Yeovilton Air Day 2012 - 23rd June

[2e1var]

I'd agree as well. Very nice displays from all the classic jets.

Is it just me or do the saudi hawks just leave anyone else cold? Great to see them, just need to polish the display a little?

That's an understatement !

[Andyperkins]

Is this all down to the Olympics!!!!

Seems like it to me as Farnborough was moved forward a week which in turn moved Fairford to the weekend that a Yeovilton normally occupies and with Waddington next weekend this weekend was really their only option.

[Richard E]

I'll prefix this by saying that I know (after the event) that the show's "flyer" did show that the gates for Friday's Photocall would close at 14:00 but I wonder if I was the only one who was caught out by the website which showed that they were open until 14:30.

Got to love the holiday traffic on the M25, M3 and A303 ...........

[Concorde216]

Well, this was the first Yeovilton Air Day that I had been to since 2007 and I have mixed feelings about this year's show.

Walking around the static display there were just three fast jets: RAF Tornado GR4, spare Saudi Hawk and French Navy Rafle. It was nice to see the Falcon 10 and we managed to have a look inside it...very cosy! However, there were more civilian aircraft on the deck compared to military (the GA and micoloights parked opposite the military static.

I noticed that there was a Phantom on display (but I did not get around to seeing it close up) and a two-seat Harrier in black. Both of these were both from the museum's collection. The number of stalls I saw at the show was dissappointing in that I only came across a couple of aviation stalls where you could buy models or pictures. The rest seemed to be devoted to food & drink or trying to flog you solar panels!

Flying display wise, it was good to see the Tornado role demo (I don't think they did one flypast where they did not use reheat...nice!) and the Extra 300 display before the Commando Assulat was excellent (real stomach churning moves there!). It was great to the An-124 doing a tight display and wing waggle, I agre with Dan, it is always great seeing the larger aircraft being chucked around .

It's a shame that the Sea Vixen and Vulcan could not attend but for very understandable reasons. Hope to see the Vulcster at RIAT in couple of week's time.

In terms of getting in and weather...no queues getting in or out and the weather held off until we got home!

[Seaking93]

Well, this was the first Yeovilton Air Day that I had been to since 2007 and I have mixed feelings about this year's show.

Walking around the static display there were just three fast jets: RAF Tornado GR4, spare Saudi Hawk and French Navy Rafle. It was nice to see the Falcon 10 and we managed to have a look inside it...very cosy! However, there were more civilian aircraft on the deck compared to military (the GA and micoloights parked opposite the military static.

I noticed that there was a Phantom on display (but I did not get around to seeing it close up) and a two-seat Harrier in black. Both of these were both from the museum's collection. The number of stalls I saw at the show was dissappointing in that I only came across a couple of aviation stalls where you could buy models or pictures. The rest seemed to be devoted to food & drink or trying to flog you solar panels!

Flying display wise, it was good to see the Tornado role demo (I don't think they did one flypast where they did not use reheat...nice!) and the Extra 300 display before the Commando Assulat was excellent (real stomach churning moves there!). It was great to the An-124 doing a tight display and wing waggle, I agre with Dan, it is always great seeing the larger aircraft being chucked around .

It's a shame that the Sea Vixen and Vulcan could not attend but for very understandable reasons. Hope to see the Vulcster at RIAT in couple of week's time.

In terms of getting in and weather...no queues getting in or out and the weather held off until we got home!

Just a small point but niether the F4 or the Harrier T8 were from the museum collection, although the Wasp and UH1 were.

[Concorde216]

Who owns the Phantom and the Harrier?

[81TFW]

Who owns the Phantom and the Harrier?

Beat me to it!

The Phantom has no engines and looks as if it might be an engineering training aircraft (not beaten up enough for BDR!)

Hopefully she's in line for preservation.

[centaurus18]

Believe the SHARs are connected to the Fly Navy Heritage Trust in some capacity - the Phantom is privately owned.

[Seaking93]

Believe the SHARs are connected to the Fly Navy Heritage Trust in some capacity - the Phantom is privately owned.

The 3 Harriers and the F4 are all owned by the MOD

[LN Strike Eagle]

"Condor Legion" - Peter Reoch reports on the Royal Navy's showpiece event.