Cosford Air Show 2024

[James Cutting]

Practice day for what?! That doesn't make sense.

[JackWills28]

Practice day for what?! That doesn't make sense.

James, I’m not really sure what you don’t understand about Tom’s post?

There are sometimes practices/validations on Friday/Saturday, we’ve had in the past Swiss Hornet and Rafale in recent years.

Any times or days currently made mention?

[warthog56]

I think the question re "any practice displays lined up for Saturday" relates to overseas military participants. I have travelled to Cosford on Saturday's prior to the airshow and have watched the Swiss PC9 team rehearse as well as some of the fast jets operating out of Shawbury. With the airfield occupying such a small "footprint", pilots unfamiliar to the area do sometimes want to check orientation and avoid overflying certain places. It was a fair question.

[James Cutting]

Practice day for what?! That doesn't make sense.

James, I’m not really sure what you don’t understand about Tom’s post?

There are sometimes practices/validations on Friday/Saturday, we’ve had in the past Swiss Hornet and Rafale in recent years.

Any times or days currently made mention?

I was talking about Tom's comment about LN jets for a flypast as he said it was "feasible" and I was explaining it isn't just that easy. He quoted my reply, hence not making sense.

[JackWills28]

Practice day for what?! That doesn't make sense.

James, I’m not really sure what you don’t understand about Tom’s post?

There are sometimes practices/validations on Friday/Saturday, we’ve had in the past Swiss Hornet and Rafale in recent years.

Any times or days currently made mention?

I was talking about Tom's comment about LN jets for a flypast as he said it was "feasible" and I was explaining it isn't just that easy. He quoted my reply, hence not making sense.

It is certainly feasible. Last weekend F-15Es and F-35As were involved in several flypasts commemorating the Memorial Day weekend, both in Normandy and Maddingley.

Whilst the Cosford Airshow is not a priority for the USAF, they do fly at RIAT every year (although unlikely this year) a CV-22B from Mildenhall. A couple of years ago, a B-52H made a flypast and a B-1B came through in some of the worst weather I’ve seen.

So to answer the above, all Cosford could have done is asked. I have actually seen a comment from the organisers themselves which stated that they did actually ask the 48FW for some involvement, and whilst it looks like they cannot this year, Cosford remain hopeful that one day that will change.

[09andrew]

Does anyone know what’s flying out of Shawbury this year?? (Sorry if this has been asked before!!)

[MFoster]

Interestingly - the Rafale social media post seems to skip Cosford next weekend and says "See you in 2 weeks at the Sola Airshow for the next trip" - no longer attending Cosford?

[wave scanner]

Are the mirages stopping over at Shawbury or Brize this year prior to the display?

[wave scanner]

Does anyone know what’s flying out of Shawbury this year?? (Sorry if this has been asked before!!)

Not 100% sure but the RED arrows often fly out of there when Cosford is on.

[smudger]

Mirages reported to be operating out of Waddington

[wave scanner]

Mirages reported to be operating out of Waddington

Thank you

[JackWills28]

Interestingly - the Rafale social media post seems to skip Cosford next weekend and says "See you in 2 weeks at the Sola Airshow for the next trip" - no longer attending Cosford?

You’ve got to be kidding me…

[Samgriffo]

You best not look on Cosford's Facebook page as rumours of the Mirages cancelling as well.

[jasonT1981]

Mirage thing just seems to be an idiot spouting off to gain reaction. No actual legitimate info.

Rafale thing is puzzling, Cosford are very quiet on it and they have form for going quiet when asked about cancelations.

However, I am hoping this is just a mistake by whoever is running the instagram. Don't forget Cosford was never on their origional schedule, so it could be possible that whoever posted may have been looking at the origional schedule knowing Danish show was cancelled and thinking the show in 2 weeks is the next one.

