Manchester Air Show - Barton
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Manchester Air Show - Barton
Thought I'd start a thread to gather recollections from the Manchester Air Show at Barton that ran from the late 70s to 1994.
Recollections, photos, memories all welcome.
Would be great to hear from people who attended the event, which I considered to be a real 'hidden gem' on the airshow circuit.
Recollections, photos, memories all welcome.
Would be great to hear from people who attended the event, which I considered to be a real 'hidden gem' on the airshow circuit.
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Well, I don't know about that. But they were great shows! I think they started before that - I remember attending a 'Barnstormers' show at Barton in the late '60s or very early 70s.
The Friday 'practice days' were better than the show day, however.
But - a few memories (I did my PPL there in 1978 and flew based aircraft from there until we moved our Chippy to Liverpool a few years back).
Concorde!
A BAC Super 1-11 full of spotters from Manchester doing low fly-bys with one main wheel still retracted.
A touch and go by a DC3
A Don Bullock 'Sally B' display where from 10 back in the crowd, only the top of the tailfin could be seen as he flew down the runway!
Tragic crash of a Midget Mustang off a barrel roll, right into the ground.
The Harrier blasting all the carrots out of the farmer's field as he hovered just outside the airfield northern boundary in a noisy cloud of earth!
Some wonderful fast jet and big-piston displays. The Bearcat was one that has stayed in my mind. As he dived, in an ever-increasing scream, onto the field he pulled out at about 20 feet adjacent to a car dealer's tent, which all but collapsed in the wake. I can still see those shiney-suited salesmen fleeing that tent as they thought armageddon had arrived (it very nearly had!). In a pullup in that sprited display, I saw a large bird, several feet away from the Bearcat, felled like an ox by the pressure wave and falling out of the sky like a limp rag doll. You don't see balls-out stuff like that these days!
The mighty Vulcan, pounding the Barton turf and the chests of the onlookers in a full-power low-level wing-over. Several times!
One of my flying instructors and another Barton member killed in an aerobatic accident immediately after one show. After that, there was a 'no flying' rule after the show had finished.
Brian Lecomber arriving in the overhead in the bright red Stampe on the Saturday before the show. As he commenced an impromtu display, all the various pre-show activities on the field stopped - even the 'Kerdunker' that was hammering-in fence posts - as everyone was completely spellbound. When he finished, there was immediate, spontanious, and very loud applause (which Brian in the Blattering Stampe could not of course hear) from everyone on the field.
The year I watched the show from the northern boundary - patrolling police horses unfazed by the shattering sudden roar of low-level Starfighters, and the very ground shaking (it is a peat bog) when a helo dropped a car from a few hundred feet into the field behind me (don't ask)!
And lots more!
They were great days, the like of which in these PC times we are unlikely to see again.
SSD
The Friday 'practice days' were better than the show day, however.
But - a few memories (I did my PPL there in 1978 and flew based aircraft from there until we moved our Chippy to Liverpool a few years back).
Concorde!
A BAC Super 1-11 full of spotters from Manchester doing low fly-bys with one main wheel still retracted.
A touch and go by a DC3
A Don Bullock 'Sally B' display where from 10 back in the crowd, only the top of the tailfin could be seen as he flew down the runway!
Tragic crash of a Midget Mustang off a barrel roll, right into the ground.
The Harrier blasting all the carrots out of the farmer's field as he hovered just outside the airfield northern boundary in a noisy cloud of earth!
Some wonderful fast jet and big-piston displays. The Bearcat was one that has stayed in my mind. As he dived, in an ever-increasing scream, onto the field he pulled out at about 20 feet adjacent to a car dealer's tent, which all but collapsed in the wake. I can still see those shiney-suited salesmen fleeing that tent as they thought armageddon had arrived (it very nearly had!). In a pullup in that sprited display, I saw a large bird, several feet away from the Bearcat, felled like an ox by the pressure wave and falling out of the sky like a limp rag doll. You don't see balls-out stuff like that these days!
The mighty Vulcan, pounding the Barton turf and the chests of the onlookers in a full-power low-level wing-over. Several times!
