Portrush Aircraft profile day 7 – Aerosparx

Day 7 of our Portrush Aircraft profile is the rather unique Aerosparx display team that will ‘ Light up’ Portrush & Portstewart this coming weekend.

While Aerosparx will be doing displays on both days of Portrush, they will also be doing a special night time display at Portstewart on the Saturday night.

Aerosparx are a brand new team who are set to revolutionize the air-show world with a number of new and exciting innovations! Carving through the sky with smooth and graceful aerobatic maneuvers and showcasing the best of our big wings, quality formation flying and spectacular wing-tip pyrotechnics, Aerosparx will paint a remarkable picture in the sky for the crowds in attendance!

The motor gliders we use will be familiar to many British cadets, as the RAF have used the Grob109 as a training aircraft since 1980s. The big wings provide an impressive level of glide performance, and the airbrakes offer excellent landing control.

The team brings together 2 extraordinary world renowned pilots for its first year, Team Leader, Guy Westgate is famous for introducing his dazzling pyrotechnic displays into the UK and thrilling crowds across Europe in his stunt glider, the GliderFX Fox. Tim Dews, is better known in Britain as ‘Mr Grob’, having run a successful business maintaining the aircraft since 1986, and is fast becoming recognized on the circuit as an accomplished display pilot.

The AeroSPARX daytime display is a graceful ballet with 2 motorgliders carving smooth swoops across the sky. This display is sure to ‘wow’ the crowds as the aircraft are often only a few feet apart as they maneuver across the skyline. The evening display adds a sparkle, with wingtip pyrotechnics and the best LED light show in the business.

The Grob is unique amongst airshow types, as it has a special clearance to fly at night. Pyrotechnics are quite unique and special in the half-light of twilight, but at night they really come alive and you can truly appreciate their majestic nature.

Flying with fireworks is not new, but the AeroSPARX team brings together several innovations not seen before at airshow flying displays in Europe.

The wingtip pyrotechnics have taken 5 years of careful development. They are all hand crafted for reliability and consistency and we have a selection of different effects to choose from, to help control the history and trail of sparks, giving the team the unique ability to perform anywhere.

We are also leading the industry with innovations that enable us to fly our formation firework display at night, and coordinate ground-based fireworks with a flying display.

The team are always keen to harness and incorporate the latest technology into their display, and LED Lighting is no exception. The continuing progression of LED Lighting, now means that computers can control each LED colour independently across the aircraft. We also have 12,000 LED lenses over the fuselage and wings, providing an incredible spectacle of ‘painting with light’ for the crowds in attendance to enjoy.

Grob 109 Motor Glider

The Grob109 is a super-efficient motor glider, with impressive soaring capabilities is used in many fields and is a very capable training aircraft. Which has been developed into the perfect day and night aerobatic display vehicle. The Aircraft has a range of 550nm and can fly for 7 hours.

Check back tomorrow for another aircraft profile, information and photo from Aerosparx website.

Portrush aircraft profile day 6 – BBMF Lancaster, Spitfire & Hurricane

Day 6 (and a day late) of our Portrush aircraft profile are the aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) who have been regulars at Portrush over the years!

As you know, the Lancaster was due to return to Portrush last year, however an engine fire had grounded the aircraft until after the Portrush show.

But this year Portrush will see the BBMF Lancaster ‘Thumper’ return and bring with her the BBMF Spitfire & the BBMF Hurricane.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT

The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (RAFBBMF) is administratively part of the Royal Air Force No 1 Group and operates from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The aircraft are regularly seen at events commemorating World War II, upon British State occasions, notably the Trooping the Colour celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday and at air displays throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. We are proud to have HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge as our Patron.

RAF BBMF commemorate the past of the RAF’s Air Combat Power – Lest We Forget.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre is located at RAF Coningsby in Coningsby, Lincolnshire. A partnership between the Royal Air Force and Lincolnshire County Council, the centre allows visitors an up-close guided tour of the aircraft when not in use, as well as exhibits about the aircraft and other temporary exhibits.

SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE

The Spitfire was produced in greater numbers than any other British combat aircraft before or since the War, 20,341 Spitfires were built in 22 different variants (excluding the navalised Seafire) and the aircraft remained in production for 12 years. The Spitfire played a major part in achieving ultimate victory in World War Two and truly deserves its place as probably the most successful fighter design ever, and certainly as the most famous and charismatic of all time. The BBMF currently have 6 Spitfire aircraft

HAWKER HURRICANE

The Hawker Hurricane is one of the classic fighters of all time, designed and built for war. It was at the forefront of Britain’s defence in 1940 and it played a major part in achieving the victory of 1945. The Hurricane was the first British monoplane eight-gun fighter, the first RAF aircraft to exceed 300 mph in level flight and the first production fighter with a retractable main undercarriage. The BBMF currently have 2 Hurricane aircraft.

AVRO LANCASTER

The Lancaster bomber – PA474, acquired by the BBMF in 1973, is one of only two surviving airworthy examples of the type; the other is in Canada. She was built in mid-1945 and assigned to reconnaissance duties after appearing too late to take part in the bombing of Japan. After various duties, she was adopted by the Air Historical Branch for display work. She appeared in two films: Operation Crossbow and The Guns of Navarone.

Having been flown for much of her service with the BBMF as the “City of Lincoln”, PA474 previously wore the markings of the “Phantom of the Ruhr”, a Lancaster that flew 121 sorties (a so-called “ton-up” Lancaster).

Originally assigned to 100 Squadron in June 1943, the original “Phantom” was transferred to 101 Squadron in November that year and finished the war as part of 550 Squadron at Ludford Magna.

The Lancaster currently carries the markings of ‘Thumper’ for the 2014 display season, an aircraft which served with No 617 Squadron after the Dams Raid. Some of the specially-modified Lancasters, which survived the Dams Raid, remained in service with the squadron afterwards.

However, these aircraft were not suitable for all operations and they were replaced with standard Lancasters, one example being B Mk1 DV385. PA474 displays the markings of bombs for operations over Germany, ice-cream cones for operations over Italy and poppies when she releases poppies during exhibition flights. During the 2008 RAF Waddington Air Day, PA474 was flown in formation with the recently restored Avro Vulcan XH558 in a historic display of two Avro “heavy metal” classics.

Info from Wikipedia & BBMF website. Photo from ourselves at Newcastle 2016

Check back later today for another Portrush aircraft profile

Portrush aircraft profile day 5 – Huey & Loach

Day 5 of our Portrush aircraft profile is the Helicopter Duo the Huey and Loach, who will display both days of Air Waves Portrush and on Sunday will close the show with the traditional Poppy drop.

THE HUEY

This was manufactured by the Bell Helicopter Company in 1972, and purchased by the US Army in the same year where it served in Vietnam until 1973. The move to the United Kingdom is the start of another adventure for this famous flying machine,” The Huey”.
In 2000 it was sent to Arizona for storage until 2003 when it was brought out and underwent a full restoration. It is now the only Huey flying in Europe that served in Vietnam.

The aircraft has been restored back to Vietnam combat livery as it would have appeared with the 129 Assault Helicopter Company. We are working to get a more complete history of the aircraft.

THE LOACH

Helicopter OH-6A 69-16011 was manufactured in 1969 and was number 470 off the production line of the Hughes Tool Company. The aircraft was shipped direct to Vietnam where it served in the 20th Transport Company.

The aircraft technical records show that at 250 hours from new on the 17th August 1970 whilst serving in this Unit, the helicopter was on a recon mission and came under fire at a flight level of 100 feet and 80 knots in South Vietnam and took 11 hits from small arms and automatic weapons. The majority of these hits were on the underside of the aircraft causing damage to the fuel system and some aircraft components. Luckily the armour plating proved effective protecting the flight crew and out of the three crew on board, only one was wounded in action.

After finishing service it changed hands before being put into storage.

Phil Connolly found the unit in storage in Seattle and having conducted the research with the aircraft records regarding the battle damage in 1970 he decided it would be the ideal fit into his helicopter activities and business in the UK.

Phil’s decision at this time was to return OH-6A 69-10611 back to its original US Army livery which was quite an involved project and the interesting part of this was when the civilian paint scheme on the aircraft was removed it uncovered all the battle scars from its early life in Vietnam displaying a multitude of bullet holes and patches which had been put on the same at the Hughes Tool Company.

The work started on the OH-6 in the Summer of 2008 returning the aircraft to its original Vietnam livery. It now flies with the Huey after a full restoration.

