The 23rd March saw the organisers of the RAF Cosford Air Show launch the 2016 event to the press. The RAF Cosford Air Show is the Royal Air Force’s only airshow of 2016 and cober three major themes:-

  • “Speed and the evolution of the Jet Engine”
  • Training
  • 75th Anniversary of the Air Cadets

Extra Aircraft confirmed for the Air Show

Organisers announced at the launch a number of exciting additions to the flying displays planned for Sunday 19th June.

The air show will give visitors a rare chance to see two Gloster Meteor aircraft – the first British operational jet fighter – flying together in a formation display. The pair of Gloster Meteor T7 and Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF11 are appearing at the show as part of the show’s main theme celebrating Speed and the evolution of the Jet Engine which marks the 75th anniversary of the Gloster E.28/39’s first flight; Britain’s first jet engined aircraft. A unique hangar display will showcase a number of Jet Engines along with the RAF Museum’s Bristol 188 which will be on external static display.

Other additions to the show including the appearance of the Army Air Corps Historic Flight with their Sioux & Scout helicopters flying together, two Nanchang CJ-6 training aircraft which will also perform a pairs display and a Westland Wasp helicopter which will be on static display in the Vintage Village.

Peter Reoch, part of the Air Show Operations Team, said, “The flying display for this year’s show is already shaping up to be another great mix of interesting and rarely seen aircraft, with today’s additions complementing previously announced highlights such as the RAF Red Arrows & RAF Typhoon. We expect to hear from potential overseas participants in the coming months, which will hopefully add further variety to the show.”

RAF Charitable Trust to support STEM at RAF Cosford Air Show

As well the aircraft, organisers also announced that for the second year running the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Hangar is to be supported by the RAF Charitable Trust. The STEM Hangar has become an integral part of the showground and includes charities encouraging young women and men to enter Science fields, international companies demonstrating how they benefit communities at home and around the world, to military demonstrations from RAF apprentices.

Titan the Robot will be returning to entertain the crowds with his captivating humour and sarcastic wit. A huge crowd puller last year, Titan is sure to be a hit once again!  Once inside the hangar members of the public will have the opportunity to visit local universities such as University of Wolverhampton showcasing a number of Aerospace degrees available, organisations encouraging children to get ‘hands on’ and engage in STEM fields and companies looking to recruit like-minded individuals whether as apprentices or as full time employees.

Lauren Richardson, one of the top aerobatic pilots in the country will be displaying at the show in her Pitts Special aircraft and will take part in a ‘Meet the Pilot’ session within the STEM Hangar during the Air Show. Lauren is a qualified engineer, maintaining her own aircraft and is involved in the training of other aerobatic pilots.

RAF Cosford is the home of RAF Engineering and as such is the perfect platform to display the training that takes place at the base. The training hangars will give the visiting public the chance to engage with RAF personnel working at RAF Cosford and get a behind the scenes understanding of how the Royal Air Force works. Group Captain Mark Hunt, Station Commander at RAF Cosford said ‘The Air Show is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the world-class technical training that takes place at RAF Cosford. The STEM Hangar shows how committed we are to work with our industry and academic partners across the West Midlands to give young people an appreciation of the exciting potential in STEM careers’.

With the generous support from the RAF Charitable Trust the STEM Hangar is sure to be a must visit attraction on the day. Amanda Butcher, RAF Charitable Trust Director said ‘The STEM Hangar is a fantastic engagement opportunity for a large number of organisations involved in these fields to display the careers available. RAFCT are pleased to be involved in such a high profile area on the showground ’.

Ticket Arrangements

Tickets for the RAF Cosford Air Show 2016 are once again advanced sale only. Organisers are encouraging people to buy their tickets to the show early as sales are already well ahead of the same time last year. The show will take place on Sunday 19th June 2016, falling on Father’s Day this year.  Clive Elliott, Air Show Director said ‘The Air Show has always been a wonderful day out for the family and this year with it taking place on Father’s Day it’s a great way for several generations to enjoy the day together’.

From Thursday 24th March tickets will be on sale from both RAF Museum sites, at RAF Cosford and Hendon in London, selected Mid-Counties Co-ops across the West Midlands and the Midlands Air Museum in Coventry.  Tickets are priced at £25.00 per adult with accompanied children under the age of 16 entering for free. They are also available from http://www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

For the second year the RAF Cosford Air Show has teamed up with Arriva Trains Wales and London Midland to produce a combined entry and travel ticket. When purchasing an entrance ticket at the same time as a rail ticket for the day the Air Show ticket is discounted to £20.00. Combined rail and entry tickets are available to purchase from any manned UK train station.