FOR THE first time in the UK, visitors to the Royal International Air Tattoo can inspect - from a respectable distance - the stealthy skins of the Northrop-Grumman B-2 bomber displayed on the ground and in the air by Air Combat Command of the USAF. Conceived in the 1970s, developed during the 1980s and first flown on October 19, 1990, the B-2 is expected to remain as possibly the last manned bomber of its type until at least the fourth decade of the next century.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Northrop B-2 Spirit - СШАUSA - 1989

Sally B thunders low across the airfields of Britain in tribute to the contribution to the Allied war effort made by Boeing’s most famous bomber, the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing B-17E / B-17G Flying Fortress - СШАUSA - 1941

Capturing all the drama and nostalgia of wartime aviation, the B-17 has attracted a global supporters’ club on which the owners depend to keep this venerable old warbird in the air.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing B-17E / B-17G Flying Fortress - СШАUSA - 1941

Concorde 001 is open to the public.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: SNIAC, BAC Concorde - InternationalInternational - 1969

The CAF B-24 Liberator on approach in 1992, with Vulcan, Red Arrows, F-86 and others in the foreground.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Avro Vulcan / Type 698 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1952Consolidated B-24H / B-24J Liberator - СШАUSA - 1943Hawker-Siddeley Hawk / HS.1182 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1972North American F-86 Sabre - СШАUSA - 1947

Fast and slow: North American F-86 Sabre and Vickers Vimy replica at Biggin Hill’s International Air Fair.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American F-86 Sabre - СШАUSA - 1947Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

First in a family of feline fighters, the fiery little Grumman Wildcat puts up a spirited performance with its 1,200 h.p. Wright Cyclone

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Grumman F4F Wildcat - СШАUSA - 1937

The growling Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine fitted to the Grumman Bearcat puts out more than 2,000 h.p.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Grumman F8F Bearcat - СШАUSA - 1944

Mark Hanna is seen flying Buchon G-BOML last year.
Hispano Buchon G-BOML will be one of the 12 aircraft displayed by the OFMC in 1999.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hispano HA-1109/HA-1112 Buchon - ИспанияSpain - 1945

One of the most pleasing sights in the UK classic jet showcase: Kennet’s pristine Hawker Hunter F.6A, XF515.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hunter - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1951

Vimy replica NX71MY “G-EAOU” departs Biggin Hill in 1996 with a Hunter line-up in salute.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hunter - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1951Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

New for 1999 airshows is this diminutive Nieuport 17, the proud mount of some of the most famous World War One pilots including ace Billy Bishop.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Nieuport Nieuport-17/21/23 - ФранцияFrance - 1916

Descended from a famous line of Hawk fighters, the Curtiss P-40M shows its teeth in the “Bengal Tiger" markings of the 11th FS, 343rd FG.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Curtiss P-40D Kittyhawk / Warhawk - СШАUSA - 1941

Warbirds of the Fighter Collection perform a head-on fly-through. Left to right: P-51D Mustang G-BTCD Moose, Spitfire XIV MV293 and Spitfire IX ML417.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944Supermarine Spitfire FR.XIV / FR.XVIII / PR.XIX - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX / XVI - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

Responsible more than any other type for escorting USAAF bombers deep into enemy territory during World War Two, the spectacular P-51D Mustang makes a head-on approach.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

Spitfire VB AB910 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight serves as a lasting tribute to pilots of the Royal Air Force who saved this country from defeat in 1940.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

Spitfire IX MH434 of the Old Flying Machine Company (OFMC) shows off its manoeuvrability at an Old Warden display.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX / XVI - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

Historic warbirds are a key attraction at Duxford’s major airshows.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX / XVI - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

Typically colourful North Weald line-ups of Pitts Specials, Yak-52s and Harvards.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American T-6 Texan / AT-6 Harvard - СШАUSA - 1935Яковлев Як-52 - РоссияRussia - 1974

Great War aeroplanes including Sopwith Pup, Albatros D V, Fokker Dr I and Sopwith Triplane provide an atmospheric tableau.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Albatros D.V/D.Va - ГерманияGermany - 1917Fokker Dr.I - ГерманияGermany - 1917Sopwith Pup - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1916Sopwith Triplane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1916

The Sopwith Triplane moves in on the camera aircraft as the Fokker Triplane, painted in the colours of ace German pilot Josef Carl Jacobs, closes up.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fokker Dr.I - ГерманияGermany - 1917Sopwith Triplane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1916

Cosford’s Hawker Hart trainer K4972 attracts some young interest. Behind it is the “haunted” Lincoln.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Avro Lincoln / Type 694 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944Hawker Hart - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1928

The Bleriot XI awaiting elevation...

