ILA 2010 – Berlin Airshow
Posted by michaely in Airshow Reports on June 28th, 2010
Photos by Michael Yevdokimov and Peter Davison
Text by Peter Davison
This year’s show was blessed with fine weather and featured the public debut of the Airbus A400. It is likely to be the last show on this site and the new terminal for the improved airport is taking shape, though dust clouds from the works sometimes blew across the displays and active runway. General Aviation was well represented, as was the US military.
100 years of French Naval Aviation
Posted by michaely in Airshow Reports on June 25th, 2010
Peter Davison
This centenary provided an opportunity to stage one of the finest military airshows France has seen. On 13th June, not only did the base at Hyeres open its doors but three aircraft carriers, from Spain, France and the USA, anchored off in the bay near Toulon providing extra items for the show. The flying display was roughly chronological so the real noise and excitement enjoyed the late afternoon sun with the crowd to the west this was excellent for photography. Most exhibits launched toward the crowd before displaying over the south-north runway.
Aero-Expo at Menara Airport
Posted by michaely in Airshow Reports on March 16th, 2010
Peter Davison
This four day event, 27-30 January is the second of its type, only the final day is open to the public. Menara is the main airport, accessible to no-frills airlines and well connected to both France and Spain. There is a small flying club and a business jet ramp. The event is held on the northern, military side of the single runway and only a small portion is accessible to visitors. Photography is into the sun all day though the static display, although small and densely parked, is well lit, particularly in the morning.
Libyan Aviation Exhibition – LAVEX 2009
Posted by michaely in Other Reports on November 1st, 2009
Peter Davison
The Libyan Aviation Exhibition, LAVEX 2009, was held at Mitiga Air Base in the eastern suburbs of Tripoli from 5-8 October 2009. This years show was coincident with 40 years of Colonol Gaddafi’s leadership so the city was covered in banners and green flags. There have been numerous celebrations, though the hoped for boost in military presence at the airshow was not apparent. Glorious weather meant that the morning flying, on the NE-SW runway was into sun so photographers, of which there were many, either had to migrate to the beach or wait for the late afternoon. At times it seemed that Dutch and British enthusiasts outnumbered the delegates.
Tiger Meet – Kleine Brogel Spottersday 2009
Posted by michaely in Airshow Reports on September 24th, 2009
Peter Davison
The annual spottersday during the Tiger Meet at Kleine Brogel, Belgium, attracted an enormous crowd of photographers from across Europe. The perfect weather and colourful paint schemes provided an excellent day out.
With no ‘general public’ to get in the way, apart from a few stepladders in the front row, the atmosphere was perfect. There were two mass launches and recoveries with returning aircraft taxiing back along the crowd-line whenever possible.
MAKS – Moscow Airshow 2009
Posted by michaely in Airshow Reports on September 6th, 2009
Photos by Peter Davison and Michael Yevdokimov
Text by Peter Davison
Every two years the MAKS airshow draws the crowds to the Zhukovsky Flight Test Centre just southeast of Moscow. Russian industry may have been short on orders these past few years but it sure isn’t short of ideas. The displays of models and light aircraft, particularly some of the autogyros, would suggest that personal mobility is on the verge of great progress; only time will tell. The Tu-334 has given way to the Superjet, the only really new airliner on display; Russia still leads the world on heavylift with not only helicopters but also potential solutions to airborne relief being available to the right investor.
Royal International Air Tattoo RIAT 2009 Part 2
Posted by michaely in Airshow Reports on August 4th, 2009
Colin Coulthard
RIAT 2009 went ahead despite the wet conditions, on base parking for ‘Park and View’ and 5km of metal roads help relieve the pressure on the car park fields. A sell-out crowd in excess of 160,00 enjoyed a weekend of flying involving 269 aircraft from 33 air arms representing 22 counties.
Saturdays weather stayed dry but a mixture of low clouds and blue skies gave the display pilots a challenge to make best use of the changing conditions through their display.
Royal International Air Tattoo RIAT 2009
Posted by michaely in Airshow Reports on August 4th, 2009
Peter Davison
After the cancellation of the 2008 event due to water-logging of the site, particularly the car parks; this year’s team had taken every precaution; doubling car park space off site and allowing some on airfield parking for the first time since 9-11. It was very successful though the allocation of ramp space, the recession and military commitments elsewhere reduced participation by some air forces.
Zeltweg Air Power Airshow 2009
Posted by michaely in Airshow Reports on July 5th, 2009
Peter Davison
The Zeltweg air show always gives the opportunity to catch up with a large proportion of the Austrian air Force with photo opportunities in a natural green amphitheater and a southern viewpoint giving good lighting conditions. this year the show was well supported by Red Bull who not only brought their growing collection of vintage aircraft but also staged a demonstration air race complete with inflated pylons.
International Helicopter Industry Exhibition HELIRUSSIA 2009
Posted by michaely in Other Reports on June 6th, 2009
HELIRUSSIA is the one and only exhibition in Russia, where world’s achievements in helicopter industry will be demonstrated in all aspects, from helicopter design and manufacture to operation.