The last event of the year found Bronco Demo Team invited to RAF Northolt for a night photoshoot organized by Phil Dawe and his team. This charitable event raises money for the restoration of the 11 Group Operations Room at the wartime base.

Following departure from Wevelgem, the first leg was via Duxford where Bronco 99+26 is currently under restoration. After a quick lunch at the Duxford museum, we headed to RAF Northolt just outside London.

Participating aircraft to the nightshoot were Apache, Puma, A.109 and MD902 helicopters completed by an RAF Tucano, Hawk and a Qinetiq Alpha Jet. RAF Northolt is home to the Royal Flight, operating Bae 125 and Bae 146 and, of course, these aircraft featured for the photographers too.

As the light faded all photographers were treated to some great photographic opportunities. The Apache ran it’s rotors, our Bronco was started and taxied around for photos from different angels with the smoke system switched on on occasions. The cherry on the pie however was the fact that this night photoshoot coincided with the Diwali/Deepavali Indian Festival of Lights. Fireworks lighted the sky all around RAF Northolt, providing some really stunning photographic opportunities.

The day after - with the weather too bad to fly back to Belgium - we paid a visit to the excellent RAF museum in Hendon before heading back home the next day.

Many thanks to Phil Dawe and his team for the invitation and the great organization!