2024 review

[Seamus]

Evening all,

Thought I'd share some highlights from the past year. It's been slightly unusual for me in that I haven't spent a single day on the fence at a base that wasn't an organised event, but nevertheless it's been pretty productive with plenty of memorable moments.

My year began and peaked in April with a few days spent in Greece for Iniochos 2024

Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon | 012 | Hellenic Air Force | Greece | 08/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A+ Hornet | C.15-83/46-11 | Spanish Air Force | Greece | 08/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Rafale M | 13 | Aeronavale | Greece | 08/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Eurofighter Typhoon F2 | 312 | Royal Saudi Air Force | Greece | 08/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon | 1605 | Romanian Air Force | Greece | 08/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Mirage 2000-5 | 550 | Hellenic Air Force | Andravida AB | 10/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Rafale DQ | QA204 | Qatari Emiri Air Force | Andravida AB | 10/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E AUP Phantom II | 01503 | Hellenic Air Force | Andravida AB | 10/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Rafale M | 7 | Aeronavale | Andravida | 10/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Rafale EQ | QA210 | Qatari Emiri Air Force | Andravida AB | 10/04/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

A busy weekend in May saw me spend two days on Dartmoor for the annual Ten Tors exercise, before attending the airshow season premiere at Old Warden

AgustaWestland Merlin HC4A | ZJ998/AE | Royal Navy | Dartmoor | 11/05/22 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

AgustaWestland Merlin HC4A | ZJ135/T | Royal Navy | Dartmoor | 10/05/22 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

AgustaWestland Merlin HC4A | ZJ998/AE | Royal Navy | Dartmoor | 10/05/22 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

AgustaWestland Merlin HC4A | ZJ135/T | Royal Navy | Dartmoor | 10/05/22 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

AgustaWestland Merlin HC4A | ZJ998/AE | Royal Navy | Dartmoor | 11/05/22 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire FR XIVe | MV293/G-SPIT | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Old Warden | 12/05/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Bristol Blenheim IF | L6739/G-BPIV | Aircraft Restoration Company | Old Warden | 12/05/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Hawker Fury I | K5674/G-CBZP | Historic Aircraft Collection | Old Warden | 12/05/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Fairey Swordfish I | W5856/G-BMGC | Navy Wings | Old Warden | 12/05/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

June kicked off with another double header at a grey Duxford and a sunny Old Warden

Dassault Rafale C | 146/4-GY | Armee de L'Air | Duxford | 01/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Douglas DC-6B | OE-LDM | Flying Bulls | Duxford | 01/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

North American B-25J Mitchell | N6123C | Flying Bulls | Duxford | 01/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Commonwealth CA-18 Mustang 'Jersey Jerk' | 44/15152/G-JERK | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Old Warden | 02/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Hurricane Ib | Z7015/G-BKTH | Shuttleworth Collection | Old Warden | 02/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 'Nellie B' | 549192/G-THUN | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Old Warden | 02/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Gazelle HT2 | XX436/G-ZZLE | The Gazelle Squadron | Old Warden | 02/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire LF Vc | AR501/G-AWII | Shuttleworth Collection | Old Warden | 02/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Two days at the excellent Sywell airshow followed

Boeing 727-2S2F | G-OSRB | 2Excel Aviation | Sywell | 22/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

North American P-51D Mustang 'Nooky Booky IV' | 44-11622/OE-EFB | | The Flying Bulls | Sywell | 23/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Vought (Goodyear) FG-1D Corsair | KD345/G-FGID | The Fighter Collection | Sywell | 23/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed P-38L Lightning | N25Y | The Flying Bulls | Sywell | 23/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 'Nellie B' | 549192/G-THUN | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Sywell | 22/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rounding off June was another trip to Old Warden, where the French warbirds stole the show

Supermarine Spitfire FR XIVe | RM927/F-AYXX | W Air Collection | Old Warden | 29/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Vought F4U-5NL Corsair | 124724/F-AZEG | Casques de Cuir Collection | Old Warden | 29/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire FR XIVe | RM927/F-AYXX | W Air Collection | Old Warden | 29/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire PR XI | PL983/G-PRXI | Aircraft Restoration Company | Old Warden | 29/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Folland Gnat T1 | XR538/G-RORI | Heritage Aircraft Ltd | Old Warden | 29/06/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

