Flying Legends Canned for 2024

[DogTailRed2]

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=678549017726716&set=a.501471048767848)

[DHfan]

For people that don't use social media please...?

Edit: Found on Key.Aero (FlyPast) forum.

[treadigraph]

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/710x1000/412402923_678549014393383_880613965553096279_n_166b4a7d69ed6 de4b51646c864706b5e07ddf693.jpg

Sorry to see this, perhaps there might be rapprochemont with Duxford in time for 2025...

[Asturias56]

Pity they don't tel us WHY they can't do it............................................

[Krystal n chips]

Pity they don't tel us WHY they can't do it............................................

I would stress I have no idea as to why this has been canx. however, possibly it's not unrelated to the reasons given by the Tatenhill Bucc team on their FB page.

Notably, that, they can't allow the public to be in the vicinity when they carry out anti-det runs due to the insurance premiums rise. Shame after the excellent paint job they've completed and the work / hrs given to making it work fully.

The costs associated with operating any vintage type must be astronomical anyway, so maybe it's prudent to wait a year ?

[treadigraph]

I understood that in the past Flying Legends at Duxford paid for a year's insurance cover for TFC's fleet.

[Quemerford]

I would stress I have no idea as to why this has been canx. however, possibly it's not unrelated to the reasons given by the Tatenhill Bucc team on their FB page.

Notably, that, they can't allow the public to be in the vicinity when they carry out anti-det runs due to the insurance premiums rise. Shame after the excellent paint job they've completed and the work / hrs given to making it work fully.

The costs associated with operating any vintage type must be astronomical anyway, so maybe it's prudent to wait a year ?

What has an anti-det (anti-deterioration for those who don't do smug) run got to do with Flying Legends (something which always has public attendance)? Sounds to me like nothing of the sort. Anyone else got a bizarre reason that's not related? Asparagus-picking in the Malverns maybe?

[POBJOY]

What has an anti-det (anti-deterioration for those who don't do smug) run got to do with Flying Legends (something which always has public attendance)? Sounds to me like nothing of the sort. Anyone else got a bizarre reason that's not related? Asparagus-picking in the Malverns maybe?

Sad to relate that we have lost so many 'items' due to both regulations and the insurance issues.
I well remember returning from an early morning foray to Shoreham (having had my free breakfast) in a vintage non warbird type and was on the home run back to base along the border of the Gatwick zone when a certain MK 9 Spitfire 'said hello' and then curved around dropping some flap. The mighty Pobjoy engine was then eased further forward and the extra speed allowed said MK9 to reduce flap and slip into position on my wing. With a couple of miles to go I was able to go to max power and lower the nose so when we passed the control tower (non radio of course) the break went quite well, and the 'anti det' run was deemed ok !!!
It was quite normal in those days to arrive 'unannounced' low level and flat out at the host airfield to find scenes that resembled Hells Angels or the Blue max with Bi planes engaged in spirited duals and miget racers zipping in from all angles. There was no problem with radio calls as there were none, but I do recall when we hosted a 'frosty' new year event at Redhill over 100 machines turned up and we only gave away a dozen meals. This event was notable with a call from Gatwick complaining that a Heron had been 'intercepted' by an 'inverted' Zlin, the pilot of which had said we could not afford so many free meals in one machine. !!!

[Quemerford]

In other news I see there's a show at Sywell. I imagine it will be RAMMED but I'm considering it.

[sycamore]

POBJ,CLEAR YR INBOX

[treadigraph]

I read about that New Year's Day event in Benjy's book; had I but known and had I been old enough (if '76 I was 12 and probably would been allowed to go) I'd have found my way down there by train and shanks's. Pre-dated my bicycle...

Incidentally I recently saw somewhere that Benjy sadly left us several years ago, a man I think who savoured life. I suspect his books and the third volume by the late Michael Jones encompass but a small percentage of life at the Tiger Club.

[Krystal n chips]

What has an anti-det (anti-deterioration for those who don't do smug) run got to do with Flying Legends (something which always has public attendance)? Sounds to me like nothing of the sort. Anyone else got a bizarre reason that's not related? Asparagus-picking in the Malverns maybe?

Forgive me for being under illusion this is an aviation site and therefore most people would be familiar with aviation terms, such as, anti-det for example....oops, silly me, done it again...but, as with your reference to the B-52 on another thread, you do seem to have an obsession with being pedantic

As for FL, well as I said, the Bucc team have been open as to why, regrettably, they can't allow spectators to be present when such occur. The word...costs, was mentioned.

