RAF Cosford Airshow 2023

[pete310183]

For me it was a decent day out, weather was a huge bonus best Cosford weather I can ever remember.

better than the clear blue of 2018, the almost all sunny 2019 or the fair amount of blue skies in 2022? You're a tough critic!

To be fair I did say best I can remember not best there ever was

[Discodaz]

For me it was a decent day out, weather was a huge bonus best Cosford weather I can ever remember. There were very noticeable gaps in the display but that’s already been covered in the many unfortunate cancellations unfortunate but can’t be helped. In terms of the displays themselves it often comes down to expectations, I went knowing the herc, A400 and F35 were not full displays and as such what they did met my expectations. In terms of the others, the typhoon was by far then best British typhoon display I have seen in many years, the Swiss were very good and unlike at RIAT the RJF didn’t feel lost across a huge display line as such I could appreciate their display much more than usual. The big disappointment for me were the reds it felt like they were displaying in Wolverhampton they were that far away and as for the routine it’s the same, time to change it up a bit I think. Overall a very enjoyable day out. Can’t wait for RIAT !!

have to agree with your typhoon comments, Pete..every typhoon display pilot puts together great routines but this year, the bar has been raised...big time. fantastic performance. and for me personally, all the better as it was in a plain jet.im not a great fan of black jack tbh.

Daz

[jasonT1981]

Alright, first and foremost. The show was, to all extends a success. It sold out, had massive crowds and social media is buzzing about the Red Arrows and Typhoon. All in all, as Cosford look at it, it was a 100% success.

However, it is now clear they are going fully for the family type event, nothing wrong with that at all, but that means seaside level family displays it seems. Nothing wrong with that, I promote a seaside show myself. But it isn't what you would expect from the RAFs only airshow.

We are seen as a vocal minority I guess as enthusiasts.

OK, lets get on with it.

The Good

I won't knock any display, they all take skill, time and dedication and I appreciate that. Rich Goodwin was amazing as always. The Lancaster was amazing, I found myself packing my camera away and just watching her. The Swiss F5s were brilliant, to see them twice this weekend was great. Possible it will be the last time I see them unless a RIAT appearance next year and they will be missed.

RAF Falcons - What can I say, these guys went above and beyond. After their display they came to the Cosford club and spent so much time talking to people, signing autographs and letting people get pictures with them. That actually was a big highlight for me, great bunch of people. If any of you are here, thank you.

Getting in and out was easy. I walked right in from the train station at 10.30am, no queue, right into Cosford club and front row seat. Getting out was the same, I was out of Cosford club by 5.20pm and was on the train with it rolling out by 5.30pm. They had the management really done right this year. Though I guess a mass exodus after Reds may have helped?

Royal Jordanian Falcons - I said before the show I was looking forward to seeing them on a smaller airfield and it delivered. So much better with a smaller display area for them, they get lost in the skies at RIAT where-as they were much easier to watch on both displays this weekend.

The people on the platform on Saturday, got talking to a few of you. Don't know if it was anyone here, but if it was, I was the fat guy with an Irish accent lol. Great just to be around people with the same interest and passion for aviation.

The Bad

OK, if Cosford seem to be going down the family friendly seaside show route I wish them well. Obviously the Reds and Typhoon make the biggest impact with the general day trip public. But I felt I paid £75 for a very expensive seaside level show. Nearly every one of those aircraft types I have seen at seaside shows in recent years, or have attended sea-side shows I have not had the chance to get to (F35, A400 aside) including the Swiss who displayed at a free seaside show here in Ireland a few years back.

Speaking of expensive, £75 for a rather pathetic attempt of the Cosford Club enclosure. I've supported the Cosford Club enclosure on all my visits to Cosford and enjoyed it, but this was just pee poor, sorry. 1 food vendor, a cold drink vendor and a beer vendor and that was it. £75 freakin' quid!! Usually get a warm greeting and armband on arrival, this year I was met by barely interested cadets who just scanned my ticket and handed me a programme followed by 'next'. No "welcome to the Cosford club, enjoy your day" etc. On the way out I said "Thank you" and was met by an disinterested grunt.

