Show Review: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2021
August in Bristol can only mean one thing, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Now in its 42nd year, the fiesta was dreamt up by Don Cameron and friends and is …
Article: PytchAir
When Boeing 727-46 VP-CMN left Filton in 2012 I don’t think anyone would have thought that it would be returning to Bristol in 2021. But thanks to Brislington based Pytch …
Article: Deputy Secretary of Defense Visits RAF Fairford
On a very damp Monday afternoon in October SAM 606 touched down on Runway 27 at Royal Air Force Fairford carrying The Honourable David L. Norquist, the Deputy Secretary of …
Show Review: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2020
It was inevitable that an event that attracts half a million visitors to Ashton Court Estate, Bristol over a four day period would get cancelled because of the COVID19 Pandemic. …
Museum Review: The Helicopter Museum
Having closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the 21st March 2020 it was great to hear that the government was lifting restrictions on museums and other public …
Article: Flybe 1979-2020
Starting in 1979 as Jersey European Airways, Flybe, with its headquarters and maintenance facility being located in Exeter, has always had a strong connection to the South West with flights …
Article: Cheltenham Gold Cup 2020
The Cheltenham Gold Cup Festival in March 2020 was the last major sporting event to take place in the south west before the very necessary measures were introduced to stop …
Article: Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Twelve years ago, the Bristol, Bath and Gloucestershire area was the last in mainland Great Britain not to have an Air Ambulance. Roll on to 2020 and the Great Western …
Trip Report: Estonia 2019
In the year in which the Estonian Air Force celebrates its 100th anniversary and NATO celebrates its 70th South West Aviation Photographers sent Matt Sudol to the Baltic state to spend …
Military Exercise: Bomber Force Deployment 20-1
Almost as soon as the the previous B-2 Spirit deployment was over so the second B-52 deployment of 2019 to RAF Fairford was underway, with four of the eight-engine strategic …
Article: The End of Old Sarum
After 102 years of operations. flying from the World War One grass airfield came to a close on the 31st October 2019. Flying at Old Sarum started in August 1917 …
Museum Review: Aerospace Bristol
In a quiet corner of what was Filton Airfield lies something that many Bristolians were skeptical would ever happen. After many years of talking about, it Bristol finally has a …
Military Exercise: Bomber Force Deployment 2019
Royal Air Force Fairford has seen many United States Air Force (USAF) Bomber deployments over the years but none quite like this in a long time. In the pitch dark …
Show Review: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2019
Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th August 2019 saw the return of the ever popular Bristol International Balloon Fiesta for its 41st year. With the success of last year’s fiesta, attended …
Trip Report: France 2019
2019 saw NATO Tiger Meet head to the French airfield BA 118 Mont-de-Marsan the home of the EC 3/30 of the Armée de l’Air and their Rafale multi role combat …
Article: Bristol Belugas
On Thursday 14th February 2019, Airbus showed off its new Beluga XL to the UK public with a flypast at their factory at Filton in Bristol. South West Aviation Photographers …
Trip Report: Belgium 2018
With a very strong international line up Gary and Matt Decided to head out to Belgium for Belgian Air Force Days at Kleine-Brogel. Heading out to Brussels-National Airport from Birmingham …
Trip Report: Poland 2018
NATO Tiger Meet newcomers 6 Eskadra Lotnictwa Taktycznego of the Polish Air Force at Poznań-Krzesiny airbase hosted the annual tactics exercise for the very first time. This was also the …
Trip Report: Holland 2016
The Dutch are famed for their love of aviation and Luchtmachtdagen (Air Force Day) is a great way to see the Royal Netherlands Air Force in action. Two members of …
Article: The Cheltenham Festival 2016
The Cheltenham Festival held this year between the 15th – 18th March in its 105th year attracts royalty, as well as the rich and famous. With this brings the more …