Tom Jones

The USAF F-22 Demo Team performing at RIAT some years ago. Always great to see the F-22 Raptor in person!

One of the JASDF’s colourful CH-74Js, which performs a search and rescue/disaster relief role.

The B-1 launching from RAF Fairford a few years ago

A trio of classic British warbirds. ML407, P2902, and MH415 at Cosby Victory Show in 2021.

An ALAT Tigre, throwing the helicopter very nearly upside down during its demo. Great to finally be able to tick off all European Tigre/Tiger operators!

A French Navy Rafale M, looking quite chunky with a pair of tanks, hardpoint extensions, and a targeting pod equipped.

A JASDF Kawasaki T-4, an indigenous sub-sonic jet trainer built in Japan from the mid-80s onwards. Although it has similarity with an Alpha Jet design, it’s much larger than its European counterparts.

An ALAT SA342 Gazelle from Le Luc in the South of France. Always love to see a day glo/camo livery!

A ROCAF Hsinchu-based Mirage 2000-5 on a CAP sortie.

Carpathian Vipers! The Romanian Air Force currently fields over fifth F-16s that were purchased second hand, including this one from the Portuguese Air Force. Great to see them stretch their legs at BIAS in 2024.

A RIAT static star item from 2025 was this wonderful French Air Force E-3F Sentry.

Thanks!

The lovely Saab Draken, one of two airworthy models preserved by the SwAFHF, taxiing at Zeltweg in 2022.

A triplet of Sukhoi Su-22s at Radom airshow 2023. The type was retired at the end of 2025

A favourite of mine. A Luftwaffe CH-53 taxiing at RIAT 2022

Another throwback to 2020, when British Airways was very sadly disposing of its 747s. This one, G-CIVB, flew into Kemble for preservation, still wearing BA’s heritage “Negus” livery.

Another European Mi-24 that has recently gone the way of the Dodo! Many ex-Czech examples are now operated by Ukraine in the fight against Russian invaders.

Japan’s iconic Kawasaki EC-1 electronic warfare aircraft, with some pretty significant lumps and bumps. This aircraft (and the C-1 type as a whole) were retired in 2025, although its EC-2 replacement has been spotted in preparation for imminent test flights.

Another of the quite rare Falcon 10MER demo from the French Navy last summer. The Aéronautique Navale has operated a fleet of six or seven of these since 1981, and they are due to be replaced soon by the PC-24.

The lovely Alouette III; a classic helicopter design. They served the Austrian Air Force for over fifty years before their retirement in 2024

Another former European demo stalwart that’s no longer with us; the Belgian AF A109 demo, seen here in its “Razzle Blades” livery.

Always great to see a MiG-21; albeit they are now an extinct type in Europe! This Romanian Air Force example was seen arriving at RIAT in 2019.

The Mi-24 is a classic Soviet type. Awesome to see these gunships in Hungarian service back in 2022. The end of their service life approaches.

One of my favourite moments in the hobby. A JASDF UH-60J in its lovely SAR blue livery getting ready to depart Tachikawa in some lovely clear light.

An Italian HH-101A conducting some flight testing at Yeovil prior to delivery.

The S102B CIV SP “Korpen” of the Swedish Air Force. One of the more secretive aircraft of the air arm, the modified Gulfstream design performs signals intelligence duties.

An Italian Navy MH-90A. The Italian Navy has nine of these troop transport helicopters.

A JASDF 306Sqn F-15J Eagle launching out of Komatsu. Taken from near the old pumping station.

A French Navy AS565 Panther, taken at a rare open doors event last year at Hyères.

Throwback to 2020, when British Airways was very sadly disposing of its 747s. This one, G-CIVK, flew into St Athan for scrapping in September of that year.