Waddington Air Show
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Waddington Air Show
Just back from the scorching sun of the Air Show: in and out with no delay, so a big "Thank You " to all the folks who worked in the heat to make it so straightforward for the "viewing public". Gold Star, Tick,VG.
What wasn't so good were the flying and static displays: no Tristar,VC10,C-17,F-18,A-10 or any really heavy metal from "our friends in the US".
Regrettably, that and the flying display do indicate the extremely serious overstretch the Forces face.
The mate in the Typhoon put on an excellent display as did the G-4: missed the Harrier but must have been brill too.
The RNZAF 757 driver is a nutter: try that with 235 pax and 6 cabin crew.
Ollie White worked manfully with his Chinook and Barry Jones and his AAC guys gave it what for ( the Lynx driver needs certifying for the things he did in a helo), and the Reds were technically brilliant but uninspiring, despite the commentator's enthusiasm. The Canberra mate was trying to make certain he used up every bit of fatigue left on the jet before it gets scrapped ( 10 out of 10) but too many civvy aerobatic teams and not enough military metal.
Any chance of the rest of NATO helping out for next year?
What wasn't so good were the flying and static displays: no Tristar,VC10,C-17,F-18,A-10 or any really heavy metal from "our friends in the US".
Regrettably, that and the flying display do indicate the extremely serious overstretch the Forces face.
The mate in the Typhoon put on an excellent display as did the G-4: missed the Harrier but must have been brill too.
The RNZAF 757 driver is a nutter: try that with 235 pax and 6 cabin crew.
Ollie White worked manfully with his Chinook and Barry Jones and his AAC guys gave it what for ( the Lynx driver needs certifying for the things he did in a helo), and the Reds were technically brilliant but uninspiring, despite the commentator's enthusiasm. The Canberra mate was trying to make certain he used up every bit of fatigue left on the jet before it gets scrapped ( 10 out of 10) but too many civvy aerobatic teams and not enough military metal.
Any chance of the rest of NATO helping out for next year?
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It was a great, very hot day, but undermined by commentators being forced to talk about the sponsors a lot more than they should... including website addresses for companies- a bit cXXp really there (especially the woman commentator who sounded more worried than Judy Finnigan!). The GR7 got of the deck but had to canx again and land back due to a tech snag. The Kiwis were fantastic. Well done to all, especially the world's newest aerobatic team (I'm not biased at all!!!)
I'd just like to add a comment about the quality of work Waddington was able to provide while all the preparations for the airshow were in full swing. On the Thursday, with the first aircraft arriving and all the other activities associated with putting on such a massively-disrupting show in full swing, I bell'd-up to Wadd Zone and asked for a quicky refuel en route with the Air Ambo to a serious incident out to the east. The bowser was rolling-up just as we touched down, cheerful crew helped us to refuel and off we went to pick up yet another dullard motorcyclist.
Big thanks to all concerned - you make it look so easy!
Big thanks to all concerned - you make it look so easy!
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Merlin looked superb on display just a pity the commentry and some of the static line aircrew were so non comital about it would have been nice to see one on the static line as well. the 800 Sqn Harrier was great to see with the fly navy sign in the cockpit. The NATO AWACS was trying to poke fun with the Portugal scarf in the cockpit. Though the star of the show had to be the canberra what a shame thease are going to retire the static display on its history and role was excellent and well done to the PRU for that. Another pity was XM607 Languishing on the far side of the runway.
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Also went on Saturday...
Good stuff:
Su26 singleton. Seen it before - still awesome.
757. If the airlines flew like that it would make life so much more fun.
Red Arrows. Still the best. Might have seen it many times before but the sun glinting off 9 Hawks against a perfect blue sky still does it.
The missile thingy. to the crew programming that ground-to-air battery to track the display aircraft or passers-by they didn't like.
Organisation: Minimum queuing to get in and out - very efficient parking ops and the ATC et al did a great job of picking up all the FOD during the day.
Not so good stuff:
Commentary. Couldn't hear it - more loudspeakers needed.
Blades. Formation looked a bit raggedy to me and trying to do the Reds display with four Extras doesn't work IMO.
Beer. £3 a pint and no choice?
Timing. Was it just me or did the display timing seem a little disjointed
Good stuff:
Su26 singleton. Seen it before - still awesome.
757. If the airlines flew like that it would make life so much more fun.
Red Arrows. Still the best. Might have seen it many times before but the sun glinting off 9 Hawks against a perfect blue sky still does it.
The missile thingy.
to the crew programming that ground-to-air battery to track the display aircraft or passers-by they didn't like.Organisation: Minimum queuing to get in and out - very efficient parking ops and the ATC et al did a great job of picking up all the FOD during the day.
Not so good stuff:
Commentary. Couldn't hear it - more loudspeakers needed.
Blades. Formation looked a bit raggedy to me and trying to do the Reds display with four Extras doesn't work IMO.
Beer. £3 a pint and no choice?
Timing. Was it just me or did the display timing seem a little disjointed
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Awesome show for all the family - Well done Waddo, better organised than most but it's only going to get busier!! Looking forward to next year already.
EGBKflyer - judging by your username, if you think the Blades were raggedy you should pop to the hangar next door and tell them face to face!
