the best/most amazing flyby (official or otherwise)?

[brockenspectre]

A few years ago I hung out at a well-known grass strip in the middle of Kent not far from Maidstone and at that time the owner of the airfield would happily give permission for RAF to practise nav sorties via the 'field. One beautiful May day, mid-week (of course) the siren went (no not an air raid, the standard signal for "interesting aircraft approaching") and all of us at the airfield that day ran outside...I will NEVER forget the sensations (sound, wind, heart-soaring) of two harriers at +/- 300' immediately overhead!! IT WAS THE MOST ALL EMPOWERING SCREAMING MIND-BLOWING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!

I always wanted to say thank you to someone but instead those of us at the receiving end of this thrill just stood around with giant silly grins on our faces, and someone went back into the clubhouse to put the kettle on for tea so we could talk about it for the rest of the day!!

Anyone else? :)

[Gainesy]

300ft? Bit Wussy. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Tricky Woo]

Hi All,

About two years ago, flying back to Conington from Old Buckenham (From east to west) in a C152. About 15 nm east of home I tuned back to Conington only to catch a discussion between them and... Red Arrow Leader!!!

Gosh.

Most interested and happy for 30 seconds or so until I hear that they're flying south to north and about to pass 12nm east of Conington at 3,000 feet.

Aarrgghhh!!!

I quickly chipped in that I was now, er, about 12nm east of Conington and, er, at 3,000 feet and, er, ascending as fast as a wee C152 can go. There followed the best flyby of my life as the Red Arrows shoved their smoke on. Very prettily, and very quickly they crossed my track about 1 nm (ahem) ahead and 500 feet below me. I had a brief but pleasant chat with Red Arrow Leader and then they sort of disappeared over the horizon.

(sigh)

Thanks lads.

TW

[No comment]

You know a good thing when you see it!

My Grandparents had a house just outside Llanfachreth nr Dolgellau, North Wales, which sat on its own in between a few mountains. One can only assume it was a rather convenient (unofficial) marker. Offered some great flybys whilst sitting out in the garden but the best had to be back in the late 80's/early 90's when I ran to the window amidst rattling ornaments on the shelves in time to see a Buccaneer overhead hurtling off into the distance at what must have been 200-300ft... Quality!

[pulse1]

Back in the 70's the FAA won the race from the top of the Post Office Tower to the top of the Empire State Building using F4's. The company I worked for supplied some rather essential equipment and, to thank us, we were treated to a fly past by Sea Vixens and Phantoms. As it was after working hours I decided to watch from a slight hill, no more than 100', on my way home. Following a sedate fly past by about four Vixens and four Phantoms, was just getting back in the car when they returned one at a time and I swear that I looked down on some of them. I never heard if the local farmer complained after his cows were rushing around his field in complete panic.

This episode was all the sweeter because, some months earlier, the RAF gave us a flypast using Victors and Lightnings. They missed the factory by about 4 miles, even though one of our own aircraft was circling overhead with the company photographer aboard!!

[brockenspectre]

Gainesy

I say 300' ... because I didn't want anyone near to said airfield to think they could complain (however far back in history said fly by took place) but if I say that the clubhouse had a chimney max 15' and one aircraft was barely a coupla feet above it ..... I believe if I jumped and stretched I coulda touched the aircraft I think you will realise that this flyby was not wussy at all!!! hehehheeh ::eg:: In fact? the kid in Empire of the Sun was NOT closer OK?

:)

[edited to complete phrase]

[ 08 January 2002: Message edited by: brockenspectre ]</p>

[CamelPilot]

Nice thread!

At White Waltham in May 1977, at the Silver Jubilee display, a VC10 of BOAC opened (I think opened) the show.

His approach from the Woodley end got lower and lower until at about 1/2 mile distant he was down to around 15-20 feet (the tail was a bit lower!) and flew across the airfield showing what was in "ground effect". The aircraft was G-AVRM and flown by a Captain (Smith?) who was to retire from BOAC the next week. His "swan song" I guess. There is a picture of 'RM's' flyby in the bar at White Waltham to this day.

That, without doubt, was ALMOST the best I ever saw. However, the SKYBLAZERS in their F-100's at Biggin in the early 70's came across on a low run that took my breath away. No 4 in the box was just a few feet above the runway and, as usual, they were only a foot or two away from each other. Two great moments that will live with me forever.

Perhaps the VC10 was the biscuit after all.

Maybe it's at Brize - eh BEagle?

[Tiger_mate]

I was refuelling my helicopter at Linton when 2 Buccs beat up the tower on their last ever flight. No warning whatsoever as they passed either side of the tower (Yes I know there is a hangar there!!) I F*****g S*at myself and fuel got spilt in sufficient quantity to summon the fire brigade for a pan wash down. The noise was out of this world, and every stain on the underneath was *clearly* visible.

T-M <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[innuendo]

Back in the sixties when Lockheed were trying to sell their 104 a USAF demo was sent to Ottawa to impress the military and governmental big wigs.
They persuaded the pilot to do a bit of a flying demonstration. Unfortunately, the cold temps and his exuberance saw him go over the field a wee bit above Mach one. The effect on the new civilian terminal under construction was dramatic. It took out almost all the glass and there was fear of structural damage. The costs in '60s $Cdn (it was worth something then) was estimated to be about $100,000.

[Teenyweeny ATC Cdt Cpl]

Recently -- *very* recently compared to most -- the pilot of a Tornado (didn't catch/don't remember whether GR1/4 or F3) decided to pop in on a little assembly of frozen spacey's (Air Cadets to those not in the know), and promptly overflew the gathered coaches at not much more than 100' -- our coach was left visibly rocking...certainly had the desired effect!

Made the subsequent Lancaster flypast a little bit of a non-event tho.

-7000

[Man-on-the-fence]

camel Pilot

I was at WW when the VC-10 few through. The old boy standing next to me dropped his pipe and was just about to run.

Funny though, the thing I most remember about the day was the FAA HF Firefly flying between the tents (Well I was only 9, it seemed like they were that low anyway)

[bingoboy]

Most pleasing flyby I experienced was by the Marlboro Pitts on a reciprocal heading. The nearer one rolled inverted to pass by. I was merely able to give a gentle wing wag. What gents they were. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[Steepclimb]

There've been several, the first I mentioned on another thread. Two WW1 fighters fighting it out on the deck one evening after a days filming.

A recce F4 flypast at an airshow so low that the the commentators felt the heat of his burners.

A flypast of four F15's followed by a vertical climb which clearly demonstrated their better than 1 to 1 thrust weight ratio, reaching a contrailing MEA airliner overhead so fast that the Captain reported he was being attacked.

More prosaic but not less low than a Bandeiante so low it was fortunate that he had his gear up. I have a photo of this one. Even now I can't believe it.

[OldBonaMate]

pulse1

Nice story, and I am sure that the FAA chaps did a fine flyby.

