RAF Cosford Air Show Interview

Friday 13th February 2015

It may feel like we are still shaking off the shackles of winter, but behind the scenes preparations are well underway in offices up and down the country for the airshow season ahead. In a turn of events that would have been unthinkable several years ago, the much-publicised lack of an RAF Waddington Airshow in 2015 has left RAF Cosford as the only RAF show remaining on the circuit this year.

Tom Jones and Tim Croton met with the organisers of the annual RAF Cosford Air Show, to discuss the plans and progress for the 2015 event.

How many of you are on the organising team, and how do your roles differ?

"The organising team is effectively split into two groups. There is a civilian side, and there is an RAF side. On the civilian side, there are four of us permanent staff. I (Clive Elliott) am the Air Show Director and I share a lot of work with an Air Show Chairman, which is one of the Wing Commanders here. We both report to the Station Commander, Group Captain Adam Samson. Of the other three permanent civilian staff here; Marilyn Summers is Commercial Manager, Michaela Kitto is the Office Administrator and Peter Reoch works in Air Operations. We also have Simon Stenning who is our Site Manager, and is contracted in for a number of days each year, he dictates site layout in terms of things like toilets, fencing, trade stalls and everything else to do with that side of the show. We also have the other members of the air operations team, who work remotely. Mike Stanway is our Flying Display Director and Group Captain Mark Manwaring is the chairman of the Flying Control Committee.

"On the RAF side, there is Group Captain Adam Sansom who is the Station Commander; he delegates the Air Show responsibilities to one of the station Wing Commanders as the Air Show Chairman. This year it is Wing Commander Kevin Rayner, who is the Officer Commanding No1 Radio School. He then has a team of eight Squadron Leader "Project Managers" each of whom are responsible for eight or nine so-called "projects". These "projects" can be anything from the souvenir programme design, to traffic control, to tickets management etc. They do this voluntarily, on top of their day-to-day operational duties, and they are all delighted to be able to help out with the show. So in total we have sixty Project Officers, eight Project Managers, a Wing Commander and us.

"Before 2012, the organisation team consisted of three retired Wing Commanders. Since 2012, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) has been contracted in to assist with the organisation of the show. As such, I work for the RAFCTE and so my salary comes from them, whereas the rest of the civilian staff are paid from the air show budget." Clive Elliott

At what point in the year does the planning for the next airshow start?

"The planning for shows is a continual process. As an example, I am already planning for the 2016 show by liaising with potential sponsors, who have never been involved with the show before. Having spent ten years working at Fairford, I have a lot of contacts in the industry, and so I am going out and liaising with new potential sponsors. It is important that I plan ahead with them now, so that they can see 2015's show as an example and then take the decision on whether to support us or not the following year." CE

"Aside from examples like the above, the main bulk of the work for the next show kicks off in September, with the aim to launch in November. We spend the summer months debriefing, looking at what we got wrong and right at the previous show, assessing and balancing our finances, and putting in the request to hold a show in the following year, so it really is a year-round job. The aircraft invitations for military assets are submitted around October and from there it's a long waiting game!" Peter Reoch

"We have a "soft" launch and a "hard" launch. What that means is that we aim to get the tickets on sale in November (which we succeeded in doing this year), and talk about the themes and our plans for the show. Then in March when we have some aircraft to talk about and we have progressed with the organisation, we can get the press in and have a proper launch with a bit of flying to pick up the momentum ahead of the show." CE

What is the relationship between the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises and the RAF Cosford Air Show?

"It's a strange structure; the show is an RAF show, staffed by RAF people, with us as a civilian annex to it, but the job of airshow director is one that is contracted in by RAFCTE, so my pay actually comes from RAFCTE. Marilyn, Peter, Michaela and Simon are all paid direct from the air show budget.

There was a view taken in 2012 that the show needed some consistent event experience. As someone in the RAF, you're at a job like airshow director for two years before moving on. RAFCTE can and does provide some consistency in terms of experience in managing these events. Hence RAFCTE agreed to provide an "Air Show Director", and would be able to provide back-up and support for airshow management. CE

What was the reasoning behind the decision to make the 2015 show advanced ticket only?

