Best Airshow That You Have Attended?

[Micky S]

As the title suggest I would be interested to see which Airshow stands out as the best that you have attended.
Mine would have to be RIAT 1997. The weather was glorious, the mix of aircraft was outstanding and the B2 surprise landing was the cherry on top of the cake. A simply fantastic show.
Thanks in advance.

[Chrisse]

Kecskemet 2008. In 2007 I was pleasantly surprised by many cool item and the very 'loose' way they ran things (pingpong balls for a lottery to fly along in a Mig-29 dropped over the audience from an An-2, or as was actually more the case on top of the Alpha Jets of the Patrouille de France), but 2008 was higher quality to me and they never managed to equal that airshow experience afterwards. Furthermore the town was in full party mode the whole weekend aside from the show, so it was just the best airshow weekend

[jingernut]

Kemble in 2011 just for the Hunters.

[starbuck]

Got to be my first I guess, one of the Great Warbird shows at West Malling, can't remember the year.

[aceyone]

Abingdon Sept 1990 ,without doubt !

[Wrexham Mackem]

If I had to choose just one, Air Tournament International 1992 at Boscombe Down. Great weather, great participants, including my number one airshow moment, and a truly unique venue. In runner up spot, the last Lightning show at Binbrook in 1987. I will stop at three and pick a Fairford Air Tattoo - 1995. IAT at its best.

[toom317]

Mildenhall 1977. First time I saw an A10, and what a great display it put on, along with the F16. Not sure, but the YC 14 and 15 might have been at that as well. That was back in the day it was in August, and stuff was there before the Paris airshow.

[duxfordhawk]

As the title suggest I would be interested to see which Airshow stands out as the best that you have attended.
Mine would have to be RIAT 1997. The weather was glorious, the mix of aircraft was outstanding and the B2 surprise landing was the cherry on top of the cake. A simply fantastic show.
Thanks in advance.

Totally agree that was by far my best ever show.

[Ewart]

Air14 - Payerne, 100 anniversary of the Swiss Airforce.

[HeyfordDave111]

If I had to choose just one, Air Tournament International 1992 at Boscombe Down. Great weather, great participants, including my number one airshow moment, and a truly unique venue. In runner up spot, the last Lightning show at Binbrook in 1987. I will stop at three and pick a Fairford Air Tattoo - 1995. IAT at its best.

Agreed woth those . but i couldnt do Binbrook unfortunately, so will add...... Edwards AFB show 2003.....
i mean where else could you see the Northrop N9-M, B2, B-1, Raptor (first public display), Osprey, L39, F15, F16, C17, KC-135, B-52, KC-130, F-117, Thunderbirds, A-10 and a host of others.......Fly???

Then there was all that glorious static..... B-52 drop bird, F-18's, F-15's, F-16's, lots of preserved stuff, and a gloriously hot and cloud free sky.

Boscombe 92, IAT95 and Edwards 2003 Those were the days!

[DerekF]

Binbrook 1987, Finningley 1977, RIAT 1997, Farnborough 1992, Mildenhall 1984; the list is quite long.

[Unknown74]

For me it’s a tie between, Mildenhall Air Fete 1997 & International Air Tattoo (IAT) 1991 at Fairford.

Also a very special mention to RAF Leuchars Airshows from 1986/87 right through to 2013. - September will never be the same.

[Tom105]

Only started attending in airshows in 2013 so I missed of the of the 80s and 90s RIATs however for me Shuttleworth June evening show 2017 has to be as close as I've been to airshow perfection!

[SCARECROW 451]

Mildenhall 1982, loads of sun, my 1st B52, SR71 AND TR1 Oh and beer and burgers !!

[Tomahawk]

Three weeks ago, Avalon 2019 for the 'Friday Night Alight' segment alone but add in the CAC Boomerang and the Lockheed Hudson, superb.

[Bluebird Mike]

I enjoyed the final Great Warbirds at Wroughton, and there was a particularly jolly Badminton air day around that period too- a lovely sweet tree-lined airstrip which served to make the Lancaster look all the bigger when she appeared.

