Leuchars Airshow

[DB6]

First radar vestored airshow I have ever seen! Congratulations to all who made it into the air, particularly the Red Arrows who managed to make a few passes in virtually impossible conditions (low cloud, rain, drifting fog banks), and the F16 that emerged from the murk nose-high and slow before climbing back into it after a single pass. It was well appreciated by many in the crowd who were well aware of how difficult it must have been. Good show.

[Phill]

Someone must have p!ssed off the weather gods, friday was fine and looking like a cracker again today but Saturday was just mush mush mush.

Good efforts by those that got airborne but the WX and vis was really against them.

Any ideas when the Vulcan is to depart Leuchars and/or any Sunday departures?

[ACARS]

Despite the weather the organisers put on a good show. Fair play to those who got up and tried to put on a show. Good job.

I thought the trade stands were dissapointing. Aimed too much at kids.

[picton]

Vulcan is due to leave tommorow (Monday), obvioulsy weather dependent.

[hurn]

Vulcan is due to leave tommorow (Monday), obvioulsy weather dependent.The Vulcan has already left Leuchars today (Sunday). Decision to go early seems to have been weather related.

[johnny99]

Clouds were low, Reds Arrows were lower! They appeared out of the mist over Cupar (almost over back garden) and then departed back into the mist heading for Leuchars. As always what a sight - well done boys.

[Vulcan607]

hats off to the guy who was flying the typhoon early on in the show, thought he was great given the conditions he flew in and the show he put on.

Gutted didnt see the Vulcan fly :sad:

[High_lander]

Check the BBC pictures- HERE (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7614882.stm).


Spot the 'obvious' mistake.

[NutLoose]

From the good old BBC link posted above, and as mentioned nice to see the Tornado F16 displaying... what happened to all the version's between the F3 onwards ? :ugh:

"The Battle of Britain Memorial flight had to be cancelled because of bad weather, but the Spitfire still managed to take to the skies"


So surely that makes it not cancelled, simply a reduced display, or am I missing something?

[TEEEJ]

The Spit in the image is not BBMF. It will be the privately owned Mk.XVIII, serial SM845.

TJ

[Climebear]

ACARSDespite the weather the organisers put on a good show. Fair play to those who got up and tried to put on a show. Good job.

I thought the trade stands were dissapointing. Aimed too much at kids.

Thanks for that, it partly makes up from the moans we are getting complaining about the weather.

Well done to all those who managed to put on a display - some incredible flying in the poor conditions. And thanks also to all those who came along to take part in the static or who couldn't display. I hope you were royally looked after by our aircrew hosting team - the post-show party was certainly in full swing when I left the Mess last night.


Point taken about the traders; however, we have to really take what we can get when we sell the trader stands (as long as they are legal) as we need this money to fund the show. Like all other air shows it is totally self-funding, including paying the MOD for the displaying ac.

Still the weather was superb for this morning's FOD plod!

[Chipmunk]

Again shame about the weather, nice to see another flypast of the Apache & 2 Lynx today over Edinburgh. They seemed to be heading back North ?
The traffic organisation needs to be much better. It took 1 hour to reach Cupar from Edinburgh (left at 08:15) and then 2hrs to get from Cupar to the Airfield !

On the way out traffic via the runway could have been better controlled. Two SACs meant to be controlling the traffic just stood and watched two lanes merge. Over heard one of them saying "It'd be easier if they went alternately" they had the power to make it so but guess couldn't be a#sd.

On the positive side thanks to all for getting stuff off the ground. To the crews and ground staff for taking the time to smile & answer questions from the kids & Dad, no matter how daft.

Our thoughts & prayers to all those (which ever service) serving on their deployments.

[role is great]

Maybe we should all get the "Royal Air Force" name badge on flying clothing/GC overalls as well as CS95 , because last time I saw him he was Flt Sgt......, not Staff Sgt. Or even a new badge like the one appearing on Pumas/C-17s and a few other fleets

[ninja-lewis]

Re: Chipmunk

"The traffic organisation needs to be much better. It took 1 hour to reach Cupar from Edinburgh (left at 08:15) and then 2hrs to get from Cupar to the Airfield !"

Tip for the future is to take the train. There were plenty of seats when I boarded at Waverly around the same time you left and we arrived at Leuchars in just over a hour. Short 15min walk to the gate and I was in by 9:30.

There was still a very long queue of traffic entering the airfield to the South when the Eurofighter was strutting its stuff.

