Flying at RAF Cosford Air Show 'a dream come true'

2 hours ago

Paul Shuttleworth,BBC Radio Shropshireand

Vanessa Pearce,West Midlands

News image — Bradley Lefley-Kemp will be taking part in a glider display at the show

BBC Bradley Lefley-Kemp is smiling and wearing a blue uniform with green lapel covers and a Poppy Appeal lanyard around his neck. He is standing in an office with desks and a filing cabinet in the background. — Bradley Lefley-Kemp will be taking part in a glider display at the show

About 50,000 people are expected at the annual RAF Cosford Air Show, bringing displays of aircraft including three new RAF Museum acquisitions.

The museum's new Hawk, Reaper and Puma will be shown to the public for the first time during the show on Sunday.

Among those taking part as a glider pilot is 22-year-old Bradley Lefley-Kemp.

The aircraft mechanic technician apprentice said it was a "huge honour," as well as a "dream come true" to fly at the show, at the base between Wolverhampton and Shifnal, Shropshire.

Currently training at RAF Cosford and flying with RAF Shawbury Gliding Club, he has worked his way from a first gliding experience that left him "instantly hooked" to achieving display authorisation standard, said organisers.

"I know it sounds very cliched but these are the things you dream of, you don't actually think it's going to become a reality," he explained.

He said he hoped the display would "showcase what gliders are really capable of, to hopefully encourage, in particular, more young people into gliding".

RAF Cosford Museum A British Aerospace Hawk T1A, with red, white and blue livery, is parked in an aircraft hangar. It has Royal Air Force in white letters on the side — The RAF Museum's British Aerospace Hawk T1A will be on show to the public

Each of the three new museum aircraft on show "represents a significant chapter in RAF history," said museum curator, Tom Hopkins.

"Whether that's the Hawk which continues to inspire audiences as part of the world-famous Red Arrows display team, or the Puma which has more than five decades of distinguished RAF service," he said.

The recently retired Reaper will become the first aircraft of its type to enter a UK museum collection, he explained.

RAF Cosford A depiction of the Battle of Britain memorial flight with a Dakota flying alongside a Spitfire and Hurricane against a blue sky. — The Battle of Britain memorial flight will feature a Dakota flying alongside a Spitfire and Hurricane.

Sqn Ldr Dave Kerrison explained the attraction of the only official Royal Air Force airshow in the UK, tickets for which have now sold out.

"We've got so many high value and high profile assets that everybody wants to come and see, and they're the same assets that we want to showcase to everybody," he said.

The event was first held in 1978, and has run most years since then.

Attractions this year include a Battle of Britain memorial flight including the Dakota flying alongside a Spitfire and Hurricane.

There will also be a display from the Red Arrows, the RAF's world-famous aerobatic team.

The theme for the event is "engineering the future," organisers said, promising a focus on aerospace innovation.

RAF Cosford Flt Lt Tom Nation wears a green RAF flight suit with his name badge on his right and the RAF insignia on the left of his jacket. He has a white vest on with red, white and blue collar. — Flt Lt Tom Nation will be taking part in a Typhoon demonstration flight

Typhoon display team pilot, Flt Lt Tom Nation, said it was a one-off opportunity for him to take part.

"You put your name in the hat and I was lucky enough to get it this year."

Flying the plane at speed "certainly shrinks the world," he explained.

"You're certainly having to think a few steps ahead in the plane .. if you're thinking of where you're going to be next you're probably already past it."

"Generally when we're flying at high speeds we're at height, so you don't actually get the sensation that you're flying that fast," he added.

"I guess I'm lucky in the display world where I can fly pretty fast but really close to the ground and that's when you get the sensation of 'OK, I'm going pretty quick here'."

The RAF Cosford Air Show takes place on Sunday 14 June. Gates open at 08:00 BST.