"There were two reasons that were driven by the 2013 and 2014 attendance figures. The first reason is that we are now in control of our crowd size. We know how many are coming, and therefore we can deal with traffic and parking more effectively. It's not known by many; but in 2014, in our overflow car park, we had just 200 spaces left, and the sun wasn't shining. So if the sun was shining and another 5,000 people decided to come in 2,000 cars, we would have been in a real pickle, as was evident in 2013.

"There is a reputation issue at stake for the Royal Air Force. The whole purpose of this show is to help people engage, understand and support the RAF. That is our primary purpose, and when people are stuck on the M54 and not getting in, we aren't achieving that purpose.

"The airshow has effectively sold-out in recent years (in fact, it over-sold in 2013), and if we sell-out in advance, we can publicise this fact, this will remove a lot of families attempting to buy on the gate. That said, if we don't sell-out in advance, tickets will still be available online on the morning of the show for people to print at home. The key message we're trying to get out is that you cannot buy them on the gate. We will monitor the online ticket sales very closely up to the show day which will provide a gauge on when to declare the show as sold-out.

"Our limiting capacity is in the car parks. In that vein, we are also working very closely with the three major train companies, and we are trying to increase the use of trains by around 50% this year. We believe we accommodated somewhere between 11,000 and 12,000 cars last year. There wasn't an official count, but we are commissioning a count this year so we can better understand what happens on the ground in the future.

"The second reason is that we hope it will speed up access into the show ground. Simply scanning the tickets for each family is far quicker than having families holding up the queue as they attempt to buy tickets with cash on the gate." CE

Inevitably there will still be families that go and expect to pay on the gate this year. What have you done to make the public aware that the 2015 show is advanced ticket only?

"We are doing everything we can to spread the message that it is advanced tickets only. We make it clear in every press release we put out, and we really push on our social media platforms. Marilyn Summers

"We rely on interviews like this because enthusiasts are some of the ones who decide whether to go at the last minute, depending on the weather and/or the proposed line up. We are also hoping to use the charities we benefit to help us get the word out. That's useful because we can use their databases to publicise the airshow and get our message into their newsletters. We have a few major media companies that we can use to spread the message. In 2015, we are grateful to Heart FM for their support, and we will certainly use their resources to spread the message. We rely on the public to spread the word for maximum coverage. CE

Traffic problems have been a major issue in the past and seem to continue to be a problem each year. What measures are being undertaken to mitigate these problems?

"We learned a lot of lessons from 2013's show. The combination of fantastic weather, and the Vulcan's attendance meant chaos on the roads, and a capacity crowd. As a result of the show in 2013, we have used a traffic management contractor called CTM, those guys work on everything from Glastonbury to the Game Fair, so they know what they're doing. They have been fantastic, and solved a lot of 2013's problems in 2014." CE

"In 2015, amongst other proposed new measures which are still being worked on, we are delaying aircraft arrivals in the morning by about 90 minutes, and trying to get as many aircraft as we can to arrive the day before. This means that the access route via the A41 and the A464 from Wolverhampton to the south west of the base (which brings cars across the runway) can stay open for an hour and a half longer. This will relieve pressure at some of the other gates." PR

"None of these changes are about increasing our capacity of around 50,000 people. The idea is that these changes allow us to accommodate the same volume of traffic more efficiently." CE

The traffic problems have been persistent over the years, notably during the last time the Vulcan appeared during fantastic weather in 2009. Why were CTM only contracted in after 2013's show?

"I can't say why CTM or similar wasn't used beforehand. As I have said earlier, the RAFCTE was brought in for 2012's show onwards, and so it might be the case that we simply look at the problems the show faces from a much more commercial point of view than the previous organising team. CE

Are plans afoot to make the RAF Cosford Air Show a two day show, and if not, why not?

"That one is simply above our heads, and an RAF decision! Every year, we request permission from the RAF for the airshow to take place. That involves us submitting our business plan and a cost/benefit analysis. This is where our objectives are set out. As we have mentioned; the principle objectives are to help the public engage, understand and support the RAF, and promote recruitment. We also work hard to raise money for charity. So the priorities are set in that order, and that's the consideration the RAF has on whether to grant permission for the show to go ahead." CE

"The disadvantage we have in relation to a two day show is that, well, let's say that an aircraft costs £2,000 for us. If we were a two day show, that same aircraft wouldn't cost £4,000, it would be something like £2,800 as it's the transit cost that is most expensive. If we were a two day show, the display budget could be "stretched" to afford some of the more exotic aircraft available on the air show circuit. From a budgetary perspective, it may look attractive but the RAF has to balance its commitments. The option of a two day show is always under consideration and we shall wait and see what the future brings." PR

On a personal note, it's no secret that I would love to see it as a two day show, and I think it would be really nice for that to happen for or by 2018. The onus is on us this year as the only RAF show, so it will be interesting whether any consideration is given to allowing the show to be two days in the future." CE

Is consideration given to how much is donated to charity?

