RAF Valley through the years

[viscount]

R.A.F. Valley International Airshow
60th Anniversary of R.A.F. Valley
Saturday, 18th August 2001

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The most recent full public air display at RAF Valley was in August 2001. Along with 8 other enthusiasts, I flew there from Liverpool in Islander G-BIIP with Air Express, who provided pleasure flights during the morning.

There were considerable changes to be seen since the previous show in 1994. The new Anglesey expressway road, the A55, now brought traffic to Valley rapidly, but led to queues gettting onto the base.

The ground arrangements on the base had been re-thought out. The static displays and crowd lines were back on the east side of the base, although some car parking was remote. All Valley Hawks were now overall gloss black and in the markings of 19(R) and 208(R) Squadrons, while 22 Sqdn now had Sea Kings and SAR training now employed Griffins of 60(R) Sqdn.

There was a noteable decrease in the numbers and variety of military aircraft, British and European (just 5 machines from 2 nations) and a great increase in civilian operated 'warbirds'.

The weather, which as you look back through the reports and photographs of past shows had usually been benign at worst, hot and clear at best, in 2001 did not smile kindly on the event. Admittedly, the morning was not too bad with cover of high cloud, cool with a strong breeze, the cloud though thickened and lowered, until by mid-way through the flying display in rained, gently at first then much harder, clearing many of the spectators, although the show went on.

This list comes from NWAN magazine and my own log.

Static Display:
G-AKRP DH.89A Dragon Rapide 4, Fordaire Aviation of Sywell
G-AYPJ PA-28 Cherokee 180, Mona Aviation
G-AZOR Bolkow Bo.105D, AA Ambiwlians Awyr Cymru/AA Wales Air Ambulance
G-BCZN Cessna F.150M, Mona Aviation
N47FK/NF:L Douglas C-47A, drab green, WWII RAF drab green scheme
OJ4/Z2 (G-UNNY) Strikemaster 87, Botswana Air Force, camouflage
21261/261 (G-TBRD) Lockheed T-33A, RCAF period colours

WG472 (G-AOTY) DHC.1 Chipmunk 22, RAF period yellow T-bands scheme
XM470/12 (G-BWZZ) Jet Provost T.3A, 1 FTS, REF period red/white training scheme
XM478 (G-BXDL) Jet Provost T.3, RAF period yellow T-bands scheme
XW237/- Puma HC.1, 33 Sqdn. Also 72 Sqdn flash below cockpit windows
XX156 Hawk T.1, full 'Red Arrows' colours
XX202 Hawk T.1, 19(R) Sqdn
XX218 Hawk T.1, 19(R) Sqdn
XX235 Hawk T.1, 208(R) Sqdn
XX244 Hawk T.1, 208(R) Sqdn, extra yellow cheat line
XX281 Hawk T.1, 19(R) Sqdn
XX320 Hawk T.1, Hawk 25th Anniversary special scheme
XX325 Hawk T.1, 208(R) Sqdn
ZD575/BW Chinook HC.2, 18 Sqdn
ZE934/TA Tornado F.3. 56 Sqdn
ZJ100 Hawk 102D, BAe, 'BAe black house colours' scheme
ZJ126/K Merlin HC.3, 28 Sqdn
ZJ240/U Bell 412EP Griffin HT.1, 60(R) Sqdn/DHFS Valley
ZJ269/69 Squirrel HT.1, DHFS Shawbury
ZJ649 Alpha Jet, DERA Llanbedr, dark green/very dark green camouflage scheme

44+35 Tornado, JBG-31, German Air Force
50+99 C-160D Transall, LTG-61, GAF
71+43 Bell UH-1D Iroquois, LTG-61, GAF
229 SF-260WE Warrior, Irish Air Corps
247 SA.365F Dauphin II, Irish Air Corps, c/no.6202

Hangars
In one could be seen Hawks: XX159 (208 Sqdn), XX172 (Dragon scheme), XX199, XX205 (208 Sqdn), XX221, XX236, XX245 (208 Sqdn), XX246, XX265, XX332 & XX337.
In the canvas hangar: XX168, XX196 and seven others.

Gate Guardian
WV396/91 Hawker Hunter T.8C, red/white training colours, mounted on a pole.

Pleasure Flights:
G-BIIP BN-2A Islander, Air Express

West side Flightlines (not all participated)
G-BOKT PA-28-161 Warrior, departed for Duxford 1135.
G-BWGT (ex XR679) Jet Provost T.4
G-GONE (ex J-1542) DH.112 Venom FB.50, yellow overall
G-IILI Extra EA.300/L, "Microlease" sponsored
G-IIMI Extra EA.300/L, "Microlease" sponsored
G-RORI (ex XR538) Folland Gnat T.1, Delta Jets, black with yellow flames colours
F-GXDB CAP.232
LY-AOB Yak-52, from and to Kemble, on ground 1000-1040.
N2MD J-3c Cub, "Kia Cars" sponsored
N707TJ A.75N1 Super Stearman, "Utterly Butterly" sponsored wing-walkers
N5057V PT-13D Super Stearman, "Utterly Butterly" sponsored wing-walkers

