IN PICTURES: Thousands celebrate RAF's 90th anniversary at Halton
17 Jun 08
Around ten thousand visitors flocked to RAF Halton's Open Day in Buckinghamshire this weekend to help the station celebrate the RAF's 90th anniversary.
A nine ship of Tornado F3s from 43(F) and 111(F) Squadrons both based at RAF Leuchars in Fife, flypast during RAF Halton's 'At Home Day 2008'
[Picture: Kate Parrott]
Entry was free for the two day event, aimed at giving visitors a better insight into what the RAF is about. Pupils from local schools, veterans, including several in their nineties, and the families of Service personnel away on operations, swelled the crowd.
A three hour air display opened when the skies were filled with 44 RAF aircraft on their way home from the Queen's Birthday Flypast just a few miles away in London. The constant sound of aircraft performing aerobatic loops and rolls thrilled the audience and Tiger Moths zoomed around the sky, taking people up for experience flights.
The De Havilland Moth Club had moved their annual Moth Rally and public flying weekend from Woburn Abbey to RAF Halton, to enable them to take in the RAF's 90th year celebrations. Amongst the visitors being taken up in the Tiger Moths were patients from the nearby Stoke Mandeville Spinal Unit who were lifted into the cockpits by a hoist specially made for the event.
See the Gallery under Related Links >>> for more pictures from the day.
Visitors were also treated to presentations and displays by the RAF Regiment, 90 Signals Unit, the Mobile Catering unit, Tactical Imagery, RAF recruiters and the Air Cadets. The RAF Halton Band played to the crowds and school children danced in the sunshine and relaxed atmosphere.
RAF Typhoons from RAF Coningsby flying in Typhoon formation with Wing Commander Johnny Stringer, Officer Commanding 29(R) Squadron, in the lead aircraft
[Picture: Graham Shackleton]
Uniformed personnel also mingled amongst the crowds to talk about the different career opportunities the RAF has to offer.
Group Captain Richard Gammage, Station Commander, Royal Air Force Halton said:
"This was a welcome opportunity for the general public to see at first hand, the professional and dedicated people they have in their Royal Air Force. We were able to fill our airfield with thousands of visitors, many of whom took the opportunity to express their respect and admiration for our Armed Forces.
"Many of the youngsters expressed an interest in careers in the Royal Air Force, which was one of our main aims for the day. The staff at Halton worked extremely hard to put this together - for their efforts to be rewarded by such a successful day was fantastic."