Waddington Airshow Report 2005 - Page #2

Royal Air Force Waddington in Lincolnshire
hosts the second largest Airshow event in
the United Kingdom. Mostly dominated by
RAF aircraft in the displays, Waddington
still makes the effort to invite other Forces
to come and enjoy our English weather!

Traditionally the weather is overcast and
raining for arrivals and practice displays
making photography difficult but being
professional we got the job done.

One of the static aircraft highlights included
three Romanian Mig-21 Lancer aircraft
which are currently on deployment and
working with 617 Squadron at RAF
Lossiemouth in Scotland. Landing in two
pairs with the second pair delaying in the
circuit for traffic reasons. Once landed an
RAF Tornado ran in and broke. One has
to imagine the radio chatter between the
Tornado and the tower ... “Are we under
attack?!, God Dam! There’s Migs
everywhere!”

The Greeks acknowledged their invite
by providing an F-16D, interesting to see
it was a Block 52 two seat version with
the upper fuselage section being square.
This increases the Falcons fuel carrying
capability, an example of another Country
using a similar variant is Israel.

A German Tornado IDS from JaboG 31
and a pair of Turkish F-4 Phantoms all
did there part to fill out the static line up
and add some much needed variation.

The French also showed their support
for Waddington’s airshow event by
providing a Mirage 2000D aircraft for the
static. Also to appear in the static was
a French Alpha Jet from the same unit as
the one in the flying programme.

American F-15E Eagles took time out
of their busy flying schedule and made
the short hop (in flying terms) from RAF
Lakenheath in Suffolk, home to three
United States Air Force in Europe
(USAFE) Units. ( Pictured on the right
one of a pair of “Mad Hatter” Eagles. )

RAF Aircraft participation is always
strong with Jaguars, Hawks, Harriers
Tornado F3 and Gr.4 variants.

Being in close proximity to Fighter bases
Waddington, had Tornado F3 examples from
the Squadrons of 11 and 25 both from RAF
Leeming in Yorkshire. 12 Squadron showed
off there anniversary scheme for ninety years
of the Squadron! ( Pictured on the right. )

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