The museum includes a history of major aviation development as well as referencing notable events in the history of the Royal Air Force. Cosford is also the home of RAF engineering and has a large selection of retired aircraft from both the RAF and the Royal Aircraft Establishment so a visit to this airfield allows the visitor to see aircraft in original squadron markings but long since retired from duty.
One of the benefits of a visit to this annual show is the opportunity to see several of the museum's exhibits outside alongside those aircraft used in the engineering apprentice training role. Inside the extensive museum is a historic collection of developmental aircraft and a number of these are towed out once a year to form part of a formidable static display.
One of three most interesting aircraft in the static was Spitfire 1X LZ842/G-CGZU coded EF-F owned by Mark Arwyn Bennett and based at Biggin Hill, this airfield was made famous in the UK by The Battle of Britain. Towards the end of WW2, the RAF disposed of a large number of Spitfires as the 1950s heralded the birth of the jet engine, this particular aircraft was sold to the South African Air Force. It was rumoured to have left South Africa in the 1960s and from there was shipped to Australia before coming back to the UK in 2002. Thankfully the weather was kind this year and it was dry, sunny and warm with a pleasant breeze, which made the air display even more enjoyable.
The RAF Falcons parachute display team opened the display, as they usually do here, arriving in one of two Lockheed C130 Hercules transports. This show was the swan song for the retiring Hercules now replaced in service by the A400 Atlas transport. The Hercules has been the workhorse of RAF Transport command for 56 years and will be sorely missed. The RAF Chinook would also take part in the flying display showing just how manoeuvrable this giant twin-rotor helicopter can be. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT), the Red Arrows displayed as did the Patrouille Suisse in their six Northrop F-5E Tiger 11 aircraft.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight displayed with one of their Spitfires and a Hurricane, a lasting aerial tribute to the men and women lost in battle during World War II. There were two displays by fast fighter jets with displays by the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 with the show closing with a thrilling display by the F35B Lightning. Grateful thanks to Sqn Ldr Chris Wilson and Sarah Jones at RAF Cosford.