Check back on Monday for another aircraft profile for Portrush!

Portrush aircraft profile day 4 – S92

Day 4 of our Portrush Aircraft profile is the Irish Coast Guard S92 helicopter that will be doing the search and rescue display on the Sunday only.

The Sikorsky S-92 is a four-bladed twin-engine medium-lift helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the civil and military helicopter market. The S-92 was developed from the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter and has similar parts such as flight control and rotor systems.

The S-92 features an active vibration control system, using vibration sensors and structurally mounted force generators to increase flight comfort and lower acoustic levels to below certification requirements.

A 2008 study by Norway’s Flymedisinsk Institute found that the S-92’s vibration levels were 42 percent above that of the Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma; Sikorsky disputed this finding, saying that the study hadn’t used their latest anti-vibration technology.[14] In February 2011, the noise and vibration levels were reportedly subject to health concerns, allegedly causing tinnitus and heart problems.

The Irish Coast Guard had previously used the S61 Helicopter until replacing them with the S92. The first S92 was delivered to them in January 2012 and given the registration EI-ICG with the callsign ‘Rescue 115’

The five S-92’s have registrations EI-ICG, EI-ICU, EI-ICA, EI-ICR, EI-ICD – with the last letter of each registration spelling out “GUARD”

While EI-ICG was delivered as “factory new” from Sikorsky in the US, the other S-92 aircraft are ex-UK Coastguard equipment.

As of July 2013, the final S-92 aircraft, with registration EI-ICD, was reportedly undergoing repainting and fitting at Shannon. However as of October 2013 two of the S-92 aircraft (EI-ICD and EI-ICU) remain in the “retro” livery of the UK Coastguard – but sporting their Irish registrations.

Information from Wikipedia and photograph from AirshowsNI admin taken at the 2015 Newcastle Festival of Flight.

Portrush Aircraft Profile Day 3 – Catalina Flying Boat

Day 3 of our Portrush aircraft profile is the Consolidated PBY Catalina G-PBYA ‘Miss Pick-up’ run by the Plane Sailing Air Displays Limited who are based out of Duxford, England.

The Consolidated PBY Catalina is an American flying boat, and later an amphibious aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft.

The Catalina was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other nations.

During World War II, PBYs were used in anti-submarine warfare, patrol bombing, convoy escorts, search and rescue missions.

G-PBYA – The aircraft that will fly in Portrush was originally ordered for the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Canso. An amphibian, equivalent to the US Navy PBY-5A. It was built by Canadian Vickers at Cartierville, Quebec and was allocated their constructors number CV-283 before adopting the RCAF serial 11005. It was taken on charge by the air force on 27 October 1943 and initially saw service with 9 Squadron.

After the war she entered a period of storage at Moose Jaw before being converted to a freighter in 1948. Since then she has changed hands quite a few times working as a freighter and even as a water bomber in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada.

In 2004 she was bought by ‘Plane Sailing’ and brought to Duxford and in November of 2004 her registry was changed from C-FNJF to G-PBYA.

The Catalina is operated by Plane Sailing Air Displays Limited on behalf of Catalina Aircraft Limited which is made up of a number of shareholders. The enterprise is supported by its own ‘fan club’ – The Catalina Society. The Catalina last displayed in Portrush in 2014.

We look forward to her making her return to Portrush! (Photo and information from Catalina Society Website )

A few additions, and a cancellation at Portrush 2016

Over the last few days there have been quite a few additions to Airwaves Portrush, and sadly a cancellation 😦

First the bad news, the T28 Fennec has been withdrawn from Portrush, no details why are known at the minute.

However, with bad news comes good news! For all you helicopter fans ,they have added an Agusta Bell Sioux & a Westland Scout from the Historic Aircraft Flight Trust which will be flying on both days and on static display we will see AAC Gazelle & RAF Griffin joining the already announced Royal Navy Wildcat.

And for you jet fans, there is more good news! The Mig 15 from the Norwegian Airforce Historical Squadron will be roaring into Portrush to make its debut at the show on both days, in what is a great coup for Portrush!

With just two weeks to go now for Portrush, it is looking to be another great show!

