RAF Cosford Air Show 2025

[Andyph]

I've been grumpy about the RAF shows since Finningley bit the dust - I thought Waddington was a massive step down but Cosford is excruciating bad. Awful location and they put no effort in.
I guess the kids know no difference though.

[Nighthawke]

You choose a good location, put your own team together and organise your own perfect show - simples

[Andyph]

You choose a good location, put your own team together and organise your own perfect show - simples

I'm happy - I go to Fairford, Zeltweg, Radom, Athens, Sanicole etc. just give Cosford a miss though..

[Charles022]

Log from yesterday's show, disclaimer this isn't complete, just what I took pics of.

Does anyone have the reg of the Spitfire parked next to the Hurricane on static, the Red Arrows and Midlands Air Ambulance heli (BK117?) on a trailer marked as 'G-EOFF' please?

Regn Aircraft Type Operator
4061 General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon Polish Air Force
A-912 Pilatus PC-7 Swiss Air Force
A-913 Pilatus PC-7 Swiss Air Force
A-915 Pilatus PC-7 Swiss Air Force
A-924 Pilatus PC-7 Swiss Air Force
A-929 Pilatus PC-7 Swiss Air Force
A-931 Pilatus PC-7 Swiss Air Force
A-934 Pilatus PC-7 Swiss Air Force
A-940 Pilatus PC-7 Swiss Air Force
F-HMEL Extra EA.330 SC Private
G-ACMA de Havilland Leopard Moth DH.85 Private
G-BARS de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 Private
G-BCRX de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 Private
G-BKOU Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.3 Private
G-BMGC Fairey Swordfish II Fly Navy Heritage Trust
G-BNGE Auster Aircraft Auster AOP.6 Private
G-BUHA Slingsby T.61F Falke Venture T.3 Private
G-BVTM Reims/Cessna F152 RAF Halton Aeroplane Club
G-BWSG British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5 Jeffrey Bell
G-BWUN de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 Private
G-BYBI Bell 206B Jet Ranger III Adventure 001 Ltd
G-BYHL de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 Private
G-BYUU Grob G-115 E Tutor Ministry of Defence
G-BYVZ Grob G-115 E Tutor Ministry of Defence
G-BYWS Grob G-115 E Tutor Ministry of Defence
G-BYXI Grob G-115 E Tutor Ministry of Defence
G-BZXS Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1 Private
G-EWOK Amateur Built Pitts Super Stinker S-1-11B Private
G-FOTN Vans RV-7 Private
G-GWFT Rans Coyote II S-6ES Private
G-HEBS Britten-Norman Islander BN-2B-26 Hebridean Air Services
G-HITT Hawker Hurricane I Private
G-HMCA Evektor-Aerotechnik EV-97 TeamEurostar UK RAF Halton Microlight Flying Assoc
G-JERK CAC CA-18 Mustang Mk.21 Fighter Aviation Engineering
G-LEEZ Bell 206L Long Ranger Heli-Lift Services
G-PDOG Cessna O-1E Bird Dog Private
G-RAFB Grob G-115 A Private
G-RSAF British Aircraft Corporation Strikemaster Mk.80A Private
G-SOAF British Aircraft Corporation Strikemaster Mk.90 Private
G-THUN Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Fighter Aviation Engineering
G-TOYZ Bell 206B Jet Ranger III Adventure 001 Ltd
G-VVBO Bell 206L Long Ranger III Northumbria Helicopters
G-XXIV Agusta-Bell AB.206B Jet Ranger III Adventure 001 Ltd
LF363 Hawker Hurricane IIc Royal Air Force
N-234 NH Industries NH90 NFH Royal Netherlands Navy
N246FA Cirrus Design SR20 Private
N4956C North American Navion Private
P7350 Vickers Supermarine Spitfire IIa Royal Air Force
PA474 Avro Lancaster B.I Royal Air Force
PH-KHV Beech Expeditor 3NM Royal Netherlands Air Force Historic Flight
PH-OUQ Vickers Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXc Royal Netherlands Air Force Historic Flight
PM631 Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX Royal Air Force
T-059 Airbus A330 243MRTT Multinational MRTT Fleet
XX141 SEPECAT Jaguar T.2A Royal Air Force
XX168 Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1 Royal Navy
XX181 Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1W Royal Air Force
XX224 Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1W Royal Air Force
XX235 Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1W Royal Air Force
XX236 Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1W Royal Air Force
XX244 Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1 Royal Air Force
XX335 Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A Royal Air Force
XX723 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3A Royal Air Force
XX724 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3A Royal Air Force
XX725 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3A Royal Air Force
XX738 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3A Royal Air Force
XX746 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1A Royal Air Force
XX767 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3A Royal Air Force
XX821 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 Royal Air Force
XX833 SEPECAT Jaguar T.2A QinetiQ
XX835 SEPECAT Jaguar T.4 Royal Air Force
XX840 SEPECAT Jaguar T.4 Royal Air Force
XX847 SEPECAT Jaguar T.4 Royal Air Force
XX959 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 Royal Air Force
XX976 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 Royal Air Force
XZ104 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3A Royal Air Force
XZ114 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3A Royal Air Force
XZ117 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3A Royal Air Force
XZ367 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3 Royal Air Force
XZ370 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 Royal Air Force
XZ391 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3A Royal Air Force
XZ941 Westland/Aerospatiale Gazelle SA.341 HT.2 Royal Air Force
XZ991 Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 Royal Air Force
ZA320 Panavia Tornado GR.1 Royal Air Force
ZE340 Panavia Tornado F.3 Royal Air Force
ZE652 Grob G 103A Twin II Acro Viking T.1 Royal Air Force
ZF534 British Aerospace EAP British Aerospace
ZH590 Eurofighter Typhoon Royal Air Force
ZH796 British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA.2 Royal Navy
ZK324 Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 Royal Air Force
ZK551 Boeing-Vertol Chinook HC.6 Royal Air Force
ZM144 Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Royal Air Force
ZM505 Airbus Helicopters Juno HT.1 Royal Air Force
ZM531 Airbus Helicopters Juno HT.1 Royal Air Force
ZM722 Boeing-McDonnell Douglas AH-64E Apache Army Air Corps
ZZ384 AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 Army Air Corps
ZZ413 AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 Royal Navy
ZZ535 AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 Royal Navy

