RAF Cosford opened its doors on June 9th, on a brisk and breezy but mostly dry summer day, to welcome a capacity and appreciative crowd of over 55,000 to the only remaining UK airshow organised by the RAF.
There were a few changes to the anticipated programme, most of which had been publicised beforehand, so there was only one last-minute disappointment: the cancellation of the Lynx AH7 XZ179 from Project Lynx.
Compensation came in the form of plenty of additions, including flypasts by a pair of Hawk T2s; a doubling of the A400 flypast, which became a pair rather than a single, and additional displays by Stijn De Jaegere Aerobatics in his North American AT-6D Texan; Folland Gnat G-MOUR and a second Jet Provost. A list of the displays after the changes is in the table.
This year’s theme was ‘Take Flight', designed to encourage youngsters to kickstart their interest in a career in the RAF and to develop in everyone an understanding of what the service does for the defence of the United Kingdom. There were plenty of chances to get close to the cutting edge of technology in hangars set out with opportunities for hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) including pneumatics and electronics, which engaged the enthusiasm of young and not-so-young alike.
Across the showground there were opportunities to get up close to RAF aircraft and there were even a few chances to sit in a cockpit, for which there were often long queues: a testament to the popularity of the feature. Perhaps one day a future pilot will date his or her interest in flying to a visit to the RAF Cosford Airshow 2024. (...continued below the photos)
Christophe Simone
Airbus A330 Voyager 'Vespina' Flypast
Fairey Swordfish and Westland Wasp, Navy Wings
RAF Cosford has an extensive aircraft museum, where visitors were able to admire a wealth of historic aircraft. Hangar one was even accessible direct from the showground, making it easy to admire a wealth of aircraft history including, amongst many others, huge aircraft such as the Comet and Argosy.
Static aircraft were clustered, as is usually the case at RAF Cosford and, again as is usual, Jaguars abounded. There was a 'Catwalk' of 13 of them at the western end of the showground and another five in various liveries adorned the central apron.
Other showground attractions included a funfair, living history groups, who were able to educate as well as entertain, an RAF Zone where young and old alike could find out about the service from those who can answer enquiries from their own experience, and representatives of the flying teams, occasionally including the pilots themselves, who were happy to chat and to sign autographs.
Traditionally, the opening display of the show is a parachute drop by the RAF Falcons, and this year was no exception. There is usually a twist. Last year there were two twists. First, The Falcons followed the French Team Phenix, so there were two parachute displays. Last year the second twist was that The Falcons dropped from a C-130 Hercules for the very last time before the type was retired from service.
Out with the old and in with the new, because the twist this year was that The Falcons made their first ever public airshow jump from an A400M 'Atlas'. Unfortunately, the cloud was too low for a full display. Jumping from 2,500 feet wasn't enough for freefall or for a full set of formations, but all nine Falcons soon got into Snake formation behind coach Flt Sgt Liam Lyons and within just three minutes after leaving the jump platform all nine were back on terra firma: Falcons Officer Commanding Flt Lt Jennifer Littler bringing up the rear, trailing a huge union flag.
As the Falcons lined up to take the salute, the A400M jump platform made a fast, low flypast.
This was to be the first of three A400 flypasts at the show. The other two made a single joint low pass later in the afternoon, flying direct from Normandy, where they had been taking part in the D-Day80 commemorations.
As well as the flypasts by a total of three A440Ms, there was flypast by an A330 'Voyager'. There was some hint that it may be a special flypast, but not until it happened was it confirmed that the A330-243 was ZZ336 'Vespina', the special 'Global Britain' liveried VIP conversion designed to carry royalty and other dignitaries.
The last of the flypasts was by a pair of Hawk T2s during this 50th anniversary year since the first flight of the Hawk. The Hawk T2s encircled the area before making a welcome repeat pass.
Flypasts are a welcome feature of airshows at RAF Cosford. Yes, everyone comes for the feature displays, but it is unusual at most other shows to see aircraft that may not be authorised to perform full displays but that may sometimes be seen during a flypast: a rare opportunity for many to witness the aircraft flying at relatively low level. This may seem straightforward, but it takes a lot of organisation and some financial cost. The route of the aircraft may have to be amended; the timing has to fit in with the rest of the programme and air traffic control has to be has to approve. Credit is due to the many people in several organisations whose efforts made this happen.