Cancellations - OK, not a fault of Cosford, but hearing cancel after cancel over the speakers really felt disheartening. I don't think I have ever been to a show with so many cancellations. At one point we were on 8 on the day until the Lancaster and Stearman managed to thankfully get fixed. Credit to the engineers. Not the fault of Cosford, but just had a massive impact on the day.

Static - Oh my goodness, what the heck was going on here? The Herc should have really been centre, not parked up on the far side of the airfield. I wanted to see it, but it was just to hot to drag myself up to where it was and back. Irish Air Corps placement was bizarre. And normally aren't we allowed to walk down the middle of where the Jags/Tornados were parked up? This year we were funnelled down what felt like two narrow paths on each end. I never even bothered with vintage village. Cosford 2018 had 100 static aircraft, this year they dragged out a few pieces from the museum and said that will do.

Social Media - Oh dear, where do I start? We bugged them to get active, and fair play they finally did. But the minute they announced they sold out, their social media interactions seemed like a cocky teenager thinking he is the 'Bees knees' as they say. The posts got cocky, sometimes rude and just unprofessional with criticism being met with replies from their social media along the lines of "Well enjoy RIAT then". They promised plenty of updates and lots to announce, then as soon as they sold out they said nothing. Then teasing a B1 and saying "we want to surprise our guests" etc only for.... once again nothing. OK, I am guessing the KC135 was the surprise and it would have been great, but another cancelled slot.

Communication at one point was dead, nothing. No updates, whenever they posted there was 0 substance to their posts. It was not even a half hearted attempt.

The show just felt so flat and underwhelming.

As I said, in all aspects the show was a success with selling out and all the positive 'I loved the Red Arrows' posts. What is losing a few enthusiasts when you can sell out the show with a family seaside show feel with the Reds and Typhoon? To Cosford, nothing really.

Will I be back at Cosford? Maybe in the future but I won't be rushing back into buying a ticket like I have in recent years. It will be a closer to the show decision and I won't book tickets without knowing a good lot of the line up before-hand.

Last year we all gave them the benefit of the doubt in the end, they only had 5 months to put together a show. This year they had a full 12 months and it felt like a last minute scramble to salvage something. Lessons were not learnt and mistakes got worse.

[Discodaz]

i think the majority shares your views Jason. the statics were pathetic to be fair. I too was angered by comments like " we have loads more announcements", then like you said...nothing.
for me, (didn't effect you), the biggest issue was the crowd line.it was barely 30 ft deep and you were packed in like sardines. On top of that you had to share that very limited space with catering vans, wheelie bins etc. how long has it been acceptable to use step ladders right at the front of the crowd line? i saw countless people with high windbreaks on the flight line blocking already difficult viewing. people had the attitude " ive payed my money", sod the rest. Very selfish. the organisers need to reduce the amount of vehicles on site and open that flightline up.

ive never known so many cancellations at an air show. even replacements cancelled.

i wont return unless there is a huge draw. That crowd line was bordering on dangerous. I dread to think what would happen if there was to evacuate in an emergency.

we had a good day because its an air show and that's what we love, but as far as air shows go....Teesside springs to mind.

Daz

[stevep22]

Morning all,

Just picking my way through some photos and scribbled notes from Sunday. Is there a full log available anywhere of the participants at the show?

Many thanks

Steve

[warthog56]

