White Waltham Member's Day Airshow

[FleetFlyer]

Went to this yesterday, some excellent diplays and demonstrations. An RV8 was very well flown with some very graceful aeros. A Yak52 and a CAP10 was also displayed very well. There was a great formation display of nine Tigers which was really evocative of the thirties.

Unfortunately the program appeared to be a little incidental to what was actually happening, and there were fewer really spectacular displays (only warbird was a Spitfire that made three or four passes and then left) and no unlimited style aeros. I guess the depressed economy has taken its toll. Its still my favorite show of the year though because of the village faite atmosphere.

[Barcli]

perhaps only a few in attendance because its MEMBERS ONLY ...... "cake and eat it"?

[Wide-Body]

Hi Barcli,

If it were open to paying members of the public it would be an airshow. With its associated costs that is something a club could not afford. This year due to the World Aerobatic championships, and Duxford our unlimited pilots are busy. Also one display team went tech. We did manage an Intermediate level display in the Pitts S2-C. We are also very thankful for the Spitfire which did its passes FOC

The point of the day is for a gentle fun flying afternoon for the members of Waltham and their guests. It gives the chance for some to show in a simple manner their ordinary and exotic aircraft. It raises a few thousand pounds for charity. This year to remembered our DCFI who tied tragically early in his life, as his funeral was on Friday (8 ac flying at his wake) perhaps a lower key year was appropriate.

There are very few clubs in the country who have that capability to host an airbourne garden fete from within its own ranks. Its not a case of being pretentious or elitist. It is just a nice day for people to picnic and socialise with friends with an aviation backdrop. As a side the club have donated tens of thousands of pounds to deserving causes. Perhaps we should encourage this more?

Wide

P.S

I liked the RV-8 display too ;)

[BEagle]

The state of my pink head today reminds me that 7 hours manning a display table in the sun, an excellent atmosphere and an interesting selection of flight demonstrations was an excellent 'end-of-season' event!

The WLAC bar was doing brisk business too!

The RV formation was nicely flown, as was the WLAC PA28 formation. But one of the best had to be the 9-10 Tiger Moths trundling sedately past in formation!

The WLAC Members' Day seems to be a 'village fête with aeroplanes, vintage and classic cars' rather than an air show. Which is exactly as it should be - it is NOT a flying display open to the public!