To open the show we had seen people dropping out of aeroplanes and flying through the air. People flying through the air gave way to machines flying almost as gently, as Christophe Simon took centre stage in a borrowed Mudry Cap10 BK whilst his normal red and yellow one underwent maintenance. The red and white of his CAP10 may have been an unusual site but the flowing performance was exactly as we have come to expect from the very pilot who won the coveted Bill Hartree Memorial Trophy last year. Although this is only his fourth year flying displays, he has already won the admiration of his peers and the watching crowds for his gently flowing, precision control of the aircraft, which is always pitching and rolling, always in sight of the crowd and accessible to the whole of the crowdline, not just the central segment. (...continued below the Chinook box)
Chinook Role Demo
The RAF Chinook Team are not scheduled to perform any of their traditional displays, and only a few role demonstrations, in the whole season. The first of these, so a role demo debut, was at this RAF Cosford Airshow.
The demonstration illustrated some of the many roles carried out by the Chinook, which included unloading and positioning an underslung battlefield gun and disembarking troops to protect the armaments and later recovering them. After several maneuvers to demonstrate flexibility in the air, landing on two wheels and the quick stop, the Chinook unloaded a quad bike, used in the field to distribute armaments and other loads before taking their troops back on board: job done. The team used an HC5 variant of the Chinook with its huge fuel tanks on either side: thought to be the first time the HC5 has been used in a display or role demo in the UK.
Chinook role demo
There was no shortage of rotary wing action throughout the afternoon, with no fewer than seven examples at the show. Four of them were Gazelles, flying together as the Gazelle Squadron, currently the only civilian helicopter display team and the first time they have displayed as a 4-ship at RAF Cosford. Led by Richard 'Mitch' Mitchell, the varied display was sometimes reminiscent of those by past helicopter display teams including the Sharks and The Blue Eagles.
A more novel combination came from the Navy Wings Heritage Flight who linked their Westland Wasp with today's equivalent, a solo Black Cat in the Leonardo Wildcat HMA2. In the days when the Wasp was at the forefront of helicopter defence it was essentially a weapons platform, directed from elsewhere. Its flying partner today, the Wildcat, has a wide variety of equipment, regularly updated, and is capable of discovering as well as dealing with threats.
Later, the Navy Wings Wasp also flew alongside their own Mk I Fairey Swordfish, before breaking into their solo displays.
Excellence in light aerobatics came from both sides of the channel: from the irrepressible Richard Goodwin, this time flying his G-EWIZ rather than his Jet Pitts, and from Capitaine Sébastien Souchet giving a superb display in the Extra 330SC of world aerobatic champions Equipe de Voltige de l'Armée de l'Air et de l'Èspace and earning the applause of the crowds, as well as the Bill Hartree Memorial Trophy for the best flying display of the event.
The RAF's example of light aerobatic excellence came from Flt Lt Bob Dewes in the Grob Tutor T1, whose display had to be abbreviated, some suggested because of a crowd incident, others because advancing the taxiing Catalina was overhanging the runway and others that it was a matter of timing in a crowded and delayed schedule. Whatever the cause, the display was almost finished anyway and many might not have noticed. Even lighter aerobatics were presented by Ian Gallagher, who reprised his flowing 2023 display in the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association's Schleicher ASK 21 glider.
The weight and the pace increased substantially when Flt Lt David 'Turbo' Turnbull stormed to crowd centre in the D-Day anniversary liveried RAF Typhoon. Last season's displays by Flt Lt Matt Brighty have proved a hard act to follow and the Typhoon's new colour scheme has not impressed everyone who liked the previous 'Black Jack' design, but the display and the livery found favour with most of the crowd who applauded both spectacles.
Heavy metal from the across the channel was originally to be provided by the Rafale but in its absence the Mirage pair from Couteau Delta were the second team to represent the French Air and Space Force at RAF Cosford. Displays by Couteau Delta away from French soil are rare, only five displays are scheduled for the whole of 2024 and just 2 are outside France, including this one, so the team at RAF Cosford did well to secure the display. The routine itself attracted a few groans from those who felt that it got off to a bit of a slow start, and that the display was not as tight as some, but the vast majority will have appreciated the limitations of the geography and that it was a tactical demonstration, not a display to exhibit the vigours of the aircraft or the pilots. In practice, the tactical demonstration included a show of force, bomb attacks and strafing runs, often with reheat to add to the dramatic effects and proved to be one of the highlights of the day.
