What you can expect to see at Combined Ops 2012.
…but keep checking here for more about the show as the weeks go by.

In The Air - Enjoy Aerobatic displays from:


·The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be with us once again this year, with full display by the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane.

Yak 11 Russian Fighter will be giving low level displays demonstrating the amazing manoeuverability of this versatile Russian Airforce monoplane of the 1940s.


The Turbulent Display Team will be racing around the sky again.
These miniature aeroplanes deliver a spectacular display of aerobatics, including bursting balloons and flying through obstacles
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The beautiful and colourful Ryan PT 22 Vintage US Army Air Corps Trainer will be 70 years old this year, and to celebrate will be doing a series of solo displays over the week end. First taken on charge by the USAAC at Hemet, California on 19 May 1942 she has been flying continuously ever since. Moved to the UK in July 1991, the aircraft is currently is based at Goodwood and flown by Richard Piper.
Featured in the famous film, ‘The Great Escape’, the Bucker Bestman, a post war production of the wartime German ME 108, resplendent in wartime Luftwaffe paint scheme, will bring a flavor of 1940 to the show, as the Luftwaffe returns to the skies over Kent.Built in 1966, used by the Egyptian Air Force until imported back to Germany in 1990, and returned to civil use. Current owner has had her sympathetically restored to a Luftwaffe colour scheme of A/B 32 Flying School Oldenburg Germany.
The Stampe Formation Display Team will perform outstanding displays of formation flying in these delightful vintage bi-planes.
If it wasn’t for their bright colours, one can almost be back in World War 1 as the planes head towards you in a low level ‘straffing’ run.
The Boeing PT-17 Stearman Wingwalk will provide another thrilling spectacle from a classic vintage bi-plane, combining acrobatics with aerobatics.
Take a pleasure flight in a vintage Dragon Rapide passenger bi-plane, and see the show, and the county of Kent from the air. The Dragon Rapide was the most successful British airliner of the1930s and 40s and was also extensively used by the RAF and Royal Navy during the Second World War.
This particular aircraft, (G-AIYR ‘Classic Lady’), started life in Loughborough in 1943 and served with the RAF. After the war she was used as a survey aircraft and later flew pleasure flights around the Scilly Isles until 1979. In 1980 she flew to Cape Town and back to commemorate Alan Cobham’s famous journey, and on her return in 1982 was completely overhauled by British Aerospace. Classic Wings acquired the aircraft shortly afterwards.
Maidstone Model Flying Club will be taking art in displays dudring the weekend.
On the ground:

Watch two exciting battle re-enactments each day – lots of explosions and excitement.

See Arena Action with Tanks and historic fighting vehicles.

Take a ride in a real tank.

Drive a Mini tank. Mainly for children, adults can drive them as well!

Admire Radio controlled model tanks on display.

Wander around the 30 different living history displays, everything from a WW2 village to the Gulf War scenes.

Browse the 60 militaria and craft stalls – selling everything from Jeeps to Jerry cans.

Stroll through the rows of historic, privately owned, military vehicles and find your favorite; over 300 to choose from.

Relax and watch the displays from the bar and catering areas.

Learn what went on behind the scenes of ‘Warhorse’ from TV Presenter Andy Robertshaw, the Military Adviser to the Steven Spielberg feature film, when he visits the Combined Ops military and aviation show at Headcorn Aerodrome.
Andy has regularly appeared in many archeology and military series such as Channel 4’s 'Time Team' and is hosting a series of talks at Headcorn expertly describing his experience of working with Speilberg, set advice given to the production team and his own little bit of 'on screen' time, accompanied by some of the original film props.

There is also the chance to buy a personally signed copy of his books including titles such as ’A Soldier's Life’, and ‘Tragedy and Triumph’, a military history for young people. His newest publication 'The Platoon' is an account of the experience of Private Joseph Johns Steward, a soldier in the London Regiment from 1916 to 1919.

We will have The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Living History Group joining us at Combined Ops. They are a first class First World War re-enactment group who will be putting on both static display, and a presentation in the arena. They will include marquee and bell tents to form a training camp of the regiment during the great war 1914-18 and will carry out training throughout the two days depicting camp life a including period cooking from soyers stoves. They will be bringing 1x 1915 general service wagon 1x 1915 cart water tank 1x 1916 triumph motor cycle and at least one period bicycle. www.thequeensown.com

Lashenden Air Warfare Museum A free Air Museum on site - don't miss it - More Info
Parachute Jumping by the local Parachute club.
IMPS Combined Ops - Headcorn Airfield 11th -12th August 2012

 



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