Greenham Common IATS - '77-'83

[F3]

I note that this year marks the 40th Anniversary of Fairford's RIAT. How time flies! I remember the '85 one like it was yesterday. However for this post I'd like to go back even further to those held @ Greenham Common, of which I attended four between '77 and '83. NATO's Tiger Meet was the theme of the '77 one. Special Tiger paint schemes were rare back then but the CF-104 from 439 Sqn. won the concours d'elegance trophy while a tiger striped FAF Super Mystere appeared in the flying display. Other highlights were the last display of a RN Buccaneer and the last static appearance of a CAF Argus. The theme in '79 was the C-130 Hercules and the line-up included examples from as far afield as S.America and Australia. Among the other highlights were Phantom FGR.2 XV424 in the Alcock & Brown commemorative markings (the first time I can ever recall seeing a special paint scheme on a RAF a/c) and a FAF Mirage III in the flying display (quite a rarity). Sea Search was the theme of the '81 IAT and featured an eclectic line-up of Maritime Patrol types ranging from the diminutive Fokker F-27M to the mighty Vulcan and included a participant from Argentina for the last time in the shape of a KC-130H. Just a few hundred metres away in 40 Years of British Jet Power line-up was a Sea Harrier, the type which would account for one of the former's sisters during the following year's Falklands War. The flying display also featured an operational Vulcan for the last time prior to its retirement from Strike Command's front line. 1983 proved to the last IAT to be held @ Greenham Common but it was undoubtedly one of the most memorable due to its two themes of STAR 83 (strike, attack and reconnaissance) and 25 th Anniversary of the Phantom producing epic static line-ups. For Phantom fans, incl. myself this was an unmissable occasion.

Tiger Meet line-up - '77 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

CF-104 439 Sqn CAF - Tiger Meet '77 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Greenham IAT '77 - CAF Argus by Michael Britton, on Flickr

RN Buccaneer - '77 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Commemorative Phantom FGR2 - '79 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

C-130 Hercules Meet - '79 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Ski-equipped C-130 NYAG - '79 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Mirage III FAF - '79 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Maritime line-up - IAT '81 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Greenham IATs - Argentinian C-130 '81 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Greenham IATs - Colourful USN Viking '81 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT - Vulcan display '81 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Greenham IAT '83 - Phantom Meet (2) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Greenham IAT '83 - Phantom Meet by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '83 - STAR Meet line - up 2 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

[binbrook87]

Fabulous! I just missed out on the Greenham tattoos... my first being 85...not realising it had then swapped to Fairford so was a little disappointed when I found out the venue had changed. Even though 85 was fabulous and the subsequent tattoos there have been generally brilliant, there is something really special about those earlier Greenham (and North Weald) shows. The variety seems to have been incredible. Maybe it's because the shows you missed always seem better I don't know? Great shots though...I can look at the early IAT photos indefinitely and never get bored.

[Fibrous Freddie]

Fabulous barely does it justice! I drove down and back from Norwich for these... pre M25 etc... Morris Minor reg 853FPF!!! I'm now told that it's a classic motor... it wasn't! Max speed advertised as 63mph. No chance!
Variety and quantity!
Images stimulate lovely memories. Thanks.

[johnwickenden]

Fabulous Mick ! Never went to 77....I was only 10. I remember 79 for the Herks and for the rain...God it was torrential ! As a 12 year old I had to try to push my elder brothers Cortina when it got stuck getting off the field. Fortunately a couple of burly blokes took pity on me. The Fairford tattoos have been brilliant but I have such fond memories of Greenham....I mean, I've never seen a Venezuelan Canberra since then !!!

[Mustang531]

Great shots and lots of memories, my first Greenham show was 1974 and I attended all up to 1983. I remember seeing the CP-107 Argus at two of them, 10736 in 1977 and 10735 in 1979. Fabulous machines. Thanks for sharing these with us.

[waghorn41]

That tiger Mystere and a tiger themed Puma from '77.
Mystere by Ian Pursey, on Flickr
Puma by Ian Pursey, on Flickr

[F3]

This is when it gets annoying when you realize what you missed because you failed to notice it at the time, maybe because you were distracted by an item in the flying display, or maybe just failed to clock it among all the other a/c viz Venezuelan Canberra and Tiger striped Puma! Being somewhat of a neophyte back then I knew nothing of the lists of participants which could be bought for a nominal sum so the first I knew of the Venezuelan Canberra was when I saw a pic of its arrival in the following edn of Ian Allan's Aircraft Illustrated. BTW after posting these I found more negs of the '81 show which I've scanned and would be happy to add if anyone would be interested. Incidentally John I'm sure yr experience in '79 must have been character building and you should thank yr elder siblings for giving you the benefit! Strange how those Greenham shows usually seemed to be under the weather. I mean look at all those anoraks in that Argus shot (the garments not the enthusiasts). The '81 show was the first one I remember it being even half decent.

[raptor9]

Saw Venezuelan Canberras on a dump in Venezuela. On the trip was an ex-pilot who delivered them!. Years ago, of course!.

[Basilisk]

This does bring back many memories as I too visited several early Greenham Common shows. I camped on a farmer's field converted to a campground for six days during the 1979 event which wasn't the best option due to the rather varied weather. Here are two pictures form the Venezuelan Canberra mentioned when arriving and on display.




Looking forward seeing your 1981 pictures.

[binbrook87]

Those Canberra shots are fantastic! First time I've seen colour shots I think. They're almost digital quality! Wasn't the aircraft on a pre delivery outing from EE/BAC (Salmesbury?) rather than flown all the way from South America?

[Mustang531]

Yes, it would be nice to see some more shots. As for checklists, I've still got my early ones and they cost 10p each I think. When you compare that to the current rates, pretty good value. They used to be compiled by local spotters groups as well.

[mancman]

Excellent, used to love the Greenham shows. One of the standout airframes for me in 1979 was the Roman nose C-130 from the Tennessee Air Guard. Hercules just don't look right without the radome.

541640 C-130A USAF July 1979 Greenham Common by Andy Bird, on Flickr