Waddington Airshow
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: bomber county
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I even got my head sunburnt...
Brilliant weather despite forecasts. Vulcan looked majestic. Well done to all concerned.
Anyone know why the B52 didn't display?
Where's the after sun?
Anyone know why the B52 didn't display?
Where's the after sun?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just got back - face as red as a tomato!
I also wondered what happened to the B52. Didn't hear an annoucement or anything...
It was a fantastic day - highlights apart from the Vulcan were the Blades and the typhoon just to top things off at the end!
I also wondered what happened to the B52. Didn't hear an annoucement or anything...
It was a fantastic day - highlights apart from the Vulcan were the Blades and the typhoon just to top things off at the end!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: on the move ...
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Same Scribbler ... although don't tell the missus!
alC ... The B52 was possibly suffering from jealousy after 558 stole the show, and the aftersun is currently doing the rounds in our front room
alC ... The B52 was possibly suffering from jealousy after 558 stole the show, and the aftersun is currently doing the rounds in our front room
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South of Old Warden
Age: 87
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
The B52 was possibly suffering from jealousy after 558 stole the show,
Envy all you guys at Waddo today.
XH558, Welcome Back.
Well done to the Reds for even trying to display. The Typhoon & Spitfire display was something else, very well co-ordinated. The Spanish display, was very entertaining, with a constant stream of different groups of aircraft coming in different directions. Seeing a pair of Avro's finest bombers in formation, will hopefully convince sponsors that there is a need for the Vulcan on the display circuit.
But most amazing was the rush of people when the sound of Olympus Engines became louder, I reckon more photographs were taken than on a Japanese coach party visit to London.
Well done to the Reds for even trying to display. The Typhoon & Spitfire display was something else, very well co-ordinated. The Spanish display, was very entertaining, with a constant stream of different groups of aircraft coming in different directions. Seeing a pair of Avro's finest bombers in formation, will hopefully convince sponsors that there is a need for the Vulcan on the display circuit.
But most amazing was the rush of people when the sound of Olympus Engines became louder, I reckon more photographs were taken than on a Japanese coach party visit to London.
wx, was really looking forward too it too Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: North of Watford (Gap)
Age: 58
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Morning all.
Just a couple from me - fantastic day at Waddo yesterday. Dream come true with 558 going up. Finally!
On the stand...
Being pulled forward for start-up...
Moment of truth...
And the crowd went wild.
Overhead...
Finally for now, the Woodford twins...
Cheers, Nac
Just a couple from me - fantastic day at Waddo yesterday. Dream come true with 558 going up. Finally!
On the stand...
Being pulled forward for start-up...
Moment of truth...
And the crowd went wild.
Overhead...
Finally for now, the Woodford twins...
Cheers, Nac
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: North of Watford (Gap)
Age: 58
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK, whilst I'm in a posting mood, here's a bit more.
One of the more interesting displays earlier on was the 'Coningsby's old and new' formation, i.e. the BBMF PR XIX and a Eurofighter Typhoon. The performance disparity was clear for all to see - the PR was gunning it's nuts off, and the 'Phoon was reared up like a startled horse. Afterwards, the PR's Griffon was popping and crackling like crazy when it came in on it's downwind leg. Poor thing!
Here's the AOA comparison...
The French Mirage display later on (just before 558) was also excellent. The driver really went for it. Best bit was the 500+kt r to l run followed by the 30kt run l to r, with the thing stood right up on it's tail. Mental.
I spoke to some of the Buff crew for quite a while and they said they only had a 5% chance of displaying. The main reason was not the weather - it was weight! Where they were stood (right behind 558) the tarmac was not able to support their fuelled-up weight, so it was stood there almost dry - hence why the outriggers were 5ft clear of the floor. They would have had to taxi over to the other side of the airfield to fuel up, and the scheduling didn't look like being able to accommodate that. Great shame.
Many thanks to Lizabeth Grupe (the Buff's co-pilot on this occasion, but a Buff QFI by day) and the time she and her crew gave to a great many members of the public.
One of the more interesting displays earlier on was the 'Coningsby's old and new' formation, i.e. the BBMF PR XIX and a Eurofighter Typhoon. The performance disparity was clear for all to see - the PR was gunning it's nuts off, and the 'Phoon was reared up like a startled horse. Afterwards, the PR's Griffon was popping and crackling like crazy when it came in on it's downwind leg. Poor thing!
Here's the AOA comparison...
The French Mirage display later on (just before 558) was also excellent. The driver really went for it. Best bit was the 500+kt r to l run followed by the 30kt run l to r, with the thing stood right up on it's tail. Mental.
