Yeovilton Air Day

[Bismark]

Just like to thank the guys and gals at Yeovilton for a super day on Saturday - brought flutters to an old timer's heart. Both the ground and air displays were outstanding, particularly the Swiss team and the finale, what a wall of fire! It was interseting to talk to all the manufacturers and see the JSF mock up alongside CVF.

[EyesFront]

It was worth the very reasonable admission fee just to hear the Hunter 'blue note' again...

[WE Branch Fanatic]

One of the local papers stated that a French Super Etendard would be there to represent the 25th anniversary of the Falklands. Ironic really, post Sea Harrier (as discussed here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=98152)).

I haven't been to Yeovilton since 2000, when the future for the Fleet Air Arm and Joint force Harrier seemed reasonable. How things change! The local skies have gone quiet too, no SHAR, no Junglies (presumably they're all in Iraq), only the occasional Lynx!

[airborne_artist]

Shamelessly lifted from here (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/cgi-bin/ukarboard/ikonboard.cgi?;act=SF;f=10)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Trevsy/Yeovilton%202007/SeaKing1.jpg

[Razor61]

WEBF
Plenty of Junglies about, they made a good and plentyful presence at the assault demo anyway.
Always flying around my area too....
The Super E's turned up with an AS30 and Exocet missile (1 missile per a/c).

And they had a SHAR in the static.....

Two GR9s from 800NAS (oops Naval Strike Wing i mean't) supported the Assault... a very good show.

[vecvechookattack]

I have to agree....the jungly assault (now renamed "the finale" - note to Audrey..... delete "Finale" and insert punchy name) was awesome.

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/cgi-bin/ukarboard/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=10;t=34849

Only at Yeovilton can the public see that sort of display. I think I counted 22 aircraft in the air at once, all within the circuit and all choreographed to perfection. The wall of fire was spectacular and unique to Yeovilton... Can't wait for next year...even better

Red arrows were very good but not quite the same with only 8.

The Swiss.... Fantastic...very close and the last manoeuvre with the flares dispensed was spectacular.

The Typhoon was fast and noisy (despite the display pilot being just 12 years old).

Chinook superb.

Merlin & Wasp in formation - Interesting.

2 * FRA Falcons + 4 Hawks was very good.

[EyesFront]

I watched the excellent Swiss display from near the tower, while keeping half an eye on the Harriers as they prepped for the finale. The patrouille were very tight, very precise and generally rather impressive, so I was amused to overhear the nearby father of a brood of tots telling them that the aircraft flying were not the red arrows, so they should be watching the (British) Harriers - the pilots were doing the preflight walkaround at the time!

[Not_a_boffin]

Didn't manage to get there myself, but noticed on the Flypro that someone brought an A4 and an A7. Anyone know who's they were?

[Razor61]

Neither turned up
The A7 was Greek and went U/S at Aviano.
The A4 belongs to BAE SYSTEMS and is based in Germany for target towing.

[vecvechookattack]

The greek groundcrew pitched though....were grippoed good and proper....lashed up well...the last I saw of them, they were attempting to hail a taxi back from Yeovil in a very very confused state...

I think they will encourage more of their comrades to venture to Yeovilton Airday next year

[Not_a_boffin]

Shame. Thanks chaps.

At the risk of disappearing off on tangent, anyone know anything about what appears to be a SHAR FRS1 in the paint shop at Seahawk this week? Turned out in 1980s dark blue / white belly, looked absolutely pristine.