It took three days of persistent rain and heavy showers to turn an airfield into a waterpark.  The previous year we had been lucky in that flooding occurred the week following the show but in 2008 we were hit good and proper.  On Wednesday the foundations for flooding were laid when persistent rain fell from before 7AM till 6PM, me and my Dad stuck it out at the 09 end of the runway to catch the aircraft taxi off the runway before quickly returning to the car to keep as dry as possible.  On Thursday it was very gloomy and it was the odd heavy shower that struck us but it wasn't a patch on Friday.  The day had started clear with many rehearsals enjoying the clear weather, but by lunchtime storm clouds had accumulated and were threatening.  Just before lunchtime we were hit by the first of many showers, I was on the photobus at the time and we all scrambled to the lower deck to keep dry - it was only a warning of what was to come.  We went back to the FRIAT stand for the RAF's 90th anniversary flypast which happened during a dryer spell of the afternoon.  Then the showers became ever more increasing in frequency as aircraft were rehearsing.  Most people were hanging around for the F-22A rehearsal around 5PM and soon before a hell storm hit, a heavy shower which lasted for about half an hour, if not longer, drenched the place and had the runway looking more like a river!  The F-22A Raptor rehearsal did take place as scheduled, but it turned out to be of little use.  That night it was drawn to our attention that the Air Tattoo of 2008 was cancelled due to the heavy rain.

It was such a shame given the quality and quantity of aircraft parcitipation.  The flying was highlighted by the F-22A Raptor of the USAF on its UK debut, the Canadians brought their CF-188A Hornet demo, Brazil sent their Super Tucano display team and the Czechs brought a JAS-39 Gripen to display.  In static, the French sent a tiger Nord 262E and a specially painted Mirage F1B, the Hungarians providing a MiG-29 Fulcrum and a Gripen but most notable of all was the Pakistan Navy P-3 adorned in a special scheme which was the highlight of the static for many!  On the departures day, FRIAT members were allowed to view the departures.  A fitting gesture as most aircraft arrived under poor conditions or weren't caught as a result of them!

Read more: RIAT 2008, well..

The Avro Vulcan was set to do its first public displays at RAF Waddington Airshow 2008, after successful practices and a display on the Saturday.  I was looking forward to seeing it on the Sunday, it would be my first time seeing it in the air.  The weather wasn't as good on the Sunday as it had been on the Saturday and on arrival it was very grim.  It did improve as lunch time arrived and the sun poked out every now and again as dark skies grew and eventually unleashed its contents over us too!  Whilst seeking shelter we noticed the Vulcan taxi-ing and got into position for its take-off.  What take-off?  It powered up and then pulled the nose up in aerodynamic braking style.  It would take me another year to see the aircraft eventually fly.

Other highlights of the show included the Chilean Air Force Los Halcones display team, Typhoon/Spitfire combination demo, French Mirage 2000B/C display and a pair of Spanish EF-18 Hornets from ALA12 on static - including one with a tasty commemorative tail.

Read more: RAF Waddington Airshow 2008

After a year out for runway repairs in 2007, RAF Leuchars returned in 2008 and many punters were eager to be back!  Only for their spirits to be dampened by sea harr that had drifted in off the North Sea and accompanied easterly winds.  Most display items were cancelled, did a taxi-run or attempted a shortened flat routine.  Highlights of the show were the newly restored Vulcan B2s first trip north of the border but it could only taxi due to the weather.  The Czech Air Force brought a JAS39 Gripen, L159 ALCA and AN26 for static, the U.S. Air Force sent a rare E-8C J-STARS and the RAF put out 2 specially painted Tornado F3s of 56(R) and 111(F) squadrons on static.

Read more: RAF Leuchars Airshow 2008

In the Summer of July 2007, an Indian Summer befell RAF Waddington when a deployment of six Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flanker-Hs arrived for two weeks of sorties with RAF Tornado F3s and Typhoons. Aviation enthusiasts swarmed to the fence and on the 9th and 10th when I was there, it was filled with around 100 people! They flew two waves of 4 with an Ilyushin IL-78MKI Midas flying in the morning wave only.

Read more: Exercise Indradhanush II

The Royal International Air Tattoo of 2007 was my first ever airshow with a DSLR.  It was also one of the first few outings with it so I wasn't very used to it.  The shows two main themes were:  Agile, Adaptable & Capable and USAF 60th anniversary.  The latter encouraging the USAF to bring over their Thunderbirds display team, a F-117 Stealth Fighters, an F-15E demo, the common B-52H and B-1B all in the flying display with plenty of static items aswell.  The European nations brought over a few rarities too, two Vought A-7E/H Corsair IIs, two Turkish F-5B-2000s, two German Air Force F-4F Phantom IIs all in static.  The Spanish Air Force sent an EF-2000 Typhoon display and the Finnish and Swiss Air Forces both brought F-18 demonstrations.

Read more: RIAT 2007