The UK Airshow Review Podcast

In this episode Sam has a big rant about carry-on baggage while flying as a photographer, and Ian gives his thoughts on Cosford. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Well what do you know, the thing that Sam was predicted for months happened. RIAT has been cancelled. We discuss this as well as the now officially announced Red Arrows tour to the country that's wrecking our airshow season here. Tom tells us about his visit to the airshow at Namest air base in the Czech Republic. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In Episode 110 we bring back on occasional guest of the show Dan Ledwood to continue our chat about being an airline pilot - but this time he's got four stripes! We also review some aviation books in a new section in partnership with Crécy Publishing! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

We discuss the recent, much-publicised Spitfire 90th Anniversary tour of Britain, and some interesting airshow social media decisions To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

We get the gang back together - to discuss the apocalypse? A couple of weeks ago a bunch of us trotted over to watch a bunch of United States Air Force bombers at RAF Fairford, deployed there as part of one of the most catastrophic wars in living memory that is likely to have cataclysmic lasting effects across the globe. B-1s are quite cool though, in fairness. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Red Arrows shock! This summer, they plan to visit the United States of America, prioritising their Independence Day celebrations over British airshows. This controversial tour is discussed at length here. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

The aviation enthusiast community has lost its mind recently with a self-imposed censorship of aircraft movements under the thoroughly misunderstood notion of OPSEC. We discuss. Apologies for the sound quality on this one. For some reason, Tom's microphone wouldn't work. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! The UKAR podcast enters 2026 with a bang - we kick off with a Christmas present roundup (don't get your hopes up) and then go into some of the highs and lows of aviation on the big and small screen! We look over the great scenes, the amazing footage and the dreadful plots that abound in aviation movies and shows. Link to the list of movies and shows discussed in this episode: https://notes.lkly.net/p1ki0m6r To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In this episode, maybe our last of the year, we go over the recent US display team calendar announcements and the somewhat questionable behaviour from some UK aviation enthusiasts that surrounded it, as well as a look ahead to a few announcements for the 2026 airshow season. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In this episode we are joined by one of the most decorated display pilots of recent years, Major Andrej Fiorelli, best known for flying the Slovenian Armed Forces' PC9M Hudournik Solo Display at many airshows, most recently winning the King Hussein Memorial Sword at RIAT 2025. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In this episode Sam and Dom are joined by Tom Gautier, day 1 podcast listener, aviation enthusiast and until recently an Air and Space Operations Specialist in the RAF. We've invited him to join us on the podcast to talk about this less discussed but vital role in the RAF, what his career looked like and some of his highlights. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Following the heady heights of our 100th episodes we're back with a classic, good old airshow review. Sam and Dom are joined by Gordon Duncan to chat about their visit to the Hahnweide Oldtimer Fliegertreffen fly in in Germany, after chatting about the 2026 RIAT theme announcement.

Join us for PART TWO of our 100th episode. We're celebrating our ton by going through each of our personal top 5 airshow moments of all time, across time and space! Did our choices so far align with your own? Maybe there have been some surprises! Let us know what you think of our final choices! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Join us for PART ONE of our 100th episode. We're celebrating our ton by going through each of our personal top 5 airshow moments of all time, across time and space! Did our choices so far align with your own? Maybe there have been some surprises! Join us in Part Two as well for the finale of our Top 5 countdown! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

For episode 99 we are joined by great friend of UKAR and the podcast, commercial and private pilot, obscure aircraft enjoyer and airshow participant, Paul Gibbs! If you don't know him by name, you will surely know him by plane - the owner and pilot of the Trago Mills SAH-1 and Tipsy Nipper T.66 that have attended UK shows as well as a pilot with AirTask who attended RIAT 2025 with the F406 and Dash-8-100. We chat to Paul about his surprisingly remarkable flying career and the types he's flown, but frankly we'll be having him again on the podcast because we barely touched half of what we wanted to chat about. Watch this space! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

It's been a couple of weeks, we've relaxed, we've recuperated, we've recovered, we've deleted all our blurry, out-of-focus shots, and now we're here to round up the highs and lows of RIAT 2025. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

The forecast is dire, but the chat is pure fire. It's our long awaited and much-demanded RIAT 2025 preview. We chat about the banger of a final update and what we're looking forward to seeing the most. Enjoy this on you drive over! If there's some annoying fan noise in the background, we make no apologies for podding in a heatwave. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