However, I have to give you a small historical correction: The fastest London New York time in the Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race in May 1969was returned by Sqn Ldr Tom Leckey-Thomson flying a Harrier GR1 of No 1(F) Squadron. The RN F4s did put up quite a good show though, but still only came second!

[PPRuNe Dispatcher]

Two flybys come to mind :

About 10 years ago I was in the control tower at RAF Lyneham one sunny Sunday during a families open day chatting with the ATC folks. We heard "N-something or other, P51 routing from such-and-such a display to such-and-such a display request transit through your zone". ATC cleared the Mustang directly over Lyneham low level and told me to climb up to the top of the tower. The Mustang approached Lyneham below the top of the tower at very high speed and performed a victory roll as he passed by the tower.

On another occasion at a display RAF Fairford a couple of Luftwaffe Starfighters dove down the runway line with afterburners lit. I said to Pat "Jeez, they're moving" just before a very very loud bang set car alarms off, had children crying, <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[ 08 January 2002: Message edited by: PPRuNe Dispatcher ]</p>

[Skycop]

As basic jet students at RAF Linton it was the norm to ring around the squadrons to organise our own flying displays to celebrate graduations.

As it was "in house" there was usually an excellent response....

The graduation before ours got a Buccaneer amongst many others. He came from behind the domestic site (and the expectant crowd) and went between 2 hangars and ATC with about 90 degrees of bank to do it. We all thought ATC was done for, as did the ATC'ers on duty!

The Chief Instructor had to blow the whistle after that. He later told us that he was sat in his office on the first floor, overlooking the airfield at the time. All he saw was the plan view of two helmets in a cockpit filling the view for a split second....and the next thing he was wearing his own coffee, neatly thrown over his desk by his startled secretary who had just walked in carrying a tray!

Another Bucc night stopped at Linton after a birdstrike. On departure it came round for a flyby but went straight over dispersal at about 100 ft at very high speed instead of along the runway as everyone was expecting. The assembled throng all ducked, except for one unlucky JP QFI and his stude walking out for a sortie who never heard or saw it coming. They both hit the deck!

[Tiger_mate]

Skycop:

Your story is so similar to my previous one that I wonder if it is the same day. What year would that have been? There was a static hoover jet there at the time, so I am wondering if a grad was the reason I was there, as a "Champagne" tent seems to ring bells.

T_M

[LutzPilot]

I had the unfortunate experience of being stranded 1300 miles from home on September 11th, and no way get back to my family in Florida except "the old fashioned" way - AKA by automobile.

As chance would have it, the mid-point of my journey way Pensacola Florida where I found acomodations for the night. I was stirred from my slumber early the next morning by to wonderful roar of several military jets. I quickly dressed and followed the sound. The road quickly led to the entrance of the NAS Pensacola, home of the Blue Angels. I found myself standing in the parking lot of the Museum of Naval Aviation, being treated to a personal airshow as they practiced their routines not 500 feet over my head. I was joined by a lone naval aviator, who had also stopped to watch to show that early September morning.

I felt the anger and frustration over the terrible acts committed against my countrymen be replaced by a renewed sense of commitment, and said a quiet prayer for the brave men in uniform who would doubtless be in harm's way in a few short days or weeks.

[paulc]

November 10 2001 - Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire
PBY5A Catalina N423RS arriving from Duxford
4 fly-bys at 'low' level (comments from control tower included "we had better film the next one for the inquest and "hope he dont leave a groove in the runway"

After a safe landing and taxi to the ramp - everbody grinning like cheshire cats - great day and wtg Chuck,Mark and Clive

[henry crun]

This one has been quoted before, complete with photo, some time back on another forum.

The opening of Wellington (NZ) airport display and an RNZAF Sunderland did leave a groove in the runway !

[New Bloke]

Good thread!!

Back in the early 80s I was on my QXC, Biggin -Cambridge-Southend-Biggin. I was taxing out at Southend for the last hop back and on the radio I heard "Southend, G-FIRE two minutes" "Whats all this G_FIRE nonsense" I thought "What's wrong with 'Romeo Echo'".

Over the sound of my engine I heard the roar of a Merlin on full chat as Spencer Flacks bright red Spitfire beat up Southend. I carried on taxing to the threshhold and waited until the Spit was on finals and then asked for permission to take-off.

"G-BGSL line up and take off after the landing spitfire", I keyed the mike and said "After the landing spitfire", it's not often you get to say that!!

[Who has control?]

1. The lovely sound of six Merlins coming over my back garden as the BBMF Lanc, Spit & Hurri return from Biggin.

2. I was watching the programme on the TV a few years ago about the 50th anniversary of LHR and looked up out of the window to see a DC-8 (?) fly passed quite low. 2 minutes later, B707 flew passed, also quite low. Then a DC-9. etc etc.

A quarter of a hour or so passed and then the TV announcer said 'and here's the first of the big jets, the DC-8'

I'd actually seen most of the fly-past go past my window.

3. About 25 years ago at home in Southend. It was a clear quiet dusk. I was just putting the car away when I heard an unfamiliar jet noise from the north, towards the airport. A minute or so later, the silhouette of a Vulcan drifts across as he does a go-around on very low power. All goes quiet as he goes round the circuit and positions for another approach.

But this time when he reaches the upwind end of the runway, he pulls the aircraft vertical and puts on full power. You have never seen a town wake up so quickly. Amazing.

[Bus429]

Some of the flying I saw at Duxford in the 80s springs to mind. I'll never forget the fantastic display flown by John Larcombe (tragically killed a few years later) during the official flying presentation of Blenheim G-MKIV in May 1987, following its lengthy restoration. It just appeared from the south, over the hill and broke to the west. The sound those Mercury engines made was fantastic. How were we to know we were to be heart broken when it crashed, in the hands of different pilot (thankfully with no serious injury to those on board) just three short weeks later?

[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: Bus429 ]

[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: Bus429 ]</p>

[Skycop]

Tiger_mate,

The year was 1977 or '78. I think your flyby was probably some time later as the Buccaneer was still very much one of our front line aircraft back then, before those ugly pointy things took over. Same pilot perhaps?

BTW, by co-incidence, my first tour was on your Sqn. See you at the SH reunion? Kita Chari Jauh!

[Jed A1]

I wasn't there at the time but some legendary flybys occurred at RAFC Cranwell in the mid to late 80's.

Each graduating squadron organised their own graduation flyby. The flybys were getting more and more impressive. Right up to the point where a Phantom had to use full reheat to clear the far wing of College Hall Officers Mess. Hats, graduating Officers, families and dignitaries were involuntarily scattered all over the parade ground. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[You want it when?]

Early 90's two fast pointy things (probably Tornados) over flew the Marconi building in Milton Keynes. So low that they set off car alarms all around.

The building was part of the Foxhunter radar design / development group (or so I was told). The flyby was totally unoffical and no-one got the tail numbers (yer right). However the presence of most of the company on the roof made the council take a very dim view of the event. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Mister Gash]

I remember Earls Colne about seven years ago on a perfect summer’s evening. Had just finished flying when a Spitfire and Yak 11 (both belonging to Eddie Coventry, I think) put on an impromptu ten-minute tail-chasing display. At one stage they passed so low they could have cut the grass on the field. The combined sound of the Merlin and Shvetsov ripping through that calm summer’s evening is something I’ll never forget.