[NCLairpics]

Rafale cancelled they have just confirmed via Instagram story

[jasonT1981]

Rafale cancelled

We would like to inform you that due to circumstances beyond our control we will not be able to participate in RAF Cosford Air Show (Official) this weekend .
We are sorry for the people who were waiting for us .
We'll give you an appointment next WE for the @solaairshow.

https://www.facebook.com/rafalesolodisplayteam/

[JackWills28]

Rafale cancelled

We would like to inform you that due to circumstances beyond our control we will not be able to participate in RAF Cosford Air Show (Official) this weekend .
We are sorry for the people who were waiting for us .
We'll give you an appointment next WE for the @solaairshow.

https://www.facebook.com/rafalesolodisplayteam/

Cannot be helped these things happen but I bet some people are going to Cosford specifically to see the Rafale they are going to be disappointed.

I only bought myself and TomTwin’s tickets because of Couteau Delta and Rafale being confirmed for the show.

If Couteau Delta cancel, I honestly have serious consideration not to attend. Yes, I will not get a refund, however as I will see most of those acts this summer, I do not feel the show would be worth attending, especially as you will be backlit all day.

[jasonT1981]

Rafale cancelled



https://www.facebook.com/rafalesolodisplayteam/

Cannot be helped these things happen but I bet some people are going to Cosford specifically to see the Rafale they are going to be disappointed.

I only bought myself and TomTwin’s tickets because of Couteau Delta and Rafale being confirmed for the show.

If Couteau Delta cancel, I honestly have serious consideration not to attend. Yes, I will not get a refund, however as I will see most of those acts this summer, I do not feel the show would be worth attending, especially as you will be backlit all day.

After last year, it would be a nail in the coffin for me. I'll go and enjoy what is on offer, I have paid for flights, hotels, trains and tickets. But it probably will be the last time for a while at Cosford.

2022 - I gave them the benefit of the doubt because of it being a post covid return and only 6 months to arrange

2023 - was a shambles with little communication on cancels. Were very active when they were announcing stuff or people praising them, but when it came to displays cancelling they went suddenly silent. We knew for weeks certain displays had cancelled before they announced it, then on the day so much went wrong.

Tonight seems to be a repeat. The fact it came from the team early afternoon, then confirmed this evening but silence from Cosford is pretty bad.

The show still looks very good, and I do think the Mirage thing is just an idiot trying to cause panic. But trust in Cosford is at a low from many people after last year.

The Rafale was a bonus, wasn't meant to be at Cosford in the first place so credit to them for moving quick at the time.

But the day trip families Cosford now aim their show towards will see the Red Arrows and Typhoon and be happy, and Cosford will call it a sucess because it sold out.

[NCLairpics]

Mirages are 100% attending as planned, They have just confirmed that to me this evening in a message.

[jasonT1981]

I made this post on their FB. I think it's fair. I don't want to seem overly critical as it is disappointing about the Rafale, it still looks a good show. Do you guys think this is a fair assessement?

The Rafale is a sad loss to the show, however it was more of a bonus as it was never meant to be at Cosford until Denmark cancelled their show. And full credit to you for moving so fast in contacting the French Air Force to see if it could come to Cosford. If it is for operational reasons then its understandable, but Cosford Airshow, there have been constant questions from early afternoon and the social media is silent when you are normally very active. There are rumors of other aircraft cancelling being spread as well as some other aircraft on your list looking to have servicability issues, as well as the very understandable possiblility of the BBMF not being there after their tragic loss, and you probably should address those as there is a lot of misinformation and pot-stirrers out there.

Feeling a bit like last year when cancelled items were not announced for a good while after they were known not to be attending. Shows still looking very good without the Rafale, but you really need to come out and be open with the paying public instead of radio silence. It erodes trust and after last year quite a lot of enthuisists had lost trust in you. Though the crazy amount of on the day cancelations were not your fault. I still am looking forward to a weekend at Cosford and I am now in the mindset where I will just enjoy what is there rather than dwell on what isn't but communication is needed with the public when things are spreading like wildfire online.