Another very welcome and similarly rarely seen contribution from overseas came in the form of the of the Texan owned by Stijn De Jaegere Aerobatics from Belgium and flown by the owner. (... continued below the table)
Equipe de Voltige, winner of the Bill Hartree Memorial Trophy
| Aircraft in 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Flying | |
 | Lockheed Martin F-35B (RAF) role demo debut |
 | Couteau Delta Mirage 2000D Display Pair (Armée de L'Air & de l'Espace - French Air & Space Force) |
 | Red Arrows |
 | Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 (RAF) |
 | Chinook Role Demo (RAF) |
 | Black Cats solo Wildcat HMA Mk2(RN) |
 | Equipe de Voltige de l'Armée de l'Air (Extra 330) (Armée de L'Air & de l'Espace - French Air & Space Force) |
 | Gazelle Squadron. 4 x Gazelle Helicopters |
 | Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress G-BEDF 'Sally B' |
 | BAC Jet Provost T5 G-BWSG 'XW324' |
 | Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.3 XM479 (Newcastle Jet Provost) |
 | Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina (Plane Sailing) |
 | North American P-51D Mustang (Rolls Royce Heritage Flight) |
 | Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PRXIX PS853 G-RRGN (Rolls Royce Heritage Flight) |
 | Fairey Swordfish Mk I G-BMGC 'W5856' (Navy Wings) |
 | Westland Wasp HAS1 XT420 (Navy Wings) |
 | Grob Tutor (RAF) |
 | Richard Goodwin 'Muscle' Pitts S-2S G-EWIZ |
 | Mudry CAP 10 (Christophe Simon) |
 | Schleicher ASK 21 glider (RAF Gliding and Soaring Association) |
 | North American AT-6D Texan from Stijn De Jaegere Aerobatics, Belgium |
 | Hawker Hurricane Mk I P3717 (Bygone Aviation) |
 | Folland Gnat G-MOUR XR992 |
 | RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team |
 | Airbus A400M 'Atlas' C.1 (x2) (FLYPAST) |
 | BAE Systems Hawk T2 (x2) (FLYPAST x2) |
 | Airbus A330 Voyager 'Vespina' (RAF) (FLYPAST) |
| Flying displays cancelled | |
 | BBMF Lancaster 'PA474 Leader'. Cancelled because of BBMF flying pause. |
 | Supermarine Spitfire (BBMF) (4 BBMF fighters in total). Cancelled because of BBMF flying pause. |
 | Hawker Hurricane (BBMF) (4 BBMF fighters in total). Cancelled because of BBMF flying pause. |
 | de Havilland Vampire T11 WZ507 (Vampire Preservation). Cancelled because of a technical issue. |
 | Dassault Rafale C Solo (icon is the 2023 livery) (Armée de L'Air & de l'Espace - French Air & Space Force). Cancelled for 'logistical reasons and operational prioritisation' |
 | Westland Lynx AH7 XZ179 G-NCKS (Project Lynx) |
| Some of the static displays | |
| SIAI Marchetti F.260 (Belgian Air Force) | |
| Hawk T.1A XX236, XX181 & XX335 | |
| NH90 Caiman (Royal Netherlands Air Force) | |
| Sea Harrier FRS.1 | |
| Harrier GR3 | |
| Tornado F3T (x2) | |
| Typhoon ZH590 (DA4) | |
| Sepecat Jaguar (x13) | |
| Sepecat Jaguar with special liveries (x5) | |
The highlight for the RAF's contribution to the fast jet action was the finale, when the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning from 617 Squadron performed its first ever public role demo of the type. The display was deliberately designed as a role demo, not an aerobatic display to show the full capability of the aircraft but it was certainly able to show the rapid acceleration, steep climb and inevitable hovering capability.
The first of the historic warbirds to display was Bygone aviation's Mk I Hurricane P3717, flown by Frank Chapman. Whilst still in its infancy, and during a patrol over the south east of England, this Hurricane was damaged whilst downing a Messerschmitt BF110. After repairs and further wartime action, P3717 was converted to a Mk II and served some time in Russia from where it was returned to England and restored to airworthiness in 2017.
