The Buccaneer Aviation Group - 30 Years and Still Going Strong
In December 2023, The Buccaneer Aviation Group announced an event for March 30th, 2024 that would celebrate 30 years since the Buccaneers retired from British service on 31st March 1994. Being so local to Kemble Cotswold Airport, where The Buccaneer Aviation Group now calls home, I bought tickets for what would be a great event celebrating the Buccaneer.
Upon entering Cotswold Airport, event-goers were directed to an area airside where we would be stood to watch the mighty Buccs in action. Shortly after arriving, we were given an itinerary for the day, which included a fast taxi, an anti-det run, and a close-up look of the aircraft. At 11:00, aircraft XX894 was brought to life for its fast taxi down the runway at the former RAF Kemble. Prior to entering the runway, the pilot of 894 taxied the aircraft around in front of us, showing off all its angles. It was whilst doing this that the team noticed a problem with the aircraft, more specifically with the brakes. This unfortunately curtailed its chances of thundering down the runway!
In no time at all, the TBAG volunteers had shut down and towed XX894 out of the way and brought XW544, the former RAF example, out for the fast taxi. 544 is currently undergoing a sanding process in preparation for repaint, so it did look worse for wear. What was intriguing is that former squadron markings had been uncovered on the tail, showing that the aircraft once flew with 15 Squadron out of RAF Laarbruch, Germany. I do hope it's repainted into its original scheme! With 544 fired up and running, the pilots taxied the jet out to the runway where it performed a fast taxi run, which can you view here: https://youtu.be/rXdOeNiSAfE
We were then given an hour lunch break while the volunteers towed both jets back to their hardstanding for the afternoon portion of the event, which gave us a close-up look of the Buccs and Kembles resident Canberra PR.9. It was fantastic to see the inner workings of the aircraft. Following on from XX894s earlier incident, the TBAG volunteers spent the afternoon jacking the aircraft up and looking into what caused the issue. Multiple Buccaneer cockpits were also present, but, as I'm not much interested in beheaded aircraft, I have no photos to share.
Having spent enough time looking around, we went to look at a former RAF BAE Dominie T.1 that now sits outside at Kemble. It is believed that the Resource group owns the aircraft.
It was a great day spent looking at these machines, and even 30 years after retirement they're as good as ever!
RAF Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XW544
RAF Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XX894. Despite displaying a Royal Navy scheme, this aircraft is actually a former RAF aircraft.
RAF English Electric Canberra PR.9 XH134