Farnborough Airshow 1954
My enduring memory of Farnborough was as a boy of 13 I was able to attend the 1954 Airshow on the Public Saturday.
I am at an age where "Senior Moments " often happpen, "her in doors" says you can't remember where your backside hangs sometimes.
But I can recall every moment of that Saturday Sept. 1954.
Still have the Programme and the"Times" Aviation Supplement.
I stood with a schoolfriend and his Father on Derry Hill.
There was a thunderstorm at the start which set the atmosphere for the rest of the show.
It was the last year that Aircraft were allowed to break the sound Barrier
as Public trials of the effect of the Sonic Boom.
I can picture now the Five a/c which broke the sound barrier:
Hunter(Neville Duke)/ Swift/Javelin/DH110/Supermarine 525 .
I remember there were multiple "Booms" from some of the a/c during the
"Dive" (As I understand starting over the Isle of Wight.)
Having broke the sound Barrier the a/c would arrive at very low level,
"Transonic".,cacooned in shockwaves enhanced due to the wet air from the thunderstorm. in "Pure Silence", the sound following some time after the a/c passed. Absolute Magic.
Other impressions, Prototype Vulcan, Famous picture of it top plan view "White" against the black thunder cloudes.
The Victor("2nd Prototype?) on its second flight, Maiden flight that morning
The Black Valient Mrk II (Pathfinder)
Olympus Canberra, What a take off and Display/The folland "Midge" et al.
Another memory was walking back to the coach park went past the
"Crash" dump saw remains of the Comet I crashes piled up!!
My first Airshow was in 1952,(Colerne) and still attend major ones here and abroad.
But that Farnborough had a Magic not repeated to this day.
As I lived in Bath I had to sleepover the previous night and on returning the Sat Evening, as my friend lived in "Colerne."
I remember walking to my home on the Sunday Morning from the nearby Bustop ,walking on cloud nine.
It meant so much to me also because due to Circumstances it was a
hardship for my parents to afford the 5 Shillings (25p) cost of the trip!!!!
I would love to hear from anyone who might have been there on the same day, (Week End)
Now closing the hangar Door.
OPF
Last edited by Old Photo.Fanatic; 20th May 2009 at 00:42.
Reason: Text