The Paris International Airshow may have been the biggest airshow the team had worked on, but the Powervamp Airshow division were soon back at work supporting aircraft at last week’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).
The air tattoo takes place each year at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, although its origins stretch back to an airshow first held at North Weald Airfield in 1971. Inspired by two air traffic controllers, Paul Bowen and Tim Prince, this modest event, organised wholly by volunteers, was originally held in support of the Royal Air Forces Association.
Red Arrows performing at RIAT
Over the years this volunteer force has grown into an army, more than 3,500-strong, who bring with them a wealth of aviation and event-management experience that has helped the Air Tattoo grow into the enormous event it is today.
“With this year’s show being the largest to date…it was imperative that power to the static display was maintained throughout the show.”
Powervamp have had a supporting presence at the airshow since 2012 as the team stepped in to save the day when an emergency lighting inverter failed. However, with this year’s show being the largest to date, and with prestigious customers such as BAE and Boeing exhibiting, as well as the legendary Vulcan taking to the skies for the last time, it was imperative that power to the static display was maintained throughout the show.
The team arrived on site three days prior to the start of the airshow with the aid of a heavily laden articulated lorry containing PV45 frequency converters and PV90-3 frequency converters, 300amp DC power supplies and large three tonne air coolers as well as cabling and connectors.
Equipment was distributed to the various aircraft stands, some of which were up to 2km away, but with a more acceptable ambient heat than Paris, the logistics didn’t present any issues to the airshow team.
Powervamp frequency converters in action on site
The three days of the airshow were problem free with the equipment operating without issue having been ‘run in’ at the recent Paris airshow. Staff remained on site for the duration of the show to maintain a high level of service before, during and after the show hours.
With customers including RUAG, Embraer and Boeing personally thanking the Powervamp staff on their professionalism and commitment, it just remained for the team to break down the equipment and reload the lorry when it arrived on the following Tuesday.
