RFC CENTENARY FLY-IN
Middle Wallop, 12th May 2012
Review and all photography by Simon Fenwick
The excellent Museum Of Army Flying at Middle Wallop in Hampshire celebrated the centenary of the formation of the Royal Flying Corps with a very relaxed day including a fly-in and the opening of the new RFC Galleries in the museum itself.
Aircraft were on show portraying WWI to the present day. The afternoon featured a few flying practice displays from the Great War Display Team, a couple of Spitfires and Lynx and Apache which are the current mounts of the Army Air Corps.
Aircraft were on show portraying WWI to the present day. The afternoon featured a few flying practice displays from the Great War Display Team, a couple of Spitfires and Lynx and Apache which are the current mounts of the Army Air Corps.
Situated right alongside the former Battle Of Britain airfield and now home to the Army air Corps, the museum tells the story of British Army flying from its earliest days with balloons and kites, through both the First and Second World Wars and right up to the present day. There are many unique aircraft exhibits including the largest collection of military gliders in the world. Only here can you see Hamilcar, Hotspur and Horsa among others gathered together in one place. The museum brings the story right up to date with the current AAC helicopters including their latest exhibit, the Lynx AH.7
Outside the museum and available for close inspection was most of the AAC Historic Flight's fleet comprising Saro Skeeter, Westland Sioux, Westland Scout and Sud Alouette were joined by Auster, Chipmunk and Beaver fixed wing types. Only the Gazelle seemd to be missing from the line-up. There are high hopes that the Historic Flight will be back flying on the display circuit later in 2012 following their grounding for a couple of years.
Joining the Historic Flight on the flightline were examples from the current AAC inventory featuring Squirrel HT.1, Lynx AH.7, Apache AH.1 and a rare public appearance of the Bell 212. Crews were on hand to show eager onlookers around their charges.
Among those flying in for the day was the Chipmunk from the Royal Navy Historic Flight at Yeovilton - unfortunately plans to bring the Swordfish were thwarted by engine problems. There were also Stearman, Tiger Moth, Auster and Jungmeister aircraft on hand.
Although the day was billed as a fly-in rather than a display proper, there was plenty of flying for the crowd to watch from lunchtime onwards. First into the air was the Great War Display Team with their replica WWI aircraft including Fokker Dr.1 Triplane, Junkers CL.1, sopwith Triplane and SE.5A. Apart from showing their dogfight routine early on, they also flew again at the end of the afternoon for a Display Authorisation.
According to the noticeboards, the next part of the flying was 'General Service Flying' but which was actually a couple of full practice displays from the Army Air Corps Lynx AH.7 and Apache AH.1. the latter shows off its capabilities and its menacing appearance whilst the Lynx is very much more aerobatic with its backflips and loops.
There was a surprise arrival during the morning when John Romain flew in with the Aircraft Restoration Company's Spitfire Tr.9. Very appropriate was this arrival now that it is painted in a Battle Of Britain scheme and with Middle Wallop's eminent history during the summer months of 1940. Following his scheduled departure during the afternoon, John gave an impromptu display before flying back to Duxford.
The other Spitfire to attend for a couple of spirited flypasts came from the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight. This was Mk.Vb AB910 giving its first major showing in a new colour scheme. This features the markings of 133 (Eagle) Squadron and are the actual markings as worn by this aircraft on the Dieppe Raid in 1942.
The final flying item of the afternoon featured two aircraft from the AAC Historic Flight. Following a couple of seasons when they have been grounded due to paperwork issues, it is good to see them back in the air once again.
The Flight's Scout and Beaver carried out an immaculate formation take-off and taxy, followed by some tight formation fly-overs before disappearing into the distance for some practice flying. The Scout in particular made a spectacular return to the airfield with a quick hover and a very spirited circuit to land which took it low across the road and approach between the museum and hangars which must have surprised anyone who was passing at the time!
All in all this was a really great day out, with rare fantastic weather and even better the entire event was free, including the entry to the museum!
