simi_av8r 0 Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Hi Guys, just back from an awesome Fathers Day with the wife and daughter, and what a day it was. My gift...A visit to Kemble Air Show, and my second show from the 'Delta Lady' herself, Vulcan B2 XH558, this year! I wasn't expecting that we'd do anything special as we all got up mid-morning, and i was greeted by breakfast in bed and a lovely coffee from Mrs. Av8r, with Little Miss Av8r in tow carrying a card - how sweet! Anyways, i opened the card and, sat staring up at me were two tickets to Kemble Air Show! So, i threw the full English down me neck faster than a fighter scramble, and jumped into the nearest pair of jeans and t-shirt i could find. I grabbed my trusty Canon EOS 1000F (its a film camera, alright!) and 2 rolls of 36exp films and double checked we had everything. Within half an hour, and getting on for about half 10-ish now, we were fully loaded up and in the car and on our way to Kemble a little under an hour away (i am SO lucky - Kemble AND Fairford practically on my doorstep!!). Soon after leaving Cirencester, and after about 20 minutes of queuing in traffic up to a mile away from the main gate, a Hawk T1 roared overhead and into a steep climb over the flight line, and i knew it had begun, my first ever Kemble Air Show...and i still wasn't inside yet! Around 10 minutes later, we'd gone through the rigmarole of gate entry and ticket showing etc etc and were hot-footing it to the crowd line just in time to see the Team Guinot Wing Walkers and the Kemble based microlight display, then it was lunchtime, and luckily a break in the flying programme was taken until around 1400 - time to catch my breath and eat!! Kick starting the second half of the display was the RAF Typhoon, and OH MY GOSH that was something special! A whole roll of film later, and the Typhoon disappeared off to Silverstone before returning later for a fill up, then he was home bound once more. Next up was the Swift Glider Display Team and a couple of flypasts, good news then as i'd run out of films after loading the 2nd into the camera!!! A very fast walk and run back from the Camera tent later, i was loaded up with 5 more rolls and ready for the rest of the evening...or so i thought! (more on that later) Classic Pistons and Jets filled the afternoon's display, and a fantastic display it was, with a Sea Vixen, two DH Venoms, a Hunter, Meteor NF11, two Jet Provosts, a Pembroke, a Piston Provost, the Yakovlevs display team, and the BBMF Dakota and Spitfire team, not to mention a private Hurricane providing non stop thrills and delightful displays. But before all of that, and jump starting the crowd for what was to follow, was the mighty Vulcan herself. A sprightly display was the order of the day from the crew and there were 'ooohs' and 'ahhhhs' abounding as the Delta Lady strutted her stuff leaving the entire crowd left speechless....and rightly so, she's an awesome aircraft that really should be protected by the BBMF, let alone a commercial sponsor...but thats only my opinion, this aircraft would not be flying without a lot of our donations, so be proud if you have donated, its definitely a worthy cause!. Finishing off things were the Navy 'Black Cats' (2x Lynx helicopters) and Army 'Blue Eagles' (a Lynx and an AH-64 Apache) - by the end of the Blue Eagles display, i was down to my last 3 shots...and last film too, i'd shot 6 whole rolls of film up until now, and was just about to make it 7, and the Black Cats hadn't done their stuff yet!! With camera out of action, and Little Miss Av8r getting beyond tired, we headed of abck to the car after, what i think, was the highlight of my Airshow year so far, and probably teh best Fathers Day present ever!!! Good night all, and watch this space - pictures to follow when they get developed!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Simi, OUTSTANDING - you really make the excitement come through and it's a day you'll remember forever. Looking forward to the photos. You're blessed with a great family to support your aviation interests so thoughtfully and thoroughly. Thanks for sharing the story with us. I finally got to the point where I don't take so many photos any more - I tired of seeing air shows through a view finder. I still take some, but no longer feel compelled to capture everything. John Link to post Share on other sites
simi_av8r 0 Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Simi,OUTSTANDING - you really make the excitement come through and it's a day you'll remember forever. Looking forward to the photos. You're blessed with a great family to support your aviation interests so thoughtfully and thoroughly. Thanks for sharing the story with us. I finally got to the point where I don't take so many photos any more - I tired of seeing air shows through a view finder. I still take some, but no longer feel compelled to capture everything. John Thanks John, really appreciated that! i posted last night whilst still on a high from the days' events, so hoped that it would convey my excitement. As for photos, i'm of the old addage that if i take more, then i've a higher probability of getting a better selection of well taken, sharp photos! Link to post Share on other sites
wisemanp 0 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Simi, sounds like an amazing surprise! XH558 flying at Kemble was on the front of the local paper, the Gloucestershire Echo, today... Link to post Share on other sites
simi_av8r 0 Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Simi, sounds like an amazing surprise!XH558 flying at Kemble was on the front of the local paper, the Gloucestershire Echo, today... She was simply amazing, and like i said it was my second sighting of her since 2007, having seen her display only last weekend at RAF Brize Norton Families day!! I'm going to have to admit that even i felt a slight twinge of watering in the eyes and a rousing feeling in my stomach upon hearing the lady growl as her throttles hit full for a climb out after a slow and dirty pass of the crowd line.....just Link to post Share on other sites
grth_bbtt 0 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Sounded like a great day Simi Hopefully she will still be up for Saturday at Biggin Hill, where I can finnaly see and capture the bird on my trusty camcorder Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Great story Simi, I'm hoping to get to an airshow this year (if emma permits!) Looking forward to seeing your snaps Link to post Share on other sites
simi_av8r 0 Posted June 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2009 .....Looking forward to seeing your snaps I'm on tender hooks here waiting to get the film rolls (these 7 plus 3 from another event) back as I've not done any airshow photography with this particular camera and only shot airshows on a digital 'point and snap' before, so will be interesting in the least to see what comes about!!! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted June 25, 2009 Report Share Posted June 25, 2009 Fingers crossed Simi, I am sure they will turn out fine but that is the advantage of digital, actually knowing you have captured the image. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
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