"Yes, and probably more-so this year with us being the only RAF show. I would like to drive home the message that we are currently the only RAF show, we are entirely self-funding, we provide a fantastic opportunity for the public to engage with the RAF, and it's wonderful training for 2,000 plus trainees, not to mention the donations we make for charity. For the RAF to carry out that engagement with the public in 2015, we're a significant contributor. In the past two years, the RAF Cosford Air Show have donated half a million pounds to charity, with it focused on our four main benefactors; RAFA, RAFBF, RAFCT and the RAF Museum." CE

With the RAF review on airshow commitments looming, is Cosford's future safe?

"All I know, and all I can say is that we have to request permission for the show to take place each year as we have always done. We already have an eye on what could be done in 2016." CE

Is consideration being given to hosting a nightshoot on the Saturday prior to the show?

"It was looked at in 2013. On air show weekend, it doesn't really get dark enough for a nightshoot until gone 10.30pm or so which is a key issue.The view of the station at that time was that it was too much to ask of the trainees, cadets and staff, especially given that they had to be up at 4 o'clock the next morning. It was concluded that a nightshoot would put too much pressure on the station, and so we couldn't submit a positive cost-based analysis to the RAF on that basis." PR

"At the moment, we are not considering it. We want to get this year under our belts, and we can look at doing it next year when we submit our request for permission in September. If it does happen in the future, it will be because of an RAF decision to allow it." CE

What is the show budget, and how is it allocated?

"The show is entirely self-funding, and there is no reliance at all on the tax-man. The whole show is run on ticket revenue and sponsorship income. We don't get any money from the RAF for the show. The show allocates itself a budget from the remaining revenue made from the previous year's show, donating the rest to charity. Every September, the first task to do when organising the airshow is to put together a business plan for the next show. This is when the budget is allocated, after the expenses of the last show are paid off. This is submitted to the RAF along with the request for permission for the next show to take place." CE

"The flying display budget has been the same for the past three or four years without increase or decrease. It is put forward in the business plan, and that amount is then set for the year. For everything we spend the budget on, there has to be a cost/benefit analysis. The Flying Display Director is accountable to the Air Show Director, the Air Show Chairman and the Station Commander, so whatever aircraft we decide to book, we have to be able to explain why we booked that item, and how the spending of X amount of the budget on that item is justified." PR

"However, we can't go into actual figures of exactly what the show budget is. What I can say is that we have a limited amount of money to spend on quite a lot. I think that what we achieve with that amount of money is fantastic. I can't talk figures in our budget, but I think we should again highlight that over the past two years we have donated £500,000 to the charities that we support, which I think is just great with our limited resources." CE

How do you choose your themes each year?

"We sit down in early September and look at the milestones and events in the year ahead. As an example, we always start by considering anniversaries that we can celebrate. Sometimes themes are chosen on the direction of the RAF if there is a particular element that they are keen for their show to celebrate." CE

"Between September and November we never know what we might manage to get in the air and on the ground, so we have to try and be realistic with the themes we set. That being said, we are conscious that some of the complaints about the show note that the flying display each year is very samey, and so we are always seeking a more diverse display and to mix up the flying as much as we can." PR

"Cosford is also a family show, and we need a show with a broad appeal. So when we look at themes, we have to consider what we can achieve and what will appeal to families as well as enthusiasts. One of the themes this year is the 70thAnniversary of Victory in Europe. Obviously we aim to celebrate this in the air, but we can also celebrate it on the ground. This year we are setting up a "Victory Village" which will be open until seven o'clock which is one of the ways we are encouraging the public to linger for a while after the flying display finishes, thereby staggering the traffic flow out of the site. We are really setting the atmosphere, so we will have a 1940's radio station, a 1940's band, WWII re-enactment groups, vintage vehicles and of course static aircraft. There will also be veterans making an appearance, telling their stories to visitors. It will give those members of the public who might want a break from the flying something else to do and see on the day." MS

