Royal Air Force Display

Farnborough - July 1950

The S.B.A.C. exhibition programmes from 1949 and the 1950s have not survived, but in 1950 Farnborough saw two flying displays. The R.A.F. put on a show in addition to the S.B.A.C. display. The programme included a message from Marshall of the Royal Air Force, Viscount Trenchard and among the aircraft flown were, Spitfires, Hornets, Vampires and Meteors. Chipmunks, Harvards and sailplanes. There was also a Canberra, Venom, Hawker P.1052 and Vickers 510. Formation aerobatics were performed separately by Vampires and Meteor teams and there was a re-enactment of the attack on Amiens prison by Mosquito bombers.

There was a flypast by Sunderlands, Dakotas, Hastings, U.S.A.F. Superfortresses and Lincoln bombers from 15 different squadrons (including 138) who simulated a WW2 bombing raid. The ‘Helicopter Circus’ included the Westland Hoverfly and the show concluded with a display by veteran aircraft. These was a Bleriot from 1909, a Deperdussin (1911), Blackburn (1912) and a Sopwith Pup (1916).

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