53319/319-RB (G-BTDP) TBM-3R Avenger, Haigh-Thomas, USN period blue colours
472216/HO:M (G-BIXL) P-51D Mustang, "Miss Helen", Rob Lamplough, silver USAAF period markings
511701A/AF258 (G-BSZC) Beech C-45H, "Southern Comfort", Anthony Hodgson, silver USAAF period markings
111 black (G-OTAF) L-39Z Albatros, Red Star markings, Brietling
R3821/UX:N (G-BPIV) Bristol Blenhiem IVT, RAF WWII period markings
V9367/MA:B (G-LIZY) Lysander IIIA, RAF WWII period, all black colours
FX301 (G-JUDI) AT-6D Harvard III, Anthony Hodgson, RAF silver with yellow T-bands scheme
MT928/ZX:M (G-BKMI) Spitfire HF.VIIIc, WWII period colours
PT462/SW:A (G-CTIX) Spitfire T.9, Anthony Hodgson, WWII period colours
WV318 (G-FFOX) Hawker Hunter T.7B, Delta Jets, all black
XF516/19 (G-BVVC) Hawker Hunter F.6A, 234 Sqdn RAF period colours
'XJ771' (G-HELV) DH.115 Vampire T.55, camouflage colours

XV227/27 Nimrod MR.2, 42 Sqdn, displayed and landed in rain
XV297/297 C-130K Hercules C.1, 'Falcons' drop aircraft
XX766/- Jaguar GR.3, 16(R) Sqdn, special 'Saint' tail markings
ZA491/- Tornado GR.1, 12 Sqdn, spare aircraft
ZD361/TD Tornado GR.1, 15 Sqdn, solo display aircraft
ZD378/26 Harrier GR.7, 20(R) Sqdn, special tail colours, solo display aircraft
ZE368 Sea King HAR.3, 22 Sqdn/C Flt - parked over on SAR dispersal
ZE370 Sea King HAR.3, 22 Sqdn/C Flt - parked over on SAR dispersal
ZF145/145 Tucano T.1, 1 FTS, spare aircraft
ZF405/405 Tucano T.1, 1 FTS, solo display aircraft
ZG859/91 Harrier GR.7, 20 Sqdn, spare aircraft
ZJ276/76 Squirrel HT.1, DHFS

Hawk Flightlines

XX158, XX161, XX165, XX173, XX174, XX183, XX184, XX185, XX189, XX190, XX191, XX195, XX198, XX225, XX240, XX258, XX261, XX290, XX313, XX338, XX339, XX348, XX350 - 16 flew in a '60' formation. Plus XX309 in Hawk 25th Anniversary markings flew a solo aerobatic routine.

XX227, XX233, XX237, XX253, XX264, XX292, XX294, XX306, XX307, XX308 all 'Red Arrows' team, one a spare aircraft.

Flying only
G-NWPS Eurocopter EC.135T-1, North Wales Police, noted in am following route of A55.
possibly XV109 VC-10 C.1K, flypasts in heavy rain.

Elsewhere
XS177/N Jet Provost T.4, in compound to south east of aerodrome
Fire dump area empty, last occupant was a Phantom.

[Beemer]

The 60th Anniversary of R.A.F. Valley International Airshow 2001 produced quite a decent air display, although as these photos show the weather played a part. These are Brian Jones' colour prints, digitised and posted by kindly by Beemer (who with so many on this thread from me, now wishes he hadn't volunteered!).

Interesting how the cost of airshow entrance has increased in 10 years, £7.50 per adult in advance seems quite a bargain now.


G-AKRP Dragon Rapide 4 of Fordaire Avn. from Sywell was an interesting civilian in a mainly military static park.


Tornado 44+35 of JbG-31, German Air Force


Puma HC.1 XW237 from 33 Sqdn, although also wears the 'swift' logo of 72 Sqdn under the cockpit windows.


New to a Valley Air Display, Merlin HC.3 ZJ126/K of 28 Sqdn.


Also new since the previous public Air Display is based Bell 412EP Griffin HT.1 ZJ240/U with 60(R) Sqdn/DHFS used for training ASR crews.


Somewhat older is Bell UH-1D Iroquois 71+43 of LTG-61, German Air Force


The Irish Air Corps provided two aircraft, here 247 SA.365F Dauphin II.


Also from the Irish Air Corps was SF-260WE Warrior, 229. Douglas C-47A N47FK/NF:L is behind.

[Beemer]

More from the 2001 International Airshow at Valley. Brian Jones' prints, digitised and posted by Beemer.

Way back at the start of this thread are 60's shots of Canadian T-33s at Valley Open Days. This though is G-TBRD painted as RCAF 21261/261. The aircraft had been to a Valley static before, as G-OAHB in 1975.


XM470/12 a Jet Provost T.3A is civilian owned as G-BWZZ


Another Jet Provost T.3 XM478 in a form of older training colours is civilian G-BXDL.