As a veteran attendee of airshows (first one was a RAFA event way back in 1965 at Rolls Royce airfield Hucknall) I can honestly say that this show was the worst I have attended. So little foreign participation (especially fast jets) and the positioning of the only aircraft that I was interested in photographing was appalling. Did anyone get a decent photograph of the Dutch NH90?!! And the IAC EC135 was separated from the main static by a fenced track serving the VIP tents from the main area. For someone like myself who has mobility problems, exacerbated by the heat, I had to walk far more than I wanted to. I never made it to the flightline area so missed the Belgian NH90 entirely. And don't get me started on catering charges! £4 for a slush drink! Being diabetic I avoid ice cream and prefer frozen ice lollies/Callipo's. None to be had. The ice cream vans were selling ice creams at between £5 and £7 plus the aforementioned slush drinks. Even water (not even chilled) was £2.50 a bottle. I have to travel by public transport or organised coach trips to airshows so there is no scope for carrying all my refreshments (especially fluids) on a hot day - think my coach showed a peak outside air temperature of 31C.
So, what can be done to improve things. Well, firstly, like RIAT, provide water bowsers to fill bottles of water for free. Second, stop padding out the static parks with well positioned museum airframes. Enthusiasts want to photograph any different visiting aircraft especially if from foreign air arms. And why is it so difficult to get British military helicopters to attend? An Apache and/or Wildcat would be nice. We haven't got either of these types currently committed to any ongoing campaigns. Even a Texan or Prefect would be nice - the runway is long enough to accommodate them! Ideally it would be better to move the show to a Saturday or even a bank holiday (the old MIldenhall slot is free!). Public transport on a Sunday is the worst day of the week (except in the evenings when people are returning from weekend's away). Part of the ongoing rail dispute is the reluctance of staff to incorporate Sunday working as part of a shift pattern. Voluntary working is outdated in modern society. My fingers are crossed that no more rail strikes are scheduled for RIAT weekend!!!! One other bugbear is the cost of a programme. Most enthusiasts already know what is published as articles inside them. The only thing we really want is a low cost (an A5 or A4 she of paper) with planned flying times. I'd be happy to pay £2-3 for something like that and the beauty of it is that it is better for the environment - no coloured inks on glossy paper, easily photocopied if stocks run low (and the ability to change a schedule right up to the night before a show before printing). Come on, we are in the middle of an economic crisis so give some thought to us poor "punters".
And here's one further "sobering" thought. Are airshows about to become a thing of the past? Environmentally they are not very "green", How much fuel/pollution is expended at a military show. We may soon have to make do with a few electric powered aircraft or a flypast by the odd airliner that is inbound to an airport (such as Birmingham)! Oh to go back to the good old days.....................

[pete310183]

I’m fairly certain Cosford had water bowsers, I’m certain I heard on the commentary them been recommended quite often. Also the flying display and times were on the Cosford air show website which is even better for the environment. As for your other points most are very fair.

[warthog56]

Thanks for the update Pete re water bowsers - must admit I didn't see any but, to be fair, I couldn't mange much walking due to the heat and my anaemia and arthritic knees. Guess they might have been shown on a site plan in the programme........ And I wasn't aware that the website listed flying times - I struggled to find an up to date list of participants at the end of the week. I found it to not be a very user friendly website. Perhaps another area for the organisers to look at?

[John flightpath]

We didn't struggle for water bowsers. There was one near the control tower and another one between the dutch chopper and the fairground bit.Thats just two, there were others. The taps were crap but you could extract water from the feed pipe.Food vendors were a rip off, but I think partly because of the costs that the showground impose on them. Chips £4.00 add a sausage. £9.00 Really !!! thats just one example. Don't like, don't buy is my very clear message.

Cheers
John

[Seahornet1]

We didn't struggle for water bowsers. There was one near the control tower and another one between the dutch chopper and the fairground bit.Thats just two, there were others. The taps were crap but you could extract water from the feed pipe....

Cheers
John

I utterly disagree, water bowsers were a big problem, my biggest issue of the day. I spent a full half hour looking (when I'd rather have been watching the show) and only found one bowser. The queue to use it was well over 100 people. I asked a lot of people in various parts of the show ground, many in uniform, cadets, stall-holders etc, and no-one could point me to another one. In the end, I queued for another 20 minutes in the Cold War Museum for the drinking fountain. Many people were using taps in the toilets there, which is NOT drinking water!

Drinking water is done well at RIAT, so it's not difficult to get it right. At Cosford, despite the forecast giving ample warning of how hot it was going to be, the provision was pathetic.

[Discodaz]

to be honest, I had a similar issue with toilets.i spent more time than I should, looking for them when I first got there.it can't be to hard to provide some kind of signage.you should not have to buy a £10 souvenir programme to find that sort of information.

daz

[Gary]

May have missed them but I didn’t see a water bowsers in or near Cosford club. Then again the beer stand was next to us. So we kept that in business.