[Vfrpilotpb]

I can remember in the late 80's British Aerospace at Salmesbury rebuilt a PR Spit, and fitted it with a Griffon 58 that had been re-manufactured to a single prop g/box by Rolls Royce, then came the flight tests, one of my warehouse's and office was alongside the railway in Blackburn which seemed to be a good big target , for many times did I hear that glourious growl of the Griffon as the test pilot blasted his way through the atmoshere at about 5 to 600 ft, to do a 180 right above my factory, on several occasion I left visitors, to quickly run out to the car park to watch this, and hear that wonderful sound, some visitors who were often trying to sell things to me, really couldn't understand why I was so intent on not listening to their drivel, but rather standing like some nutcase with my neck cranning skywards, needless to say they didn't sell me owt!
Nothing beats the sound of many cylinders and exploding hydrocarbons. :)

[matspart3]

The day after one of the Airshows, I remember standing on top of the tower at Southend 1990/91? and watching a Jaguar with reheat fly through the main apron below me! A former colleague had a series of photos and people on the apron could be seen diving for cover! I think that was also the year that the Vulcan turned up about 20 minutes early for his display slot and flew 3 or 4 circuits at the Airport (3 miles or so North of the seafront Display site) which became progressively lower, faster and 'artistic'....really quite breathtaking.

[BeauMan]

Nothing quite as fast and powerful as some have described, but I've got two that stick in the memory.

The first was that unforgettable 'Big Wing' at the Duxford Battle of Britain display in September 2000. 19 Spitfires, 4 Hurricanes, and thousands of people with lumps in their throats.

The second (or first, if we're being chronological), was around 1989 or 90, while I was flying a C150 out of Southend. Overhead Osea Island on the way back in from a local area bimble, I heard a callsign contacting Southend approach and saying they were also overhead Osea Island. Obviously a bit worried about getting run over (!) I started scanning the sky just that little bit more carefully, craned my neck forward to peer up from under the front of the Cessna's wing... to see the BBMF overtake me, 1000 or so feet above and about three quarters of a mile over to my right. And that's the closest I'm ever going to get to flying in formation with them! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[T_richard]

Please forgive the intrusion of a non-aviator in your trip down memory lane, but my experiance may make you smile. Every Fourth of July, the Blue Angels and others like them descend on Quonsett Point in Rhode Island, USA for an air show. I was always of cruising on my sailboat so I never saw the show until 7/4/00 when I anchored right off the runways at the old military base. Well of course they do their show at 1500-2000 feet (I guess) and everybody cheers. THEN these F-18's (??) swoop down and buzz the flotila of pleasure craft anchored off the runway at about 200-500 feet off the deck (I guess). I can see the pilot in the plane as he flys by my starboard side at maybe 200 feet, its pretty quiet UNTIL he passes by me! The roar and heat was like nothing I have ever heard in my 47 years. In my next life I'm going to become a fighter pilot, there is not a vehicle on this planet that comes close to a fighter jet. I'll never forget that roar as he flew by. The other cool part is that my friend's son is an F-18 instructor in Nevada, short, balding, not terribly imposing but all steel! Thanks

[DOC.400]

Being beaten up by a couple of Jags in Northumberland this August.........think they were using my motorhome as a target....b*gger the 500' rule!!

[Cornish Jack]

Going back a bit and an unlikely aircraft....
Early 60's - We were picking up a Beverley from the Brough factory after heavy maintenance and it just happened to be 'Timber' Woods's last day as Chief test pilot. He was allowed a farewell flight and what a flight !! It would have been impressive in something smaller, lighter and more manoeuvrable but in the Bev... just spectacular.
Bangkok, Don Muang early 60's - (Jimmy Harrison??)Avro's company test pilot demonstrating the 748 to Thai Airways ... rotated and cut one engine on the rotation, turned INTO the dead engine and circuited (VERY)low level to come back down the ramp area, past the assembled dignitaries. Parking at DM was in a straight line along the apron in front of the Tower and he HAD to lift to clear the fin of a parked 707. As a spectator, I had a touch of the 'half crown /sixpence' syndrome and then he was past and around low level to land, greeted by a massive round of applause - and, I believe, they eventually bought the aircraft type.
Valley in the mid 60's - Jimmy Dell picked up a Lightning to take back to the factory. The RAF had already outlawed the 'rotate to the vertical' take-offs but he was a 'civvy'.... <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> His call crossing the airfield boundary at FL260 sticks in the mind !! :) :)
Late 60's - Gaydon air display. Nine ship Belgian 'Diables Rouges' Magisters. Three, three ship 'vics' for take-off. Lift-off, up maybe 25' then formation roll for the lead three to inverted for the climb out.. impressive: as was the arrival of the Reds for the start of their display. Low level run-in from all compass points for a join in the vertical. We were on SAR stand-by next to a USAF Husky and 'our man' came through between us, below our rotor heights.
70's - Akrotiri.. Standing outside the 84 ops block looking DOWN at our hangar - both end doors open and the 'Sparrows' doing their pre-season work-up. Red 7 (or 8) went past, in the break, low enough for us to see him THROUGH the hangar. Mind you, they were still mounted on Gnats then - a close second to the Hunter as the best of the aero display aircraft.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be !! :) :)

[pulse1]

Going back even further I remember coming out of school in the late 50's and a USAF B47 came over so low the trees were blown about. He then did a tight turn over the town just above rooftops causing panic in the streets. The papers were full of it the next morning as he had repeated this over many towns in the southwest. According to the papers he wanted to go back to the States. He got his wish but not quite in the way he would have wanted.

[Gainesy]

Cornish Jack
Do you remember Joe L'Estrange's Vulcan displays at AKR in 69-72 era?

[Dale Harris]

I have on video tape, (not a very good one)in Black and White, an 8 to 10 second grab of a Buccaneer passing between 2 hangars at an unidentified airfield. The camera position is above the aircraft looking down. There is a road between the two hangars, and the a/c is tracking along the road. The a/c is well below the level of the hangar roofs. Dunno who or where, but I wish I was there!

[Cornish Jack]

Gainesy
Indeed I do! In fact, I suppose we were treated to the two extremes of performance. The Vulcan memory is of being blasted by the noise and staring up the tail pipes as it went up and up and up ... into the clear blue. Marvellous Wx for displays. The opposite end was the Victor B1 take-offs - towards Lady's Mile. Our ops room was about three quarters (or more) down the runway and the B1's used to go past us with their nosewheels still on the runway.... if we were on standby, it used to up the adrenaline level a bit. Mind you, if they hadn't hacked it, I doubt there would have been much for us to pick up :)

[Gainesy]

<img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Yep,I remember one day that a bunch of Victors were trailing some Phantoms out to Singapore; on of the Vs was delayed and took off at about 1030, by which time it was really hot, he only just made it off. I was in Local at the time and the controller had his hand on the crash phone for the last half of the take-off. The Victor kicked up dust as it staggered off the end of the runway at about 50ft--if that.