[Dc3]

Another visitor was Midlands Air Ambulance G-RMAA operating site behind the musuem
The Spitfire was G-CGZU marked LZ842

[Derek]

My feelings on Cosford after my first visit. It is clearly not aimed at the enthusiast/photographer/spotter and if you are just there for the flying display, then it would be a disappointment. The aircraft that were flying were pretty varied, just not a lot of them, and some gaps in between displays. However, Cosford had made a real effort to get a lot of aircraft out around the public area and they were pretty well spaced for photography. The hangar displays were clearly popular with the public and there were a huge number of vendors around.
I was a late arrival - just in time for the flying. In and parked very quickly - including having the car searched. The traffic at the end seemed to be going very smoothly - admittedly I was near the exit having arrived late.
Overall, considering the organisation involved, I was pretty impressed, but I stress I wasn't there just for the flying.

[Buzzcox]

Evening, "G-EOFF" was N568TJ.
XX725, the desert Jag in the hangarette was not on the checklist.
Checklist also had Jaguars XX819, XX825, XX959, XX976 and XZ370 stored by the hangar on the south side of the field.
I read off Jaguar "FM" through my camera in the medical hangar. Planebase has this as XZ104. XX235 Hawk also in here (on Charles' list but not on checklist). Also got a stern word off the nurse at the door who thought I was taking photos of the patients!! Can't really blame her!

[Seahawk 11]

Hi, can anyone please help me out with the serial number of a Westland Scout cockpit nose coded R, many thanks,
Rob

[fraserB]

There was 9 Swiss PC-7’s.
From my photos the additional one was T-925

[fraserB]

XV130 was the Scout.

[Seahawk 11]

Many thanks for that fraserB, great help, cheers,
Rob

[jasonT1981]

OK Home finally. So my thoughts.

Good

The flying? Not one complaint. I enjoyed every display. Swordfish may have went a bit longer than it should but a really enjoyable day. My favourites;

BBMF - Wonderful 1st display with the Lancaster and the break at the end with the fighters, fantastic to get 2 Spitfires also later on to compare the griffin and merlin engines

Swiss PC7 - Loved this display. Saw them at RIAT a few years ago and wasn't overly impressed, but just like the RJF a couple of years ago a smaller airfield really helped highlight a brilliant display.