Another Spitfire was that of the Rolls Royce Heritage Flight which flew alongside their Mustang before each gave their solo displays.
The Rolls Royce Heritage Flight contribution mitigated, to some extent, the loss from the programme of the fighters from Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which had paused all flying following a tragic and fatal Spitfire incident the previous month. The BBMF Lancaster was also lost to the flying programme, leaving Sally B to represent the wartime bombers and Plane Sailing's Catalina to complete the show's complement of non-fighter wartime aircraft.
Classic jets were well represented with no fewer than two Jet Provosts; Newcastle Jet Provost's T.3 'XM479' and Jeff Bell's T5 'XW324' which has only recently returned to displays following very extensive repairs made necessary in part by the consequences of a tyre blow-out in 2022.
A late and welcome addition to the classic jet line-up was the seldom seen Folland Gnat T1: this one the yellow G-MOUR in the colours of the leader of the then national aerobatic team, the Yellowjacks. There were some murmurings that the Gnat might fly with the Red Arrows to mark the succession of types used by the RAF's aerobatic team, but those murmurings were more in hope than expectation, not least because the addition to the programme of the Gnat was rather last-minute, and that would have left little time for the necessary permissions and arrangements. In practice, the link was that the Red Arrows displayed immediately after the 'Yellowjack', which was fitting indeed.
The Red Arrows themselves were back to a 9-ship, having flown with seven and eight in the previous years. The routines were also updated, impressive additions being a '60' drawn in sky, recognising the team's 60th anniversary, a five vs four opposition pass and the welcome return of the diamond 9 formation.
In previous years we have, in the interests of balance, found one of two little gripes to mention. This year we are tempted not to mention anything even remotely negative.
Oh, all right then. Just a couple. (... continued below the information boxes)
Disagree?
If you think this review is not balanced, or that a point has been missed, or even if you agree with it, do get in touch to let us know.
Winners
Even though all displays were outstanding, each year, the team choose a few to receive awards for particularly special displays.
This year, there was a French theme throughout the awards, which were:
Bill Hartree Memorial Trophy, for the 'most accurate, safe and polished flying display' of the day: L’ Èquipe de Voltige
Certificate of Appreciation: French Air and Space Force
The Cosford Air Show 2024 ‘Special Mention’: Christophe Simon
Cosford Airshow 2025
The 2025 show will be on Sunday, June 8th.
Last year we thought the layout of the statics was a bit random. There was certainly an improvement this year with clearly themed clusters. Yes they are still spread out so it is easier to miss something than it would be at airshows where the statics are in an orderly queue beyond the crowdline and, given the constraints of the site, it is never likely to be perfect from a visitor perspective. The little gripe is that the bold blue bollards are rather too close to the aircraft, so photographers, in particular, find that they get in the way. They are not terribly photogenic. There needs to be something to protect the precious aircraft from swarms of people but something more subtle would be nice.
Gripe number two also involves static aircraft, but this time the ones along the runway. Yes, some display aircraft have to be there but it is a pity they can't be at the ends, rather than in the centre of the area where they can block the view of take-offs, landings, low passes and other activity.
An example is that just before the Chinook display, the four gazelle helicopters moved from near the end, to positions towards the centre of the crowdline. Aspects of the Chinook role demonstration, including releasing and positioning the gun, unloading the quad bike and most of the activity by troops, were all necessarily at low level and some distance from their audience. The problem for many is that the newly arrived gazelles were between that ground activity and the spectators, so blocking the view of people along quite a chunk of the crowdline. Gripe over.
There was quite a lot to cheer about this year's RAF Cosford Airshow. The RAF were back in force, with displays and flypasts showing off much, if not all, of their fleet. Debuts of the Chinook and F-35B role demos; the only 2024 UK display by Couteau Delta; rare UK displays by Christophe Simon, L’ Èquipe de Voltige and Stijn De Jaegere were certainly among the highlights. One of the great things about this show is that there is invariably something in the flying that is completely new, or very unusual, or unlikely to be seen elsewhere, and always plenty to inspire visitors, on and away from the flying display line. Enjoying a family day out with loads to amuse and educate the little ones, and taking in the ambience of an RAF station, is worth a chunk of the ticket price on its own.
The RAF Cosford Airshow 2025 will be on Sunday, June 8th. Tickets usually sell out, so we would encourage you to put that date in your diary and get your tickets while you can.
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