Thousands set to visit Cosford Air Show this weekend
Thousands of people from across Shropshire will be attending the biggest aviation event in the West Midlands this Sunday.
More than 50,000 spectators will attend the annual event at RAF Cosford on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border.
The flying display promises to be one of the most exciting yet with everything from fast jets to biplanes and from helicopter to gliders. The Great War Bird Team will be honouring the hundredth anniversary of the Royal Flying Corps and a line up of training aircraft in the air and in the specially themed static park area acknowledge another centenary, this one for the Central Flying School.
Other highlights include role demos from the Tornado and Sea King from the Royal Air Force and the Apache from the Army Air Corps. Of course no Cosford Air Show would be complete without the appearance of the Red Arrows, the Falcon Parachute display team and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
The RAF Sea King from HRH Prince William’s unit at RAF Valley will be working with the RAF Mountain Rescue team to provide a demonstration of the work done by the Search and Rescue teams.
For those hoping for some fast jet thrills both Typhoon and Tornado will be displaying their 2012 routines along with classic jets such as Gnats, the aircraft type once flown by the Red Arrows.
The Tornado GR4 Role Demo will show how the RAF employs aircraft on operations in support of people on the ground. Spectators can expect some loud bangs and the noise of aircraft in full re-heat with pyrotechnics being used to simulate various attack profiles.
More action will come from the Apaches of the Army Air Corps with their stunning attack helicopter role demonstration. The Army Apaches play a key role in Afghanistan and this display gives the public a taste of the skill shown by these front line pilots.
Other aircraft at the show include a Lynx from the Royal Navy Helicopter display team The Black Cats. The line up of historic aircraft includes the Swordfish and Sea Fury of the Royal Navy Historic Flight and a selection of aircraft representing 100 years of the Central Flying School.
Along with the Red Arrows and the RAF Falcons parachute display team there will be an opportunity for nostalgia in the Queen’s Jubilee year with a display from the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Other confirmed historic aircraft include the vintage pair of Meteor and Vampire.
Popular display teams the Aerostars and the famous Blades display team will also perform at the show.
A flypast from a Royal Air Force VC10 will also wow the crowds. The RAF will not be operating the VC10 after 2013 so this is almost the last opportunity to see its appearance in the West Midlands.
The Agusta 109 helicopter display from Belgium and a stunning performance from the Typhoon will round off the spectacular air display.
All-day ground entertainment includes something for all the family with a children’s funfair, an indoor craft fair, bands and exhibits and free entry to the RAF Museum. Many of the displays and exhibits are under cover, so whatever the British weather does there will be somewhere to go to get out of the rain or the sun!
