FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1981
1981 - 1606.PDF
1600 FLIGHT International, 30 May 1981 Many years ago in Lapland, a sportswriter met an Eskimo who spoke only four words of English. Referring to a famous footballer, he said "Bobby CharKon-number one!" When it comes to air displays, the verdict for many is .. . MORE than 300 aircraft from 21 countries representing 32 air arms . . . 200,000 people on one air field . . . more than £100,000 raised for charity at 1979's event . . . seven hours of non-stop speed, colour and not a little noise . . . the aerotoatic formation teams from eight nations and the cream of air forces and naval arms competing for display trophies . . . maritime patrollers and search and rescue crews from forces meeting to talk shop' and fly against each other. By almost any standard, the International Air Tattoo (RAF Green- ham Common, Newbury, Berks—June 27-28) is in a class of its own. , The event traces its origins back to 1971 when—as the Embassy Air Tattoo—it was held at RAF North Weald, the old Rattle of Britain sta tion in Essex. The air show took place on Britain's late-Spring holiday week end every year and became estab lished in the nation's display calendar. Each year the international participa tion increased, but the funds raised for charity were continually eroded by the expense of making up the taxiways and runway of the non- operational station for each event. The organisers looked around for an alternative site which enjoyed many of North Weald's advantages: a non-operational air base with good services, in easy motoring distance of London's huge population catch ment area and served by good roads. The organisers' eyes alighted on RAF Greenham Common to the west of London. This ex-USAF R-52 base possessed a number of valuable attributes. It features a 10,000ft X 200ft hard run way (with l.QjXHt gravel overruns at each end) is close to the M4 motor way Unking London to South Wales and South West of England, and is still occupied by military ser vices. The co-operation of the resident US forces was immediately forthcom ing and the choice of site was con firmed. The first Greenham Common event took place iin 1973 and the biennial International Air Tattoo (IAT) has been held there ever since. In 1980, it was the venue for the Newbury Air Festival, a smaller show put on by the organisers. (The event was to have been held at a major airfield near Bristol, but the venue became unavailable just ten weeks before the show. The whole arrangement was moved lock, stock and barrel to Greenham Common.) The organisers are available during IAT's "in- between" years to run other events. In 1978 they looked after an air show •alt the Baissingbourn air base now occupied1 by the British Army. Next year's show has not yet been announced, but is understood to be associated with a British Service avia tion anniversary. Altogether five International Air Tattoos have taken place at the American base. Some 750,000 people have attended the two-day shows. The proceeds have contributed a great deal to the fortunes of the RAF Benevolent Fund. Recent shows have included a cen tral theme which has provided the — Greenham Common IAN GOOLD has been behind the scenes as the organisers put the finishing touch* A*.?*: • •rf^^fc** .- .* si » w 3* A% 1 -~!Z&r\ ••— *• SSP&a: ^am hrk™&$m m KHMRK mm ?£» wm.$fo ffiftHSi
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