I think it was Joe L'Estrange who managed to put a Vulcan down when a Britt was stuck about half way up the runway with multiple tyre bursts one afternoon. He popped the brake 'chute at about 50ft as he came over the RW27 barrier (Ladie's Mile end) and the main gear touched before the 'piano keys'. Heavy breaking and he turned off at the eastern intersection.
Remember the Lightnings practising landing on the taxiway?
Absolutely magic place then; I passed through a few years ago and it was a ghost town. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

[Down and Welded]

I've posted this before somewhere but it has to have been an outstanding fly-past by anyone's standards...

Early 80's. A B52 en-route Guam-Exmouth and return is enticed down to give the faithful at a local air pageant at Port Hedland (northern Western Australia) a thrill. The Buff's departure was via r/w 18, by agreement with the twr at "not above 100". Swept the r/w and many hectares of surrounding spinifex clean, then pulled up steeply over the departure threshold for a rapid, smokey and noisy climb!

[newswatcher]

Does it have to be a "fly-by"? Vulcan scramble at Finningley for Silver Jubilee Celebrations must be towards top of most lists!

[Dan Winterland]

Camel driver - the VC10 at WW , G-AVRM was the one standard VC10 BA operated, just used for training - mostly at SNN and PIK. It wasn't officially used by the RAF, it's now at the Cosford air museum - although it does still fly in spirit as bits of it are reguarly 'borrowed' to keep Brize's flying museum pieces airborne!

The Flying Training School graduations were halted at Cranwell when I was there as a student. They were getting out of hand, and an accident would have happened IMHO. I was giving the CFI at Cranwell a good listening to one day while standing to attention in his office on one such grad day when there was a roar and a Hawk tailfin went past the window behind the CFI's back. I stood there open mouthed while the CFI carried on with his 'chat' obviously impressed with the effect his words of wisdom was having on me!

The IOT graduation with the Phantom flypast lower than the level of 'Winking Willy' is the stuff of legends. The pilot's punishment - posting to the Low Level Training Squadron at Finningley (the bad boy's unit!). I supposed he proved he was eligible to lead such a Sqn - nice one Mike!

Another boring war story - I was back at Cranwell a few years later - as an instructor this time. A bit of idle chat on the 'dial a mate' system (the MoD phone lines) to a mate at Conninsby indicated that we would be airborne at the same time, me in a Tucano, him in a Spitfire. After a comment to the effect of "Well, I don't want to see you over Louth at 10 grand at 4 o'clock", we subsequently met up for a magnificent dogfight. A cutting from the local Louth paper arrived in the post addressed to me a week later, apparently some old dear in the wilds of Lincolnshire has phoned the paper to say she had seen a Sptifire and ME109 dogfighting - just like she saw in 1943!

[DamienB]

Bruntingthorpe, 1999 I think. Me and about 4 other people on the airfield when a familiar engine noise makes us start searching. Found the source - a P-51 - making a lazy circle round the airfield. Once he'd done about 2/3rds of the circle, straightened up on the runway heading and poured on the power to come screaming down it at an outrageous altitude, pulling up at the end and rolling once.

RIP Mr. Morgan.

[denachtenmai]

Back in 1968/9, Wyton's runways were being resurfaced and we were detached to Honington for a few months, the banana bomber O.C.U. and 12 Sqd.were in residence. We were inside one of our aeroplanes on the huge A.S.P. when we heard this Buccaneer, very low and very loud, so all rushed outside to watch. Beautiful late summer afternoon, and said Bucc. was flying a circle at about 200ft, very fast, almost looked to us to be in a vertical bank, and keeping well within the airfield boundary, went over us a couple of times, then dropped the gear, hook, opened the bomb doors, and proceeded to circle in the opposite direction, now not only low but very slow, also LOUD.After about three or four circuits he cleaned up as he got over us and teardropped for what appeared to be a downwind left, climbing slightly he derry turned and exited on to the runway heading at about two miles, we saw the exhaust blacken as he opened up then started dropping, he came past us going like the proverbial bat out of hell, pulled up and must have done 4 or 5 vertical rolls, pulled the power at god knows what height then dropped into the circuit and landed,he taxied past us as we all clapped like mad, don't know who had the biggest grin, him or us. The general concensus of opinion was that if he had put his gear down on the final run then he would have risen 5 feet! Whoever you were,thankyou
regards Dinsdale

[boofhead]

1971 in East Sale, Victoria. the squadron commander was leaving soon and the morale was low in the squadron. he took out a HS748 (used for Nav training) and came back to do a last fly-by. the airplane crossed the tarmac so low that if the wheels had been down the tires would have been torn off. the props were only inches from the ground. he flew between hangars, and did a superb job. after pulling up to around 200 feet, the airplane did an aileron roll to the right, a wingover, and a roll (360 degrees each time) to the left.
needless to say, that was the last time he flew in the Airforce, and thankfully nobody had the g*ts to copy him, but what a show! and what an airplane. i don't know about anyone else, but it bucked my morale!

[Caslance]

Three in particular will stick in my mind forever.

For sheer awe-inspiring "wowness" the flypast at Ringway by the NASA 747 complete with Space Shuttle will take some beating. <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

Then, there was the final "what the hell" multi-ship scramble and general naughtiness-fest by 16 (I think) Lightnings at the last Binbrook Open Day ever. <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

But the prize goes to the anonymous USAF RF4E pilot at a RAF Church Fenton Display in the 80s who, after a couple of fairly ordinary standard-issue USAFE whizz-pasts, disappeared into the distance only to enter stage right unannounced a few minutes later in full-on "Wrath of God" mode. <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

The sound of the engine noise trying frantically to catch up with the rapidly-receding airframe, mingled with cries of "My word, that was rather loud" and "Gosh, how unexpected" (or words to that effect) will follow me to my grave. Well played, that man!

[ShyTorque]

Caslance,

I agree about the last Lightning show, it was in 87. I was lucky enough to get a VERY close look at that; I was there displaying the Puma and we were parked on the disused about 100 metres away from the active.

The departing Lightnings got lower and lower over the upwind end till number 5 blew the overrun barrier down on departure and got a severe b0ll0cking as it meant the remainder of the aircraft didn't have the benefit (not that I'm convinced it would have stopped one)!

There won't ever be another diamond 9.

ShyT

[HalesAndPace]

QFIs' Crew Room, "X" Sqn, RAF Church Fenton, c.1979. Squawk box goes - "Duty Stude here Sirs, just thought you might like to know that a 747 is on short finals." Appropriate scything sarcastic comments made by steely-eyed instructors...

Twenty secs later, the whole hangar shook as 747 breezed on by!! Apparently, studes had chatted up an airline trg captain at local event, and he duly appeared a week later with company jet. Spent 10 mins putting his machine through low-level manoeuvres that we never thought we'd see!!

[Who has control?]

