RAF Leeming Air Fairs '92 - '95

[F3]

The last RAF show to be held in the north of England was the final Leeming Air Fair in '95. Altho' it only ran for four years it was a creditable affair given that it was self financed by the Station and drew participants from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Italy and Russia over that period altho' only in the latter years in the flying display in the form of the Dutch F-27 Troopship and the Russian Test Pilot pair with their Su-27 Flankers. As the last RAF show in Yorkshire, which had previously also boasted Ch. Fenton's annual SSAFA display and Finningley's Battle of Britain At Home, it was sorely missed but a few of those shows have lived long in the memory. As for the most exotic a/c to attend many might plump for the Flanker but my vote goes to the Soko Kraguj which I understand was acquired by one of Leeming's F3 pilots during a Deny Flight deployment. As these were based at Goia del Colle Italian participation was a given from '93 onwards.

Leeming Shows - F4 '92 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leeming Shows - F-111F of 494 TFS by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'93 Airfair - Soko Krakuj by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'94 Airfair - Sea Harrier by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'94 Airfair - Static line - up by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'95 Airfair - AMI AMX by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'95 Airfair - AMI Tornado by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'95 Airfair - Su-27 Flanker + Red Arrows by Michael Britton, on Flickr

F3s - Display routine of F3 AS '94 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'95 Airfair F3 display ship (inverted) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'94 Airfair - Spitfire by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'94 Airfair - F-86 Sabre by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'94 Airfair - F-27 Troopship by Michael Britton, on Flickr

'95 Airfair - Flanker duo fly past by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Last Air Fair Programme by Michael Britton, on Flickr

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these, Leeming was a show I never got to visit, but looks interesting with the shots you've provided. The Kraguj is an interesting type, I went to an Open Day at the now closed RAF Newton in 1993 and a Kraguj performed a flying display, rather noisy from what I recall. It might even have been this one.

[F3]

Thanks for sharing these, Leeming was a show I never got to visit, but looks interesting with the shots you've provided. The Kraguj is an interesting type, I went to an Open Day at the now closed RAF Newton in 1993 and a Kraguj performed a flying display, rather noisy from what I recall. It might even have been this one.

Think that's probably case. As I recall it was the only one in the country and as owned by a member of the RAF was likely to have been displayed at such an event. Wish I'd seen it fly!

[paddyboy]

Hi Mick

Great memories there

LN ‘Vark and Gina’s

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[profile_m]

I went to all the Leeming shows as a teenager and have managed to acquire the souvenir VHS tapes for 93, 94 and 95 from ebay in the past couple of years. Great to be able to watch them and reminisce! I have loads of terrible photos too but thankfully no way to scan them into the computer haha!

[Unknown74]

If I recall the Weather at 1995 was dreadful. Especially in the Afternoon.

[F3]

If I recall the Weather at 1995 was dreadful. Especially in the Afternoon.

Too true. I've a shot of one of the Su-27s on the runway which bears this out. Anoraks de rigeur! Think we jumped in the car and headed off after seeing their display.

[condor]

Love the code on the Sea Harrier ..... 712 1/2 !

rgds condor

[F3]

Love the code on the Sea Harrier ..... 712 1/2 !

rgds condor

Believe this was due to the two previous airframes bearing the code 713 having been lost in crashes!

[davski]

I went to two Leeming shows, both were excellent. One had a heavy warbird element with almost all the Old Flying Machine Company fleet. A Tornado F3 returned home from policing the no-fly zone in (I think) the Balkans mid show, they had it holding over Dishforth for ages before it ran-in. The static was interesting too with F-104s, F-4s etc (even a Lightning which I think was one of Leemings gate guards). Happy days.

[DanBeeden]

That LN Vark looks immaculate - very nice indeed.

[Bilvo]

That LN Vark looks immaculate - very nice indeed.

I agree but interestingly it is marked with the 494th TFS badge (Panthers) but the black and yellow tail fin marks along with the yellow cheatline on the nose-wheel door are all 493rd markings.

[f-4]

Ah yes, we flew in by Vauxhall Carlton courtesy of my mate Dave who did the trip from Stowmarket, Suffolk in just under two hours. Plus the A1 still had roundabouts back then

[Rob666]

Ah yes, we flew in by Vauxhall Carlton courtesy of my mate Dave who did the trip from Stowmarket, Suffolk in just under two hours. Plus the A1 still had roundabouts back then

That's impressive.