I spoke to some of the Buff crew for quite a while and they said they only had a 5% chance of displaying. The main reason was not the weather - it was weight! Where they were stood (right behind 558) the tarmac was not able to support their fuelled-up weight, so it was stood there almost dry - hence why the outriggers were 5ft clear of the floor. They would have had to taxi over to the other side of the airfield to fuel up, and the scheduling didn't look like being able to accommodate that. Great shame.
Many thanks to Lizabeth Grupe (the Buff's co-pilot on this occasion, but a Buff QFI by day) and the time she and her crew gave to a great many members of the public.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: England
Posts: 908
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We got here late and were a bit dissapointed. Arrived at 1pm to good weather and in the next 90 minutes saw a Merlin, a Typhoon depart and then the Spitfire Typhoon combo. With the now blue sky and huge gaps between displays, our kids were bored stiff.
Vulcan Lancaster combinationation was very good and the Vulcan the star of this show. The Spitfire Typhoon display i undertood why it was put together, but the noise of the Typhoon obviously dwarfed the Griffon! Had the Spitfire started and then been joined by the Typhoon which displayed as the Spitfire landed i think the whole thing would have been a better spectacle and listening experience. You would never put a grand piano with a rock guitar if you know what i mean.
ps not enough bogs, and £16 for 3 hotdogs.
Vulcan Lancaster combinationation was very good and the Vulcan the star of this show. The Spitfire Typhoon display i undertood why it was put together, but the noise of the Typhoon obviously dwarfed the Griffon! Had the Spitfire started and then been joined by the Typhoon which displayed as the Spitfire landed i think the whole thing would have been a better spectacle and listening experience. You would never put a grand piano with a rock guitar if you know what i mean.
ps not enough bogs, and £16 for 3 hotdogs.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: East Anglia
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Up where she belongs
Heartiest congrats to all those who've put in so much work to get 558 on the display circuit.
I don't mind admitting that I get emotional every time I watch a video of her. What an incredible achievement and I'm glad I have contributed my pennies to this endeavour, a labour of love if ever I saw one.
Thanks to those who have posted photos for us to share the spectacle.
I don't mind admitting that I get emotional every time I watch a video of her. What an incredible achievement and I'm glad I have contributed my pennies to this endeavour, a labour of love if ever I saw one.
Thanks to those who have posted photos for us to share the spectacle.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Dre's mum's house
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Organisation
I spent several years on the organising committee of the Finningley Show and the 3 biggest problems, which arose year on year, were access / egress, toilet facilities and the display programme.
The display co-ord had to work on the basis of "promises" or " we'll have a look at that" and very few, particularly the new overseas visitors, would commit until the last minute. The returners would often be the first to put their names down as they had enjoyed it so much in the past.
The access, and egress problems were compounded by the weather: regardless of whether it rained and the airfield became a bog leaving vehicles and people stranded, or the sun blazed down and huge numbers turned up at the last minute blocking roads for miles around, the traffic people really struggled.
The toilet facilities are incredibly expensive to hire and install: at FY around 20% of the entire budget went on the toilet facilities. The balance between spending not enough and having inadequate numbers and spending too much and having an over abundance is tricky, as there is no real way to forecast the attendance other than working on the previous year figures.
Bearing in mind that the main attraction, 558, only got clearance the day before, the visitor numbers probably rocketed in the 12hours before the start and changes at that point are impossible.
£16 for 3 hotdogs? Even more expensive than Ryanair!
Excellent to see 558 back in the display. Last flew that airframe on 16 March 1982!
The display co-ord had to work on the basis of "promises" or " we'll have a look at that" and very few, particularly the new overseas visitors, would commit until the last minute. The returners would often be the first to put their names down as they had enjoyed it so much in the past.
The access, and egress problems were compounded by the weather: regardless of whether it rained and the airfield became a bog leaving vehicles and people stranded, or the sun blazed down and huge numbers turned up at the last minute blocking roads for miles around, the traffic people really struggled.
The toilet facilities are incredibly expensive to hire and install: at FY around 20% of the entire budget went on the toilet facilities. The balance between spending not enough and having inadequate numbers and spending too much and having an over abundance is tricky, as there is no real way to forecast the attendance other than working on the previous year figures.
Bearing in mind that the main attraction, 558, only got clearance the day before, the visitor numbers probably rocketed in the 12hours before the start and changes at that point are impossible.
£16 for 3 hotdogs? Even more expensive than Ryanair!
Excellent to see 558 back in the display. Last flew that airframe on 16 March 1982!