It's nearly time for RIAT, and that means Sam has a rant to go on...we talk about the state of accommodation around the show compared with others, and chat about some airshow updates. RIAT preview next week! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

A nice, tidy, does what it says on the tin airshow review episode: Dom recounts the Shuttleworth Festival of Flight, probably one of the airshows of the year, and Tom tells us (a bit belatedly) about his trip to celebrate the 100th anniversary of BAN Hyeres on the south coast of France (not a bit jealous). To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

UKAR Staffer, occasional podcast guest and all round great northerner Nigel Watson joins us to talk about the RAF's last airshow, RAF Cosford Air Show. We also go over a handful of airshow updates! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In this...surprising episode, Ian tells us about his weekend jolly to Miami for the Hyundai Air and Sea Show, which he told literally none of us about, and then we cover the Shuttleworth Military show and the Midlands Air Festival! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Heads up: this episode is 2 hours long. We decided to just get it all out in one go rather than go on to a third part, so maybe take this one in a couple of sessions. But it's worth it at the end! Join us as Dan and Sam talk about the rest of their recent trip to the USA. Note to self: don't let Dan drive. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Dan and Sam recently got their feet wet and tell us all about their recent trip to the USA. Or at least, half of it as they ended up having a lot to say. Part 2 to follow! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In episode 90 of our podcast, Dan, Sam and Dom look just two weeks ahead to the start of the 2025 UK airshow season, covering what's been announced so far and what might be coming up this year! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Nearly a full house this episode with Tom, Sam, Dan and Dom giving you a roundup of some of the announcement highlights of recent weeks, before having a discussion, perhaps better coded as a rant, about the general perception of helicopters at airshows among the public. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Sam and Dom are joined by Ben Dunnell, Aeroplane Magazine editor and leading airshow commentator, who returns to the podcast after nearly five years! We have a catch-up on how things have been in his world since the pandemic, what his highlights have been of the airshows we've had since then, as well as chat about the excellent, must-have RIAT 50th Anniversary book which Ben put together for the show's Golden Jubilee in 2021. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Dom, Ian and Sam chat about the first updates for the 2025 airshow season! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

We're back for the first episode of 2025. As well as inane banter around this episode's Teams backgrounds, we talk about our aviation-related gift hauls over Christmas (or lack of), a round up of airshow news, and Sam shows us models that the listeners can't see. We're sure this way of podcasting will catch on soon. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Following the success of our recently added segment "what's in the photo behind us that the listeners can't see?", we decided to, accidentally, expand it out into an entire episode. We learn about Dom's Cub, Dan's Greyhound, Tom's Tiger and Sam's Mighty Dragon (quiet down at the back!), with some sprinkling of chat and experiences alongside. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Having discussed at length on the podcast the controversial changes to the enthusiast's FRIAT package over the last few years, we gave the Royal International Air Tattoo's organising team the opportunity to join us for an episode and put forward their side of the story and explain to us why they have brough these changes in and what they see as the future of the FRIAT package. For this episode, Sam and Tom chat with Simon Hough, Head of Customer Experience and Peter Reoch, Head of Air Operations, to understand why the FRIAT experience has been changed and what it might look like in future years. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

The gang talk about the RIAT 2025 theme of "Eyes in the Skies", some updates for the season next year and some unfortunate news that's his the airshow world recently. We also try out a new format at the top of the episode. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

After much internal discussion, we're debating whether we think social media in general and Facebook in particular has actually been a net positive or net negative for this hobby. We all have pros and cons and we put them out there. We also have a bit of a rant about the state of food at airshows these days To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

It's been a while since our last episode, but we're back, with reviews a-plenty for your listening delight! Dom gives us his take on Cosby's Victory Show, Dan tells us about the International Ayr Show and Tom recounts his trip to Bucharest International Airshow (without bias!). To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

We're back for our annual RIAT preview episode. We round up what we're looking forward to the most, how we think the show is going to go and what we think the weather is going to be like... Sadly, however, a shadow is cast over this episode by the very late announcement of the changes to the FRIAT 2025 grandstand, which we discuss and heavily criticise. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

