Page 21 - link magazine

P. 21

IN ASSOCIATION
WITH
in association with

in association with in association with
The calm before the show: Inside RAF Fairford

in association with
By Mike Barham safety both in the air and on
Standing next to one of the longest the ground. The Civil Aviation
runways in Europe on a quiet, Authority are soon to conclude
windswept April day, you would their investigation into the tragic
never get the sense that this United incident at the Shoreham Air Show
States Air Force base becomes last year and we are very confident
a hive of noise and aeronautical that RIAT will comply with the new
activity for one weekend in July, but regulations that will follow this.
that is exactly what RAF Fairford is “The focus this year is on
renowned for. inspiring the next generation. Our
During an exclusive media tour of Tech Zone for young people is back,
the facility, the extremely friendly right in the middle of the taxiway.
USAF Public Affairs team showed This area is a chance for the
us how the base runs on a day to aeronautical industry to discover
day basis, and dispelled a lot of the future engineers, designers and
urban myths that surround RAF those interested in the aviation
Fairford, including the assumption industry.
that there are still aircraft stationed “This year will also mark the 75th
at the base (there have been no anniversary of the Air Cadets, so
aircraft assigned to RAF Fairford we will be celebrating this on our
since 1990). The F-35 Lightning II will be on show at the Royal International Air Tattoo this opening Friday 8 July.
Col. Clinton Ross, vice commander year for the first time outside of the US, in both conventional and VTOL spec “Tickets are selling extremely
of the USAF 501st Combat quickly so we would encourage
Support Wing who oversees the stationed at RAF Fairford are spoke highly of the support provided your readers to get theirs whilst
base, explained: “Our role here at highly engaged with the local by the USAF stationed at Fairford they still can.
RAF Fairford is to enable global community, informing them of any in the build-up to the annual RIAT “A particular highlight this year
strike operations with on site flights coming into the airspace event. will be the F-35 Lightning II which
adminstrative and munitions and when exercises will be held. Mr Armstrong said: “For this year’s is making its first appearances at
facilities. The 9,000ft runway has an This is communicated to the local tattoo I believe we have taken all an air show outside of the US.”
unrestricted load bearing capability parish councils so they can inform the necessary steps, with help from Tickets are available for RIAT 2016
and provides the perfect staging residents and keep the relationship the personnel here at Fairford, to from their website:
area for bomber exercises.” between the base and the local area alleviate any concerns regarding www.airtattoo.com
Wayne Gantt, the air traffic open and harmonious.
control manager for RAF Fairford This is especially important when
who has recently moved from the facility hosts the ever popular
Hawaii to work at the airbase, said: Royal International Air Tattoo, one
“On average, we only have one US of the most highly anticipated dates
State Department flight into the of the air show calendar.
facility a week, to deliver all of our Crucially, Fairford Mayor Jennie
supplies and occasional comforts Sanford informed us that a recent
from back home. We are set up so Fairford Town Council survey found
that the tower in particular can be over 85% of the town’s population
run by just one person – namely supported RIAT and the attention it
myself.” brings to their area. Air traffic manager Wayne Gantt in the RAF Fairford control tower
During a press briefing, we Royal International Air Tattoo
were told how the personnel chief executive Andy Armstrong

Flypast by the Red Arrows supporting the iconic Cold War Vulcan Falconer Murray Simmonds with ‘Zephyr’, a gyr-peregrine cross falcon.
bomber during its last ever flight at last year’s RIAT Combatting bird strikes is one of the key roles at RAF Fairford

swindonlink.com n May 2016 21

Swindon Wide 2016 logo.indd 1 09/02/2016 17:07

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26