wisemanp 0 Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Is anyone off to Fairford this weekend? I was working outside yesterday as a B-52 made it's arrival, seen a few fighters coming in too...might pop up on the Monday to watch departs! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 I know Kieran is going. It's a shame the weather is not going to be that good. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Yep - I'm going on Sunday - the better of the two days by the looks of it! Full report will follow :001_th_smiles89: Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Despite my back injury, I made it on Sunday. Had to drive there in short stints, resting between. Sunday wasn't too bad for weather, took a kagool and two collapsible umbrellas. The brolly's were useless in the wind but the kagools worked a treat. Plenty of flying, great show. Loved the Vulcan of course, Katy and Dan regarded it as their favorite display. Great that Dan and Katy could get to see such an amazing aircraft for the first time. I thought they'd lost their chance, so all credit to the wonderful people that got this iconic bird back in the air. The display wasn't as exciting as the Vulcan displays I saw years ago, but these days they have to avoid stress on the airframe. My favorites had to be the Tornado’s, complete with pyrotechnics, awesome display. The A10 was great too. We were at the end of the runway, and at one point he turned hard and flew straight over our heads. Naughty naughty! My backs recovering from the drive today and my face is beetroot red. I was reminded that you can still get sunburn through the clouds. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Sunday was good - the Tornados were *very* loud. Vulcan display was lovely, as was the Lanc. But really enjoyed the Saudi Hawks and the 6 Hunter's! Got 205 shots from the day - will post up soon! Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 What fascinated me, was that at the end of the Vulcan display, a large number of people left the crowd line... despite the fact that the Red arrows were up next. Interesting to see what a crowd draw the mighty Vulcan is. They stayed for the Vulcan in preference to the Arrows. When the Saudi Hawks were up, we were over watching Alexander Burke. I smiled to myself when she had to wait for the Saudi team to finish their display before she could be heard. Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Did you go to the JF stand UM? Was there one? Unle Alex was sending in Facebook updates. The Vulcan is such an awesome experience, I have seen the Reds so many times it gets like an also-ran. There were some good displays apparently? Show report please?! Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 To be honest uncle Mutley, we looked for the Just Flight stand but couldn't find them. I suspect they weren't there this year. There was a mini flight sim stand courtesy of someone else. I was expecting a queue issue, with my dodgy back that wouldn't have been good, but the queues weren't bad at all, at least not on the green route. We tuned in to RIAT radio, and I think they said the other routes were not quite as clear as the green route. I stopped a few miles from the base for a wee and a stretch of the back and it was piddling down, we feared the worst. However, by the time we were guided to our parking slot the rain had stopped and it was just cloudy. Had a few showers in the morning and a heavier one [or two] in the afternoon, but clear skies too. We bought Sat or Sun tickets, so we had a choice of either days. Quite satisfied with our choice of Sunday, and glad it wasn't ruined by weather, considering this is my first show for over 15 years and the first one Katy would remember. Missed the Typhoon displaying with full weapons load, we'd had enough by that time. Not sure what happened with the A10, whether he knew he had gone over the heads of us lot at the far end of the runway or not. May have been an error on his part, but appreciated by me and the kids. I understand that flying over the heads of the crowd is not allowed. Unless they have slacked the rules somewhat since my last show. Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I'm pleased you made a good day of it and that your back survived the day, I expect the A10 pilot is not used to flying displays or was concentrating on his next manoeuvre, I expect he got a rollocking from someone. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Well, here's my 'quick report' Joe Red car park wasn't too bad - got a bit sticky about half a mile from the base, but soon cleared. Once in, we were marshalled into our 'stand' and got quicky through. Had a look at the mock-up Tyhoon and went inside the mock-up Chinook - all very good. We (myself and my Grandad) went along the static stuff, having a look at the Herky-birds and the Il-76MD of the Ukrainian Air Force. Saw an An-2 for the first time, along with several PC-6's, 2 Hunters, 2 Meteors (NF11 and the T7 still in primer), several Tiger-livered aircraft, a RC-135 Rivet Joint, a KC-135, B-52, P-36C Orion, C-295 AWACS and a Do-228. Moving onto the flying display, we saw the last part of the Austrian Saab's performance, then saw the Spartan performe. What a show-off! Rools, near loops, then a *very* short field landing! A few displays down were 6 Hunters - 4 from Team Viper, one from the Swiss Hunter Team and 'Miss Demenour'. That was very good, complete with a four-aircraft diamond and a stream landing! The BBMF's Lancaster then flew a graceful routine, showing off it's enormous wing-span to great effect. The sound of those 4 Merlins is just stunning and awe-inspiring. Such a beautiful sound..... The Saudi Hawks then performed for the first time in the UK (Saturday's performance was cancelled due to weather). A stunning show, with green, blue and white smoke, although to me seemed very Red Arrow-ish. But maybe that's just me. The Red Devil's performed as well, showing a different pace to the Saudi Hawks, being SIAI-Marchetti SF260's, but still very impressive! The Spitfire and Mustang show was graceful, but my eye was still drawn to the Spitfire. Both are very beautiful, but the Spit was just more beautiful somehow. The Air Cadets anniversary flypast was very slow, but impressive, with the tow planes hauling two gliders in windy weather! The Tucano display was good, along with the Hawk solo display. The F-16 from the Royal Danish Air Force rattled us around - he put reheat on just as he drew level with us! Cor, it was noisy! The Tornado's were louder though with the pyrotechincs - I'm sure one of them broke Mach 1! But the star was the Vulcan. I've never heard an Olympus engine roar, but it was stunning! They didn't put on a big show, but showed off the aircaft gloriously. It made my day, hearing the Olympus howling away! We saw the Red's take-off and the first part of the display. The colours on take-off were novel and very good! The fact that they were allowed to fly over the crowdline to start the display legally (I think the A-10 was naughty!) was good, and the Syncro pair were fab. All in all, a very good day!!! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 Thanks Kieran, considering how the weather was over the weekend I think you did really well! Thanks for the report, it was fun to read :001_th_smiles89: Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 The Tornado's were louder though with the pyrotechincs - I'm sure one of them broke Mach 1! I did hear a mysterious bang, but I think it was pyrotechnics. If it was the sound barrier at that altitude there would have been broken glass and all manner of calamitous happenings. Did you hear the announcement for the speed of the show of force? Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 No I didn't - couldn't really hear the announcements from where I was (approx. opposite to the lead Red Arrow) Link to post Share on other sites
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