3rd October 1970 – RAF Ta’ Qali/Marsamxett Harbour

Although Ta’ Qali had been handed over to the Maltese Government in 1965, it was still in a decent state.

There was no static line-up, and neither did the participating aircraft land. The stars of the show would undoubtedly would have been the Red Arrows aerobatic team. Later in the evening, the team repeated their display over Marsamxett harbour.

The table below lists the known participants, but serial numbers aren’t known, except for the Red Arrows Gnats.

AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	SERIAL	SQDN	NOTES
Avro Shackleton MR.3/3	Royal AF		203
EE Canberra PR.9	Royal AF	XH135, XH136, XH171 and XH173.	13	Photographed making a low pass with everything “down or open”. (Information & serials courtesy of Godfrey Mangion, from his Aviation MT Facebook page.)
Fo. Gnat	Royal AF	XR540, XR545, XR986, XR987, XR991, XR993, XR994, XR996, XS107, XS111	Red Arrows	Display over Ta’ Qali, and over Marsamxett harbour in the evening.
W. Wessex HAS.3	Royal Navy	XS149/403		From HMS Fife.

203 squadron Open Day - 6 June 1975

This was the last open day organised by No. 203 (Nimrod) Squadron. Helping to spice things up were the F-4 Phantoms of 43 Squadron, which was in Malta on a month-long Armaments Practice Camp.

AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	SERIAL	SQDN	NOTES
A. Shackleton AEW	Royal AF	WR690	8	Performed touch & go’s.
EE Canberra B.2?	Royal AF			Towing a banner.
EE Canberra PR.7	Royal AF		13	Line up.
HS Nimrod MR.1	Royal AF	XV246	203	Flying display.
McD F-4 Phantom	Royal AF		43	Line-up.
McD F-4 Phantom	Royal AF		43	Flying display.
W. Gazelle	Royal Marines			Based at St. Patrick’s barracks.

203 squadron disbandment

AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	SERIAL	SQDN	NOTES
HS Nimrod MR.1	Royal AF	XV260	203	Brief flying display as part of 203 squadron’s disbandment ceremony on 31.12.77. The last Nimrod to leave Malta would be XV252 on 20.01.78.

8 June 1977 – Queen's Jubilee

An open day for servicemen and their families was held at RAF Luqa on this day. I have no further details about participating aircraft, but unlike the celebration of its Diamond Jubilee in September 1978, no Royal Air Force aircraft were brought over specifically for the event, but use was made of aircraft stationed at, or visiting, RAF Luqa at the time.

AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	SERIAL	SQDN	NOTES
Avro Vulcan B.2	Royal AF	XM647	9	Static display Park 2.
EE Canberra PR.7	Royal AF	WH775	13	Static display Park 2.
EE Canberra PR.7	Royal AF	WH779, WH794, WT532	13	Flying display.
HS Nimrod MR.1	Royal AF	XV248	203	Flying display.
HS Nimrod MR.1	Royal AF	XV263	203	Static display Park 2.
L. C-130 C.1	Royal AF	XV201		Static display Park 2.

29 September 1978 – RAF’s Diamond Jubilee

The following report was written in Take-Off of the time.

The Royal Air Force celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of its foundation and 60 years of operational flying from Malta in a ceremony at on 29 September 1978.

The flying programme was initiated by Harrier GR.3 XV762, which made a vertical takeoff from Park 3, followed by a steep climb away from the airfield, to come in again in a low-level pass over runway 14. The aircraft then proceeded to demonstrate its unique flying capabilities, including flying backwards. It ended its display by the customary dipping of the nose towards the crowds as a salute.

Following the Harrier were displays by a 13 Squadron Canberra PR.7, and Jaguar GR.1 XX759

The final flying display of aerobatics were given by the Red Arrow Gnats, in a 25 minute routine.

With the sun beginning to set, the programme was brought to end with No. 13 Squadron Canberras flying low over the airfield, in three formations of three aircraft each.

The table below lists the participating aircraft. The callsign, were known, is listed in the NOTES column.

AIRCRAFT	SERIAL	SQUADRON	ARR.	NOTES
BAC Jaguar GR.1	XX758/18	226 OCU	25
BAC Jaguar GR.1	XX759/19	226 OCU	25
Avro Vulcan B.2	XM569	9	26	callsign MPJDA.
Folland Gnat T.1	XS101, XS107, XR977, XR540, XP535, XR955, XR572, XP514, XR987, XS991		26	Red Arrows Team also gave a display over Marsamxett on the 27th.
L. Hercules C.1	XV178		26	Callsign Ascot 5205, Red Arrows support aircraft. The previously listed Hercules, XV293, c/s Ascot 4133, was also seen the same day, but isn’t known if it was on a Jubilee related flight.
HP Victor K.2	XL164	57	27	Rafair 801
McD F-4 FGR.2	XV424/B	111	27	Callsign Rafair 951. In 1979, this a/c was repainted in a special colour scheme, and made the record-breaking run to celebrate the anniversary of the first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic (in 1919) on 21.6.79 to Greenham Common.
McD F-4 FG.1	XT857/C	111	27	Callsign Rafair 952
HS Harrier GR.3	XV762/G	233 OCU	27	Callsign MCKYA.
HS Harrier GR.3	XV807/L	233 OCU	27	Callsign MCKYB.
HS Nimrod MR.1	XZ285	42	28	Callsign MTUTS
EE Canberra PR.9	XH165	39	28	Callsign MTZZA
EE Canberra PR.7	WH779, WH794, WH815, WH817, WH821, WT530, WT538	13		These a/c are known to have been serving with 13 Squadron in Malta at the time.
EE Canberra TT.18	WJ721	7	28
HS Andover CC.2	XS794	32	29