Big piston displays - what do you want?

[Hot Charlie]

Originally Posted by BEagle

I'd support the reasonably high-speed arrival! Particularly of the Sea Fury.

Right to left at OW please, "appearing" from behind the trees...

I seem to remember being quite impressed by Paul Stone's impromptu display at OW last year. That was nice.

[ChrisVJ]

I too went to a Yeovilton display when I was four, Spitfires and Hurricanes etc, must have been 1948! I had a particular interest in the Hurricane. Cloud base was three or four thousand feet. Hurricane did a fast approach, several turns and rolls, a dirty pass with the canopy open and the pilot waving to the crown and then a last low pass wth a half loop into the cloud and just disappeared.

Thank you Michael Graves for that and for my love of flying ever since.

[Plumb Bob]

On the subject of formations, I would like to point out that ‘dissimilar’ combinations sometimes really drown the sound of the less noisy machine(s). Let the violin also be heard without the accompanying instruments.
I once witnessed the Dutch military Beaver + Auster pair fly up and down the field rather fruitlessly: I never heard the proper Auster music.

Otherwise

[Man-on-the-fence]

FB11

Talk to Stoney about what he did on his last ever Sea Fury display at Old Warden (the one with the crosswind, he flew in from Duxford).

Do what he did! The hairs are standing up on the back of my neck just thinking about it

[skiddyiom]

Low n slow for pictures, with the Sea Hawk and solo, then a some fast fly-by's so we can appreciate the awesome sound of that big radial engine!!

And if you could see your way right to flying via the Isle of Man at some time, that would be most appreciated!!

skiddy

[Akubra]

Hi
Saw A Fury display that included a mock strafe run from 6000. It was A very steep dive and the vapor off the wings on pull out equaled any jet fighter display I have seen.
Guess this is not a good thing to do to the airframe but it sure was impressive.
Most importantly in any display to me, Is a break in commentary and/or music to hear the machines in all their glory.

[wileydog3]

I was in Colorado a few years ago and there was a Sea Fury beating up the pattern. What was MOST impressive was the way he did his high speed passes. He would come out of a descending turn over the runway at a point near where we were standing. Just before leveling off, he would POWER UP... it was one thing to hear him in the descent but then came the sound of MORE power. It was like a weight lifter flexing. His timing was excellent and the sound change added immensely to the display.

['Chuffer' Dandridge]

Fly it the way it should be flown, within limits of both airframe and pilot, but just dont bend it!

[Raven30]

The sound of the Centaurus is what makes the display, so a high speed pass always works. Big smooth basic aero manoeuvres are what I enjoy seeing. As has been said previously, the Extras et al provide the high energy 3D style of display, and the likes of the Sea Fury provide the grace.

I spent many summers back in my youth watching your predecessors doing their pre season work up overhead my home at Westonzoyland. Don't know whether you still use it for practices, but if you do, I know my old mum will be grateful, beacause she too is a big fan!!

Keep up the superb work

Raven

[airborne_artist]

What is it about any big piston, but specifically the Sea Fury if applicable, that you'd like to see?

Much as I love to see it, I want to hear it even more. Just make sure it's loud

[Centaurus]

The Centaurus, at high speed, has a sound that is quite beautifully unique and that I, for one, just love to hear

Oh my heart goes all a'flutter - I didn't know you cared!

[hairyclameater]

Concur with what has been siad, though as a photographer some nice, close, sweeping not too fast top side banks around the crowd are an absolute must!! Does the hook work? I think a carrier borne type with everything dangling in a slow, low, dirty flypast looks the bizzz!!

Re formating, I've always thought a joint BBMF/FAAHF formation would look and sound rather scrummy! Though these days without the Firefly, and the Sea Hawk being too fast and Swordfish being too slow, it aint gonna happen.
Fingers crossed if the Sea Vixen is on the circuit this year in proper colours it will be a must to formate on that with the Sea Hawk and poss even the Sea Fire....

Just carry on the good work, always a joy to see!