The Northolt Nightshoot Experience
It’s usually only once you lose something that you realise how good it was. However, it’s important to appreciate the good things while they still exist — such as the RAF Northolt Nightshoots.
Having started in January 2009, the twice‑annual event has gone from strength to strength, with its 34th shoot planned for March 2026. The event was established to raise funds for the restoration of Building 27 at RAF Northolt — now a listed building being returned to its 1940 form. Its importance stems from its role as RAF Northolt’s former Sector Operations Building, part of the Dowding System for air defence. From 1936 until 1939, Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding used Building 27 to develop what became the world’s first Integrated Air Defence System. Thanks to donations from attending enthusiasts, over £200,000 has been raised to date, ensuring that Building 27 can continue to be restored to the highest and most accurate standards.
Organised by Phil Dawe MBE, he and his team of volunteers have developed a knack for attracting rare and unusual aircraft to the Northolt Nightshoots. The aircraft invited tend not to be the usual airshow‑orientated assets; instead, the types gracing the Northolt ramp are predominantly rotary or multi‑engined fixed‑wing aircraft, such as small transport or VIP/utility types. This has provided an opportunity to capture close‑up, clean images of the aircraft, often with rotors or props running, or with beacons flashing on the jets.
The range of aircraft that has sat out on the 32 Squadron apron over the years is nothing short of eclectic and wonderful. Of the 34 shoots to date, some attendees stand out clearly. A personal favourite is the Tp86 Sabreliner from the Swedish Air Force Test Centre at Malmen, which attended in March 2013. Only two Tp86s were in the Swedish fleet — the only military Sabreliners still flying in Europe — and the aircraft rarely flew more than 20 hours per year, so securing the beautiful jet for Northolt was a coup of the highest order. The October 2011 shoot welcomed a Turbo Firetracker from the Sécurité Civile — an aircraft based reasonably close in the south of France, but one that could never appear during the UK show season due to firefighting standby duties. The visit clearly went down well, as a Turbo Firetracker returned in both 2013 and 2015.
French support at Northolt has been sensational over the years — arguably even better than support from the UK armed forces (although that’s said without visibility of which UK assets were invited and declined). Alpha Jets and, more recently, PC‑21s from the French Air & Space Force have been regular supporters, while a wide variety of other French types have made rarer appearances in a Northolt event. These uncommon visitors include the Caracal, Xingu, PC‑6 Turbo Porter, Gazelle and Fennec — all types very rarely seen at other UK public events. It’s also been noted that visiting French crews often get into the spirit of the event, staying for the evening to sell merchandise and perform engine runs. Bravo!
In this day and age, nothing should be taken for granted within the hobby. The number of UK aviation events has plummeted over the last decade, alongside a consolidating and modernising set of military aviation types, resulting in fewer and fewer aircraft around. However, with the very vocal support of Station Commander RAF Northolt & Regional Commander South East Stations, Group Captain Lee Wales, the future looks as secure as it can be for the Northolt Nightshoot. Long may its success continue.