Talking of 747s.....

Did anyone else go to North Weald 10++ years ago and remember the 747 in formation with most of the Duxford Warbird Fleet?

I've seen video from the cockpit of the P-40 during the flypast and its amazing, reminds me of whales & minnows!

[Wycombe]

WHC,

Yep, I was at NW to see the Northwest Jumbo and its fighter escorts.

The 747 wing vortices stirred up dust from the neighbouring cornfields at one point!

Very impressive, and pretty hard to do for all involved I should think.

[KERDUNKER]

DAN.W out of interest the Mike you thank in your post wouldnt be the same Mike who flew a Hunter over a wing comanders house inverted,low level and at night, was spotted and when asked to explain said that he(Mike) had dropped his pencil and had rolled so as to allow gravity to assist in its retrieval.

[Flatus Veteranus]

The displays by Flt Lt Toby Elwood (son of AM Sir Aubrey) of Driffield around 1952. Toby had flown Sunderlands during the war, left the Service, didn't "fit" in civvy street and came back in. It wasn't just "low and noisy" in the days when there were no restrictions about headings and heights in relation to the crowd (ie, before John Derry's DH110 broke up at Farnbrough and killed about 70 spectators.) It was all negative 'g' manoeuvres at very low level. I saw him at Newcastle airport on BoB day 1952, I think, one of a party of QFIs and stus from Middleton who went North just to see Toby perform. As I remember it he rolled the Meatbox onto its back while the gear was still retracting and pushed it over into a half-bunt, rolled upright to refil his fuel traps and then pushed it under to complete the bunt. From then on it was outside Derry turns etc - not spectacular to the great unwashed, but mind-boggling to the afficianados. Mates at Driffield said that his eyes were getting redder and redder as the season went on. Then he had the idea (for bad weather shows) of looping off the deck by uncaging his (suction) DI on North as he entered the loop (it did not topple on N/S headings) and using it to keep his wings roughly level (the AH used to topple at about 60 deg pitch, if I remember). He had to judge the amount of 'g' to pull by instinct. He tried this at Driffield one day through a low cloud-base and almost made it. RIP.

[Fast Erect]

Anybody remember Peter Wild's Lightning displays???

[Gainesy]

Or "Boy" Soons' amazing Fokker F-27 Troopship displays? (R.Neth.AF)Used to feather one as the gear came up.

[Flatus Veteranus]

Another hoary old Meatbox legend happened at CFS Little Rissington at the beginning of the '50s, when CFS had one or two Mk4s on Type Sqn. In those days most stations held their own BoB Day "At Homes" including displays by own and visiting aircraft. Reading the Sunday papers on the morrow, it sometimes seemed that we had lost more aircraft than during the Battle itself!
Remember that in those days the sight of a jet aircrft belting along low at about 500 kts was a rare one and wowed the punters. Our "Ace" was a Flt Sgt (A1 QFI) who did his low run and then reefed it up intending a series of vertical rolls. We will never know how much 'g'he pulled, but a main gear uplock failed and the aircraft came apart. No bang-seat, of course, (only in Mk8s and subsequent marks), but the cockpit section must have opened up like a sardine can and our hero was thrown clear. He does not remember pulling the D Ring, but his chute opened just before he landed in a very prickly hedge alongside the lane down to Bourton-on-the Water. He extricate himself with difficulty and, badly shaken and in some pain, he stood beside the lane with his chute folded over his shoulder. Along came a pair of dear old ladies in an old Austin 7 or similar and stopped by him.

"We saw you come down in your parachute, young man, are you all right?"

Our Hero, being understandably sarcastic: "I do this everyday for a living, Ma'am".

"Oh well that's all right then. You can walk back to the aerodrome from here!" And drove on! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[ 20 January 2002: Message edited by: Flatus Veteranus ]</p>

[Top Loadie]

In '91 my parents took my brother and I to Weston-Super-Mare in my dads fire appliance red Ford Orion. We were enjoying the view along a small back road when some bright spark armed with an RAF issue Jaguar (we recognised the tailpipes as it disappeared into the distance), at what seemed like 50ft, strafed us. The sudden noise was incredible! We must have been a very inviting target!

(Not exactly a flypast...) In the early 90's I was at Bruntingthorpe when they fast-taxied the Lightning down the runway. It must have been the first time they did it as a photo opportunity as on the way in they gave us these yellow foam ear plugs and let us stand along the edge of the runway. . .I have some great nose and side-on pictures but nothing more. It passed us at full chat, with diamonds out the back, at which point all we could do was hit the deck. By the time the noise was bearable again, the 'chute was deployed and the aircraft was turning back.. .F..(bloody)..g amazing!! My ears rang for days!. .They don't let you stand that close any more.

[OldBonaMate]

1976 or was it ’75? Heaven in Devon – one of the numerous closing down parties:. .Arrows equipped with Gnats then leaving late Saturday morning after a most memorable Happy Hour(s) the previous night. Watchers all lined up on the croquet pitch in front of the mess. One of the watchers was an ex-Red who was spotted by one of the departing team and his position noted. Arrows take off in their usual fashion and promptly split up to “do” the airfield from 9 separate points of the compass. Ex-Red watcher threw himself to the ground to avoid being spiked on his buddy’s pitot boom; buddy had to do immediate sharp pull up to avoid concrete street light (about 20ft high) outside the mess. What a departure!. . <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[Lu Zuckerman]

I believe this happened in 1987. I was living in Schevenigen (spelling) in the Netherlands. The city was sponsoring an international air show. The Red Arrows put on a fantastic display and as they were heading back to the UK a Fokker 100 (factory test bird) came in and was flying about 50 feet over the surface of the North Sea. His wake vortex stirred up a lot of water long after he disappeared heading back the Schipol Airport.

[bonajet]

Great weekend OldBonaMate. It was 1975 - maybe we need a closing Chivenor (first time) thread!

[DamienB]

Top Loadie - they let you stand within 4 or 5 feet of the runway edge at Bruntingthorpe still, it's plenty noisy believe me. First time I went there, about 9 years after I'd last seen a Lightning moving under its own steam, I came away with a fixed grin that lasted for hours.

[Stan Sted]

Did anyone see Flt Lt Alan Pollock of I Squadron fly his Hawker Hunter under Tower Bridge on April 5 1968 to mark the 50th anniversary of the RAF? He had apparently dropped toilet roll "bombs" on the bases of rival squadrons, flew under the top span of the bridge and then went on to beat up a few more bases.

Nice report on this ultimate fly-by at this Hunter site:

. .<a href="http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hunter/history.html" target="_blank">http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hunter/history.html</a>

[OldBonaMate]

I was on 1(F) Squadron at the time and recall a couple of additional features of Al's memorable event.. .After 'doing' Tower Bridge he flew through the circuits of many of the East Anglian airfields inverted at about 200 ft on his way back to West Raynham where he ran in and broke from, guess what(?), 200ft inverted. I had just cleared the runway and when I got back to the pan I was met by a rather senior entourage who thought that I had been the perpetrator of the Tower Bridge affair and/or the ensuing inverted beat-ups. The hierarchy's interrogation of me gave Al the time he needed to quietly park his aircraft and disappear, temporarily, to make a few necessary 'phone calls like "Hello, dear, I may not be home for supper tonight". A 54 Sqn pilot who had taxied in just before me had been subjected to a similar interrogation.. .As an interesting foot-note to the whole affair, numerous people wrote to the squadron about Al's flight and the congratilatory letters out numbered the outraged by about 10:1 I believe.

