Audience
dazzled by airborne tricks
Gazette & Herald
20th July 2006 pg 42
www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk
with thanks to Zoë Mills
HERCULES from Lyneham were part of show-stopping aerial antics
that wowed crowds at this year's Royal International Air Tattoo.
The 10-strong crew showed off the excellent capability of
the Hercules transporter planes.
Flight Lieutenant Trev Waller said it was a wonderful event,
although there was no static Hercules on display as Lyneham
ran out of planes. "We all had a great weekend. It was
well organised and we were pleased to be there. It's our local
show and one of the biggest in the country so we always try
our best to support it."
The display included a short field landing, off-loading vehicles,
a 50mph reverse down the runway and a special landing developed
by the Americans in the Vietnam war known as the Khesahn.
Flight Lieutenant Trev Waller was originally posted to the
C-130K Hercules at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. He completed
several tours of duty on different Squadrons at the Wiltshire
airbase and was one of the first crews to convert to the new
J model Hercules. During his time at Lyneham Trev has flown
on both marks of Hercules and completed operational sorties
in Iraq, Sierra Leone, the Balkans and Afghanistan. He is
now an Instructor on the J model Training Flight where he
undertakes continuation training and checks for all Squadron
pilots as well as coordinating Night Vision Goggle airland
training. Flt Lt Trev Waller is the 30 Sqn Display Pilot for
this year’s RAF C-130 display. For information on the
RAF Lyneham C130J Hercules Display Team, the background and
their display dates click
here
Among the other highlights at RAF Fairford was a breathtaking
display from the English Electric Canberra PR9 based at RAF
Marham in Norfolk, which will retire from service at the end
of the month. Revellers marvelled at one of the world's greatest
aerobatic display teams, the RAF's Red Arrows, as they carried
out a spectacular aerial manoeuvres.
The Royal International Air Tattoo is officially the world's
biggest air show, drawing around 150,000 visitors and planes
each year from across the globe.
This year's theme was Rapid Global Effect highlighting the
ability for military forces to respond speedily to emergencies
such as the Pakistan earthquake.
A Pakistan C130 Hercules, similar to the Fat Albert flown
at RAF Lyneham, that helped rescue victims of last year’s
devastating earthquake in the country participated as a gesture
of thanks for the support it received from the international
community.
The giant C-130 Hercules, kitted out to demonstrate its medical
evacuation role, appeared as a static display and invited
visitors to board the aircraft and meet the crew. It is believed
to be the first time a military aircraft from Pakistan has
appeared at an airshow in the UK, especially the Air Tattoo
since it was first held in 1971.
Matt Barker, 17, from Shrivenham, came to the show with
a group of friends. He said: "It's amazing. I'm pleased
I came along today because it's great. I just watched the
Hornet plane turning upside down. I'm looking forward to the
rest of the displays now." And he said he'll be coming
back with more friends next year. |