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bleriot Bleriot-XI - ФранцияFrance - 1909

The Bleriot XI in position, to impress guests at one of the museum’s special functions.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bleriot Bleriot-XI - ФранцияFrance - 1909

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c 2699 is suspended in the atrium of the Imperial War Museum.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: RAF B.E.2c/B.E.2d - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1914

The Collection’s S.E.5a over the flat Bedfordshire countryside near its Old Warden base.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: RAF S.E.5 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1916

Test missiles and rockets share the Bristol Aero Collection’s hangar space with a Bristol Sycamore helicopter.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bristol Sycamore / Type 171 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

A varied selection of Air Fair participants.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Яковлев Як-11 - РоссияRussia - 1946

Timofeev and the Su-26M.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Сухой Су-26 / Су-31 - РоссияRussia - 1984

REPUTED to be the world's best female aerobatic pilot, Svetlana Kapanina was born and raised in Kazakhstan, Siberia. She began taking flying lessons in 1988 on a Yak-52, performing her first aerobatics a year later on a Yak-50. Just two years after that, in 1991, she became the overall champion of aerobatics in Russia, and went on to win medals and awards flying the Sukhoi Su-26M owned by Nikolay Timofeev.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Сухой Су-26 / Су-31 - РоссияRussia - 1984

North Weald’s resident gaggle of aerobatic Yak-52s.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Яковлев Як-52 - РоссияRussia - 1974

Yak-52 G-BVVW at North Coates in summer 1998.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Яковлев Як-52 - РоссияRussia - 1974

The Shuttleworth Collection’s Bristol F.2B Fighter.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bristol F.2A/F.2B Fighter - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1916

A family group inspects the cockpit of a Folland Gnat at Cosford.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Folland Gnat - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1955

The two-seat Spitfire IX (ML407/G-LFIX) flown by Carolyn Grace carries the markings of No 485 New Zealand Sqn.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Trainer - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

Carolyn Grace, the only woman in the world to own and fly her own Spitfire.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Trainer - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

In service with the US Air Force between 1946 and the early 1970s, the Bell 47G is put through its paces by Tracy Martin.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bell H-13 Sioux / Model 47 - СШАUSA - 1945

The Red Arrows will be continuing their 35th anniversary celebrations at Fairford.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker-Siddeley Hawk / HS.1182 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1972

Surely the world’s most popular and best-known aerobatic display team, the RAF Red Arrows perform a typically spectacular pull-up.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker-Siddeley Hawk / HS.1182 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1972

“Loch Ness” Wellington N2980 is a star exhibit.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Wellington / Type 271 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1936

The ubiquitous Fairey Swordfish, represented here by W5856, immortalises the achievements of the Fleet Air Arm.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Swordfish - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

On show days North Weald hosts a wide variety of visiting aircraft and display participants.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Dragon Rapide / Dominie / D.H.89 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

The Stampe SV-4C and Tiger Moths of the Tiger Club’s aerobatic Biplane Trio.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Tiger Moth / D.H.82 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1931Stampe et Vertongen SV-4 - БельгияBelgium - 1933

Anna Walker pulls a neat vertical climb in her Bucker Jungmann, a familiar sight now at airshows around the country.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bucker Bu.131 Jungmann - ГерманияGermany - 1934

In the livery worn for the 1936 Olympic Games, Bucker Jungmanns flown by Pete Brand and Chris Beal appear as a team this year with a new formation display for 1999.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bucker Bu.131 Jungmann - ГерманияGermany - 1934

Ryan PT-22 “854” at North Coates in March 1997.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Ryan ST / PT-22 Recruit - СШАUSA - 1934

The Crunchies prepare for their wing-walking act against a backdrop of fast Jets.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Stearman PT-13 / PT-17 Kaydet / Model 73 (Boeing-Stearman) - СШАUSA - 1934

Barnstorming wingwalkers come back to the airshow season with a vengeance this year as the Aerobabes butter up their act. Look out for their utterly new colour scheme!