Why FL have ceased operations for a year, only they know and, maybe, in time, they will reveal why. However, in the current economic climate, this could well be a hard nosed commercial decision to enable their excellent operation to continue in the future. In which case, all credit to them for making it.

As an aside, the heritage railway sector is also facing increased costs hence some have sent out begging letters but, the crisis is deeper than funding so many are going to have to review their entire operating strategy.

Hope this helps explain my thinking, that your indigestion gets better soon....and you get some nice new registrations in your notebook for 2024

[DogTailRed2]

I didn't know what anti-det meant.

[POBJOY]

POBJ,CLEAR YR INBOX

Should be some room there now PC

[POBJOY]

I read about that New Year's Day event in Benjy's book; had I but known and had I been old enough (if '76 I was 12 and probably would been allowed to go) I'd have found my way down there by train and shanks's. Pre-dated my bicycle...

Incidentally I recently saw somewhere that Benjy sadly left us several years ago, a man I think who savoured life. I suspect his books and the third volume by the late Michael Jones encompass but a small percentage of life at the Tiger Club.

This was an event that we 'promoted' under the Redhill Strut (PFA) banner to avoid any issues with the Tiger Club getting into trouble. It was 'very cold' and in fact several of our machines (hand swung) were a bit late getting into position thereby letting a few early 'attackers' slip through (mostly TC members from other AF 's anyway who cheated) the first ac was an RF5 from Biggin which came in before the official start time and did a very low level roll to boot. I had booked the RF4 for the event so did not freeze to death in my Turb. It was a great success and the sight of dozens of machines parked up on that morning was amazing, and other than a call from Gatwick ATC and a few moans from Nutfield village it was issue free, and Radio free !!
Alas those times have gone, but we felt that having enjoyed going to other Airfields BP's we should repay the fun. Even the Army Air Corps at Middle Wallop put one on, so I took the Rollason Beta to that. It was however the Booker events that really could get quite spectacular with mass dog fights of Stampes and other vintage biplanes filing the sky followed by disputes on whether the breakfast was indeed free. Most of the London area fields would partake, and of course also were putting on their own local airshows in those days.

[treadigraph]

Pobjoy, David Perrin in the RF-5? I recall now, it was written up in Pilot (I was given a stack of old copies) and there was a pic of the RF-5 passing by TC members as they prepared to launch. Probably '74 or '75.

I'm reminded of Steely Dan's Pretzel Logic: "Those days are gone now, over a long time ago..."

Thread drift I know, but darn it, it's interesting!

[Asturias56]

"Forgive me for being under illusion this is an aviation site and therefore most people would be familiar with aviation terms,"

He may not be British, he /she may be under 50 years old, they may not be involved with maintenance of complex or military aircraft aircraft. If you hire your plane by the hour, or operate it under a big maintenance organisation (a very large airline for example) you may have no idea of what "anti-det" is or was.

[POBJOY]

Pobjoy, David Perrin in the RF-5? I recall now, it was written up in Pilot (I was given a stack of old copies) and there was a pic of the RF-5 passing by TC members as they prepared to launch. Probably '74 or '75.

I'm reminded of Steely Dan's Pretzel Logic: "Those days are gone now, over a long time ago..."

Thread drift I know, but darn it, it's interesting!

As I recall the 5 came in before we had started and we were all furiously swinging our very cold engines. The ground was white with frost and the W80 and 100 oil was like syrup. The driver of the 5 was Brian Stevens who was one of the Sportair managers. The length of the 5's wing and it's pencil like fuse made it a very graceful yet impressive sight as he rolled, and he was very low. After it was all over and we returned back to RH I looked down upon row after row of parked machines and wondered if we had enough food to cope with it all, but our girls managed to get in some local extra supplies and and it was a fantastic effort by all.
Of course it was only possible because Michael Jones who ran the Tiger Club allowed it to happen under the auspices of the local PFA strut thereby ensuring a 'blame trail' did not exist (you could not write the script), and Gatwick ATC were very laid back by it all.
The 'Strut' sent out flyers to all clubs around the London zone with a picture of an inverted Zlin on the front. This proved to be quite accurate as the said Zlin was the one that intercepted the Gatwick Heron.

