The journey started at 16:00 on Friday the 9th July, and after a rain-filled journey south we arrived nearby RNAS Yeovilton at around 03:30 in the morning after a short stop.  I didn't even sleep in the car during the journey - which is unusual for me!

I was really looking forward to my day outside RNAS Yeovilton to catch the flying display of the annual Air Day.  It was a fantastic line-up and I was particularly looking forward to the smokey Polish Air Force MiG-29 display, the aggresive French Navy Super Etendard M/Rafale M role demo, the graceful Sea Vixen and the ever amazing Commando Assault demo! 

  

But once we had arrived we have a quick sleep till about 07:00 before making a move into the field to find the bit next to the fence had been blocked off - another apparent 'health and safety' idea.  By this time we had realised that the Polish MiG-29 had started up, which surprised us, but it needed to do an Authorisation before gates opened otherwise it would be unable to display later in the day.

It was after, that the quest to find a location good for taxi-ing and display shots was needed to be found. And soon after we did, the place we were stood in to get display shots seemed like it used to be part of the airfield.

The flying kicked off with a tribute to a Yeovilton-based naval workhorse celebrating it's 40th anniversary - that being the Lynx! So one was painted in special markings and flown in part of a diamond nine with the future - the Wildcat - behind the nine.

Then the Wildcat gave a short display but it was nothing spectacular, was just lovely to see though! Looking forward to seeing it in the future!

Then kicking off the fast jet element of the display was the Belgian Air Force's ferocious F-16 fighting falcon display with the inclusion of flares. A dark cloud came over during the display making Mitch's use of afterburner more evident than ever! A truly ear-shattering display!

Then the display slowed down a few notches, as the BBMF brought their Lancaster and one of their Spitfires which are always fantastic to see, but you even the blind can appreciate them for their beautiful sounds!

Then after the Spitfire came it's naval brother the Seafire in Yeovilton markings which also gave a spirited display, unfortunately the light once again just wasn't great but I caught it the next day in better conditions at Duxford..
Continuing with the warbirds came the Fairey Swordfish, an interesting bi-plane in which part of the display sees two of the three man crew assemble a union jack flag mid-flight!

The RAF BAe Hawk T1 display piloted by Jules Fleming was another refreshing display but I find the impact of the display is taken away by it being a Hawk! Never the less there was fantastic work being produced in the cockpit!

Followed by the RAF Beech 200 King Air, which like the 
Italian C-27J seems to produce a display containing maneuvers of some which you were doubtful could be produced from such an aircraft!
Then came the Swift glider which has to be said was just amazing the way it does an amazing amount of maneuvers with the little altitude and speed it begins with!

Another civil display came next with the 'flying circus', part of which involved an aircraft being landed on a moving truck, highly entertaining to watch!
A short display from a Royal Marines Lynx followed, again showing off the capability of the helicopter as it pulled off some highly aerobatic moves!

From one black RAF Hawk, to nine red RAF Hawks as the Red Arrows filled the sky with their jets and the smoke they trail! The dark sky above their display worked in our favour and allowed the red of each aircraft to leap out of the sky in the photos!

The Black Cats then continued the ever growing Lynx displays with their two ship of synchronized aerobatics always a pleasure to watch!
Then - sadly under a darker sky than in the morning - came out the Polish MiG-29, who then darkened the skies further with its fantastic smoke spraying engines!

It was then back to warbirds with P-51D 'Jumpin' Jacques' giving a rather nice display in brighter conditions!

Whilst the warbirds theme continued with the Vulcan taxi-ing out the Royal Jordanian Falcons gave their display with the sun shining. Before the Vulcan returned skywards for a fantastic display of power and elegance before formation with another classic beauty - the De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 to give some excellent unique passes before splitting off and giving its own excellent demo!

Another Lynx theme act followed with a six-ship role demonstration showing the different roles and uses of the helicopter. Soon after the Wildcat departed back home to Agusta-Westlands at Yeovil.

It was then time for more classics as Team Viper took to the skies with their four Hawker Hunters, they usually have five but unfortunately G-ETPS/XE601, the raspberry ripple schemed aircraft had a problem and couldn't attend.

Up next was a foreign modern military piece of hardware - 
the Royal Netherlands Air Force AH-64 Apache, which gave a superb display in its new livery. And with the addition of flares and the sun making an appearance it was brilliant.

 

Then, came the unexpected highlight of the day. I had expected this to be good, but not as good as it was! Having both a French Navy Rafale M and a Super Etendard Modernise (especially the latter) rattling the air around you for 10 minutes really is just a winner in anyone's book! What was even better is that their display coincided with the sun's appearance!

At first they entered with a formation flypast, and returned again the same but with their arrestor hooks down. They then flew towards the crowd and the Etendard broke left as the Rafale M powered skywards. The Rafale gave a fast pass and went into the hold as the Super Etendard entered its solo part of the display with a dirty pass before a couple of low passes and a fast pass into the heavens. Straight after the Rafale entered with a fast pass turning over where we were standing and then going vertical before spiraling down for a dirty, slow pass and then cleaning up and powering into the distance. Then both aircraft beat up the airfield with a show of force and the Rafale M must have been very close to the sound barrier! Viva la France.

 

 

The RAF then continued their presence with the Tucano demo and sent their role demo reply to the French into the sky with two Tornado GR4s from my nearby RAF Lossiemouth which gave an excellent display but nothing on the French - hard to beat the presence of a French Navy Super Etendard to be honest!

Then came the finale, the commando assault demo with about 7 Sea King, a handful of Lynx and a pair of FRADU tasked Hawk T1s ending with the traditional 'wall of fire!' after a circus of helicopters. An excellent end to an excellent day!

 

 

And with that came the cheery walk back to the car, looking back on what was one of the better shows I've been too in my time! What made it for me: the diversity, anyone with an open mind was rewarded with just about every category of aircraft!

 

 

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