Chipmunks - There were a few moans about them being added, but I thought both displays were fantastic. Very aerobatic for a vintage aircraft.

Black Cats - Another great display. I've really come to appreciate Helicopter displays.

The darker clouds - Yes, I loved this. I find it much easier taking photos against a darker sky than bright blue and no clouds. Really adds to the atmosphere.

Strikemasters - I think Mark Petrie would be looking down smiling knowing his legacy with the Strikemaster's is being kept alive. I have a feeling he would have loved the explosions. (Great heat too on a cold day!)

Bad

Cancelations - Yeah, they sucked, but I focused on what was there rather than what was not. Apache was a bitter blow but out of control of organisers.

RAF Participation - Yes, we got the normal displays and the F35 but it felt VERY lacking for the RAFs only show in way of flypasts we have come to know. Not even a couple of Hawks or Grob tutors flypasts. Operational needs I guess, but it felt like the RAF didn't have their heart in this one.

Cosford Club - Look, I enjoy the Cosford club but too much has changed recently. Only a couple of vendors now at the far end of it, toilets shared with another enclosure and it felt smaller and more crowded with less manners from the people in it. Cadets/Volunteers seemed disinterested, rather sit talking with each other and seemed it was an inconvenience greeting people and scanning tickets. I got handed my programme and wristband with a grunt.

Trains - I think Cosford were pretty late announcing the train fiasco. West Midlands Rail announced on Saturday morning there were issues with trains cancelled and Cosford didn't acknowledge this until Sunday when people were already on route. Thankfully issues were resolved but Cosford didn't seem to announce this at all.

Static - Once again a chaotic static. Like the C130 in 2023 the "star attractions" of the EAP and Typhoon were stuck on the far end of the airfield and 10 Jags right in the middle as normal. It would have been nice to have them alongside the Jags and Tornados. Yes, 10 Jags together was nice, but it's there every year in the same location. Maybe put some of the "star items" on static there rather than seemingly randomly placed all over the air field.

Final verdict

At the end of the day, complaints aside the main aspect of an airshow is the air displays and I really enjoyed that, Cosford have taken on board criticism over the last few years so hopefully they will have a look at how static is put together in 2026.

I enjoyed my weekend, really enjoyed my Saturday in the museum, and having been to both Hendon and Cosford in recent weeks I have come to prefer the Cosford museum to London.

Will I be back in 2026? Probably but not an instant yes

[Nighthawke]

If I was treated that way by any cadet I would be approaching their staff to complain. Being ex ATC (25+ years ago) I know how cadets used to behave - my squadron anyway - best behaviour when on plublic duty. Any staff who think otherwise should not be in the role. If standards have slipped that badly I am glad to no longer be involved.

[Xrailman]

add
C-FPSH Do 228 (with the Falcons)
G-ATZM Piper J-3C-65 Cub (On checklist as G-AZTM)
G-SSAL Sting 2 (Homebuild not yet registered. I guess that is what planned to be.)

[fatherfaff]

Was G-SSAL the small monoplane that appeared to be under construction. Also in the Medical Centre hangar were Hawks XX168 and XX224 and some kind of simulator.

[fatherfaff]

By the way what were the Red Arrows serials?

[LDenison]

I think on paper Cosford had a great show and the displays that were attracted were fantastic, but Cosford does always seem to get unlucky with some very high profile cancellations.

The show ground was absolutely awful though, with huge queues to cross the road and staff shouting at guests just really didn’t help anything.

[Xrailman]

Was G-SSAL the small monoplane that appeared to be under construction. Also in the Medical Centre hangar were Hawks XX168 and XX224 and some kind of simulator.

It is and was beside G-GWFT Coyote in hangar corner.

[fatherfaff]

Thanks xrailman. By the way threshold.aero lists Grob Vigilant G.CMIM but I didn't note it nor is it in the list above - anyone know where it was exactly?

[Buzzcox]

G-CMIM was near the Scout and yellow Harvard etc. It was part of the Aerobility stand.