[POBJOY]

Pobjoy, David Perrin in the RF-5? I recall now, it was written up in Pilot (I was given a stack of old copies) and there was a pic of the RF-5 passing by TC members as they prepared to launch. Probably '74 or '75.

I'm reminded of Steely Dan's Pretzel Logic: "Those days are gone now, over a long time ago..."

Thread drift I know, but darn it, it's interesting!

As I recall the 5 came in before we had started and we were all furiously swinging our very cold engines. The ground was white with frost and the W80 and 100 oil was like syrup. The driver of the 5 was Brian Stevens who was one of the Sportair managers. The length of the 5's wing and it's pencil like fuse made it a very graceful yet impressive sight as he rolled, and he was very low. After it was all over and we returned back to RH I looked down upon row after row of parked machines and wondered if we had enough food to cope with it all, but our girls managed to get in some local extra supplies and and it was a fantastic effort by all.
Of course it was only possible because Michael Jones who ran the Tiger Club allowed it to happen under the auspices of the local PFA strut thereby ensuring a 'blame trail' did not exist (you could not write the script), and Gatwick ATC were very laid back by it all.

[POBJOY]

All clear Brian !!!

[POBJOY]

Pobjoy, David Perrin in the RF-5? I recall now, it was written up in Pilot (I was given a stack of old copies) and there was a pic of the RF-5 passing by TC members as they prepared to launch. Probably '74 or '75.

I'm reminded of Steely Dan's Pretzel Logic: "Those days are gone now, over a long time ago..."
Thread drift I know, but darn it, it's interesting!

We were lucky at Redhill, as although the main base for Bristow helicopters the 'tower' accepted the TC lack of radio as the norm, and in fact because we were in the main an evenings and w-end operation our flights did not conflict with their training operations. There were also a few ex Rollason engineers at Bristow so it worked ok, to the point that several Bristow jockeys joined the TC. The Booker Spit was a regular visitor plus the odd Harvard and the Rothmans team. RH also attracted lots of PFA homebuilt's being assembled for their first flights, and our rather small tea room in the hangar attic was usually crammed. For years it was the home of several miget racers that made up the UK F1 fleet of Beta's, Cassut's, Cosmic Wind, T Tich's, plus the 'Wonderplane' and the rebuilt Mew Gull were residents. It was however the TClubs fleet of Stampes, Tigers,Turbs, Jodels, Condors, and the Arrow Actve that were the basic diet for spotters, although a certain 1932 CLA7 was allowed from 74 because it could be 'folded'. An amazing place that certainly left its mark on sporting aviation.

[treadigraph]

Ahhh! I well recall my first visit to the Tiger Club hangar in early 1978, Tigers, Stampes, Turbs, the Swift?, Cassutts, Cosmics (two and neither of them Ballerina!), Betas, a Titch, the Wonderplane, RF-4, Super Cub, Condors, Jodels, Active, DF-B's Wot, and I think Bill Wilk's Sturgeonair Mustang had emerged from his garage by then, all jostling for space - the Mew Gull was there for a later visit during the summer. Did I miss anything? That brief visit made a lasting impression I still savour today...

Is this connected to Flying Legends? Well, Stephen Grey was a TC member!

[Planemike]

treadi...... You are but a latecomer....!!! My first visit was in Spring 1963...(yes, 60 years ago !!) !!! It was always a magical place... What resides in that hangar these days???
Back then I lived in Southampton and one of our days out would have been a trip to Gatwick, Redhill and Biggin Hill. PM

[GeeRam]

As for FL, well as I said, the Bucc team have been open as to why, regrettably, they can't allow spectators to be present when such occur. The word...costs, was mentioned.

Why FL have ceased operations for a year, only they know and, maybe, in time, they will reveal why. However, in the current economic climate, this could well be a hard nosed commercial decision to enable their excellent operation to continue in the future. In which case, all credit to them for making it.


I would also agree that its likely they've had to take a hard nosed business decision in the current economic climate, especially with regards to ever increasing costs, insurance especially, which has gone up tremendously in the past 12 months.
TFC would almost certainly made a loss putting on last years show (and likely a large one) and they were likely going to have to make sure that this years show did not clash with RIAT again to maximise footfall through the gates. Maybe the only date they were offered for this year was again the same weekend as RIAT, and thus it was deemed prudent to not go ahead with it this year.
I suspect, that we may well have seen the last Legends. Hopefully not, but, I just don't think putting on such a show as a go-it-alone is financially a viable proposition with the massive costs increases in just about everything in the past few years.

