Airshows 2012/2013

Three more from Nigel's trip to Leuchars airshow back in September -

An event Remembering The Mighty 8th was held at Duxford - 26 May 2013 - here is a link showing the day -

www.airshowspresent.com/duxford-spring-a...-the-mighty-8th.html

RIAT 20/21 July 2013. Fairford is still designated a 'Standby Base' by the USAF so it seems strange that there will be no participating US aircraft at this year's show?

I appreciate the recent grounding of aircraft due to budget restraints (RAF Lakenheath) but am curious whether there was any participation by the USAF at this year's Waddington show?

Regards,
Mark

Woody78;128900 wrote:

RIAT 20/21 July 2013. Fairford is still designated a 'Standby Base' by the USAF so it seems strange that there will be no participating US aircraft at this year's show?

I appreciate the recent grounding of aircraft due to budget restraints (RAF Lakenheath) but am curious whether there was any participation by the USAF at this year's Waddington show?

Regards,
Mark

There wasn't any US types at Waddo this year. Aside from the Thunderbirds a couple of years ago, they haven't really supported the show for a few years now, not even in the static park.

There's no USAF participation at any airshows anywhere in the world this year. Not even in the States. All the US display aircraft are grounded including the Thunderbirds until a review in September apparently. Pretty much all the military airshows in the States have been cancelled for this year and US military aircraft are not even appearing on static display anywhere or performing simple flypasses either.

RIAT's static park is going to look a bit sparser next weekend without the usual USAF 'heavies' parked up that's for sure.

Thank you Stevie for the update. Didn't appreciate how deep these budget restraints were. Echo your comments about the flightline at RIAT this year but I guess credit to the RAF for their participation at Fairford and Waddington.

Regards,
Mark

No problem mate. Let's face it, thing's must be bad for them to ground their pride and joy, The Thunderbirds & the Blue Angels.

Woody78;128935 wrote:

Thank you Stevie for the update. Didn't appreciate how deep these budget restraints were. Echo your comments about the flightline at RIAT this year but I guess credit to the RAF for their participation at Fairford and Waddington.

Regards,
Mark

Ironically, this statement has just been made today regarding the USAF's recent grounding (not that it'll make much difference to the line-up at RIAT I suppose) -

7/15/2013 - JOINT BASE LANGELY-EUSTIS, Va. -- Combat Air Forces units from multiple commands will begin flying again July 15 after many stopped flying in April of this year due to sequestration.

The restored flying hour program represents $208 million of the $1.8 billion reprogramming allocation authorized by Congress. The money re-instates critical training and test operations for the CAF fleet across the Air Force for the remainder of FY13. This impacts not just Air Combat Command units, but also CAF units assigned to United States Air Forces Europe and Pacific Air Forces.

For ACC, the restored flying hours will be allocated to combat aircraft and crews across the command's operational and test units, including the Air Warfare Center's Weapons School, Aggressors and the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team.

While the return to the skies means a return to crucial training and development for pilots, navigators, flight crews, mission crews and maintainers, the leader of the Air Force's CAF fleet cautions that this is the beginning of the process, not the end.

"Since April we've been in a precipitous decline with regard to combat readiness," said Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command. "Returning to flying is an important first step but what we have ahead of us is a measured climb to recovery."

"Our country counts on the U.S. Air Force to be there when needed--in hours or days, not weeks or months," General Hostage said. "A fire department doesn't have time to 'spin up' when a fire breaks out, and we don't know where or when the next crisis will break out that will require an immediate Air Force response."

The restoration of flying hours only addresses the next two and half months of flying up until October 1.

"This decision gets us through the next several months but not the next several years," the general said. "While this paints a clearer picture for the remainder of FY13, important questions remain about FY14 and beyond. Budget uncertainly makes it difficult to determine whether we'll be able to sustain a fully combat-ready force."

Additionally, the restoration comes at a cost to future capability, including reduced investment in the recapitalization and modernization of the combat fleet.

"We are using investment dollars to pay current operational bills, and that approach is not without risk to our long-term effectiveness," General Hostage said. "We can't mortgage our future. America relies on the combat airpower we provide, and we need to be able to continue to deliver it."
www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123355835

Cheers
Steve

Im surprised that the ANG haven't been doing some static displays, after all they are part funded by their home state.

Nice one Stevie for the update and yes, ironic. I guess the decision to 'fly again' was in part due to the airshow season in the States as this is a very big platform for recruitment into their military services. It seems this policy of budget restrictions will be implemented when/where necessary into the future. Mildenhall airshows are and will be a dim and distant memory - hope I'm wrong??

Canberra - you make a very good point. ANG elements are stationed/based at many municipal airports across the States so why not static display? I guess the argument here is that the paying public want to see an airshow. Hopefully as this latest update suggests, the airshow season starts now...........

Regards,
Mark

I doubt very much that we will ever see the Mildenhall shows come back. I think a much smaller ticket only, Base open day type of affair is more likely if anything with a limited flying display.

Apparently a couple of U2's are coming into Fairford today (nothing to do with RIAT). in which case, who knows, we may see USAF aircraft in the static park this weekend after all providing they hang about that long. Hope so!!!

Cheers
Steve

EDIT - Actually, make that three U2's coming in. One has already landed as I write this apparently! Two more on the way.