Title:UP IN THE AIR - RAF PRESENTATION TEAM [Allocated Title]
Film Number:MIL 434H
Other titles:
Summary: Version of an RAF Presentation film, beginning with a brief overview of the history of air power from 1914 through the Second World War and the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49 and into the Cold War.
Description: The narrator describes the threat posed by the Soviet Union, using footage of Soviet air, land and sea forces exercising to illustrate their growing power. The use of radar to provide early warning of attack, including ground based stations and the experimental Nimrod AEW3 aircraft (later cancelled without entering service) is described, Phantom aircraft are scrambled to intercept a Soviet Tu-16 'Badger' reconnaissance aircraft and the RAF's Bloodhound and Rapier surface to air missiles appear briefly. The capabilities of the Tornado GR1 are described as the aircraft lands and taxis to a hardened aircraft shelter for maintenance. Harrier GR3 aircraft demonstrate their ability to operate from small improvised airstrips and attack ground targets with rockets and BL-755 cluster bombs. The reconnaissance variant of the Jaguar returns from a sortie and its photos are quickly processed. Nimrod MR1 and Buccaneer aircraft are shown in the maritime reconnaissance and strike roles and VC10, L1011 Tristar, Puma and Chinook aircraft fulfil a variety of transport functions. A readiness exercise is carried out at RAF Bruggen in West Germany and the narrator sums up against scenes of low flying Tornado GR1s and Tornado F2s and F3s, the air defence variants, commenting that military strength is necessary to deter aggression and maintain peace.