One of my flying instructors and another Barton member killed in an aerobatic accident immediately after one show. After that, there was a 'no flying' rule after the show had finished.
Brian Lecomber arriving in the overhead in the bright red Stampe on the Saturday before the show. As he commenced an impromtu display, all the various pre-show activities on the field stopped - even the 'Kerdunker' that was hammering-in fence posts - as everyone was completely spellbound. When he finished, there was immediate, spontanious, and very loud applause (which Brian in the Blattering Stampe could not of course hear) from everyone on the field.
The year I watched the show from the northern boundary - patrolling police horses unfazed by the shattering sudden roar of low-level Starfighters, and the very ground shaking (it is a peat bog) when a helo dropped a car from a few hundred feet into the field behind me (don't ask)!
And lots more!
They were great days, the like of which in these PC times we are unlikely to see again.
SSD
Awesome but Affordable
Looking at this thread brought back some pleasant memories and a check on my airshows data base.
I flew in the Barnstormers Air Shows at Barton on the 16 August 1970, the 15 August 1971 and the 20 August 1972. A total of 13 display slots in Tiger Moths G-AHRC and G-APVT plus Nipper G-AVKJ which included aerobatics, crazy flying, balloon bursting, streamer cutting, flour bombing, limbo, crackshot and stand on wing items. I also flew as No 2 in the Rothmans team display in the 1971 show flying Stampe SV4C G-AYGR.
One of the shows was held on a day of very strong winds and while flying the Tiger I managed to do a vertical circuit with no turns by taking off and climbing to 500 feet. Then decelerating until I was drifted back to a position where I could lower the nose for the approach and landing. Our ground crew then grabbed the aircraft and we used the shelter of the fire truck to get back to our parking slot. The crowd were highly appreciative of our efforts.
My only flying involvement in the Manchester Air Shows organised by the resident aero club was in 1979 on 6 June in Lindsey Walton's Nord 1002 Pingouin G-ATBG masquerading, as usual, as a Bf108.
It was sad to see this annual event disappear from the airshow calender. A victim of ever increasing costs and regulatory burdens. Those involved on the organising team did a grand job for so many years.
Cheers,
Reaper 69
I flew in the Barnstormers Air Shows at Barton on the 16 August 1970, the 15 August 1971 and the 20 August 1972. A total of 13 display slots in Tiger Moths G-AHRC and G-APVT plus Nipper G-AVKJ which included aerobatics, crazy flying, balloon bursting, streamer cutting, flour bombing, limbo, crackshot and stand on wing items. I also flew as No 2 in the Rothmans team display in the 1971 show flying Stampe SV4C G-AYGR.
One of the shows was held on a day of very strong winds and while flying the Tiger I managed to do a vertical circuit with no turns by taking off and climbing to 500 feet. Then decelerating until I was drifted back to a position where I could lower the nose for the approach and landing. Our ground crew then grabbed the aircraft and we used the shelter of the fire truck to get back to our parking slot. The crowd were highly appreciative of our efforts.
My only flying involvement in the Manchester Air Shows organised by the resident aero club was in 1979 on 6 June in Lindsey Walton's Nord 1002 Pingouin G-ATBG masquerading, as usual, as a Bf108.
It was sad to see this annual event disappear from the airshow calender. A victim of ever increasing costs and regulatory burdens. Those involved on the organising team did a grand job for so many years.
Cheers,
Reaper 69
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Can anyone shed any light on one of my earliest aviation memories?
My father took me to the Airshow at Barton several times in the late 1970's and I remember on one occasion witnessing the crash of a Biplane (which I seem to recall was a Tiger Moth) into a field behind the crowd line.
I can find no trace on the www (Including the AAIB site) of a report related to this and have often wondered about the full details of this accident.
I would appreciate it if anyone here on pprune could fill in the missing details for me.
My father took me to the Airshow at Barton several times in the late 1970's and I remember on one occasion witnessing the crash of a Biplane (which I seem to recall was a Tiger Moth) into a field behind the crowd line.
I can find no trace on the www (Including the AAIB site) of a report related to this and have often wondered about the full details of this accident.