[POBJOY]

treadi...... You are but a latecomer....!!! My first visit was in Spring 1963...(yes, 60 years ago !!) !!! It was always a magical place... What resides in that hangar these days???
Back then I lived in Southampton and one of our days out would have been a trip to Gatwick, Redhill and Biggin Hill. PM

Well Southampton certainly had a warbird attraction for a while with the two seat Spit of the Hampshire Flying Club. In John Issacs book he recalls being allowed to taxy it down to near the main gate as an 'advertisment' for joy rides. There was also the DH Express (4 engined) biplane that was a club hack before failing to return from a Spanish outing. JI book well worth a read.

[POBJOY]

POBJ,CLEAR YR INBOX

Brian if you wish to tell me you have purchased a Spitfire (or Hurricane) two seater just ring me. PC
Or a Mustang even !!

[treadigraph]

He might have bought a Cassutt! Or even a Beta?

JI book well worth a read.

Copy ordered... :ok:

[POBJOY]

He might have bought a Cassutt! Or even a Beta?



Copy ordered... :ok:

Good Move

The 68 Battle of Britain film gave the the 'Warbird' scenario a very big boost, as it became obvious that operating old machines (with their engines) was quite possible given the right technical input. Ok it did get expensive, but then there are always people who want to 'partake' so 'it happened', and the display world expanded to suit. Being a ATC staff cadet at a Gliding school at Kenley was always livened up when Hawkers Hurricane, and Vickers Spitfire met up overhead for the Biggin Hill 'At Home' displays, and years later seeing the RN Sea Fury 'contrailng' its way past the crowd line was (to me) the highlight of the day. There will always be a place for the 'Birds' and long may it continue.

[Planemike]

Well Southampton certainly had a warbird attraction for a while with the two seat Spit of the Hampshire Flying Club. In John Issacs book he recalls being allowed to taxy it down to near the main gate as an 'advertisement' for joy rides. There was also the DH Express (4 engined) biplane that was a club hack before failing to return from a Spanish outing. JI book well worth a read.<br /> Ahhhh..... IDN, I remember her well from those days. I worked part-time/was a "hangar rat" at Hampshire Aero Club. Never managed a flight, but thought I was close on one occasion!! Remember taxying down for fuel with Jersey bound holiday makers as spectators.... The 86 was just before my time, sadly never saw her. PM<br />

[POBJOY]

<br /> Ahhhh..... IDN, I remember her well from those days. I worked part-time/was a "hangar rat" at Hampshire Aero Club. Never managed a flight, but thought I was close on one occasion!! Remember taxying down for fuel with Jersey bound holiday makers as spectators.... The 86 was just before my time, sadly never saw her. PM<br />

When I started to fly in to SH (the 80's) I seem to recall that the outside of the then terminal looked fairy modern but inside there were signs of a Belfast shed.
Is it my imagination or am I correct. Certainly there were Belfasts pre war so did some survive. Spotters will know.
I nearly diverted into SH in the 70's having been caught out by early morning fog en route to Cornwall from RHill. In fact I was 'properly' caught out as the fog condensed faster than my 1200cc Turbulent could run, so I had to resort to a low level dash along the railway line until it went into a tunnel. Oh dear, a quick 180 and then a sports field flashed past and some rugby posts made a reference point. A couple of turns, and there was just enough vis to drop down across the ground and I had arrived at an Army base (just). This turned to be part of the Camp that had been Worthy Down Airfield so I was given a very nice breakfast and given a well attended send off a few hours later when it cleared. In fact WD had been the original test field for Supermarines at Eastleigh so not too much thread creep here.
Supermarine moved their testing to High Post eventually.

[Planemike]

PB..... This Eastleigh spotter can confirm that there were two pairs of Belfast truss hangars at Eastleigh dating from WW1. They were demolished when the airport was developed into Southampton International Airport in the early 90s. At least two hangars were occupied for some time by Vickers Supermarine: marked as such. You are correct, one side of the northern pair did serve as the terminal building for some time and had a façade facing the airfield which did tend to obscure the origins of the building. Supermarines moved their flight testing facility to Chilbolton.... My Dad finished his RAF career at Worthy Down in 1946 instructing at Southampton UAS on Oxfords and Tiger Moths.....<br />