"In terms of the flying display, if we celebrated the Battle of Britain 75th, you basically have the choice of Spitfires or Hurricanes. That is being done by a lot of shows and obviously, we can't afford to be a Biggin Hill or a Flying Legends and get 12 or so Spitfires into the air at once. With "VE70", it's opened up to any aircraft that served between 1939 and 1945, so it's easier for us to choose participants in the air and on the ground, and allows us to have a richer and more diverse spectrum of participants in the flying display. I think warbird fans will be well catered for with this year's flying display, with some new and exciting participants on the cards but we must also appeal to our family audience too. " PR

"We also consider the enthusiasts' views on the potential themes for the show and there are many great ideas that are suggested by enthusiasts that we can work into what we can do with a Cosford show. The trouble is that we can't keep enthusiasts happy with all of that rare international stuff, so it is about finding the balance between what themes Cosford can afford to celebrate properly, what will appeal to families, and what will appeal to enthusiasts." CE

"International air arms need a reason to be able attend the show. As an example, the SAR theme this year works well with the venue as there are a lot of rotary and light transport aircraft out there that are used for SAR duties that are able to land at RAF Cosford. Therefore we can try and attract some of the more exotic international participants for enthusiasts, whilst maintaining a broad appeal to families. So far the response from overseas has been very positive for the Search and Rescue theme and I am confident we will do the theme justice.

"The UAS theme is - I think - unmarked this year apart from at here at the RAF Cosford Air Show. It's a lot more than the same old Tutor, Chipmunk and Bulldog though, so we hope to educate the public that there are a lot more aircraft out there that fit with this theme. We are planning a unique UAS tribute in the air for this year's show.

"And of course, the TSR2 theme this year is unique to Cosford, and what better way to be able to celebrate it than to have one of the only TSR2s in the world out on static! This is an enthusiast's theme, but we can also show the families the technology development of its time, and present the theme from an engineering point of view.

"We have to make do with what we have got. The restored Harrier has become a star of the static for the past two years and we are working on it again. This year it will be in 1417 Flight markings, as worn during their time in Belize. We are looking at creating an area of the showground dedicated to Belize operations. Along with the Harrier, we are hoping to get a Puma on static in that area, together with a station-based Gazelle as a tribute to "Camp Belize", which educates the history of the UK defence mission." PR

What other plans do you have for the static this year?

"Well, the Harrier in its Belize markings has been mentioned, but what we noticed from the 2013 and 2014 show is that the area of hardstanding known as the "arena" where things like the RAF band and RAF Police dog displays took place wasn't attracting the crowd capacity we thought it should, especially at the end of a show. Of a show with thousands of people, probably a few hundred at most were stopping to watch the arena displays at any one time. So we took the decision that it wasn't working well enough for the space it used, so that area is all going to be devoted to static aircraft which Peter is hoping to fill with the Search and Rescue theme. We will still have the military bands but they will be mobile, marching through the show site." CE

"Once again, we are using as many of the RAF Cosford based aircraft in the static as we can. Some have to go in hangars for ground displays, some are allocated as "open cockpit" for the public, and then there are some allocated for the enthusiasts. One arrangement we are trying to organise is to have "Spotty" Jag, the Black "Saint" Jaguar and the Raspberry Ripple Jaguar all parked together in a photogenic location for the enthusiasts. We are also looking at getting the desert-pink schemed machine (XX725) armed with some dummy over-wing Sidewinders, LGBs, drop tanks and other operational miscellany.There may also be a significant surprise addition to the static display but you'll have to wait and see if this plans come together..!

"The problem with RAF Cosford from my point of view is that there simply isn't enough concrete to put aircraft on! This means the aircraft sometimes have to parked closer together than I personally (with a photographers head on) would like but such is the nature of the beast. A lesson we took from our relationship with RIAT is that they specifically ask the aircrews to stay with their aircraft all day. This has never been done before at Cosford, and so this year we will be asking crews to stay with their aircraft in order to engage the public more effectively. I think interaction with the public is essential for all our visitors and likewise the sale of squadron memorabilia is always welcomed by the enthusiast community." PR

Is there much co-operation with those who organise the Welshpool event which takes place on the same day?

