Midlands Air Festival 2025 30th May - 1st June 2025

[Tommy]

[Professor_M]

That's a great addition.

Will this be the first L29 display in the UK since it was part of the Red Star Rebels in 2013?

[CWS]

Bloody hell!

Midlands are smashing it the last few years!

Again I might have to keep an eye on this.

[CWS]

Does anyone know where this L29 is currently from?

It must be privately owned but just wondered where it is based/who owns it?

Didn't realise it is till flying

[capercaillie]

Was that the gradual degradation from four lovely Hunters, through four fairly sweet Strikemasters to these hideously painted heaps?

[Mike]

Other way round. They started with Strikemasters (‘Team Viper’) then Hunters. The Red Star Rebels (with L-29s) fizzled out before they even got started and now they seem to have morphed into Team Raven flying RV-8s under the same management.

[Professor_M]

Does anyone know where this L29 is currently from?

It must be privately owned but just wondered where it is based/who owns it?

Didn't realise it is till flying

G-Info lists it as registered to G-BKOU/2 Ltd (who also have Jet Provosts G-BKOU/XN637 & G-BWOT/XN459 - The Red Pelicans one). Companies House lists directors as Ollie Suckling (Red 9) & Oliver Wheeldon (a trustee at The Historic Aircraft Trust, the Charity supporting the Gnat Display Team).

ADSB tracking suggests G-BYCT (the L29 in question) is currently at Hawarden, along with G-BKOU. They spend a lot of time at North Weald too (possibly only going up North for maintenance?) - G-BWOT was at Duxford on day in the autumn when visiting from North Weald and their other jets are not infrequent visitors too.

[capercaillie]

Other way round. They started with Strikemasters (‘Team Viper’) then Hunters. The Red Star Rebels (with L-29s) fizzled out before they even got started and now they seem to have morphed into Team Raven flying RV-8s under the same management.

Cheers Mike. I have an image of four Strikemasters turning up together at Leuchars in 2009, so presumably different operators. Less said about Team Jackdaw.............(shudders). I miss XE601.

[CWS]

Thanks for the info

A rare aircraft for sure

[purple_95]

L-29 displaying is a great addition for Midlands, in terms of attracting rare displays Midlands are once again doing a fine job.

[jasonT1981]

If only it was easy to get to on public transport! Line up looks very good so far.

[jasonT1981]

Red Arrows announced for all 3 days

[IP1960]

Full RAF allocation :-

Friday - Red Arrows, Falcons, Tutor, BBMF Lancaster/Spitfire/Hurricane, Typhoon flypast only
Saturday - Red Arrows, Falcons, Tutor, BBMF Lancaster/Spitfire/Hurricane
Sunday - Red Arrows, Falcons, Tutor, BBMF Dakota/Spitfire/Hurricane

Great support again, shame we've missed out on a Typhoon display

[jasonT1981]

BBMF Dakota added

[MiG_Eater]

Rolls Royce Spitfire added.

I must admit I was really hoping for a few more stars by now - thinking of the Draken, B-52, DC-6 from last year - not to mention the P-38 that didn't make it.

Nevertheless, should be a nice weekend.

[Professor_M]

I must admit I was really hoping for a few more stars by now - thinking of the Draken, B-25, DC-6 from last year - not to mention the P-38 that didn't make it.

It's not exactly lacking on the star items front though, is it?

Cobra (when did one last appear at a UK show?), Bo105 (not seen in UK since 2018), Sabre (first UK flying display since G-SABR left), L-29 (first UK flying display by the type since 2015), R4D (coming across the Atlantic, and of all shows they could do, Midlands made that list), Team Niebergall (something different) and one of the first chances to see the repainted BBMF Dakota displaying (assuming it ever leaves Duxford ) - that's not exactly a short list of star items (admittedly not all of them would necessarily be stars for everybody) - surely one of the best line-ups so far this year?

Compare that to last year and the Draken, DC-6, B-25 (and the P-38, Sabre & Bo105 that didn't make it), if they all make it, surely this year would be at least on a par with last year?

The organisers did say recently in a comment on Facebook that there were no more jets to announce.

[MiG_Eater]

Cobra and Bo105 I grant are pretty special.

I find it difficult to get excited about R4D as to a philistine like myself it is just another Dakota!

The L-29 and Sabre are lovely - I was just really hoping for some afterburner action; Draken, Viggen, Typhoon or even a European fast jet display. Not complaining - this year just isn't quite as to my taste was last year with the Draken, Gnat, JP and planned Typhoon display.

[MazzaStar]

Noticed the Cobra has disappeared from the website, the organisers have replied to a comment on Facebook saying that due to a technical issue that won’t be fixed in time it will no longer be displaying at Midlands and a replacement is being sourced.

[purple_95]

A real shame the Cobra has gone tech but still looks a brilliant line up with some real rare stuff such as the L29. I note someone asked after the Spitfire was announced this week if that was the last flying display update and the organisers said a few more displays still to be announced.

[Dom.]

[Peregrine]

What an interesting addition, another great example of Midlands Air Festival doing something a little different. I'm looking forward to seeing that!

[Comet102]

[Professor_M]

I hadn't realised that the Mono Team were flying a Skybolt/Mono pair last year - they've now increased to a pair of Monos, a Skybolt and a Stampe to make the barnstormers for this year.

https://www.monodisplay.co.uk