Just filling out the survey they recently sent out,

[Discodaz]

yeah i filled it out yesterday Gary. i do hope people are honest when completing it, as no improvements will be made if if Cosford think the majority was happy. from what i have read here and elsewhere, the majority aren't. But, if there is the potential to win 2024 tickets, will people just tell them what they want to hear?

Daz

[Gary]

I tried filling the survey out but wouldn’t let me past the what time did you leave box

[John flightpath]

Does anyone have a list of participants, ie registrations, in particular the Swiss, Please. Thank you.

Regards
John.

[Jason32]

F-5E J-3083
F-5E J-3085
F-5E J-3091
F-5E J-3090
F-5E J-3081
F-5E J-3084
F-5E J-3082

These arrived at Shawbury but i dont know which 6 displayed sorry.

[meld9003]

Hi just seen this. The F-5s that displayed were: J3084, 3083, 3090, 3085, 3091 & 3081 all from my pictures.

[MKR]

Does anyone know the serial of the pr19 spitfire in the vintage village section. Mike
Edit I have found out which one it was

[Whoppa722002]

Just checked my logs for the flying display and have failed to log the reds, has anyone got a list of the aircraft that flew?

Thanks..

[Xrailman]

I have compiled this report from my own notes, cross referenced with snippets on this thread and the various sites where photographs were posted. Thanks to all then.
Some are still to be ID'd.

Sling 2 homebuild under construction.
F35 Replica. Is this one of the ones on the BAPC List ??
Glider Sim. From a damaged airframe ?
The Air Ambulance pod had on instrument panel the registration N568TJ. Is this correct ??

I left as the A400 was displaying. I also had a wander in only one of the museum hangars included in the report. Any additions, corrections most welcome.




