Abingdon Air & Country Show
Encyclopedia
The Abingdon Air & Country Show is an annual air display staged in Abingdon
, Oxfordshire
. The show takes place at the semi-active Abingdon Airfield, the former RAF Abingdon
now operated by the British Army
as Dalton Barracks.
The show typically features a flying display containing a wide variety of historic and modern aircraft. There is also a static aircraft display and a Fly-in
. On the ground, there is a range of country fair attractions.
Although held on a military establishment, the show is a civilian event. It is organised entirely by volunteers, with proceeds being donated to a local charity.
, BAE Hawk
, Hawker Hunter
, Folland Gnat
) military helicopters from the Royal Air Force
and Royal Navy
, historic warbirds like the Spitfire
and Mustang and displays from light aerobatic aircraft. In 2009 there was a visit by an RAF C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, and in 2011 the Avro Vulcan XH558
performed the closing display.
The show has also managed to attract international participation. In 2005 the Polish Navy
brought a PZL M-28 for static display, while in both 2006 and 2008 the US Army exhibited a UH-60 Black Hawk and in 2010 the Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16 display team performed. Traditionally, the show also includes participation from the resident No 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron
, which uses the airfield during the weekend for its flying activities.
The Fly-in also attracts a wide variety of aircraft from the UK's General aviation
community.
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. The show takes place at the semi-active Abingdon Airfield, the former RAF Abingdon
RAF Abingdon
RAF Abingdon was a Royal Air Force station near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It is now known as Dalton Barracks and is used by the Royal Logistic Corps....
now operated by the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
as Dalton Barracks.
The show typically features a flying display containing a wide variety of historic and modern aircraft. There is also a static aircraft display and a Fly-in
Fly-in
A fly-in is a pre-arranged gathering of aircraft, pilots and passengers for recreational and social purposes.Fly-ins may be formally or informally organised, members of the public may or may not be invited, the gathering may be at an airport or in a farmer's field.Fly-ins can be aimed at specific...
. On the ground, there is a range of country fair attractions.
History and organisation
The event first started in 2000 as a small fete. In the years since then the show has grown in stature. Attendances have increased, and at the 2009 show there were over 10,000 people. For many years the show was known simply as the Abingdon Fayre, but in 2007 the show's title changed to Abingdon Air & Country Show to more accurately reflect the show's content.Although held on a military establishment, the show is a civilian event. It is organised entirely by volunteers, with proceeds being donated to a local charity.
Aircraft
A wide range of aircraft have performed flying displays at the show. These have included many modern and classic fast jets (for example Sepecat JaguarSEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
, BAE Hawk
BAE Hawk
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
, Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
, Folland Gnat
Folland Gnat
The Folland Gnat was a small, swept-wing British subsonic jet trainer and light fighter aircraft developed by Folland Aircraft for the Royal Air Force, and flown extensively by the Indian Air Force....
) military helicopters from the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, historic warbirds like the Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and Mustang and displays from light aerobatic aircraft. In 2009 there was a visit by an RAF C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, and in 2011 the Avro Vulcan XH558
Avro Vulcan XH558
Avro Vulcan XH558 The Spirit Of Great Britain is the only airworthy example of the 134 Avro Vulcan V-bombers that were operated by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1984. Vulcan XH558 served with the RAF between 1960 and 1985 in the bomber, maritime reconnaissance and air-to-air refuelling roles...
performed the closing display.
The show has also managed to attract international participation. In 2005 the Polish Navy
Polish Navy
The Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej - MW RP Polish Navy, is the branch of Republic of Poland Armed Forces responsible for naval operations...
brought a PZL M-28 for static display, while in both 2006 and 2008 the US Army exhibited a UH-60 Black Hawk and in 2010 the Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
F-16 display team performed. Traditionally, the show also includes participation from the resident No 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron
Volunteer Gliding Squadron
Volunteer Gliding Squadrons are Royal Air Force Flying Training Units , operating military Viking TX.1 and Vigilant T.1 gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps....
, which uses the airfield during the weekend for its flying activities.
The Fly-in also attracts a wide variety of aircraft from the UK's General aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
community.