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RAF Scampton Airshow 2017, Scampton, Lincolnshire

9 September 2017
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September 2017 saw an airshow return to Lincolnshire, though at a different venue to the last one at RAF Waddington in July 2014. Royal Air Force (RAF) Station Scampton opened its doors and skies to visitors far and wide, hosting an airshow for the first time since 1991. With aircraft visiting from as far away as Canada, USA, Germany, Norway and Sweden the line up looked promising. Located north of Lincoln, adjacent to the A15, RAF Scampton can trace its heritage as far back as 1916 when it was known as Brattleby. It was renamed Scampton in 1917 and closed in 1920. It was surveyed in the 1930’s as a potential airfield site, it re-opened again in 1936 under the command of 3 Group as a grass airfield. The typical expansion period buildings turned it into a permanent airfield with the four dominating C-Type Hangars. Later transferring to 5 Group it was home to 49 Sqn and 83 Sqn when war broke out.

RAF Scampton is famous as the home of 617 Squadron, The Dambusters, who on the night of 16th/17th May 1943 bombed the Möhne Dam, Edersee Dam and Sorpe Dam causing massive flooding in the Ruhr and Eder Vally’s. Scampton closed again in August 1943 so that hard runways could be built, after which it was upgraded to an A-Class Station, the base reopened again in July 1944. Post war, Scampton was retained and continued to house various bomber squadrons, later becoming a training base. The airfield has survived through many defence and budget cuts over recent years and it is now home to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows, along with other support units and also Hawker Hunter Aviation.

Gates opened at 0800 with excited spectators arriving by bus from the carpark at the nearby Lincoln Showground. The five hour flying display started at 1100, opening with a familiar sight for anyone who went to the Waddington airshows, a formation flypast by the Red Arrows Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1’s and a Bombardier Sentinel R.1 of 5 Squadron. This was followed by a single pass by an RAF Boeing E-3D Sentry. Following this there were spirited displays by a number of aircraft in a fairly busy five hour flying programme. Undoubtedly some of the highlights of the show were found on the ground in the static line up. Hawker Hunter Aviation (HHA) brought four of their aircraft over to the static park, a Hawker Hunter F.58, Sukhoi Su-22M4, McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom and a Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.2B. To most people these might be ‘just another aeroplane’ but the the enthusiast it was a rare chance to see some aircraft that are notoriously hard to see. The Hunter, ZZ191 is one of several aircraft that HHA have on strength and this one, along with ZZ190, is kept in airworthy condition, the other aircraft are stored pending future contract work and can be potentially made arworthy again.

The Swedish Air Force Historic Flight were lined up in the static park with the Saab AJS-37 Vggen, Saab Sk-35C Draken, Saab J-29F Tunnan and Saab J-32B Lansen. This was the first apearance of a Saab Lansen at a UK airshow for over 20 years and it was the first time the author had seen one in the flesh, its bigger than you think! Parked between a Luftwaffe Eurofighter EF.2000T and a pair of Royal Netherlands Air Force General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon’s, the real gem was the Canadian Air Force McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet. This is a rare sight in the UK now and this aircraft demonstrates the Canadian Air Force’s long association with Lincolnshire dating back to the first world war. The RAF Village proved a huge success with plenty of things to look at and the usual plastic mock up aircraft to sit in should you have wanted to. The new Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance was on display near the last area of the static park. Showcasing the RAF training fleet there was the Grob G-115E Tutor T.1, the new Grob G-120 Prefect T.1, British Aerospace Hawk T.2 and the Hawker Beechcraft B200GT King Air air. Past types were there too with civilian De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunks and BAC Jet Provost’s that had flown in for the show.

Back to the flying display and it was nice to see international participation with the French Air Force Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet E and the Belgian Air Force General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon which put on a very impressive display showcasing the F-16AM to its full potential – though ear defenders were recommended! The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) have had an issue for the past few weeks causing their aircraft powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin engine to be grounded. Repairs to the Avro Lancaster B.1 and a Hawker Hurricane IIc were finished the day before the show and air tests carried out on the Saturday morning. Shortly after lunch the BBMF arrived to the delight of the crowd. The Lincolnshire skies would have been full of the sight and sound of Lancaster’s over 70 years ago and to have one flying now is very emotive. Sqn Ldr George ‘Johnny’ Johnson was at the show meeting people and signing books in the Aces High tent, he is the last British survivor of Operation Chastise flown by 617 Squadron from RAF Scampton in May 1943. One can’t imagine what was going through his mind all those years ago and to see how his wartime home had changed.