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Stearman PT-13 / PT-17 Kaydet / Model 73 (Boeing-Stearman) - СШАUSA - 1934

Recalling one of the most colourful periods in American aviation history, the Stearman Kaydet became the first standard trainer for the US Army Air Corps, its excellent handling qualities ably displayed by the Stearman Display Team.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Stearman PT-13 / PT-17 Kaydet / Model 73 (Boeing-Stearman) - СШАUSA - 1934

The Zlin 50LS is a very capable little aerobat exploited to the full by pilots Toth, Paszti and Nagy.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Zlin Z-50 - ЧехословакияCzechoslovakia - 1975

Smokily over the top with the Aerotriga-Malev team’s three Zlin 50LSs.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Zlin Z-50 - ЧехословакияCzechoslovakia - 1975

IT CAN reach any pan of Essex within 18 minutes, carry two stretcher patients, two paramedics and a pilot, and it is available, on call. 24 hours a day. Since its launch on July 1, 1998, by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Braybrook, the Essex Air ambulance service has conducted around 400 operational flights with its Eurocopter Bo 105DB based at Boreham near Chelmsford. Leased from Bond Air Services of Aberdeen, it has a top speed of 140 m.p.h. and reaches areas such as woods, beaches, marshlands and golf courses inaccessible to many land vehicles.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: MBB Bo-105 - ГерманияGermany - 1967

A future static exhibit is this Lightning T.4 cockpit section, which is awaiting refurbishment.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: English Electric / BAC Lightning T.4 / T.5 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1959

Extra 300L - один из немногих самолетов мирового класса, предназначенных для аэробатики. Он оснащен выполненными из специальных материалов крылом и хвостовым оперением и рассчитан на постоянные перегрузки до 10 g и кратковременные перегрузки до 23 g.
Firebird Aerobatics' Extra 300L, flown by Brian Lecomber, provides gut-wrenching displays of virtuoso aerobatics.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Extra EA300 / EA200 - ГерманияGermany - 1987

Самолеты семейства Extra (сфотографирована модель 300L) отличаются мощным двигателем и легкой прочной конструкцией.
The Microlease Extra 300L is put through a stunning sequence of aerobatic twists and turns in an awesome display of sheer brute power.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Extra EA300 / EA200 - ГерманияGermany - 1987

Last airworthy Vickers Vanguard/Merchantman G-APEP flew into retirement at the Brooklands Museum at 1056hr on October 17, 1996. Donated by Hunting Cargo Airlines, ’EP was returning home: it made its maiden flight at the same airfield on November 29, 1961. The Rolls-Royce Tyne-powered turboprop was “the missing link in the airliners we wanted to add to our collection”, aviation curator Julian Temple tells Vintage News.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vanguard - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1959

The smallest twin-engined aircraft in the world, the Cri-Cri, takes off from the roof of a Mitsubishi Shogun.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Colomban Cri-Cri - ФранцияFrance - 1973

Typically colourful North Weald line-ups of Pitts Specials, Yak-52s and Harvards.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Pitts S-1 / S-2 - СШАUSA - 1945

Denny Dobson's Pitts S-1D G-BIRD has been on the UK aerobatic scene for more than 20 years.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Pitts S-1 / S-2 - СШАUSA - 1945

A low flypast by Denny emphasises the petite good looks of the diminutive Pitts.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Pitts S-1 / S-2 - СШАUSA - 1945

This Auster Autocrat was first registered in 1947.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Auster J/1 - J/5 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1945

A rare Chrislea Super Ace at the spring 1997 rally.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Chrislea C.H.3 Ace / Super Ace - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1946

Based at Deenethorpe Airfield, Derbyshire, Skybird puts up a variety of aerial acts from hot-air balloons to helicopters and fixed wing aircraft carrying promotions and sponsor advertising.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Christen Eagle II - СШАUSA - 1977

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Aerocar (Taylor) Model I / II - СШАUSA - 1949

The scale S.E.5a flown by Doug Gregory brings another World War One type to the airshow circuit for the 1999 season.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Replica Plans S.E.5a - КанадаCanada - 1970