One of the most impressive displays I ever saw at the Farnborough International Airshow was given by the sole British Aerospace EAP (Experimental Aircraft Program) demonstrator ZF534 that had only first flown around 3 weeks prior to the show. The aircraft is now on display at the RAF Museum at Cosford. A scan from one of my negatives taken with a Pentax ME Super fitted with a Tamron 70-210 zoom lens.
Probably the best display of a RAF Harrier that I ever saw was given by this GR7 at the 1999 Eastbourne Airshow whilst operating out of nearby Shoreham Airport. The jet performed very close to the seafront producing massive amounts of sea spray during some parts of its routine. A scan from one of my slides taken using a Pentax SFXn DSLR fitted with a manual focus Sigma 400mm prime lens.
A pair of Swedish Air Force JA-37 Viggens depart RAF Fairford on 27th July 1999 after attending RIAT '99. Taken using a Pentax SFXn DSLR fitted with a Sigma manual focus 400mm prime lens.
The 6 Aero L-39C advanced trainers of the Slovakian Air Force White Albatross aerobatic display team during their performance at IAT 1993 at RAF Fairford. A scan from one of my slides taken using a Pentax SFXn fitted with a Sigma 400mm manual focus prime lens.
Czech Air Force Sukhoi SU-22M4 7310 25/NA-2A starts its take-off roll for its participation in the excellent SU-22 4-ship display during IAT 1995 at RAF Fairford. A scan of one of my slides taken with a Pentax SFXn fitted with a Sigma 400mm manual focus prime lens.
USAF Rockwell B-1B Lancer 85-0061 from 28th BS 7th BW based at Dyess Air Force Base lands back at RAF Fairford after performing a flypast at Farnborough on 14th July 2006.
Not necessarily the best airshow that I've attended but certainly the most memorable, was the Russian Air Force 100th Anniversary Show at Zhukovsky during August 2012. One of those memories was the only time that I've seen the mighty Antonov AN-22 'Cock' in the air. Equally memorable was the fantastic noise produced by its contra-rotating props.
French Air Force (Armée de l'air) Dassault-Breguet Rafale B 30-SO stops briefly with 3 other Rafales in front of the gathered photographers, after returning from a sortie during NATO Exercise Ramstein Flag 2024 hosted at Andravida Air Base near Patras in Greece.
A rare flying appearance trailing its hose and drogue refuelling lines by a Canadian Armed Forces Airbus CC-150 Polaris at the excellent Exercise Ramstein Flag 2024 Spotters Day event on 8th October 2024.
Due to heavy traffic in the circuit, JASDF F-4EJ Kai Phantom II from 302 Hikotai trails its drag chute as it lands back on the civilian runway at Ibaraki Airport. The photo was taken on 4th April 2012 during heightened tensions with North Korea caused by their ballistic missile tests. Consequently, the adjoining Hyakuri Air Base was on high-alert with intensive operations including night ops.
RAF Westland Wessex from 22 Search & Rescue Squadron performing a SAR demo at the 1984 Fighter Meet at North Weald aerodrome. Scan from a negative taken using a Pentax ME Super fitted with a manual focus Tokina 80-200 lens.
Lockheed C-130E Hercules 73-0991 decorated as the support aircraft for the Turkish Stars display team. It was taking part in the mass flypast to open the Turkish Air Force Centenary airshow at Izmir - Çiğli on 4th June 2011. A C-160 Transall also appeared in a similar scheme.
Back to the Farnborough Airshow in 2010 and probably the best 'Herc' display that I've seen. USAF C-130J-30 07-8614 that was 'borrowed' by Lockheed from the 86th Airlift Wing, leaps into the air to begin its impressive display on 25th July 2010.
This shot was taken during a base visit to Larissa Air Base in Greece to primarily shoot the based F-16's and RF-4E Phantoms. During the late afternoon and with little warning, this Greek Air Force C-130B Hercules suddenly appeared on finals and in perfect late afternoon light too.
USAF Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird 61-7973 from Detachment 4 of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing blasts into the air to begin its impressive demonstration during Air Fete '87 at RAF Mildenhall. Scan from a negative taken using a Pentax ME Super fitted with a manual focus Tamron 80-210 lens.