HD...I have similar recollections re: "The good 'ol' days".
My family took me as a child onto Caesar's Camp (...the ridge about 2 miles to the south of the airfield) from the early 1950s.
I am told that I saw the Princess flying boat (though I can't recall it personally). I do remember most of the other items which you mention...also the Leonides-powered Herald.
I started "spotting" in 1962 and "Airshow fortnight" (...that included the practicing and departures) was the highlight of each year.
Apparently few constraints regarding high speed manoevres to the south and west of the airfield, and lots of air-to-air photos being taken, with Shackleton and Hastings cameraships, if I remember correctly.
1966 was a particularly good year; I would cycle from Farnham to Odiham, then to Blackbushe and back home via Farnboro'.
Odiham had mil visitors galore; we would congregate at the southern gate, from where we would be escorted to take photos of the visiting aircraft....Flamants,, Valettas, Ansons, DC6s to mention but a few! HAPPY DAYS!
I think '66 was the year of the mass "attack" on Farnboro with Buccaneer, Sea Vixen, Scimitar, Argosy and Wessex formations sweeping-in from the Odiham direction.
From the early '70s I was working at LATCC, so had a good insight as to what was happening, and when....
Northside of Farnboro'...near where the golf course is now (or has that been built-on as well?)..there was a little field in which one could park for £1.
I recall a Gnat(?) parting the upper branches of a tall oak tree at the end of a Red Arrows bomb-burst...thought my old Morris Minor was a'gonna for a few seconds!
The "year of the Buffalo" found me invited to a hospitality chalet for a brandy breakfast; ended-up sitting alongside a certain Mr.B.Trubshaw. Can't remember much about the flying display!
And so to 2004....
The B1B apart, I have not noticed anything other than the usual stream of bizjets in and out....until Wed afternoon,that is. The B52 wandered over Farnham then back towards Lasham. Perhaps rumours that the Fleet and Church Crookham Militia has been issued with new catapult elastic have filtered back to the Pentagon!
With fine wx forecast for the weekend, I expect to watch Sunday's display from my usual vantage point...but I'll probably take a good book along as well.