I would appreciate it if anyone here on pprune could fill in the missing details for me.
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Zotbox, believe it was a Stearman which spun in... Read a little about it recently somewhere and I think pilot actually survived.
Hi NWEST
I was always under the impression that the display at Woodford organised by the RAFA and sponsored by a Manchester Newspaper was the main Manchester Air Display ????
Please tell me if was just for the NW RAFA 
I was always under the impression that the display at Woodford organised by the RAFA and sponsored by a Manchester Newspaper was the main Manchester Air Display ????
Please tell me if was just for the NW RAFA
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Hi Zotbox,
No prob, found a precis of the accident report which doesn't mention Barton, forgot to bring it to work - pretty sure there is an article from a few months earlier which does mention Barton in relation to the same incident, around 1976 or 77. Bit more research tonight...
Two on board, both survived - it was more or less a very heavy, fast crash landing in a cornfield after entering a spin rather lower than was wise! Tough old boid the Stearman.
Edit:
Both injured. I can't find the reference that definitely links this with Barton, nor can I identify a Stearman on the UK register that might have been the culprit!
Five minutes later - from Warbird_Central.com:
Wunderful thing the web... bet the wreck went Stateside...
No prob, found a precis of the accident report which doesn't mention Barton, forgot to bring it to work - pretty sure there is an article from a few months earlier which does mention Barton in relation to the same incident, around 1976 or 77. Bit more research tonight...
Two on board, both survived - it was more or less a very heavy, fast crash landing in a cornfield after entering a spin rather lower than was wise! Tough old boid the Stearman.
Edit:
Both injured. I can't find the reference that definitely links this with Barton, nor can I identify a Stearman on the UK register that might have been the culprit!
Five minutes later - from Warbird_Central.com:
8822 to N55720, then to G-BDCF May 5, 1975. Registration cancelled after aircraft failed to recover from spin and crashed at Barton Aerodrome, England
Jul 17, 1977, but one source says remains sold to owner in USA
Jul 17, 1977, but one source says remains sold to owner in USA
Last edited by treadigraph; 10th Mar 2009 at 18:54.
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The Barton show had more than its fair share of accidents with perhaps the most tragic all round being the loss of the last flying Mosquito with both of its crew on 21 July 1996 . This I think ended the Barton shows.
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I Remember we used to do Pleasure flight at Barton on the Airshow days in the BN2 G-AXXH of the short Runway (Which was short even for the BN2)
They were good days and always there was always a good Crowd there.
Do you remember the C150 that had an accident about 1975 on the Airshow day ??
It was removed to the Hangar where The owner of the Cessna Dealearship at Leeds at the time ensured it was written off with a few short sharp blows with a Big Hammer
Happy Days
ra
They were good days and always there was always a good Crowd there.
Do you remember the C150 that had an accident about 1975 on the Airshow day ??
It was removed to the Hangar where The owner of the Cessna Dealearship at Leeds at the time ensured it was written off with a few short sharp blows with a Big Hammer
Happy Days
ra
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Hi NWEST
I was always under the impression that the display at Woodford organised by the RAFA and sponsored by a Manchester Newspaper was the main Manchester Air Display ????
Please tell me if was just for the NW RAFA 
I was always under the impression that the display at Woodford organised by the RAFA and sponsored by a Manchester Newspaper was the main Manchester Air Display ????
Please tell me if was just for the NW RAFA
The Barton shows were always called "Manchester Airshow" to differentiate them from Woodford.
The Barton show had more than its fair share of accidents with perhaps the most tragic all round being the loss of the last flying Mosquito with both of its crew on 21 July 1996 . This I think ended the Barton shows.
You're right though in the sense that there have been no air displays whatsoever at Barton since 21/07/1996. Only the odd fly in since. A great shame, was such a nice venue for a show.
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"8822 to N55720, then to G-BDCF May 5, 1975. Registration cancelled after aircraft failed to recover from spin and crashed at Barton Aerodrome, England
Jul 17, 1977, but one source says remains sold to owner in USA "
Thanks very much for your efforts Treadigraph, I doubt that I would have found that information in a month of Sundays!
And now I have another aviation related website with which to while away the hours!