Same routine on the way home. Bit crowded for the first few stops but everyone still aboard should be able to get a seat after Markinch.

Shame about the weather but everyone still did the best they could in the circumstances. :D Hope the Vulcan keeps going until I get to see her in the air.

[XV277]

The traffic organisation needs to be much better. It took 1 hour to reach Cupar from Edinburgh (left at 08:15) and then 2hrs to get from Cupar to the Airfield !


Is always thus. You have tens of thousands of cars wanting to get along a small A road into a base with a single entry point (from the South) then the main route through Cupar will always be busy .

[kageboy]

I think I am going to have to stand up for the BBC here since the young lady was subjected to a little RAF humour! I over heard the name and rank and Staff Sgt was definely passed to her little black book, the little minxes! She was bantered for a short while and left a little red and flustered:D The mighty C130K was a very popular choice on the day by the public and many thanks to the RAF Careers staff for all the RAF gizzits which we handed out to the very greatful visitors:ok:

[Chocks Wahay]

The Vulcan has already left Leuchars today (Sunday). Decision to go early seems to have been weather related.

If that's correct, then what was making all the noise over my office (in Kinross) around 11.10 today? Haven't heard that much noise from an aircraft in years so I assumed it was XH558 - mind you, it's not much of a VFR day today so maybe it was something more modern (and less exciting)

[NutherA2]

then what was making all the noise over my office (in Kinross) around 11.10 today? Haven't heard that much noise from an aircraft in years

The BUFF left today, might this have been the sound of freedom you heard?

[ranger703]

I would like to add my personal thanks to all involved in putting together a great show under the circumstances.

In particular many thanks to the crews of the 2 Lossie GR4's,especially BB and the young WSO who's name escapes me,who along with the other Lossie guys spent from 11ish until 7pm and maybe beyond,with cockpits open showing the public their aircraft with tireless enthusiasm. Nothing was too much trouble for the guys and it certainly made many peoples day,I know of a few photographers who were very happy and impressed with the access and amenity shown to them,respect guys and thanks again.

[HHA Eng]

On behalf of Hawker Hunter Aviation (Louis and Mick) I would like to thank the visiting aircraft team for the fantastic service and assistance given to us during our stay. Very professional and very helpful. Many thanks and hope to see you next year.

Also may I say that without doubt Leuachars is continually the best hosted show of the year, where everyone is looked after second to none. Many thanks to all especially the MT and Mess staff and the people who catered for us so well at the St Andrews Uni. New Halls.

[isaneng]

As part of the Herc crew, glad that we could help out, even if just as a static. No surprise that half the space cadets knew more about the aircraft than me - and told me so repeatedly. Great party, bad headache, loved the Vulcan departure, better luck next year with the weather!

[cazatou]

As the Captain of the Andover which took CinCSTC to a certain Airfield in the North of the UK one Bof B Day; I can assure "viewers" that the display of the USSR Mig 25 Team was just as good as the display that they put on for my crew at Kubinka the year before.

CinC STC did not ask me for my opinion regarding the Soviet display; C in C Soviet Air Force did!!

[Sparks100]

Just want to add my thanks to all concerned for putting on the show in the worst conditions, and especially to everyone who stood by the static aircraft in the p*ssing rain answering all sorts of inane questions from the likes of me whilst still retaining humour and civility! :ok:

Next time you're in a tricky spot abroad and wondering whether Joe Public appreciates or cares what you're doing just remember how many tens of thousands of us queued up on a sodden day with little prospect of jets zipping about... All ages and backgrounds too. We're not all the whingeing minority / nimbys that you hear about in the media!! :)

PS Travel tip for future: I left Perth at 805, up the A90 to Tay Bridge, was munching first hotdog and asking dumb questions to static types at 0930. Superb.

[excrewingbod]

Concur with some of the previous comments - a big thanks to those who were involved with the airshow, in whatever capacity.

***Anorak Alert****

Nice flypast by XH558 as she arrived on Friday

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/DarrenBe/Leuchars%202008/xh558_01.jpg

Blue skies as she departed on Sunday

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/DarrenBe/Leuchars%202008/xh558_03-1.jpg

If the crews of the two mighty wokkas that departed Leuchars on Monday are reading this - many thanks from us anoraks on the fence :ok:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/DarrenBe/Leuchars%202008/chinooks_02.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/DarrenBe/Leuchars%202008/BN_01.jpg

[alwayslookingup]

Is that the Chinook, Bravo November?