This short UKAR Podcast BLAST features Dom, Sam and Ian giving their thoughts on the debut outing of the (previously featured on this podcast) Sywell 2024 airshow. Spoiler: we really liked it! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In another guest episode, we're joined by Peter Reoch, Head of Air Operations at the Royal International Air Tattoo. With another varied lineup both in the air and on the ground; ahead of RIAT 2024, we took the opportunity to put questions asked on our forum to Peter to answer. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In episode 77, we review two major airshows - Midlands Air Festival and the RAF Cosford Air Show, the highs, the lows, the good and the bads. After hearing Dom and Tom's thoughts on those, Sam tells us about his whirlwind trip to see Korea's F-4 Phantoms say Pharewell. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In this episode, we preview the (then upcoming) Midlands Air Festival and Shuttleworth Military Festival, commend airshows for some late minute replacements for cancellations, and discuss if flying displays are getting too long... To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

In another guest episode, we're joined by Squadron Leader Chris Wilson, Media Officer for RAF Cosford and the RAF Cosford Airshow. With another varied lineup both in the air and on the ground, we find out exactly what it takes to put on the air show as well as getting the lowdown on this year's event. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Round'em up Cowboy! It's been a while since we've pored over the RIAT participants list for you, so we decided to go back down the list of the last few weeks and chat about some of the highlights that are starting to come out now. Dom gives us a taste of the Abingdon nightshoot - although Abingdon has now been postponed, sadly - and then goes off on another of his trademark rants. Tom also tells us about his visit of the Swedish Air Force Flight School where they operate the SK.60. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

We're discussing some of the airshow updates of recent weeks (as well as the methods of airshow updates), the Solway's Beverley Campaign, and Dom "on a soapbox" Vickery is let loose with his thoughts.... To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

We are joined on the podcast for this episode by two guests from the Royal Air Force's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, OC BBMF and Flight Lieutenant Seb Davey, Bomber Leader. In an enthralling session Mark and Seb answer our questions about the Flight and talk us through what representing the RAF's volunteer historical unit involves, what sets the BBMF apart from both the wider service and civilian operators and how you go from flying an A400M Atlas to an Avro Lancaster. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

We bring some breaking news (at the time) to you about Old Buckenham's stated and then deleted overly-restrictive bag rules, we go over some interesting RIAT news and chat about the upcoming Northolt Nightshoot. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Today we're joined by UKAR's Gordon Duncan to discuss our thoughts on the currently ongoing Apple TV show Masters of the Air, a Band of Brothers-esque show following the USAAF's 8th Air Force in the Second World War. We also cover Rhyl Airshow's (hopefully temporary) cancellation and the impact of the announcement that the Belgian F-16 Solo Display is to be no more. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

It's episode 69 (nice) of the UK Airshow Review podcast, and we're here to discuss a roundup of some airshow news that's broken since our last regular episode, the first "Take Off Thursday" (ie regular RIAT weekly update), and we then pick Dan's brains on what life in an airline is actually like on a day-to-day basis. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

We are joined for this episode by Trevor Graham, one of the founders of the now staple of the UK airshow scene Midlands Air Festival. With an especially exciting lineup this year we thought it would be good to get the lowdown on the show, find out why they're attracting so many rarities and see what visitors this year can expect. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

It felt like a shame to let all those cuttings on Ian's mixing studio floor go to waste so as a little treat we've put together another short blooper reel for you. Be warned, strong language within! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Following our last episode, we're back with Richard Grace at Ultimate Warbird Flights to talk about the company's operations, the processes of restoring and flying vintage aircraft, and why you should never fly a WWI fighter. We also get the lowdown on their latest restoration, P-51D Jersey Jerk! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

The UKAR Podcast team travelled to Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire to sit down with Richard Grace, Director and Chief Engineer of Ultimate Warbird Flights, to discuss his upcoming show for this season, Sywell 2024. Having expressed so much excitement over the last few episodes for this we were lucky to have the opportunity to chat with Richard about what the show is going to look like and what airshowgoers can expect to see. Sadly, a technical issue meant the audio on this episode wasn't perfect, but next episode should be absolutely crystal clear! To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.

Our final episode (that we recorded) of 2023 is here and it's the first one in a long time where we have the whole gang together! We have a quick Christmas gift roundup, look overseas to a couple of exciting Danish announcements and then chat about the disappointing news that there will be no Flying Legends in 2024. We also discuss the exciting build up for the Sywell 2024 show. To read our reports, features and interviews from years past, head to www.airshows.co.uk If you want to join the discussion, you can head to our forums at forums.airshows.co.uk All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and not their employers.