Strangely marked as 96205 instead of the usual 26205. Based with the 56th RQS at Lakenheath, a place I associate more with the good old days of Super Sabres!

Seen here at its Eglin base, this F-111 of the resident 3246th Test Wing later carried their 'ET' tail code. Arrived AMARC 9.94 and scrapped 2011

One of two 157th FS F-16s at Aeroexpo. As the only wing in the USAF currently flying the Block 52 F-16, the 169th FW (McEntire ANGB, SC) was specially invited in view of the commonality to the 24 of this HTS-equipped variant now on order for Morocco. The flying demonstration will certainly have impressed the many African military dignitaries present

This aircraft carried an all grey livery with minute codes and low-visibility markings

Arriving for the Malta airshow, with one of the island's iconic churches in the background.

This F-106 served with the 5th Fighter Intercepter Squadron at Minot AFB, North Dakota, for a full 25 years, from 1960 to 1985. It survived a mid-air collision as well as conversion to QF-106 drone, and is now preserved.

Note the wrinkled belly skin of this quinquagenarian.

USAF combat rescue helicopter and MC-130 tanker.

The proposed fleet of B-70 deep penetration nuclear bombers was cancelled in 1961 due to high costs and the introduction of ICBMs, but two prototypes of this awesome six-engined Mach 3 beauty were used in supersonic test flights from 1964 to 1969. One crashed following a midair collision with an F-104 while filming in 1966, the other became an outstanding exhibit at the USAFM, arriving on 4.2.69. One of the most memorable sights of my first visit to the USA

Two C-17s in one show static is not bad - nearby was a UAE example

This Voodoo was assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB for ejection seat tests from July 1960 until its retirement to the Air Force Museum in 1970. It was displayed there till moved to the Yankee Air Museum in Michigan during the 1980s

Performing here in bicentennial colours with the official "American Revolution Bicentennial 1776-1976" logo on the fins. Loaned to McDonnell Douglas as a company demonstrator in Feb 1976. Still a TF-15A at this time, was redesignated to F-15B on 1 Dec 1977. This was the second two-seater Eagle to be built, used for FAST Pack conformal fuel tank and LANTIRN pod trials and later as development aircraft for the F-15E Strike Eagle. Last reported in as a BDR training airframe at Robins AFB, GA

This P-61 was donated to the National Air Museum (as it was then known) as early as 1950, after five years of test work. However, NACA soon asked to borrow it for high-altitude experimental work. After about 50 flights as a mothership, dropping recoverable swept-wing test bodies, it was returned in 1954 to museum storage. Some 52 years later, it was unveiled for display in original test markings

A total of 888 C-97s were built, of which 814 were KC-97 tankers. 53-0230 was assigned to the Strategic Air Command in 1955 at Westover AFB, Mass. In 1965 it was converted to KC-97L status at Hayes Aircraft Corp, Birmingham, AL, by the addition of two J47 jet engines and transferred to the Tennessee ANG. To MASDC for storage in 1976 and transferred to the AMC Museum in 10.99

Converted from AT-11 bombardier trainer by Beech in 1953. Acquired by CIA airline Air America in 1960, registered N7950C and operated across SE Asia till 1975, hauling supplies and refugees to remote locations. After several accidents during this period, including an in-flight collision, it was used temporarily for spare parts in Bangkok but was finally assigned to Tainan, Taiwan. Restored at Dover but on long-term loan from USMC Museum at Quantico, VA

Sixty KC-10 tankers were built for the USAF in the 1980s.

Formerly PK-ADD with KNILM and flown to Australia in 1942 to escape the Japanese advance through Indonesia. Impressed by the USAAF, it was operated by Australian National Airways (note small "ANA" on the nose) with the call sign VHCXC. It was given a temporary serial of 41-426 and later, after it was withdrawn from use, an official serial of 44-83232 and the official type designation C-110.
ANA bought the DC-5 after the war and it became VH-ARD. After a couple of changes of ownership, it went to Israel in 1948 as a makeshift bomber. It ended its days in a children's playground. Scanned from the original negative, now held by Bill Gray. Photographer's name unknown.

Prototype F-5 (N-156F). When first displayed at the Museum of Flight had a USAF serial but otherwise in Northrop markings.

The airmen and bobbies guarding the stealth bomber were surely the most photographed people at RIAT this year.

The spot on the corner of Branscombe Rd and Creed Rd, Suisun City, was just as good as I hoped for, but the traffic was not. The only plane I was able to photograph here was this recently upgraded C-5 from Dover, Delaware.