Coming to the show from where I live in East Anglia it was good to see the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress ‘Sally B’ flying in the show, the only airworthy B-17 outside the USA is kept as a flying memorial to the Americans who were based in the UK during the war. The Red Arrows had an interesting and memorable day, Red 10, or Squadron Leader Mike Ling as he is better known has been with the Reds since 2008 performed his last UK Commentary for the team. Already down to eight aircraft due to one of the pilots going on paternity leave the Reds taxied out to display and one aircraft developed a technical fault, the decision was made for the Enid part of the team to taxi in leaving the four aircraft from Gypo Formation to display. With the rain coming in they opted for the flat display and with the dark clouds behind the colour of the smoke stood out nicely creating some dramatic flying effects. 2 Excel Aviation sent one of their two Oil Spill Response Boeing 727-51(F)’s from nearby Doncaster Airport. Its very unusual to see a civilian 727 flying in a flying display, this particular aircraft was one of the last 727’s to have been built and was initially delivered to Fed-ex in the freight role. During the display the spectators were treated to three passes, two of which it sprayed the runway with water! Finishing the flying for the day was Flt Lt Ryan Lawton from 29(R) Squadron, RAF Coningsby demonstrating the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 which was a fitting end to an enjoyable airshow.

With the number of older jet types on display throughout the day it gave a nice Cold War theme to the weekend. Despite a few teething issues – mainly getting out of the car park, it was a very enjoyable day with plenty of interesting things to see. A very promising first show and should Scampton be back for the 2018 airshow season then I will definitely be there.


Type
Aerospatiale SA-341B Gazelle AH.1
Aerospatiale SA-341D Gazelle HT.3
AgustaWestland AW-109SP Grand New
AgustaWestland AW-169
Auster AOP.9
Avro 652A Anson C.19 Series 2
Avro 683 Lancaster B.1
Avro 698 Vulcan Crew Proceedures Trainer
BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.82A
BAC 84 Jet Provost T.3
BAC 84 Jet Provost T.5
BAC 84 Jet Provost T.5A
Blackburn B.2 Series 1
Boeing 727-225/Adv(RE)
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW.1
Boeing N2S-3 Kaydet
Boeing PT-17/R985 Kaydet
Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook HC.2 Replica
Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Sentinel R.1
British Aerospace Hawk T.1A Replica
British Aerospace Hawk T.1A Replica
British Aerospace Hawk T.2
Canadian-Vickers PBV-1A Canso A
CASA 1-131E Jungmann
Centrair 201B Marianne
Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet E
Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet E
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10
De Havilland DH-100 Vampire FB.6
De Havilland DH-115 Vampire T.55
De Havilland DH-60 Moth
Diamond DA-42 Twin Star
Dornier 228-202
English Electric Canberra T.4
Eurocopter AS-350BB Squirrel HT.1
Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR.4
Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR.4
Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR.4
Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon T
Extra EA-260
Extra EA-300L
Extra EA-300SC
Extra EA-300SC
Fairchild UC-61K Argus III
Flight Design CTSW
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon
Grob G-103 Viking T.1
Grob G-115E Tutor
Grob G120TP-A Prefect T.1
Hawker Beechcraft B200GT King Air
Hawker Hunter F.58
Hawker Hurricane IIC
Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.2B
Hawker Siddeley Gnat T.1
Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A
Helio H-295-1200 Super Courier
Hunting Percival P-66 Pembroke C.1
Jodel D-119
Max Holste MH-1521M Broussard
McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet
McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II
Nord 1002 Pingouin II
North American OV-10B Bronco
North American P-51D Mustang
Panavia Tornado GR.4
Panavia Tornado GR.4
Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Pitts S-2S Special
Rans S-6-ES Coyote
Rans S-6ES Coyote II
Rans S-6ES Coyote II
Reims F406 Caravan II
Robinson R44 Raven
RotorSport UK Calidus
RotorSport UK Calidus
Ruschmeyer R90-230RG
Saab AJS 37 Viggen
Saab J-29F Tunnan
Saab J32B Lansen
Saab Sk35C Draken
Schempp-Hirth Discus 2T
Scottish Aviation Bulldog Series 122
Short S-312 Tucano T.1
Short S-312 Tucano T.1
Slingsby Sedbergh TX1
Slingsby T-45 Swallow
Slingsby T-61F Venture T.2
Slingsby T-67M-260 Firefly
Sukhoi Su-22M-4
Supermarine 389 Spitfire PR.XIX
Taylorcraft J Auster 5
Tecnam P-2008-JC
Tecnam P-2008-JC
Westland Merlin HC.3A
Reg
XZ327
G-CBSK / ZB627
G-MAOL
G-LNAC
G-BURR / WZ706
G-AHKX
PA474
-
G-SOAF / 425
G-BKOU / XN637
G-BWSG / XW324
G-BWGF / XW325
G-AEBJ
G-OSRB
G-BEDF / 44-85784
ZH106
SE-BOG
N74189
'IR808'
ZJ691
'XX227'
'XX308'
ZK029
G-PBYA / 11005
G-BJAL / E3B-114
G-CJXN
E26
E42
G-ARMG / WK558
G-BCPU / WP973
G-BYHL / WG308
WG477
LN-DHY
LN-DHZ
G-EBLV
G-ZATG / ZA179
C-FPSH
-
ZJ267
ZK314
ZK315
ZK352
30+77
G-EXTR
G-JOKR
G-IHHI
G-IIHI
G-RGUS / KK527
G-CDXL
FA-123
FA-136
J-509
J-624
ZE636
G-CGKB
ZM306
ZK452
ZZ191
G-AMAU / PZ865
G-HHAA / XX885
XR571
XV810
XX177
XX242
XX245
XX311
XX325
XX204
XX219
XX227
XX253
XX306
XX319
XX322
XX346
G-BAGT / 66-0374
G-BNPH / WP740
G-ATJN
G-CIGH / 255
188783
37+89
G-ASTG / BG+KM
G-ONAA / 99+18
G-SIJJ / 44-72035
ZA601
ZG775
G-AZWS
G-UKCS
G-EWIZ
G-GWFT
G-EGCA
G-NEWA
G-MAFB
G-RAVN
G-CIYU
G-DISP
G-UAPO
SE-DXN / 37098
SE-DXB / 29670
SE-RMD / 32542
SE-DXP / 35810
G-CKFB
G-BCUO
ZF377
ZF378
XN185
​-