If you should read this, Al, all the best.

:) :) :)

[OnTheStep]

i must admit, it wasn't the most impressive fly by in history but it is the one i shall most definately remember for the rest of my life. last friday, one of our flight instructors passed awaw after suffering a brain anurisym and made plans for a fly-by at his funeral on the following monday. the day of, the wx was intermittent at best, 500ft at times, obscured with heavy snow at others. when the service was just about over and the requisite apologies were made about not having the fly-by because of the weather and the safety of the pilots, we heard a low droning slowly get louder and finally five 172s slipped over the treeline at about 100' and executed a missing man break overhead.

not really the reheat blazing, barrier breaking flyby on par with the others in this thread but i can tell you, there was not a dry eye in the place after they passed over.

[BEagle]

During a Lightning mate's wedding at the Binbrook village church, we heard the unmistakable sound of an F6 being scrambled (it was a Saturday..). Apparently a practice Q scramble had been 'arranged'. Some minutes later, just as we'd finished a hymn, in the couple of seconds between the 'Amen' and the god-botherer starting his bit there was an almighty roar as the Q mate returned overhead v.low indeed at the speed of heat - the whole place shook, the vicar chuckled - and no doubt those 6 ft under in the graveyard with wings forever folded smiled as well.

Somehow I don't think that the timing was purely down to luck?

[ 24 January 2002: Message edited by: BEagle ]</p>

[Wycombe]

I've seen a picture at a large Wiltshire Airbase of a guy diving off the top of an ISO Container. .with a Albert approaching at *very* low-level behind him.

Curious as to where this happened...perhaps I shouldn't ask...but it does seem that many similar incidents have been discussed here!!

[Zlin526]

I wonder if its the same picture where approximately 5 seconds later, said Fat Albert neatly removed the said persons head and upper torso with the tail ramp? If so, it was at South Cerney. As in most things, there is a limit to just how low you can get, and still remain impressive!

[Zlin526]

Talking of which, I've got a great video clip of a French AF (I think) Mirage doing an inverted flypast somewhere. Looked bloody impressive until the fin touched the runway and the said Mirage ended up at the end of the runway in a pile of burning metal. Now that *was* impressive!

[Wycombe]

Thanks Zlin,

Must admit hadn't thought that it *could* be a photo of *that* incident....best left there I guess

Back to the subject, the double rolls of the "Bone" at RIAT 2001 were pretty bloody impressive....guess there are many here who witnessed that (unlike some of the more "unofficial" occurences recounted here!)

Cheers. .EGTB

[BUMPFF]

1954: Flt Sgt (no, they weren't all officers then) George Matejski's single-engined flyby in a Lincoln, feathering 4-3-2 in sequence as he made the approach.

2001: Coffee shop at the Arizona Crater, deserted except for yours truly. Distinctive rumble of a 14-cylinder P&W followed by the arrival of a magnificent F4U in USMC blue livery, which executed a low, wide, lazy turn before departing. Just for me!

[ImageGear]

Beautiful sounds, blue notes, 1 ? Sqn Hunters at El Adem '69 for the range. Sitting out on my veranda every day, 200 ft from the centreline, watching them hold it down until well over the sand followed by a break right round the aerial farm. Rolling to near 60 degrees and seeing the wingtip vortices lifting the sand into huge spiral tunnels. (Now thats low) followed by all the windows rattling as they disappeared towards the ridge. Watched them come back for the stream landing. I can't believe it went on for so long and it was free. Heavenly days but some wally swiped my 8mm films :{

Imagegear

[LowNSlow]

It was one of the last airshows at West Malling. I was standing in the cockpit of the Sally B B-17 watching the Vulcan lead the Reds down the runway at 100'which was an absolutely fantastic sight. My girlfriend started screaming as she was standing in the bombay and the Fort was vibrating so much from the noise that she thought they were starting the engines :D

Another fantastic flyby was watching the BBMF beat up Dartmouth College.

Best of all was the B1 at Mildenhall 8 or so years ago. Everbody was watching the current display but I spotted the B1 in the distance firing up his afterburners and sweeping the wings back. He went down the runway just short of Mach 1, setting off every car alarm in the place, there were kids crying and filling nappies while grown ups with their backs to the runway choked on their burgers and split their beer!

[steve757]

Zlin,Wycombe

I think I know the picture you refer to. It is 2 photos combined (by the RAF photo sect guys). It was taken at RAF Port Stanley in 1983, originally to hang in the truckie crewroom (the ISo in the pic)

[TwoDeadDogs]

hello all
Three from Baldonnel: "Trog" making a beeline for the gym, flashing past the Tower, in a Fouga, at about ten or so feet.I saw it from inside the white Casa. He pulled up and missed the airfield beacon by a gee-hair. Wonderful!
The then West German President is taking off in a VFW-614 (look it up). The pilot is fresh off Starfighters. He cranks it past the Tower at 90 degrees, right over the hangars! Puckered sphincters all round!
An Alpha Jet of the Luftwaffe was last to leave on the Monday after an Air Show. The Swedes had gone in their Drakens, a Yank in an A-10, A Frenchman in a Mirage 2002. All did a few rolls before heading off. Myself and a friend were seeing the German guy out, a very friendly Major. We implied that the previously-departed visitors were unworthy wusses, unfit for public consumption,etc. He told us to stand where we were and wait. He taxied out a few minutes later and took off. He threw that little jet about like a demented fly and finished off by diving directly at us pair and blasted over our heads at not much higher than our heads, going at full tilt. He cranked it around again, came back at a slightly more respectable height and waggled his wings at us. We waved and cheered like crazy men and wore huge grins for the rest of the day.Brilliant and etched on the memory.
regards
TDD

[fradu]

Tangmere in September 2003 for me, on the 50th anniversary of Neville Duke's air speed record.
The Old Flying Machine Company, with their Breitling Fighter quartet of 2 Spits, Corsair and P40, were participating at Goodwood. In a tribute to Neville, they did a short display over Tangmere.

