PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Bud Holland's Low Pass at Yakima Range.
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Old 21st Oct 2008, 18:56
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Join Date: Dec 2002
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If it is the same, and the weather looks right, it was a one-off airshow at RAF Cottesmore circa 1965 when Finningley was closed.

The crowd line, IIRC, was 400 feet to the south of the main runway. At the 23 end, in the dispersal near the marshalling point were 3 nuclear armed bombers on alert.

The F104 was of the Belgian Air Force and flown by a staff officer, a major, reputedly flying for his flying hours related pay. I do not recall him flying that close to the crowd but I can attest to the height.

He flew twinkle rolls down the runway at 20 feet and did roller landings at 50 feet.

The roller involved touching down, lifting off, rolling at 50 feet, touching down and doing a second roll at 50 feet.

I am not sure which was faster. OC Ops, Wg Cdr Digman, in his staff car racing for air traffic of the mad major coming round for a second time. He was told to depart straight ahead and never to return but he did!

Don't recall what happened after that.
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