G-BUHA / ZA634
G-EFSM
98+14
PS915
G-AJXV / NJ695
G-RFCA
G-RFCB
ZJ990
Con No
1645
WA1914
22271
69023
B5/10/32
1333
VACH0052/D2973
UNKNOWN
425
PAC/W/13901
EEP/JP/988
EEP/JP/989
6300/8
22929
8693
24114
75-7128
75-717
BAPC.361
9123
BAPC.152
BAPC.171
RT020/1258
CV-283
1028
201A035
E26
E42
C1/0575
C1/0839
C1/0361
C1/0527
705
990
188
42.319
8071
UNKNOWN
2996
BS071/285
BS074/293
BS113/408
GT020
004
1278
SC060
SC008
1145
8191
6H-123
6H-136
6D-148
6D-56
33996
82302E
11118
BB-1832
41H-697425
PZ865
B3-01-73
FL561
712060
024/312024
078/312078
081/312081
147/312136
169/312150
051/312051
055/312055
063/312063
089/312089
141/312131
162/312144
165/312147
195/312170
1288
PAC/66/027
863
310
567/A474
4572
183
338-3
122-31894
124/BS040/3065
907/BS187/3448
28R-30749
31-7400984
S18
LAA 204-15096
LAA 204-15193
LAA 204-15224
F406-0080
1022
RSUK/CALS/029
RSUK/CALS/030
019
37098
29670
32542
35810
30/179
BH120/371
S120/T91
S121/T92
1164
1407
1970
2072
30918
6S/585121
1065
1061
1076
50089/512001/DEN01
Owner / Operator
Army Air Corps
The Gazelle Squadron
Mash Aviation Ltd
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance
Private
BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
RAF Scampton Heritage Centre
Strikemaster Flying Club
Private
Private
Private
Private
T2 Aviation Limited
B-17 Preservation Ltd
Royal Air Force
AeroSuperBatics Ltd
AeroSuperBatics Ltd
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Plane Sailing Ltd
Private
Private
French Air Force
French Air Force
Private
Private
Private
RAF Scampton Heritage Centre
Norwegian Air Force Historical Sqn
Norwegian Air Force Historical Sqn
Private
Directflight Limited
Private
RAF Scampton Heritage Centre
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
German Air Force
Global Stars Display Team
Global Stars Display Team
Global Stars Display Team
Global Stars Display Team
Private
Private
Belgian Air Force
Belgian Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Hawker Hunter Aviation
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Hawker Hunter Aviation
RAF Scampton Heritage Centre
Private
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Private
Private
Private
Private
Royal Canadian Air Force
Hawker Hunter Aviation
Private
Bronco Demo Team
Hangar 11 Collection
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
Private
2 Excel Aviation Limited
Rich Goodwin Airshows
Royal Aeronautical Society
Royal Aeronautical Society
Royal Aeronautical Society
Airtask Group - Maritime Patrol
Private
Private
Private
Private
Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
Private
Private
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
RAF Scampton Heritage Centre
RAF Scampton Heritage Centre
Private
Private
Hawker Hunter Aviation
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Private
The Waddington Flying Club
The Waddington Flying Club
Royal Navy

Report written for the team at Pixelsnipers and originally published on http://www.pixelsnipers.com/project/uk-scampton-2017/ and reproduced here. Thanks to Mark Rourke and the team at Pixelsnipers for giving me the opportunity to report for them.

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UK Airfields (previously known as 'Airfields & Aviation Memorials').
Copyright © 1977 - 2021.
All photos taken by Richard E Flagg unless stated otherwise.
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