At the end of the routine two Spits did a low, fast flypast - awesome.
Then Ray Hanna came over the old airfield site with the P40. :D :D :D

[Worf]

1978 - Indian Air Force firepower display at Tilpat Range near New Delhi. Felt the heat from a napalm attack demo from an HF-24 Marut 4 ship diamond and saw a Hunter section doing a front gun attack and ploughing up the earth on the range! (Funny how you see the smoke from the guns long seconds before you hear the loud rrrrrrrrr). Next - time for mock combat between a Sukhoi 7 and a Mig 21. I think there were ego issues between the pilots - they ended up doing scissors at a height were I felt I could reach up and touch them. Saw the Air Chief in his finery, twitching up and down in agitation next to the PM! The noise was UNBELIEVABLE - they both had afterburners on. When they put reheat on I jumped and lay flat on the ground!
Pictures of the very aircraft involved (not during the show) are here
Sukhoi 7 (http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Classic/Sukhoi/Su-7n.jpg) (32 Sqn) and Mig-21 Bis (http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Mig-21/MiG-Colors.jpg)

Other sight I remember is my father bring back a Super Connie one of the pilots in his squadron had skidded off the runaway. He had taken off on 4 - feathered one and kept the undercarriage down all the way from Allahabad to Pune (about a 1000 miles!).
Came right over the house! Brought the entire married officers quarters population out to watch!

Ahhh memories
Worf

ps. I think the Mig-21 photo was taken during the show - this was taken without a telephoto I believe.

[wub]

How about this SOAF Jag?

http://www.flightlevel350.com/picwindow.php?cat=19&pic=156

Incidentally, I remember some spectacular beat-ups when Chivenor closed in 1974/5? including an RN F-4 which came smoking over Heanton Hill at about 50' and flew across the runway even lower. I'll never forget the face of the radar tech who had just emerged from the GCA caravan with his back to the hill and didn't see the 'Toom coming towards him. I can still see his can of Coke spinning through the air in slow motion as the aircraft roared over head :D

When I were a lad I was in a small boat on Loch Sween in Scotland, fishing with my Dad. He suddenly stood up in this frail craft and shouted "Jesus Ch..." that was all he got out before an RN Buccaneer almost took our heads off. We were the only boat out there so they obviously used us as a target. I can remember the wake in the water and the heat as it passed over us.

[bolmas]

working on the aifield at binbrook in the early eighties, the C.O. was doing an airtest. we were asked to stay put and wait for further instructions. we watched the test from where we were, but knew a vertical climb was the last thing. he came straight down the runway extremely low and just as he passed us he stood it on its tail.it took 5 mins for my stomach to settle and my hearing to return and also a trip back to seco7 for a change of underwear.

[yakker]

Sat waiting to cross the main runway at RAE Bedford, Lightning was taking off. Lightning lifted off a foot or so, undercarraige up, stayed level, then a pull up to just past the vertical. Watched it climb on full reheat until I couldnt see him, NEVER crossed the airfield boundary. AWESOME.

Leaving test pilot flying the Spitfire, between the hangars, flew past level with our second floor window. Not that low you may say, but there was a single storey building underneath him!

And ofcourse the 4 Vulcan's when they scrambled.

[Captain Airclues]

CamelPilot

There is a picture of 'RM's' flyby in the bar at White Waltham to this day

I had lunch there today and I'm sorry to say that it is no longer there. It must have 'disappeared' during the refurbishment.

Airclues

[innuendo]

I'm surprised that the early B-707 being rolled,as a demo at Seattle has'nt been mentioned. It was on TV the other night in a documentary and it was pretty impressive to see. Must have given the Boeing execs a fit when they saw it.

[treadigraph]

I heard that the Boeing execs asked Tex Johnston "what the hell did he think he was doing" after that roll and he replied "selling aeroplanes".

[jumpseater]

As a teenager when duxford still did gliding, we were laying the winch cable when Ormand Haydon-Baillie took off in his 'black knight' T33. I can vividly remember the black flash and the noise as he came past probably at no more than 15-20ft above us with the gear up and 'going for it'. Other older puners will no doubt realise that this is no exaggeration, and might even be on the optomistic side of the estimate!!:mad:

[BEagle]

Never did think much of OHB, I have to say... Rather a poseur.

At the Honington Air Show one year, the departing Vulcan flew a tight visual circuit, then flew up the southern taxiway at 350KIAS+ and 50 ft rad alt. It then went across the ASP and between the ATC tower and 12 Sqn's hangar at the same height before pulling up into a wingover at 110 deg AoB as it turned on course for Scampton.

That was on 17 Jun 1978 and the a/c was XL319.






...and boy, did we ever get in the **** for that!

[Onan the Clumsy]

When I was at University in...1979 or 1980 :ooh: :ugh: I saw a Vulcan do a low pass over London. This was IC, so it'd be somewhere near South Kensington.

What a Beautiful sight as it pulled into a knife edge turn and displayed its magnificant shape.




I also saw a low flypast of a Cessna 411 at a drop zone once. One guy whipped out his camera and started shooting ...until he realised that the prop disk extended a long way under the wing. He hit the deck - which probably saved his life :eek:

[brakedwell]

After Tex Johnston barrel rolled the prototype 707 over the race meeting sponsored by Boeing, the Boeing President sped back to Boeing Field to interview the crew. When he complained to one of the flight test engineers that it was a stupid thing to do, the engineer replied: "You should have seen us practising over Puget Sound!"

[bolmas]

a long time ago i saw a picture of haydon-baillie doing a low flight over a family having a picnic. does anyone have an idea if that picture is on the web as i would love to see it again.

[Krystal n chips]

As a kid, used to holiday in Devon--mid 60's--went to the Plymouth Air show one year----enter one Lightning at the end of his display---got lower, and lower and faster and faster---and we all felt the wave as he went past the crowd --magic ! :ok:

As an apprentice, "enjoying" the delights of Mid Wales and little place called Llangurig----stood listening to a "very self important" P/O one day who was blissfully unaware of the F-4 approaching behind him--watched the speed increase--and the height decrease----and the beast got VERY low as he went over the camp sight--to put it mildly--the expression on said P/Os face however could be best described as "gobsmacked" ! :ok:

By a quirk of fate, had the pleasure of a reprise about 2 years later--this time as a pax in the back seat of a Gnat---flown an individual whose pre-flight brief was "do you want to have some fun then ? "--and he / we did !. :D An ex Hunter guy as I recall.

[Hudson]

Bets I ever saw was a Heinkel 111 with one prop feathered or windmilling slowly and lots of rich mixture smoke coming from the other engine as it streaked (or seemingly so to this wide eyed 8 year old) at 200 feet past my old Uncle Alf's Royal Observer Corps post at Cranbrook in Kent in 1940. The old boy had a crack at it with his Lee-Enfield but no luck of course. Big black crosses and a swastika on the tail. Unforgettable fly past!

[Jhieminga]

CamelPilot
There is a picture of 'RM's' flyby in the bar at White Waltham to this day
I had lunch there today and I'm sorry to say that it is no longer there. It must have 'disappeared' during the refurbishment.

Airclues
Sad to hear that its gone, I saw it there myself in 2002.