EGBKflyer - judging by your username, if you think the Blades were raggedy you should pop to the hangar next door and tell them face to face!
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Originally Posted by EGBKFLYER
Also went on Saturday...
The missile thingy. to the crew programming that ground-to-air battery to track the display aircraft or passers-by they didn't like.
The missile thingy.
to the crew programming that ground-to-air battery to track the display aircraft or passers-by they didn't like.
Originally Posted by EGBKFLYER
Beer. £3 a pint and no choice?
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Went on Sunday with all the family, expecting a great day out.
Waddington is supposed to be the RAF's airshow, the window on the RAF's flying. As a spectator I found it very disappointing. Gave the impression of the RAF as an organisation in terminal decline. So sad.
Travel and parking arrangements were excellent.
Hospitality was, of course, first class.
Flying display programme was abysmal. Where was the RAF? Where were our NATO allies? The few RAF aircraft gave their best - the Canberra was awesome. Lots of civvy stunts, and the RNZAF did outstandingly. But no Harrier (u/s both days - no comment), no F3, no Jaguar, no C17, and we must have left before the Hawk came on, if it was in the display - the programme had little relevance to what was actually going on. As for the commentary - if you couldn't hear it you were in luck.
On the plus side, thought the Reds have an attractive and dynamic display this year, though a bit ragged at times, probably because it was so bumpy.
We all understand the current overstretch, but if the situation doesn't improve next year it might be better to cancel completely.
Waddington is supposed to be the RAF's airshow, the window on the RAF's flying. As a spectator I found it very disappointing. Gave the impression of the RAF as an organisation in terminal decline. So sad.
Travel and parking arrangements were excellent.
Hospitality was, of course, first class.
Flying display programme was abysmal. Where was the RAF? Where were our NATO allies? The few RAF aircraft gave their best - the Canberra was awesome. Lots of civvy stunts, and the RNZAF did outstandingly. But no Harrier (u/s both days - no comment), no F3, no Jaguar, no C17, and we must have left before the Hawk came on, if it was in the display - the programme had little relevance to what was actually going on. As for the commentary - if you couldn't hear it you were in luck.
On the plus side, thought the Reds have an attractive and dynamic display this year, though a bit ragged at times, probably because it was so bumpy.
We all understand the current overstretch, but if the situation doesn't improve next year it might be better to cancel completely.
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Originally Posted by Thud_and_Blunder
.....and off we went to pick up yet another dullard motorcyclist.....
(at the risk of hijacking the thread) No, not knocked off by any 4-wheel motorist - he was on the track (briefly) at Cadwell Park trying to see how good he was on his Ninja. Says it all really. When we went past the track on an earlier flight, the paramedics noted that the bikes were out and commented "Oh ****, Organ-Donor Day. We'll be back there again later...". Pretty good at their job, these paramedics...
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Originally Posted by Clockwork Mouse
Flying display programme was abysmal. Where was the RAF? Where were our NATO allies? The few RAF aircraft gave their best - the Canberra was awesome. Lots of civvy stunts, and the RNZAF did outstandingly. But no Harrier (u/s both days - no comment), no F3, no Jaguar, no C17, and we must have left before the Hawk came on, if it was in the display
Harrier Flew on Saturday, as did the Hawk, Hercules,Tornado, Typhoon, Tutor, Tucano, Chinook and Merlin. There is no Jaguar or F3 Display any more and chance are there never will be. There has never been a C17 display team. The above is all the RAF have now(more or less), what do you want them to fly ?
Are NATO allies where at Koksijde !
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I was due to attend with a nice shiny VC10, may have even been the one with the nice red tail, but that weekend turned out to be quite busy and there were no frames available. Sorry folks. I guess the C17 and Tri* mates were a bit stretched too.
FJ1 -- There is a C17 display. It does a bit of flying round, a bit of reversing, then a landrover pops out of the back etc.. etc..
Clockwork-- If the day was cancelled, you would complain about that!! People have worked very hard in an already busy schedule to bring you the best they can. Please acknowledge that the people attending the airshow to show you round the displays, and to an extent the pilots and engs involved in the air displays are giving up another weekend away from their family to try and make the day as succesful as possible.
Try writing to B-liar, to get our aircraft back in the country, so you can have a nice full display.
Shame I missed it, I always look forward to Waddington, ahh well, there is always next year...unless clockwork gets their way
FJ1 -- There is a C17 display. It does a bit of flying round, a bit of reversing, then a landrover pops out of the back etc.. etc..
Clockwork-- If the day was cancelled, you would complain about that!!
People have worked very hard in an already busy schedule to bring you the best they can. Please acknowledge that the people attending the airshow to show you round the displays, and to an extent the pilots and engs involved in the air displays are giving up another weekend away from their family to try and make the day as succesful as possible. Try writing to B-liar, to get our aircraft back in the country, so you can have a nice full display.
Shame I missed it, I always look forward to Waddington, ahh well, there is always next year...unless clockwork gets their way
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[QUOTE=Roguedent] FJ1 -- There is a C17 display. It does a bit of flying round, a bit of reversing, then a landrover pops out of the back etc.. etc../QUOTE]
Yes but that tends to be fairford special, not season long display team as such.
Yes but that tends to be fairford special, not season long display team as such.