"Yes, we do have a lot of co-operation. One of the first things we did this year is have a meeting with those guys at Welshpool about both of our shows. If we take an example, the Typhoon display might be able to do both shows. That helps the RAF engage with the public, and helps them understand and support the RAF more than if the Typhoon display only attended one show. So by working together, the core principle of RAF airshows and RAF airshow commitments is met, so it's mutually beneficial to share such work together." PR

"We are able to share some acts between shows and so we often work together on how to make that happen logistically and financially by splitting the cost. From the Flying Display Director's point of view, one of the hardest things to organise is the timing of everything. We have to factor in when we want an aircraft to display to make our ideal programme, when Welshpool want it to display, and what the pilots want and are able to perform. It requires a lot of juggling and is fluid right up until the last minute. So yes, the Welshpool show and RAF Cosford have a very close relationship.

"We can't share everything, though. For example the Swiss Hornet will not be able to go to Welshpool. The Swiss Air Force have tasked the Hornet to participate at the RAF Cosford Air Show. It might seem frustrating to those who want to see it at Welshpool, but we can't simply say "by the way, there is a show on at Welshpool, can you go there, too?" The only way the Swiss Hornet would appear at Welshpool is if they went through the same process as us early on in September/October and they were also allocated a display by the powers that be in Switzerland." PR

The Swiss Air Force Hornet Display is set to be a huge international coup for Cosford in 2015. Was anything done differently this year to attract international items, or was it down to luck?

"Booking international acts at Cosford has always been an informality before. You might have noticed that we have a great relationship with the Belgians, but that was about it for a number of years.

"This year, however, we have really pushed for international participation and had much more focus on that objective. It started out with me producing a very, very long wish list, which was whittled down to realistic acquisitions that we could accommodate. The wish list had a star static item, and a star flying item for each country featured. The next stage is to write a request letter to the various Air Attachés and Air Force commanders, and in some cases, visit their embassies, which was done back in October. The way the requests work is that we request the particular flying/static star items that we have identified, then we ask for anything else they are able to commit in addition to or in place of those specific items.

"Because most of these invited aircraft are from NATO, they are actually free (obviously we pay for accommodation and transport), which in itself frees up a bit more of the budget for us to spend on civilian items.

"With regards on how we "sell" the show to potential international participants, in all of our requests, we highlighted the fact that we are the only RAF show in 2015, but it's not the only card trick we have to play. As highlighted previously, it would be naive to say the lack of event at RAF Waddington this year isn't one of the factors which might be helping us in securing international aircraft – such as the Swiss Hornet – which we have never seen here before.

"We try to make it as convenient as possible for anyone who might be visiting, and so we try to go as far as we can to accommodate their requirements. Sometimes, we have squadrons and crews who are really excited and prepared to come over, but someone higher up the chain of command decides that committing to the show isn't a viable option, which can be frustrating but understandable.

"We also have a problem because we are so early in the season. Some international aircraft can only confirm attendance in late March or even April or May. The problem with this is that we are well into organising the show by then, so it gives us a very short period of time to arrange things like accommodation and transport and where to base a foreign military aircraft, not to mention balancing the flying display." PR

Will the Swiss Hornet use flares?

"I have spoken to the Swiss display pilot (who is the same pilot as in 2014), and their solo routine this year will not feature flares, so the answer is no, it won't.

"On the wider issue, we have no issues with fast jets using flares at Cosford, but we have to find somewhere to base them as "live aircraft". It totally depends where we base an aircraft, if that station has the facilities to accommodate 'armed' fast-jets. If we were allocated a fast jet display which wanted to use flares, we would need to negotiate with RAF Shawbury or RAF Brize Norton to see if they could accommodate the aircraft." PR

What kind of contingency plans are in place if a particular display act cancels at the last minute?

"It depends on how close it is to the wire. We will always try to re-book something that is like-for-like, but that's not always possible. Taking last year as an example, we lost the RNHF Sea Fury and Swordfish. Because they are RNHF, those aircraft are a lot cheaper to book than the equivalent civilian warbirds out there, so we lost 16 minutes of display and by then the budget was mostly used up. Sometimes, when it is days before the show, it is just logistically and financially impossible to sort out a replacement. Last year, we booked the Venom FB50 as a replacement but that put a strain on the budget as when you lose military as opposed to civilian items, there are huge differences in cost.