G-AEEH Davis/HM.14 Pou-du-Ciel
G-AIZE Fairchild F.24W-41A Argus II FS628
G-AKKR Miles M.14A Magister I T9707
G-AOVF Bristol 175 Britannia Srs 312F XM497
G-APAS DH.106 Comet 1A
G-ATZM Piper J3C-90 Cub
G-BLGV Bell 206B Jetranger II
G-BYWY WY Grob G-115E Tutor
G-CDCE Mudry CAP 10B
G-CEGI Van's RV-8
G-CEHL Evektor EV-97 teamEurostar UK
G-CJBZ R66 Grob G102 Astir CS BGA4395
G-DJMC R22 Schleicher ASK 21
G-EBMB Hawker Cygnet I
G-EGBJ PA-28-161 Warrior II
G-EWIZ Pitts S-2S
G-GWFT Rans S-6-ES Coyote II
G-HANY Agusta-Bell 206B-3 Jetranger III
G-HMGE Diamond DA62
G-IGIS Bell 206B-2 JetRanger II
G-JPIT Pitts S-2SE
G-LEEZ Bell 206L-1 Longranger II
G-LVDC Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III
G-OMAA Eurcopter EC135 T2+
G-OUCP PA-31 Navajo C
G-SAHI FLS Aerospace Sprint 160
G-SAWG Scheibe SF25C Turbo-Falke
G-WEPW Best Off Skyranger Swift 912S(1)
G-XXIV Augusta-Bell 206B Jetranger III
BAPC333 VS Spitfire II FS(Airfix)M RG904
BAPC361 Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook HC2 FSM IR808
C-FARA Short SC.7 Skyvan Srs 3-100
F-AZIM 27 Yakovlev YAK-3
F-GITZ American AG-5B Tiger
N2JS 349 Boeing Stearman B75N1 Kaydet
AB910 F SH VS349 Spitfire VB G-AISU
KP220 Douglas Dakota IV G-ANAF
LZ842 EF F VS361 Spitfire F IX G-CGZU
PL983 VS365 Spitfire PR XI G-PRXI
PM651 VS390 Spitfire PR XIX
PZ865 ZY V Hawker Hurricane IIC
TW536 Auster AOP6 G-BNGE
TX214 Avro 652A Anson C19
VP952 DH104 Devon C2
WK935 Gloster Meteor Prone Pilot
WL679 Vickers Varsity T1
WP896 DHC1 Chipmunk T10 G-BWVY
WP903 DHC1 Chipmunk T10 G-BCGC
WP912 DHC1 Chipmunk T10
WV562 Percival P56 Provost T1 7606M
WV746 Percival P66 Pembroke C1
XD145 Saro SR53
XD674 Hunting Jet Provost T1
XG225 Hawker Hunter F6A Gate Guard
XN714 Hunting H126
XP411 AW660 Argosy C1
XR498 WS58 Wessex HC2
XR525 WS58 Wessex HC2
XR808 BAC VC10 C1K
XS639 HS Andover E3A
XT420 422 WS Wasp HAS1 G-CBUI
XV202 Lockheed C-130K Hercules C3
XW327 62 BAC Jet Provost T5A
XX119 AI SEPECAT Jaguar GR3A
XX141 T SEPECAT Jaguar T2A
XX145 SEPECAT Jaguar T2A
XX224 224 HS Hawk T1W
XX235 235 HS Hawk T1W
XX244 HS Hawk T1
XX335 335 HS Hawk T1A
XX654 3 SA Bulldog T1
XX725 KC F SEPECAT Jaguar GR3A
XX746 S SEPECAT Jaguar GR1
XX765 SEPECAT Jaguar ACT
XX819 CE SEPECAT Jaguar GR1
XX825 BN SEPECAT Jaguar GR1
XX837 Z SEPECAT Jaguar T2 8978M
XX959 CJ SEPECAT Jaguar GR1
XX967 AC SEPECAT Jaguar GR1
XX976 BD SEPECAT Jaguar GR1 8906M
XZ104 FM SEPECAT Jaguar GR3A
XZ117 ES SEPECAT Jaguar GR3
XZ179 W WS Lynx AH7 G-NCKS
XZ370 JB SEPECAT Jaguar GR1 9004M
XZ374 JC SEPECAT Jaguar GR1 9005M
XZ383 AF SEPECAT Jaguar GR1
XZ384 BC SEPECAT Jaguar GR1
XZ389 BL SEPECAT Jaguar GR1
XZ941 WS Gazelle HT2
XZ991 BAe Harrier GR3
XZ997 BAe Harrier GR3
ZA320 CA/JG Panavia Tornado GR1
ZA634 C Slingsby T.61F Venture T2 G-BUHA
ZA718 BN B-V Chinook HC2
ZB615 SEPECAT Jaguar T2A
ZE340 GO Panavia Tornado F3
ZE652 YD Grob G103 Viking TX1 BGA3082
ZH796 001 BAe Sea Harrier FA2
ZH868 Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules C4
ZH870 870 Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules C4
ZH894 B-V Chinook HC6A
ZJ920 920 Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
XX319 HS Hawk T1A
PA474 Avro 683 Lancaster B1
XX177 HS Hawk T1
XX219 HS Hawk T1A
XX323 HS Hawk T1A
XX325 HS Hawk T1
ZM155 021 Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II
ZM408 408 Airbus A400M Atlas C1
ZM507 07 Airbus H135 Juno HT1
ZM512 12 Airbus H135 Juno HT1
ZM515 15 Airbus H135 Juno HT1
ZM520 20 Airbus H135 Juno HT1
RN-02 NH Industries NH90-NFH
N 175 NH Industries NH90-NFH
271 Eurocopter EC135P2
MM51-15302 EI 51 PA-18-95 Super Cub (L-18C-PI) G-BJTP
RJF 01 Extra EA-330LX
RJF 02 Extra EA-330LX
RJF 03 Extra EA-330LX
RJF 04 Extra EA-330LX
1365 OGMA/DHC1 Chipmunk 22 G-DHPM
J-3081 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
J-3083 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
J-3084 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
J-3085 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
J-3090 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
J-3091 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
51-4781 Cessna 305A Bird Dog G-VNAM
51-7692 TL 692 NA T-28A Trojan G-TROY