[Rossbeef]

Farnborough 2018. Nuff said.

[Seafurysmith]

The Queens Silver Jubilee Air Display at White Waltham back in 1977, the low pass by the VC10 was something else plus it was the only time I saw George Aird aerobat RR299 when he looped it during his display plus a good mix of other types inc. the G46 and S6 replica. Wish I had had a decent camera back then!

[Southendnick]

Southend 86 was a stonking good line up
Jaguar
Zlin
Ultimate Pitts
Tiger Moth girl on the wing
Fokker Triplane
Concorde
Catalina Landing on Sea
Wallis Autogyro
Marlborough
Stampe
FockleWulf 190
Spitfire
Kitty hawk
RN Historic Flight
Aces High T33
Gazelle
F 15x4 (fly past)
Lancaster
Catalina (take off from sea)
Corsair
Unipart Duo
Toyota Pitts
F16 (fly past)
Red Arrows
British Air Ferries Viscount,
British Air Ferries Herald,
Monarch 757,
Britannia 767.
Orion 737-300,
KLM-ATL-42,
RAF Falcons,
Ultimate Pitts G-SPIN,
Grumman Widgeon N444N
F111

[Smog Monster]

2 spring to mind - Hunter 50th Anniversary show at Kemble in 2001, and the Italian Starfighter retirement show at Pratica Di Mare in 2004.

Just wish I was old enough to remember more of the Fighter Meet Airshows my Dad took me to in the late 80's / early 90's... the airfield attack scenarios stick in my mind, but the rest is hazy.

[Rick]

2 spring to mind - Hunter 50th Anniversary show at Kemble in 2001, and the Italian Starfighter retirement show at Pratica Di Mare in 2004.

Just wish I was old enough to remember more of the Fighter Meet Airshows my Dad took me to in the late 80's / early 90's... the airfield attack scenarios stick in my mind, but the rest is hazy.

Can't argue with the Kemble 2001 show. 15 Hunters off in turn was quite a sight

[Pat Murphy]

So difficult to pick out the best from a very long list over the years and 2 of mine are favourites of a good many on here, but here they are:

1. Last, Last Lightning Show 1987 RAF Binbrook. Chucked it down most of the day, Diamond 9 and the 2 fast passes covered in vapour. Never to be forgotten and luckily on Youtube.

2. Oceana 2006, Flew over on the Thursday with The late and much missed Glyn and Harry the lurker. Then followed 4 days of Avgeek overload, Questioned by the FBI at Langley, walking in on the Saturday morning with an F14 in front of us and The Top Gun theme over the tannoy, utter cheese fest and goosebumps . F14's, F18's, F117, B2 and the ultra rare Starfighters team F104.....what a weekend. Topped off by a tour around Jerry Yagen's Fighter Factory museum.

3. IAT 93. It had the lot. Bear, Aussie F111, Migs, Viggen. A static to beat all static displays. What a weekend, oh and 2 Russian Mig 29's Crashed, you must have heard about that bit The better half was 7 months gone with our first when they collided, took most of the day to get back to the campsite at the old Baseball pitch....not popular but what a weekend.

There are other's that rate a mention, notably my first visit to Old Warden for the DH88 first display after it's most recent restoration, too many Mildenhall shows and Upper Heyford trips as well, but these 3 are the best.

[CJS]

Farnborough 2018. Nuff said.

Just been to the one airshow ever then?

[Rossbeef]

Farnborough 2018. Nuff said.

Just been to the one airshow ever then?

I'm sorry, it was a lie. After 2014's show, i vowed never to attend Farnborough on a public day ever again! Now there is no chance anyway!

[Agg]

That's a difficult one, but my first RIAT, in 2006, will always be a special one for me. But I also thoroughly enjoyed the Radom show back in 2013, especially standing outside on the Friday evening as the sun started to set and the Dutch F-16 did his rehearsal, followed by a one off display of the Belgian F-16 solo together with the French Rafale solo.