RIAT was sensational yet again. A week full of highlights, the Friday in particular will live long in the memory

Lockheed Martin F-16D Fighting Falcon | 08-8018 | Royal Moroccan Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet | 188774 | Royal Canadian Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Conair Turbo Firecat | F-AYFT | Amicale Alenconnaise Des Avions Anciens | RAF Fairford | 17/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed C-130H Hercules | CN-AOG | Royal Moroccan Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

British Aerospace Hawk Mk 66 | HW-361 | Finnish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E 2020T Phantom II | 73-1023 | Turkish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Northrop F-5E Tiger II | J-3094 | Swiss Air Force | RAF Fairford | 18/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender | 86-0031 | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 18/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon | J-197 | Royal Netherlands Air Force | RAF Fairford | 18/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E AUP Phantom II | 01520 | Hellenic Air Force | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Mirage 2000-5F | 38/2-EI | Armée de L'Air | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing F-15QA Ababil | QA538 | Qatar Emiri Air Force | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed U-2S | 80-1069/BB | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon | E-006 | Royal Danish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas EAV-8B Harrier II Plus | VA.1B-38/01-926 | Spanish Navy | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Northrop SF-5B(M) Freedom Fighter | AE9-17/23-10 | Spanish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Eurofighter EF2000 | 31+06 | German Air Force | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia A-200A Tornado | MM7067/6-41 | Italian Air Force | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Breguet Br.1050 Alizé | 59/F-AZYI | Alizé Marine Association | RAF Fairford | 19/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing F-15QA Ababil | QA538 | Qatar Emiri Air Force | RAF Fairford | 21/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16CG Fighting Falcon | 88-0024 | Turkish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 21/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

SAAB JAS-39C Gripen | 9242 | Czech Air Force | RAF Fairford | 21/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon | E-190 | Royal Danish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 21/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon | 08-8013 | Royal Moroccan Air Force | RAF Fairford | 22/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E AUP Phantom II | 01522 | Hellenic Air Force | RAF Fairford | 22/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing F-15SA Eagle | 641 | Royal Saudi Air Force | RAF Fairford | 22/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Douglas A-4N Skyhawk II | C-FGZE | Top Aces | RAF Fairford | 22/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Mirage 2000-5F | 38/2-EI | Armée de L'Air | RAF Fairford | 22/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia Tornado IDS | 43+97 | German Air Force | RAF Fairford | 22/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E 2020T Phantom II | 77-0286 | Turkish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 22/07/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Onto September and another enjoyable show at Cosby

Commonwealth CA-18 Mustang 'Jersey Jerk' | 44/15152/G-JERK | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Cosby | 01/09/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Avro Lancaster BI | PA474 | Royal Air Force | Cosby | 01/09/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Hawker Hurricane I | P2902/G-ROBT | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Cosby | 01/09/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Followed by another visit to Duxford

SAAB B 17A | 17239/SE-BYH | Swedish Air Force Historic Flight | Duxford | 14/09/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 | ZK913 | Royal Air Force | Duxford | 14/09/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Hawker Fury II | SR661/G-CBEL | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Duxford | 14/09/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire Ia | P3708/G-AIST | Comanche Fighters | Duxford | 14/09/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rounding off my year, a quick visit to Red Bull's Hangar 7 whilst on holiday in Germany and Austria.

Bristol 171 Sycamore | XG545/OE-XY | Flying Bulls | Salzburg Airport | 19/10/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Douglas DC-6B | OE-LDM | Flying Bulls | Salzburg Airport | 19/10/24 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Thanks for looking. As ever it's hard to whittle down the images, but hopefully they give a flavour of the year.

Cheers,

Shaun

[slogen51]

Very enjoyable all good but the first Merlin on Dartmoor is outstanding I think

[nashwa]

wow! The Merlin pics from Dartmoor are very good, at first glance I though they were A2A haha.

[Seamus]

Thanks chaps, much appreciated