They wouldn't allow it today
but one of the most impressive F4 displays was a mock attack at dusk on the arena during the Colchester Searchlight Tattoo in August 1988.
At the stroke of 2115, with a land 'battle' raging in the floodlit arena, two 74 Sqn Phantoms flew low across the town from the north, 'attacked' the arena flashing their navigation lights and then stood on their tails, afterburners lit, and disappeared. I hope the crews enjoyed it as much as we did on the ground.
I recall were a number of complaints from local mums who'd been trying to get their kids off to sleep. Diddums.
What a spectacle, unequalled methinks in any other UK town. I've been trying to track down the official Tattoo video ever since. Any ideas?