Hat-trick for Super Hornet at Royal International Air Tattoo
For the first time in the history of the Royal International Air Tattoo, three of the top awards went to the same competitor - the Boeing F-18F Super Hornet team.
At the last night awards ceremony, Boeing's Chief Test Pilot for the Super Hornet programme, Ricardo Traven, was presented with the King Hussain Memorial Sword (best overall flying demonstration), As the Crow Flies Award (from Friends of RIAT) and FRIAT Best Livery.
"This is incredible," said Ricardo Traven, a Canadian from Niagara Falls. "I demonstrate the Super Hornet in many parts of the world but Fairford is all about great crowds and great competition. "It is not just the individual but the entire team. And I have one helluva team."
In memory of the late co-founder and director of RIAT, Paul Bowen, the award for best solo jet display went to Commandant John Vandebosch, flying the Lockheed Martin F-16 MLU from 31 Tiger Squadron of the Belgian Air Force.
Cdt Vandebosch was, like Ricardo Traven, was making his debut at Fairford as a F-16 display pilot. He was thrilled, saying: "It was a wonderful show and every day brought new excitement. The weather was changeable but that made it all the more challenging."
The ceremony was attended by Prince Feisal of Jordan and Sir David Cousins, chairman of the Royal International Air Tattoo and Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Full list of awards:
King Hussain Memorial Sword (Best Overall):
Ricardo Traven and Boeing F-18F Super Hornet.
Lockheed Martin Cannestra Trophy (Best Overseas Flying Demonstration):
Capt Yann Valet and Lt Fabrice Camliti (Mirage 2000C French AF).
Steedman Display Sword:
Flt Lts Tim Freeman and Neil Crawley, Tornado F3 from 56 (R) Sqn
Royal Air Force.
Sir Douglas Bader Trophy (Best Individual Flying Demonstration):
Will Curtis, Sukhoi Su26 from The Honda Dream Team.
Paul Bowen Solo Jet Trophy:
Commandant John Vandebosch, Lockheed Martin F-16 MLU from 31 Tiger Sqn, Belgian Air Force.
As The Crow Flies (FRIAT Best Overall Flying Demonstration):
Ricardo Traven, Boeing F-18F Super Hornet
FRIAT Best Livery:
UFA-2 US Navy, Boeing F-18F Super Hornet.
Once again there was keen competition for the prestigious ground display awards at the Tattoo.
The Concours d'Elegance attracted some outstanding entries and they impressed the Tattoo's thousands of visitors on the two sunny show days.
Results of the Concours d'Elegance judging was as follows:
Fighter 04 - Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 of 322 Squadron
(Capt Van Gestel).
BAE Systems - Portuguese Air Force F-16 of 201 Sqn
(Major Caldas).
Hercules 50 - NY Air National Guard LC130-H of 109th Air Lift Wing
(Major Mark Doll)
EADS- Royal Jordanian Air Force Air Lift Wing C-130
(Col Al-Khaldi).
Snow plane makes it a nice occasion for Doll family
With his family around him, Major Mark Doll of the New York Air National Guard made a winning debut at this year's Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.
He is captain of the LC-130H which was declared winner of the Hercules 50th anniversary class of the Tattoo's Concours D'Elegance, the competition for aircraft on static display.
At the Tattoo to help celebrate the success was Major Doll's proud Mum and his Dad, a retired Colonel in the Air National Guard who has flown into Fairford on operational duties in the past during his 25-year service with the USAF.
Also celebrating the victory was wife Leslie who joined up with Mark for the Tattoo while visiting the UK on a brief holiday. Leslie spent the show days helping to sell T-shirts for the crew's local charity.
The winning aircraft type is the largest in the world to operate on skis as well as conventional landing wheels. Its task is to re-supply science camps in both the Arctic and Antarctic.
Major Doll, 37, is a Polar aviation specialist instructor who joined the ANG in 1992. He is aiming to return to his former "day job" as a North West Airlines pilot when he leaves the Air Force in 2017.
To help it operate in the snowy wastes of the Polar regions, the LC-130H is fitted with Jet Assisted Take-off (JATO) capability, giving it thrust equivalent to an extra engine for 12 seconds of its take-off slide.
"Although I've operated in many parts of the world," says Major Doll, "this is my first time in the UK so it becomes particularly special to win this trophy. We are having a great time and we hope all our visitors discovered how much we enjoy operating this aircraft."
Once again there was keen competition for the prestigious ground display awards at his year's Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.
The Concours d'Elegance attracted some outstanding entries and they impressed the Tattoo's thousands of visitors on the two sunny show days.