Portrush Aircraft Profile Day 2 – Pitts Special

Day 2 of our Airwaves Portrush aircraft profile is the Modified Pitts Special piloted by Rich Goodwin who is making a much welcomed and requested return to Portrush after making his debut in 2015. His display amazed the crowds and had everyone talking for months afterwards

G-EWIZ has been specially modified to provide the ultimate Biplane for Air Show Entertainment. The modification programme has given this Biplane enhanced capabilities producing a unique style of Aerobatics.

The Pitts Special may surprise you with her ability as looks are very much deceiving in this case, she is no ordinary prop aircraft. Some of the manoeuvers you will see include

Harrier Flight. Hovering on the powerful MT prop.

Double hammer head.

Tower of power. Torque roll and backwards flight

High Alpha Knife edge flight

The centrifuge

As for the Pilot, flying has always been in his blood. His father flew the Hawker Hunter and Lightening jets for the RAF and Richard himself is a former Tornado pilot with the RAF after doing his training in the Hawk T1 (The same aircraft the RAF Red Arrows use) He is also a former pilot of Boeing aircraft.

We very much look forward to seeing Rich Goodwin once again at Airwaves Portrush (information from various sources and photo from ourselves in 2015 Portrush show.)

Check back tomorrow for another Portrush Aircraft profile!

Portrush Aircraft Profile Day 1 – Autogyro

Day 1 of our Portrush aircraft profile is the Auto Gyro from Gyro Air Displays who are returning to Portrush on both days!

THE AIRCRAFT

Autogyro’s were invented by Juan de la Cierva, only 20 years after the Wright Brothers first flight, they marked a departure from conventional fixed wing aircraft in an attempt to invent an aircraft that couldn’t stall. The name autogiro was a Trade name for Cierva’s make of aircraft, nowadays, they are also known as gyrocopters, gyroplanes, and autogyro’s and just Gyro’s, they were the first rotary wing aircraft to fly successfully under full, safe control.

The most simplistic view, it’s a flying windmill or even a rotating parachute, think of a sycamore seed gently floating down as it spins.

The rotor blades of the gyro are completely free wheeling in flight, being driven solely by the air going up through the rotor disk. There is no mechanical drive to the rotors in flight, the phenomenon of autorotation drives them, once airborne the rotors just look after themselves and keep spinning, even if the airspeed indicator is showing Zero!!

The propeller of the aircraft pushes it through the air for forward flight, the rotor is inclined slight back and the air flows up though the rotor disk keeps the rotors spinning. Stop the engine and the aircraft slows and descends, the air still flows through the disk and keeps them turning, even when flying sideways or even backwards – Birds don’t even fly backwards deliberately!!

As the rest of the aircraft is hanging from the rotor it acts like a pendulum giving the gyrocopter natural stability, the rotors (wings) are flying through the air at 350mph so turbulent unstable air and wind gusts are ‘sampled’, this make the gyroplane much more stable that most other aircraft and capable or flying in conditions other won’t.

Autogyro, Gyroplane, Gyrocopter, Gyro – call them what you like, they are fun to fly and great to watch displaying.

THE PILOT – Peter Davies

Peter Davies has been flying for 33 years, and been flying Gyroplanes for 23 years. First issued a Gyroplane Display Authority (DA) in 1991. Peter became an Display Authority Evaluator (DAE) in 2012. Has displayed aircraft at several major shows including – Paris Air Show, Biggin Hill, Farnborough, Blackpool and Manchester.

He has over 2500 flying hours in Gyroplanes and is an official ‘Earth Rounder’ the name given to people who have flown around the world. Peter Davis and has won the 1994 Around the World Air Race

We look forward to seeing them at Air Waves Portrush 2016! ( Information from Gyro Air Display website, photo our own from 2015)

RAF Chinook out of Portrush

Sad news for Airwaves Portrush today. It has been confirmed that the RAF Chinook display has been pulled from Portrush on both days, as well as every other remaining airshow it was scheduled for.

The reason given was aircraft fatigue by the RAF.

Airwaves Portrush released the following statement on their Facebook this afternoon.

‘Some disappointing news to start the morning. We’re sorry to announce that the RAF Chinook display has been cancelled for the remainder of the 2016 display season, meaning she will not be at any more airshows this year.

This is due to continuing investigations relating to fatigue on the aircraft caused by the display routine.

We are working on a replacement which will join the existing line-up of the Red Arrows, RAF Typhoon, Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane, Mitchell, Catalina etc…. ‘