Thanks again,
Zotbox
Jul 17, 1977, but one source says remains sold to owner in USA "
Thanks very much for your efforts Treadigraph, I doubt that I would have found that information in a month of Sundays!
And now I have another aviation related website with which to while away the hours!
Thanks again,
Zotbox
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Was there a Spitfire there the day of the Mossie's demise? I don't remember that. I was off to the north aerobatting our Chippy when I head of the crash over the radio. Saw the smoke off the end of 09 as I got back on the ground just before the field was closed.
I'd chosen the Mossie display as the one to miss as I wanted to fly that day, and judged that would be the least exciting display. I'd seen if many times before,and it never seemed to do anything extreme, which is why, when I heard that radio call as I looped the Chippy several miles to the north "the crash is to the west of the field", it didn't at first register that it was the Mossie that was being referred to.
Tragic day. But not a 'Barton Airshow' day. The airshow was big public event with many acts and most of the field full of parked cars. This was a 'casual' mini show day, with few other than entusiasts present.
I'd chosen the Mossie display as the one to miss as I wanted to fly that day, and judged that would be the least exciting display. I'd seen if many times before,and it never seemed to do anything extreme, which is why, when I heard that radio call as I looped the Chippy several miles to the north "the crash is to the west of the field", it didn't at first register that it was the Mossie that was being referred to.
Tragic day. But not a 'Barton Airshow' day. The airshow was big public event with many acts and most of the field full of parked cars. This was a 'casual' mini show day, with few other than entusiasts present.
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Back in the 90's when I was a young ATC cadet I remember an Air2000 757 doing a fantastic low level display! Does anybody else recall this or is it just my vivid imagination. Would also love to know the reg...to see if in later life I have flown this bird.
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3Reds. You were not mistaken. An Air 2000 B757 did appear at the show one year, I was there in the VIP enclosure. It's appearance at the show was kept a secret until the very last minute but a few guys picked up the call sign on their scanners and figured out that something special was about to happen. I think it was flown by Capt Bob Screen but I can't remember which 757 it was although I think it may have been OC. He did a high speed pass throttles open, another high speed in idle (spooky) and a slow pass in landing config before a final high speed pass. I recall the aircraft pulled up into an incredibly steep climb after it's final pass and you could hear the crowd gasp as it disappeared into the clouds.
The ATC guy for the day used to be a guy named Brown? who was a Manchester Airport controller I think? a great guy.
The ATC guy for the day used to be a guy named Brown? who was a Manchester Airport controller I think? a great guy.
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Manchester ATC's Tony Brown and Paul Eyte used to do the controlling on the day. Both are now retired, and both were 'distinctive' on the radio. In particular Tony had a very distinct RT style, well known to flyers in the Manchester airspace back in the '80s and '90s.
SSD
SSD
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SSD
Thanks for the memories! I recall Tony being an absolute gentleman and an ace controller who was well respected by many of the AMM crews based at Manchester his name was often mentioned during briefings along the lines of 'I hope it's Tony on today' or 'it was great to get back off a long homeward sector and hear Tony's friendly voice when we called up Manchester'
I remember chatting with him one time and he was giving out a little (kinda tongue in cheek) about the young whipper-snappers coming into the job at MAN he commented about how he'd taken over a shift to find half a dozen aircraft stacked because the young 'un needed time to arrange them neatly for their approach. He took the seat and got about to work 'pushing tin' style as the young controller looked on aghast at his skill and coolness!
Thanks for the memories! I recall Tony being an absolute gentleman and an ace controller who was well respected by many of the AMM crews based at Manchester his name was often mentioned during briefings along the lines of 'I hope it's Tony on today' or 'it was great to get back off a long homeward sector and hear Tony's friendly voice when we called up Manchester'
I remember chatting with him one time and he was giving out a little (kinda tongue in cheek) about the young whipper-snappers coming into the job at MAN he commented about how he'd taken over a shift to find half a dozen aircraft stacked because the young 'un needed time to arrange them neatly for their approach. He took the seat and got about to work 'pushing tin' style as the young controller looked on aghast at his skill and coolness!
