RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk is home to the USAFE 3rd Airforce. Mildenhall has held a very popular and large Airshow in the past, usually at the end of May, which includes many modern military aircraft. Mildenhall is well liked for its US burgers, and hotdogs, and also the friendly atmosphere at the Airshow. During the 1980's Mildenhall operated the SR-71 "Blackbird", a reconnaissance aircraft capable of a sustained cruising speed of Mach 3.
Air Fete began in 1976 as part of the celebration of America’s 200th birthday. It was held every year, usually on Memorial Day weekend, until 1999, when it was called off during Operation Allied Force, the NATO-led effort to push the Serbs from the Kosovo province.
It was held again in 2000 and 2001 with crowds reaching half a million people for the Saturday and Sunday flying and static aircraft shows.
In recent years the Air Fete has been cancelled due to operational requirements in support of the Global War on Terrorism, and a scheduled runway construction project in 2004.
Click here to visit the official website of Mildenhall.
AIRSHOW 2005
The Mildenhall Air Fete has been cancelled for 2005. The small one day Community event which was to replace the Air Fete has now also been cancelled!
The community Day event which was to have been held on Saturday 4th June 2005 for the local community has been cancelled!
NEWS - MILDENHALL "AIR EVENT" CANCELLED - (13/4/05)
The Public Affairs Office at RAF Mildenhall have announced that the Community Day which was to be held on 4th June 2005 has been cancelled. There will be no "On-Base" public event this year.
The cause is sighted as 'cost', with the base having to make "millions" of $ savings to offset monies required for "The War Against Terror".
See News page.
Latest
There hasn't been an Air Fete at Mildenhall since the last one in 2001. A small 'community event' for the locals was planned in 2005 instead of an Air Fete but this too was cancelled. With the war on terrorism, US security concerns, parking problems at Mildenhall, cost, and now a lack of US airshow organising experience it is unlikely they will ever have another large display.
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