When it was announced earlier this year that 6 Squadron, based at RAF Leuchars, had been given the task of reintroducing the Typhoon aerobatic display, RAF Leuchars Station Commander Air Commodore Gavin Parker said the base was ”extremely proud”.
However, for Squadron Leader Scott Loughran, the past few months have been particularly exhilarating.
He has had the honour of being the RAF’s solo Typhoon display pilot for 2012, performing at airshows and Armed Forces Day ceremonies all around the UK.
And on Saturday all eyes will be on the 38-year-old from Largs when he takes to the skies for the solo Typhoon’s last public display of the season in front of a home audience at the RAF Leuchars Jubilee Airshow a show which organisers promise will be ”Typhoon-tastic”!
”It will be a pretty poignant day for me because it will be the last public display of 34 I’ll have done this season and in front of a home crowd,” the married father-of-three told The Courier.
”The Typhoon display is an excellent opportunity for 6 Squadron to demonstrate the Typhoon’s outstanding performance.
”The display team consists of specialists in mechanical engineering, avionics and weapons and these are the people you will see working on the aircraft at the airshow.
”However, the Typhoon display is just one part of what we do. While you watch the display there are personnel making a valuable contribution in support of operations in the UK, Afghanistan, the Falkland Islands and elsewhere around the world.
”Flying the Typhoon display is both challenging and rewarding and it is a privilege to do it with colleagues who are committed and skilled. It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve done in my air force career.”
Wing Commander Neville Clayton is the airshow executive tasked with organising this year’s Leuchars airshow and he anticipates an ”excellent day”.
This year, the emphasis is on celebrating the joint contribution of the armed forces during the Queen’s 60-year reign.
A number of iconic RAF aircraft past and present will be taking part in the flying display.
He said: ”The airshow provides an opportunity for RAF Leuchars to celebrate the RAF at its best, showcasing its wide range of roles and highlighting its rich heritage.
”It is also an important opportunity for the station to welcome its neighbours throughout Scotland and beyond onto the base and to thank them for their support throughout the year.
”In recent years we’ve hosted crowds in excess of 40,000 people. The airshow is a vehicle through which RAF Leuchars increases the public’s understanding of the RAF its roles, capabilities and its people.”
Wing Commander Clayton said flying display highlights would include the E-3D Sentry, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Vulcan XH558, The Red Arrows, Hawker Sea Fury, Chinook, Typhoon, Tornado GR4, King Air B200, Tucano T1, RAF Sea King Mk3, RAF Falcons, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Gloster Meteor.
A special moment to mark the Jubilee is also being proposed, with a Diamond Nine formation by Typhoon aircraft. A large static display with input from the RAF, army and Navy could also be featured.
With the official standing up of No 1 Squadron during the airshow, a poignant moment on the ground could also feature when aircraft from one, two, three, four, five and six squadrons line up on the Tarmac.
And Wing Commander Clayton confirmed that despite public uncertainty over the future of the RAF base at Leuchars and the proposed arrival of the army, he was already putting plans into place for the Leuchars Airshow 2013.
”I am already working on that basis for next year,” he confirmed. “It will still be a working airfield next year and I am already planning to run an airshow in a year’s time.”
For travel information go to www.airshow.co.uk/visitorinfo/directions and for ticket information go to www.airshow.co.uk/ticketinfo