The final form of the Jet Provost is the Stikemaster, here civilian owned G-UNNY wears its fromer colours as OJ4/Z2 with the Botswana Defence Force


Somewhat siloutted in dark green/very dark green camouflage is Alpha Jet ZJ649 of DERA, acquired due to a shortage of Hawks.


Taken after the end of the flying display, clearly showing the dramatic change in the weather is Hawk 102D ZJ100. Third different scheme seen at Valley, look back at 1994 and 1999 photo posts.


In 2001 all Valley Hawks were in the black scheme and operate in the markings of 208(R) Sqdn seen on XX325/325.


The other Hawk unit being 19(R) Sqdn, the marking seen here on XX202/202.


Most years two aircraft are given modified scheme as the official Hawk solo aerobatic mount. Here XX320 has 'Hawk 25th Anniversary' scheme.


A feature of the 2001 was the 60th Anniversary of RAF Valley. 16 hawks form a '60' formation in celebration.

[Beemer]

Yet more from the 2001 International Airshow at RAF Valley. Brian Jones' prints, digitised and posted kindly by Beemer on his behalf.

Piper Cub N2MD, sponsored in 2001 by Kia Cars, entertained the crowd by landing and taking-off from a moving trailer.


While the weather was still dry, much of the early part of the flying display was provided by historic aircraft. Grumman TBM-3R Avenger is quite a large aeroplane.


Two Spitfires and a Mustang flew together, here Anthony Hodgson's two seat Spitfire lines up ahead of Rob Lamplough's P-51D Mustang "Miss Helen".


Bristol Blenheim IVT, R3821/UX:N (G-BPIV) was for me a highlight of the display.


Also unusual is Westland Lysander IIIA, V9367/MA:B (G-LIZY) in all black scheme used for delivery of agents into Europe at night.


Delta Jets provided two types formerly operated at Valley. Hawker Hunter T.7B XV318 (G-FFOX) and fancy schemed Gnat T.1 G-RORI (once XR538 with 4 FTS).


Fitting no particular theme Aero L-39Z Albatros G-OTAF operating under the sponsorship of Brietling.



With the rain now falling, the R.A.F. participation was watched by a dwindling crowd. Jaguar GR.3 XX766 departs, wearing special tail colours of 16(R) Squadron


Tornado GR.1 ZD361/TD of 15(R) Squadron returns onto a wet runway.


Harrier GR.7 ZD378/26 wearing special tail colours of 20(R) Squadron moving the moisture off a wet runway.


One of the final arrivals, XV227 Nimrod MR.2 flown by 42 Sqdn landing in a cloud of spray.

[Beemer]

Brian Jones' prints, digitised and posted by Beemer.

Having been mentioned in passing on another post, two German Mig 29s operated from STCAAME for a week in summer 1993, apparently to check compatability of NATO weapons on former East German Air Force, Russian technology. Here is 29+21. My memory is of being at the north end of the main runway and watching one depart from the south end and immediately turning right, behind the tower once airbourne. Wow!

[owensy]

Here a few more scanned in from photos:

scan0006.jpg by paulowen248, on Flickr

This was a surprise, take a few years after the Lightning retirement. This is from BAe Warton

scan0005.jpg by paulowen248, on Flickr


scan0004.jpg by paulowen248, on Flickr

After a fatal crash at Valley XX163

scan0003.jpg by paulowen248, on Flickr

[jbmack]

A few from 1990/91
jbmack

[karlslawrence]

I remeber as a kid (sometime around mid 80's) that the prince of Jordan got his fast jet wings at Valley and there was a little airshow to celebrate.
A mirage F1 from Jordan and the Jordanian falcons came to Valley and one summers evening we watched as the mirage went up for a practise display which all I can remember was low and loud. Then after it landed, the falcons lined up to take off but I seem to remember that the chute from the mirage got tangled in one of the pitts engines and the had to delay take off.....I was only about 9 or 10 so may have my facts wrong about the incident but never the less, I've never seen any pic's from the jordanian wings ceremony. If I remember right, there were a few RAF jets that came in for the show but the actual day of the ceremony was bad weather and the flying displays didnt happen. Does anybody have any pics from the day?

[elevation76]

To add to this interesting thread,here's a selection from the VAS Photocall 2005?-sorry,but I am not very disciplined at keeping logs!!

[Beemer]

Elevation76, you got the date wrong ;D but the photos are spot on. Regards Beemer.

[elevation76]

Thanks,Beemer, for correcting the date on my last post !!
I think the following are from the VAS Photocall 2007?

[Deleted]

Elevation,

No need to correct your photographs mate, real quality, thanks fo sharing them with everyone on this forum.

Happy days

Bob

[elevation76]

A few of the visiting aircraft that attended the VAS Photocall 2004.The Belgian Alphajet was most welcome!!This was my first attempt with digital(a 3mpxl olympus compact)I thought digital would'nt catch on ,so I shot off 7 rolls of Fuji Velvia--how things have changed!!

[jbmack]

Anyone get a decent photo of the B1 that did a low approach at one of the photocalls, I got one but it is very poor.
jbmack

[groth]

some older pics from Valley
Valley Aviation Society
valleyaviationsociety.net/Coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=lastupby&uid=127