The plane enthusiasts thread

[ebikeerwidnes]

Personally, I'd be more concerned about accidentally getting diced by those contra - rotating propellers! 🤣

I wasn;t planning on getting that close to them!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I wasn;t planning on getting that close to them!

Me neither to be fair.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I agree
it would be nice to see a bear or two at an airshow

it is them flying around with nuclear weapons that I am trifle worried about!!!

I see your point now after your post in NCAP about them running out of planes.

 

[DaveReading]

it would be nice to see a bear or two at an airshow

The Russians brought one to the Air Tattoo at Fairford many years ago, in happier times.

I didn't see it flying, but up close on the ground it was truly impressive.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The Russians brought one to the Air Tattoo at Fairford many years ago, in happier times.

I didn't see it flying, but up close on the ground it was truly impressive.

The only time I went to the RIAT was the year Concorde was there.

Unfortunately, due to a mis - understanding, we missed seeing it on the ground and only really saw it when took off again.

That was 1995 if that helps.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

The only time I went to the RIAT was the year Concorde was there.

Unfortunately, due to a mis - understanding, we missed seeing it on the ground and only really saw it when took off again.

That was 1995 if that helps.

In the old days I used to go to RIAT every year with my Dad

we saw Concord several time
I remember one year when it came on a flyby on its regular scheduled trip to New York

the commentator made it clear that the show had to be totally stopped for a short time because she was coming over and if everything was not ready she would just fly over at normal height and carry on
she di a wonderful approach the climb out on reheat

must have been a great day to travel to New York!!


that was also the day my Dad - who was disabled so was stuck by the car in the reserved car park - commented that the whole crowd only stopped for 2 things
a) Red Arrows
b) Concord

even the queues for Ice Cream stopped

everything else then some people would be milling about doing stuff
even the Vulcan didn't stop everyone - people just looked round or whatever

but those 2 just stopped it

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

In the old days I used to go to RIAT every year with my Dad

we saw Concord several time
I remember one year when it came on a flyby on its regular scheduled trip to New York

the commentator made it clear that the show had to be totally stopped for a short time because she was coming over and if everything was not ready she would just fly over at normal height and carry on
she di a wonderful approach the climb out on reheat

must have been a great day to travel to New York!!


that was also the day my Dad - who was disabled so was stuck by the car in the reserved car park - commented that the whole crowd only stopped for 2 things
a) Red Arrows
b) Concord

even the queues for Ice Cream stopped

everything else then some people would be milling about doing stuff
even the Vulcan didn't stop everyone - people just looked round or whatever

but those 2 just stopped it

At the Leuchars airshow, only one thing stopped the crowds... A Spitfire.

It was a great opportunity to get pictures of the other aircraft with no or little people in, whilst everyone was at the barrier, watching like zombies.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I once had to dress up as the Famous Grouse at the Leuchars airshow. Managed to get onboard a Nimrod for a photo on the flight deck before going out on the wing for a group shot.

 

[midlife]

Air shows I went to in the late 60’s - 70’s always stopped for the Vulcan. Spectators on the grass next to the runway, Vulcan at full power with minimal fuel so almost vertical and then rolled or wing over type maneuver. As your guts were being rattled it was difficult to ignore. Low passes with bomb doors open over the crowds next to the runway was also difficult to ignore.

Don’t think planes are allowed over the crowd any more so I guess it lessens the spectacle.

 

[Tashman]

Used to love working the line at Farnborough as a Space Cadet, getting great access and loads of freebies from all the trade stands when it all wound down. Best displays I saw there were the SU27, The Vulcan and Thunderbirds.

Favourite displays though were in Cyprus on Easter camp watching the Red Arrows practice 3 times each day for 2 weeks.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I did see a B1 doing a knife edge turn once at RIAT

It was a damn big circle
but it was very impressive

and loud!!

after that if they came they just did fly bys and high power climbs so I suspect they were told not to do them again

but it was great to see

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Don’t think planes are allowed over the crowd any more so I guess it lessens the spectacle.

When did that actually stop?

I didn't think they had done it in this country since the '50s', after those accidents.

 

[midlife]

When did that actually stop?

I didn't think they had done it in this country since the '50s', after those accidents.

Not sure when it stopped

The DH110 accident happened when the plane was quite a distance from the crowd but fell on them. I think that’s when air show safety came on the radar.

I think lots of pilots simply bent the rules to give a good show but were eventually stopped. I remember when some German starfighters were meant to come but as usual with starfighters some didn’t make it and I think the remaining pilots just made it up when they arrived.

The “barnstormers” also seemed to play to the crowd.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

When did that actually stop?

I didn't think they had done it in this country since the '50s', after those accidents.

I seem to remember them tightening it up a lot on the 90s or something like that

 

[DaveReading]

I seem to remember them tightening it up a lot on the 90s or something like that

Ramstein, 1988 (70 dead spectators) was the catalyst.