More photos from Radom Air Show 2013

Royal Netherlands Air Force AH-64 Apache and F-16: Most unusual to see a fast jet so close to a helicopter in flight.

Familiar planform of MiG-21; I made a model of this plane over 40 years ago; this Romanian example is expected to remain in service until 2017. First flight? 1955 (this version, based on the -PF, in 1961).

Tiger on the tail: artistic embellishment on a Czech Air Force JAS-39 Gripen

The Baltic Bees - Latvia's aerobatic team, flying Czech-built Aero L-39 Albatros trainers

French Air Force Eurocopter EC-725 Caracal, a contender for Poland's medium-lift helicopter. Last week's fatal crash involving a Eurocopter EC-225 in the North Sea (the fifth such accident in five years involving a Eurocopter product) surely won't help.

The Dutch AH-64 turns upside down (remarkable for a helicopter!) after deploying flares

The new-style London Routemaster drew a great deal of interest from the Radom crowd, estimated to be between 80,000 and 100,000 strong. Inside the bus, my collection of model aircraft...

It was satisfying to see so much interest in my collection of model aircraft representing RAF types flown by Polish squadrons in WW2. "Like displaying a stamp collection at a Miss World contest". 

Another half-century airframe: this is a German Navy P-3C Orion - this type made its first flight in 1959 and has been in service since 1961. It is based on the civilian Lockheed Electra, which ceased flying passengers in the early 1970s.

Polish Air Force Lockheed C-130E Hercules. Next August, this type will be celebrating 60 years since its first flight. This is like going to an air show in 1966 and seeing aircraft still in regular military use that first took to the air well before the outbreak of WW1.

Polish Air Force PZL SW-4s in formation

A lovely plane - the Polish designed and built TS-8 Bies, powered by a Polish designed and built engine. This basic trainer was comparable to the North American T-28 Trojan in terms of its configuration, though slightly smaller and with a less-powerful engine.

This time two years ago:
Poles - stretch your facial muscles!