RAF Leuchars is home to the annual Leuchars Airshow. This usually takes place on a Saturday in September. The 2007 Leuchars Airshow was cancelled due to resurfacing of the runway.
Approximately 45,000 people attended the 2006 show to see displays including the Red Arrows, Eurofighter Typoon, and Battle of Britain memorial flight. Air forces from many NATO countries provide additional static and flight displays.
Leuchars Air Show
Leuchars is situated in the Scottish county of Fife on the northern edge of the Eden Estuary near St Andrews. Leuchars' current role is that of Air Defence. During the cold war it's main task was the air defence of the northern approaches which were often breached by Soviet bombers and reconnaisance aircraft testing UK air defences. Today, that role continues, but has a far wider range of protect the UK from any aircraft posing a siginificant threat. Leuchars itself is home to three Tornado F3 squadrons. 111(F) and 43(F) are frontline units while 56(R) sqn is the F3 OCU.
The major aim of the airshow is give people, particularly those in Scotland, an opportunity to learn more about the RAF, it roles and it careers it offers. This years airshow was very much a triumph over some terrible weather. The day before the show, much of the northern half of the UK was under very low cloud and high winds. This meant several participants cancelled their arrival until the nest day. Show morning broke to somewhat higher cloud after a particularly wet and windy night. This weather continued into the next day with very gusty winds and isolated heavy showers. This "break" at least allowed a handful of flying display and static participants to arrive, though sadly the Battle of Brtain Memorial Flight remianed firmly oin the ground at Southport. Operational reasons also meant that the Nimrod MR2 display was cancelled. The Royal Navy Historic Flight's Sea Fury and Sea Hawk also were unable to attend as they were still awaiting final clearance to fly again. This did mean that some gaps had appeared in the planned flying programme. These were filled by repeating the Eurofighter Typhoon T1, Hunter F58a, Gnat T1 and F-86A Sabre routines later in the afternoon - a very welcome approach and well received it was too. Well done to the orgainsers and pilots involved.
