RAF Waddington Airshow UK 30 June 2012

Sky High Success

This year’s RAF Waddington International Airshow has raised £73,000 for charity. Held on the weekend of 30 June and 1 July, record numbers passed through the gates of the Lincolnshire station to witness spectacular air and ground displays at the largest RAF airshow of the year.

‘I was delighted with the 2012 Airshow, the best we have ever had’ said Air Show Director Mr. Paul Sall. ‘The awe-inspiring flying display, which included an unprecedented six national display teams, combined with a wide variety of interactive and engaging ground exhibits to give the 125,000 visitors an exceptional day.’
Over the past eight years, the annual air show has raised £2.82 million for charity. This year the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and The Royal Air Force Association will each receive a donation of £33,150. Both charities provide financial, practical and emotional support to all members of the RAF both past and present. A donation of £6700 to the Station Charities Fund will also benefit the local community, the money being distributed to local charities through the course of the coming year.

Plans are already well under way for next years show which will be held on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July. The 2013 Show has several themes including Combat Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance which will see aircraft and personnel at RAF Waddington to the fore. The show will also mark the 95th Anniversary of the formation of the RAF and the 70th Anniversaries of both the Royal Air Forces Association and the Dambusters raid. A Waddington based flying squadron, the Sentinel R1 equipped 5 (AC) Squadron, will also mark its centenary.

‘The unrivalled success of this year’s Airshow means my team and I have our work cut out to provide something even better this year’ explained Mr Sall. ‘We are working hard to provide another world-class event and already have some surprises up our sleeve.’

Tickets for next year’s shows are already available and are selling well and available through our website. The event showcases the UK’s Defence capabilities as well as highlighting RAF Waddington’s contribution to Operations. Visitors can expect to see aircraft both old and new including favourites the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the RAF Aerobatics Team, The Red Arrows, a comprehensive static aircraft display to view, over 250 trade stands and exhibitors plus fun fair. Hands on displays will range from exploring British Army armoured vehicles to handling the latest technology available to our fighting personnel.

The 2012 Show had the most international displays ever seen at RAF Waddington and you can re-live the thrills of this year’s show on the official 2012 DVD which includes not only all the excitement of the heart stopping air display of the Republic of Korea Air Force’s aerobatic display team “The Black Eagles” but exclusive behind the scenes and in depth features about the Royal Air Force as well.

Show Report By Geoff Coughlin, Editor Scale Modelling Now

This year’s Waddington Airshow was a cracker – many people I’ve spoken to said it was the best in years so congratulations to all participants and those in any way responsible for putting the event together. It’s estimated that around 130,000 visitors attended and that’s an incredible number by any standards.

This is just my own personal view and I have to say that from my visit on Saturday the real stars of the show were the Republic of Korean Air Force pilots flying their impressive T-50 aircraft as the “Black Knights” Display Team – incredible. Having seen many teams over the years and a diehard Reds supporter you simply have to take your hat off to these guys for their agile, inventive, exciting and well choreographed display routine – probably the best I’ve seen in years by any aerobatic display team from around the world.

Obviously there were other highlights too and the RAF’s own Chinook HC2 display was another of note as were the brace of Tornado GR4s that woke everyone up at the start of the day!

The static park always has something to interest everybody and my favourites were the Royal Norwegian DA20 ECM looking very menacing, plus the colourful helos like the Bell 212 and what are likely to be one of the twilight appearances of the awesome Phantom F-4F of the German Air Force.

If you’ve never been or it’s been a while since you went to an event like this make a date in your diary for 2013 – one not to be missed…

View a Gallery of images from the Airshow below: