-36 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-38 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-39 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-6 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-21 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-22 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-25 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-26 by Petepilot, on Flickr

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-29 by Petepilot, on Flickr

And just a glimpse of the resident SHAR....

50th Anni of first RAF Bulldog flight Church Fenton 01 7 23-42 by Petepilot, on Flickr

Thanks for sharing these, nice to see and no afterburners for a change. It's another sadly missed type, the first RAF Bulldog I saw was in 1973 at the RAF At Home show at Biggin Hill, so almost fifty years ago.

Mustang531 wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 01, 2023 4:12 pm

Thanks for sharing these, nice to see and no afterburners for a change. It's another sadly missed type, the first RAF Bulldog I saw was in 1973 at the RAF At Home show at Biggin Hill, so almost fifty years ago.

I agree, love the Bulldogs (and Chipmunks). I doubt that Grob Tutors will still be going in 50 years time!

I can remember my first sighting of a Bulldog, at RAF Coltishall’s ‘At Home Day’ display back in 1973

Thanks for posting these, Pete

Great set of images. Brings back very good memories of ATC Bulldog and Chipmunk flights at various AEFs around the country. First one being a Chipmunk from 8 AEF at Shawbury back in February 1993.

Petepilot wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 01, 2023 5:54 pm

Mustang531 wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 01, 2023 4:12 pm

Thanks for sharing these, nice to see and no afterburners for a change. It's another sadly missed type, the first RAF Bulldog I saw was in 1973 at the RAF At Home show at Biggin Hill, so almost fifty years ago.

I agree, love the Bulldogs (and Chipmunks). I doubt that Grob Tutors will still be going in 50 years time!

Just realised that the Tutor has been in RAF service for 25 years already so perhaps there might be some still flying in 2048!

Great shots of a much missed aircraft that used to fly regularly over my house in south Nottingham - the East Midlands UAS was based at Newton. Fond memories of getting up close and personal with them at the annual Families day event. They were also regular performers as part of the annual Finningley airshow station formation flypast. Happy days!

Lovely pics Pete - many thanks for posting
Re your first pic - I was a rigger on ULAS 1980 - 83 and according to my old log book I flew in XX546 during an exercise in Nov 1982,ISTR we flew from Abingdon over to Blackbushe and Farnborough but then were recalled due to weather.
Hopefully we may be down to the airshow this month,I have not been to Ch Fenton since circa 1967 when it was the location of my first ATC Summer Camp and also very first Chipmunk Flight.

cheers/regards bv

bvs wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 02, 2023 10:50 am

Lovely pics Pete - many thanks for posting
Re your first pic - I was a rigger on ULAS 1980 - 83 and according to my old log book I flew in XX546 during an exercise in Nov 1982,ISTR we flew from Abingdon over to Blackbushe and Farnborough but then were recalled due to weather.
Hopefully we may be down to the airshow this month,I have not been to Ch Fenton since circa 1967 when it was the location of my first ATC Summer Camp and also very first Chipmunk Flight.

cheers/regards bv

Glad to have stirred some memories! I'm a relative newcomer to these parts and I don't recall ever going to Church Fenton when it was an RAF station. That said, it has definitely got an "RAF station feel" to it with a lot of original infrastructure still intact. I assume you are coming up for Flying Legends, which should be good. Unfortunately, I will not be around for that weekend so not able to make it

Lovely photos. Great memories of being on Southampton UAS in the 90s!

Petepilot wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 02, 2023 5:45 pm

I assume you are coming up for Flying Legends, which should be good. Unfortunately, I will not be around for that weekend so not able to make it

'Down' for it as we live in scotland
Shame you will not be around for the airshow - we have not made a definite decision yet - we usually wait until closer to the date and have a look at the Weather Guessers latest er Guesses (always risky ).

bvs wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 03, 2023 1:17 pm

Petepilot wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 02, 2023 5:45 pm

I assume you are coming up for Flying Legends, which should be good. Unfortunately, I will not be around for that weekend so not able to make it

'Down' for it as we live in scotland
Shame you will not be around for the airshow - we have not made a definite decision yet - we usually wait until closer to the date and have a look at the Weather Guessers latest er Guesses (always risky ).

D'oh! Apologies well if you do decide to come down I hope the show lives up to its potential, and I know what you mean about the weather guessers - today a case in point - rain forecast all afternoon, and here am I sitting in the garden under glorious sunshine!

Thanks Pete and glad you had a nice sunny afternoon

Nice photos.
I'd forgotten how good the Bulldog looked in the black and yellow scheme.

Thanks Pete for bringing this nice type of aircraft in the spotlights again. I did a real effort to photograph all of them and minus 11 early write off's I got them all by going to all the UAS's. The warm welcome you got when visiting them was such a good experience. To see your photographs brings back good memories, thanks for that.
Regards, Arnold

Keflavik69 wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 04, 2023 10:51 am

Thanks Pete for bringing this nice type of aircraft in the spotlights again. I did a real effort to photograph all of them and minus 11 early write off's I got them all by going to all the UAS's. The warm welcome you got when visiting them was such a good experience. To see your photographs brings back good memories, thanks for that.
Regards, Arnold

Sounds like that was a great trip Arnold - what year was that ?

regards bv

I planned normally twice a year a trip to the UK and made sure I covered the Bulldog stations in the area I visited. This took place between 1990 and 1999 when I made my last one at St. Athan. The same I did with the Vigilants and Vikings for which I also needed about 10 years. At least I was making good use of the weekends then.
Regards, Arnold

Keflavik69 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 07, 2023 3:40 pm

I planned normally twice a year a trip to the UK and made sure I covered the Bulldog stations in the area I visited. This took place between 1990 and 1999 when I made my last one at St. Athan. The same I did with the Vigilants and Vikings for which I also needed about 10 years. At least I was making good use of the weekends then.
Regards, Arnold

Wow that is quite an itinerary Arnold impressive dedication to aircraft photography,you sure did some travelling !

regards bv