Flying Legends Canned for 2024
What made Redhill 'Tick'
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!
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!
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Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
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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!
Is this connected to Flying Legends? Well, Stephen Grey was a TC member!
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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
Back then I lived in Southampton and one of our days out would have been a trip to Gatwick, Redhill and Biggin Hill. PM
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.
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.
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.
Southamptons Two Seat Spit
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
Back then I lived in Southampton and one of our days out would have been a trip to Gatwick, Redhill and Biggin Hill. PM
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,625
Received 298 Likes
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Good Read
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.
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.
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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.
Southampton (Hangar)
<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 />
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.
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 />
