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Biggin Hill International Air Fair

 

Team Viper

Team Viper. Photo by Chris Cannon

 

Biggin Hill International Air Fair is held in June at Biggin Hill Airport in Kent. This famous World War II fighter station has been the venue for the air fair for a number of years. Year after year the organisers deliver the goods with both modern and vintage aircraft from around the world. It includes a mix of display teams, World War II fighters and modern day RAF front line aircraft, and of course loads of ground attractions.

 

Biggin Hill International Air Fair website

 

 

Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010 - Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th June 2010

 

Hawker Hunter F58A HABL-003115 G-PSST Miss Demeanour and Supermarine Spitfire Mk Ia G-AIST AR213 (JZ-E) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010

RAF Biggin Hill was one of the most used RAF fighter stations of the war time years, and where better to celebrate the 70th anniversary of The Battle of Britain. With over an hour of flying from the Royal Air Force and privately owned war birds, recreating the sounds and sights of Biggin Hill during the summer days of 1940.

The Biggin Hill Air Fair is one of the longest running UK air shows and as always, has a mix of civilian aircraft through to military heavy metal. This years show included Hurricanes, Spitfires and other classic war birds. With one of the highlights being the synchro (pair), consisting of the BBMF Spitfire flying alongside a Typhoon FGR4. Other aircraft displaying included the BBMF Lancaster, a Harrier GR9 and a Tornado GR4 role demo. Display teams taking part in this years air show included The Red Arrows, The Blades and The Matadors. Probably the largest aircraft was a VC10 tanker from 101 Squadron, which arrived on the Saturday and departed on the Sunday. This was probably the best Biggin Hill Air Show for a number of years and what could possibly be the last air show to be held at this venue.

 

Short S-312 Tucano T1 S023/T23 ZF171 and S098/T69 ZF317 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Vickers VC10 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Harrier Jump Jet ZG858 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Hispano Aviación HA-1112-M1L Buchon 223 G-BWUE (Ex C.4K-102 of the Spanish Air Force) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Folland Gnat T1 FL519 G-TIMM/XS111 and Hawks at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Hawker Hunter F58A HABL-003115 G-PSST Miss Demeanour and Supermarine Spitfire Mk Ia G-AIST AR213 (JZ-E) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Folland Gnat T1 FL549 G-RORI/XR538 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Boeing B-17G-105-VE Flying Fortress 44-85784 G-BEDF Sally B/Memphis Belle at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Polish Air Force - PZL-Mielec M-28-BTDII (AJG002-09) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Supermarine Spitfire HF Mk IXe G-PMNF TA805 - Spirit of Kent at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Bucker Bü 133C Jungmeister G-BUTX at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Grob G 115 Tutor at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Bell 412EP Griffin ZJ238 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Boeing CH-47 Chinook at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Team Viper BAC Strikemasters at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
The Blades Display Team with 93 year old veteran at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet 705-AD (cn ES-1) and 314-UA (cn E-103) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
The Red Arrows Aerobatic Display Team at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Panavia Tornado pair at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Panavia Tornado at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 ZJ922 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Nord 1002 Pingouin II 274 G-ETME/KG+EM (German designed and license-built Messerschmitt Bf 108B Taifun) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
BAC Strikemaster Mk.82A G-SOAF/NWMAS at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
French Air Force - Dassault Rafale B 320/113-HV (cn 320) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Westland Wessex HC2 XS674 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
BAE Hawk pair at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfire at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
AgustaWestland AW101 (EH101) Merlin at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010
North American T-6G Texan G-DDMV/493209 (cn 168-313) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010

Images courtesy of Bob Franklin

 

 

Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009 - Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June 2009

 

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 & Red Arrows flypast at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009

Biggin Hill Air Show set at this famous World War II fighter station is the largest private organised air show in Europe. Visitors to Biggin Hill were treated to a fantastic line up of aircraft as well as numerous sideshows, stalls and exhibitions. This well organised air display included aircraft from The Great War Display Team displaying their replica World War II machines, in contrast to the RAF's front line aircraft of today. Such as the Typhoon, Chinook and Apache. Other types of RAF aircraft in attendance were the King Air, the Tutor and the Hawk.

 

 

BAe 146 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 5528 G-JMMP at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Douglas A-1 Skyraider 7722 G-RADR AK-402 126922 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc G-AMAU PZ865 The Last of the Many at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy with Avro Lancaster PA474 crew at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Squadron Leader Stuart Reid at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
North American Aviation P-51D-25NA Mustang G-BTCD 44-73419 Ferocious Frankie in line-up at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
The Red Arrows at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Red Bull Matadors Sukhoi SU-26M2 06-07 G-IIIS and 04-05 G-IIIZ at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Replica SE.5a at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
North American F-86A Sabre 8178/FU-178 151-43547/G-SABR at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
North American F-86A Sabre 8178/FU-178 151-43547/G-SABR pilot Mark Linney at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen D.3 10125 G-CVIX XP924/E-134 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen D.3 10125 G-CVIX XP924/E-134 pilot Matt Whitfield at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX G-CCCA IAC-161 formerly PV202 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX G-ASJV MH434 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Supermarine Spitfire Tr Mk IX G-LFIX ML407 The Grace Spitfire pilot Carolyn Grace at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Team Guinot Boeing-Stearman at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Team Viper at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Team Viper BAC Strikemasters at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
BAC Strikemaster at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Grob G 115E Tutors at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Westland Wessex HC.2 (WS-58) WA539 G-BYRC at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009

Images courtesy of Chris Cannon

 

New for 2009 were The Vipers, a formation team consisting of four Strikemaster aircraft.