"The problem is that we can't really over-book either. We can't book an item for the weekend as a reserve on the premise that one of the "primary" acts will cancel. Aside from the cost, it is unfair on the display pilots and crews giving up their weekend for them not to be able to fly." PR

To what extent does the co-located RAF Museum co-operate with the show?

"We work very closely with them. We are very lucky to have one of the world's best static lines on the site! They are one of the major charities we contribute to from show proceeds, and they help us advertise and act as a ticket outlet for us, sell programmes and this year they are providing story tellers for our Victory Village.

"We went to them with the idea about the TSR2 and they were happy to accommodate us, though they did set requirements. For example, the TSR2 cannot be located outside if it is raining, hence why we have to park it in a certain location on the showground to be able to quickly and safely move it into a hangar with room to accommodate it if the weather takes a turn for the worst. So our Craft Fare has been moved this year to provide hangar space in case it is needed." CE

Why does the RAF Museum close at normal time when you encourage people to linger at the show after the flying display has finished?

"Well it doesn't close early..! They don't publish any altered opening hours, but what really happens is that they stay open to allow visitors to linger about on an informal basis. If enough people are there, they will remain open. That said, the Museum staff are also giving up their weekends, and it costs them money to stay open, so there has to be a degree of flexibility." CE

Will the VC-10 be on display in time for the show?

"No. We don't know when it will arrive, that's one for the RAF Museum. But we know that unfortunately it won't be ready for the 2015 show." CE

How important are resources like forums and social media to the show?

"They are invaluable. Social media these days is everything. We have 10,000 followers on Twitter and 11,000 likes on Facebook not to mention the tremendous readership on the internet forums. These platforms allow us to drip-feed information about the show over a number of months in a way which will keep the show's momentum going.

"That said, we had 55,000 people here last year, so 10,000 followers on Twitter means that there is still 40,000 people out there who do not follow us on Twitter, so I'm not entirely convinced that we fully engage with families on these platforms just yet, so there must be other avenues. However, that instant two-way constructive communication is fantastic. It is clear that the trend is increasing year on year." CE

"It's very useful to make us accessible, because we can answer the public's questions about the show, and it gives us a face or a personality, if you like. It is also nice to see people helping each other on the Facebook page especially, showing a sense of unity from all our visitors." MS

"The forums are a specialist market. We have had some great ideas from the forums. I actually had the Whirlwind booked just before it was suggested on UKAR, but it cemented the demand to see the aircraft. I will always welcome constructive criticism and suggestions for the show, on the other hand, there are also completely unachievable requests that come on both the forums and social media.

"When I made a wish list in terms of ideas for aircraft to attract, I looked on the forums and saw what participants other shows have hosted in recent years and how well those participants were received, which gave me some great ideas about which aircraft to aim for. Forums can also tell you which units operate what aircraft, which units have recently unveiled special-schemed aircraft and I might have missed these facts, so it's useful because you've got thousands of people's collective knowledge in one place." PR

"Another point is to be voted "Best UK Airshow" in the Airscene Awards 2014 was a great indication that we are doing something right by people who have a lot of experience in air shows and know what they're talking about. The same can be with our Harrier static display featuring in the UKAR Top Ten moments of 2014. Things like that are great for us to see, and it gives us an idea on what works with the enthusiast's market.

"On the broader point of feedback, we understand that we will always get criticism one way or another, so we have to taint feedback against what we can afford, and what we can accommodate, and what the purpose of the show is. If we had the money, and we filled the whole flying display with classic jets, foreign military fast jets and other historic types, we would be failing what we set out to do in the first place as an RAF show, and as a family show." CE

So that was that. We hope that this interview has provided some insight into not only the way the RAF Cosford Air Show operates, but also airshows in the wider context. It is clear that the RAFCTE being contracted in to assist with the organisation of the airshow since 2012 has dramatically changed the way the show is put together, and it seems clear that improvements proposed by RAFCTE and adopted by the RAF Cosford Air Show team are for the better.

We are obliged to the organising team for their time and agreeing to the interview, and we wish them the best of luck for 2015's show. We will be heading back to RAF Cosford to report from the show's Press Launch later this month and of course for the show in June, too.

The RAF Cosford Air Show 2015 will be held on Sunday 14th June, with advanced tickets priced at £22 and accompanied under 16's entering for free. Visit http://www.cosfordairshow.co.uk for more details.