I'll provide the electronic version instead:
http://www.vc10.net/Memories/Images/GARVM_ww71.jpg
(Source) (http://www.vc10.net/Memories/testing_earlydays.html#GARVM%20at%20White%20Waltham)

[fleigle]

Acklington, mid 60's, typical NE weather, probably 200 ft. ceiling, B of B day I think.
Announcer pointing us to the right hand side of the field awaiting the Vulcan, it appeared out of the clag with everything hanging down, gear, flaps....REALLY slow. At mid-field he powered up all 5 engines, tucked the gear and flaps up and rotated vertically back into the clag......incredible.
(it was the test bed with the Olympus strapped underneath).
Fantastic!!!
:ok:

[rampgrunt]

A very long time ago, not really flybys, but I was at a school about a mile or so from the end of the runway at Exeter.

Mornings were always difficult for the staff, as the first lesson was invariably drowned out by the sound ( growl) of 2 pairs of Merlins turning and burning as the target tug mosquitoes came out for their first sortie of the day.Not sure if it was design or what, but they never seemed to be climbing too hard, so they tended to go past rather than over the building;)

The other day that will not be forgotten was the first visit of Concorde many years later. The powers that be had decided to open up the airport for the many spectators, and I ended up at the western end of the runway, between the runway and the taxitrack, video camera at the ready for a sight that will never be seen again. The return from the Bay of Biscay was even better, as the wind went round while the flight was out, so they ended up doing the approach to 09. That meant I was about 100 Ft or so from the touchdown point, so had the most incredible view of the aircraft through the camera viewfinder, all the way in from about 8 miles. It then left about an hour later, did a huge circuit, a low approach and go around, and climbed accordingly to join controlled airpace at Bridport ( maybe 30 miles east) at FL240.

That video is guarded very carefully, it can never be replaced:O

[dusk2dawn]

Web that video, please !

[SoundBarrier]

1) ME - Flying in a J3-Cub, 150 feet past the club house, took 0.6 logged it as a cross crountry!!!

2) Air Zim 1993, 707 nearly scraped the deck! See the link..

http://www.aviationpics.de/airshow/airshow.htm

[desertspytfyre]

Flybys of note for me were:
1. As a 12 year old at Khormaksar, Aden. An airtest of an Aden Airways DC3. I had no idea of the names of the manoeuvres back then but can recall being very impressed especially as the last few moves were done a v low level with one engine out and prop feathered.
2. Same era, same place: Shack at low level screaming over the beach at Tarshyne and kicking up the sand before beating up a Navy ship a mile or so offshore. Rumour was that it took out a radio mast on the ship.
3. Keeping to the VC10 theme. I took a photo of a VC10 looking down from the tower (unknown pilot) as it went between the tower and a hangar at what was then called Salisbury, Rhodesia. This during the airlift of the peacekeeping force. MAC mates were v impressed.
4. For real nostalgia, 8/8/88: six Shacks from 8 Sqn at Lossie.
5. Not really a flyby but nice: flying an LS3 glider out of Innsbruck in mid early 90s and having an F4U in Marine colours join up with me very briefly. Apparently belonged to the airport manager. Nice

[vector4fun]

I was working for an oil field service company in Eastern New Mexico many years ago. The rig/casing crew was prepairing to run surface casing and had cross-threaded the shoe on the first joint. So there's about 5-6 guys on hands and knees around the hole wrestling with the casing and shoe, and I'm standing at the back of the rig near the motors out of the way with hands in pockets. Just happen to glance out to the West, and on the horizon, see a smoke trail headed our way. At about 3 miles, I make it out as an F-111, presumably from Cannon AFB, making straight for the crow's nest at very high speed. I started to holler at the guys to watch, but some devil on my left shoulder quieted me.

The F-111 passed about 100' right over the rig followed by a hellish wave of sound a split second later. Everyone on the rig floor had departed at high speed over the rail, which was quite dangerous as it was about an 8' drop to the ground below, and the poor hand in the crow's nest was half-way out on the zip line before he realised the well wasn't erupting. I was doubled over laughing at the whole specticle, then quickly deduced from the looks I received that it would be best to sit in my truck for a couple hours till the grin wore off...:E

[Flyer 719]

Here is a good picture I have found.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/REFLAGG/OTHER/137-IllyuschinIl-76Candid.jpg

Date: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Event: Unknown
Aircraft: Something Russian
Photographer: Unknown

Alot of information to process.....

Though the only thing I have noticed is the rear cargo ramp is down so mybe it is making a drop, still it looks good though.

719

[wub]

Just found this on Airliners.net:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/792090/L/

I found it when I was searching for this one:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/220689/L/

[yakker]

Well known picture of a Phantom at transonic speed low level.

http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/~cfd/gallery/images/shock8.jpg

[Red Spitfire Driver]

Camel Driver & Dan Winterland.

Returning to the VC10 at White Waltham.

I will be in the bar at WW this evening so will make enquiries about the photo - it is probably just 'out back' in the storeroom.

Yes I remember the flypast - I was on board !! We expected the Captain to do a 'touch and go' - he only told us later that the wheels were not down!
'VM was based at Prestwick for training. That morning it filed a flight plan to WW - most strange! After enquiries a few of us managed to 'blag' a ride. We flew airways to DTY, then VFR to the Woodley area (via a cricket match that one of the crew knew was going on).
Then a flight up the 'free lane' - which existed in those days. A flypast, back out the free lane - rejoin at DTY. Then it was 'Dutch Rolls' in airways on the way back !! All the pax looked a little green after that. We bounced around the cabin as there were only a few seats.
The rest of the cabin being empty - ever played football in an aircraft at FL280 ??

That evening watched Prince Charles declaring the airshow open - and before he could finish- he was drowned out by 'VM..

Excellent..

[White Bear]

Summer 1969? South of Duxford. The ground started moving, ran outside, to best of my memory over head I saw: 1 full squadron of Spit’s, 1 full squadron of Me109’s, 2 Hurricanes, and bright red B25, all in loose formation. A truly stunning sight.

Later chatting with a friend, he described walking home after an all night party along the Embankment early one Sunday morning that same summer, when he saw a He111 flying at low level along the Thames, being chased by a Spitfire, the He111 streaming smoke. He simply stood there in shocked disbelief, fearing in his drunken haze he had somehow traveled back in time!
Regards,
W.B.

[Paterbrat]

Great thread.

Some which spring to mind; gogling just off a Kilifi beach, head down watching fish when I hear an approaching 'motor boat' rapidly and apparently straight for me. I decide to heads up before I am raked over by an outboard. My heads up was underneath a dirt streaked grey fuselage where I narrowly missed being spitted on an arial. On turning still fighting incipient heart stoppage I saw an EAA F27 blowing two streams of spray enroute from Mombasa to Malindi.
Another which I am still not sure I saw, but think I did and impressed me no end was at RNAS Daedelus when a Buc with a buddy pack drougue and a Vixen plugged in came over low executing a low roll, could have been t'other way round but I was to busy being excited.
An early indelible moment was my first Farnborough in the early 50's with my dad walking along by the runway when he starts to go bananas, look round and see the sky being blotted out by a Vulcan slow rolling on take off.
There have been so many over the years one could go on and on, however the thrill adrenaline and sheer magic of moments like these has to be some of aviation, and life's, more blissful moments.:D