Other displays were carried out by The Blue Eagles, Team Guinot, The Swift Glider and The Aerostars. With a special flypast on sunday celebrating the 25th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic Airlines of a Boeing 747 airliner in formation with The Red Arrows.

 

French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Blue Eagles AgustaWestland Apache at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
The Red Arrows at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 & Red Arrows flypast at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 & Red Arrows flypast at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Red Arrows Hawk & Avro Lancaster Mk BI PA474 The phantom of the Ruhr at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Boeing Chinook at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
de Havilland FB50 DH.112 Venom 752 G-DHVM WR470 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Folland Gnat T1 FL549 G-RORI/XR538 and FL519 G-TIMM/XS111 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Royal Air Force BAE Systems Hawk at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Royal Air Force BAE Systems Hawks and Eurofighter Typhoon at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Hawker Nimrod II G-BURZ 41H/59890 K3661/562 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Beechcraft Super King Air B200 BB-1835 ZK454/N at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Avro Lancaster Mk BI PA474 The phantom of the Ruhr at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Messerschmitt Me 109 (Hispano Buchon) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Curtiss P-40M-10CU 27490 43-5802(G-KITT), ex-RCAF Kittyhawk III 845, ex-5 OTU at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Curtiss P-40M-10CU 27490 43-5802(G-KITT), ex-RCAF Kittyhawk III 845, ex-5 OTU at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Red Bull Matadors Sukhoi SU-26M2 06-07 G-IIIS and 04-05 G-IIIZ at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Replica SE.5a PFA 020-10034 G-BDWJ F8010/Z at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Replica SE.5a PFA 020-10931 G-BMDB F235/B at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Folland Gnat T1 FL519 G-TIMM/XS111 & de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen D.3 10125 G-CVIX XP924/E-134 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX G-CCCA IAC-161 formerly PV202 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Supermarine Spitfire Tr Mk IX G-LFIX ML407 The Grace Spitfire and Messerschmitt Me 109 (Hispano Buchon) at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009
Avro Vulcan B2 G-VLCN/XH558 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2009

Images courtesy of Bob Franklin

 

The Vulcan put in an appearance on Saturday, starting its display as the BBMF, Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster taxied in.

A surprise guest on Saturday at Biggin Hill was the RAF's Chief of Air staff, Air chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, who was making his first trip aboard the Lancaster.

A large variety of vintage aircraft put in appearance, including the Sea Vixen and the Sabre, several Mks of Spitfire, a Mustang, a P-40 Kittyhawk, a Messerschmitt Me 109 Buchon and finally a Hawker Nimrod.

 

Review by Chris Cannon

 

 

 

 

Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008

 

Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon T1 0028/BT009 ZJ808 BG of 29 Squadron at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008

The Biggin Hill International Air Fair is probably one of the most famous air displays, and is one of the longest running air displays in the world.

Set on the famous RAF Battle of Britain Flight, this two day show is always worth including on your calendar.

The two days had a combined crowd approaching 120,000 people. With a lot of the show devoted to RAF displays, including the Grob Tutor, Tucano, Hawk, King Air and Typhoon. With probably the main attraction of the day being the RAF's role demonstration, which is made up of Tornados, Hawks and various helicopters.

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the RAF, The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight attended with a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster. Also making an appearance The Breitling Display Team, a Douglas DC-6, Sea Hawk, Gloster Meteor, Spitfire and Mustang.

 

Junkers Ju-52 (CASA 352L) 103 F-AZJU/AZ-JU at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Junkers Ju-52 (CASA 352L) 103 F-AZJU/AZ-JU at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Gloster Meteor NF11 S4/U/2342 G-LOSM/WM167 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Junkers Ju-52/3mg8e 130714 D-CDLH/D-AQUI at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Douglas DC-6 in British Eagle paint scheme at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Douglas DC-6 in British Eagle paint scheme at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Hawker Sea Hawk FGA6 6123 WV908/A-188 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Breitling Jet Team at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Breitling Jet Team at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX G-ASJV MH434 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon T1 0028/BT009 ZJ808 BG of 29 Squadron at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Avro Lancaster Mk BI PA474 The phantom of the Ruhr at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Grob G-115E Tutor T1 82174/E G-BYXN at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX G-ASJV MH434 and P-51D-25NA Mustang G-BTCD 44-73419 Ferocious Frankie at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIII G-BUOS SM845 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
British Aerospace Hawk T1A 101/312101 XX265/CK at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Beechcraft Super King Air at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc G-AMAU PZ865 The Last of the Many and Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008

Images courtesy of Bob Franklin

 

 

Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2003

 

Wright flyer replica at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2003

With the recent decline in air shows it was good to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Biggin Hill. This two day event created forty years ago by Jock Maitland to promote air travel. The show consisted of a large static group of airliners and also an informal flying display.

From 1965 the flying display has been planned and eventually replaced the static display as the main event. As always there's plenty of fun for all the family.

One of the main themes for this year was the celebration of the 100 years of powered flight. Which saw the show being opened by the Wright Flyer Replica, which taxied down the taxiways past the modern day aircraft.

 

Panavia Tornado F3 757/AS093/3349 ZE889 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2003
BAE Systems Hawk at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2003
Canadair CT-133 Silver Star 3 (CL-30) T33-261 G-TBRD at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2003
Dassault Mystere/Falcon 10MER at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2003
Belgian Air Force - Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet 1B B26/1117 AT26 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2003
United States Navy - Grumman HU-16C Albatross G-409 N7025N/141262 at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2003

Images courtesy of Bob Franklin