Nothing too special but I guess more the merrier. Last one is the Patrulla Aguila / Spanish Air Force.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...1/PICT0048.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...1/PICT0049.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...1/PICT0036.jpg

Liking the shots.....:ok:
I have to say on waddington airshow this year....People will probably disagree with me, but I thought it was a shambles except from the Vulcan display, Typhoon and spitfire and the Falcons....

The commentry wasn't very good at all... Delays between aircraft displays....Over priced food and drink e.g. Bottle of coke for £2.50....:mad:.

Also Have to give it to the reds for putting on a O.K show...weather was S**t...They seemed to pull the crowds for a short while.

Does anyone know where the 1st Typhoon departed too..?

It just dissappered ?

Well thats my say from it....I won't be going there next year...It will be R.I.AT all the way :ok:

The first Typhoon was headed for Silverstone, to return and display at Waddington. But technical issues delayed it to the end, and I believe it didn't display at Silverstone at all.

Ok thanks sl4yer

I think it was BEagle who said, on the 558 thread: "In future there will be 2 kinds of air show, those with the Vulcan displaying and those with no punters" (or words to that effect). Right on BEagle, if Waddington is anything to go by.

558 I love yer :ok:

Pip Pip ON

I would suggest that those chimping about food prices are displaying a degree of naivety. Pack a picnic in a rucksack, eat what you want, avoid the queues, avoid the inevitably inflated prices of food vendors at such public events.

This public information bulletin was provided by,
MM:ok:

NDW i have to agree with you re prices and delays in Programme. Is it me or at the "Big" shows is there more breaks in the Programme? My first airshows were the Ulster air show at Newtown ards where there was usually a fairly continuous programme. Waddington seams to have long breaks and went to Farnborough a bout 5 years ago and it was the same picture.
IMHO Waddington were relying on the Vulcan to pull the crowds and the RAF Role demmo to keep them entertained to be honest the role demo was a complete waste of time not only due to the non existant commentry but it just doesn't work in explaining what the airforce does.
For a Major RAF based show covering Northern England and Midlands I would have hoped the RAF could have supplied more and persuaded other allies to send aircraft thanks to the Spannish, Germans, Dutch ,Chilieans,Italians and Americans for providing Static aircraft and the Chileans, Spanish and French for contributing to the air display.
This is the RAF's 90th Birthday Year so a show like this should have had alot more to see or is the RAF putting all the eggs in the RIAT basket which is fine if you are willing to travel to the other end of the country the People of the North of England and the Midlands pay the same taxes as those in the south so why shouldn't they expect the Airforce they pay for to put on a good show somewhere they can get to. Yes budgets are tight (not only for the forces) and there is overstretch. But a big well run event like waddington can and does help keep the airforce in the public eye, helps recruit and makes people ask elective representitives why proper resources aren't being allocated.

I did indeed!

Although I don't think I said 'punters'?

BTW, I had to fly (as pax) elsewhere today - did '558 perform again? Wx was dog$hit at Birrmigoom airport when I left, hope it was better at Waddo.

Assorted comments from general member of the unwashed:-

1. Queue to get in - 1 1/2 hours for last two miles not good. Finally got there at 11 (planned 10 - 10.15, hopeful 9.30).
2. Queue to get out. Getting out of airfield was, actually, ok, within expected limits (except memo to assh*le three cars in front - you don't have to let EVERY car into the queue) but (and nothing to do with organisers) idiot cop on point duty a couple of miles South, 5 demerit points (I think his dad was in the queue up the side road).
3. What on earth was that stuff served as coffee in the Hangar Cafe. Looked (and tasted) like watered milk. Hot chocolate was as bad apparently.
4. Couldn't the met office have moved the clouds away earlier.
5. Displays generally good, but see below.
6. Saw Arrows 'flat' display for first time and I think I preferred it to main display (banking turn with 'low' aircraft not far off deck and 'top' must have been going 'where has everyone else gone' as he went through cloud was impressive.
7. Typhoon/Spitfire display was brilliant (query: surely Spitfire pilot must have had turbulence problems when he went through wash from Typhoon?)
8. Shame about B52, was looking forward to that.
9. Had lump in throat when Vulcan/Lancaster went past, could barely talk (unusual for me). (Also comment from MadsLad 'it was louder than that when we saw it at RIAT', answer being 'yes, but no burners this time').
10. Role display was good. To be fair the Navy display at Yeovilton is more impressive but, as t'Lad said, 'they have lots of helicopters hovering round, the aircraft have to go away and then come back, so there are bigger gaps'. (And did the bloke off the Chinook, last back on, really hurt his leg? If yes hope you get well soon).
11. In queue on way out, from MadsLad, nodding towards a gang of ATC Cadets being harried by a sergeant 'looks just like herding cats'

Finally from MadsMum, who isn't that interested in aviation, 'it was a brilliant day out'. (And those of you from Yorkshire will know exactly what that means). And from me thank you to all who organised and flew for the event.

Comment from one of the rich people.

Getting there, getting in, getting parked and getting out - Red Route sticker = no problem - the Flt Sgts were still calling me Sir even after they'd seen the FLY NAVY sticker in the back window...

Getting round - no problem - limo service available to Alpha Dispersal with pick-up if you were too idle to walk back - not me, BTW!

Eating - no problem - food provided: bacon sandwiches (note plural) and coffee on tap. Excellent buffet lunch with more food than you could even think of eating. Tea at 1630 with cream and jam scones, profiteroles, drinks. If you wanted beer you had to pay.

Seeing the displays - no problem - we were right at the front; how many car alarms did the Mirage set off when he made that low pass at 500+ kts?

Yes, there were gaps in the show and yes the weather was pretty horrid early on but I remember being sent home early from the Sunday show last year and anything was better than that. OK, I remember the RAF At Homes (usually Middleton St George when it was a Vampire OCU and later a Lightning OCU) where it was wall-to-wall aircraft jostling for position to display but there are two wars on at the moment.

All in all it was a brilliant day which cost my mate and I £90 each and it was worth every penny just to see 558. Next year? Certainly! And before you all jump on me - when we had 3 kids at home we couldn't afford to pay that sort of rate for our entertainment. Just wait until you're old like me and one or two others on here and then you'll be able to! :ok:

Have to agree with the comments about the French Mirage. Although unable to go to Waddo this weekend I drove past at about 5pm on Friday when the Miarge ws going through its routine - impressive particularly the fast run followed by the return high alpha pass

Tickhill to Waddington without pushing the speed limits (honest):

55 minutes from home to parking (at Barn Farm). Short queue on entry -less than 5 minutes.

50 minutes from car park back to home.

Got there for the Spanish display, deliberately late (had other duties to attend to first), which meant I was in the Barn Farm overflow carpark, but walked straight onto a bus which set off within a couple of minutes. Caught the same bus back to the Farm.

In previous years I have left early and got in around 9:00-9:15 with no more than 10 minutes queuing. Getting out has been another matter entirely - the earlier you arrive the longer you queue to get out!

Finningley - I live only 6 miles from the base and still regret miscalculating the traffic the last time the Ligntnings appeared there. I missed them, stuck in traffic only a couple of miles from home having set out over an hour before the show was due to start. I don't know how I got that one so wrong - for some reason my local knowledge worked against me that year. Still plan to go to SA one day to make up for it.

Got soaked in the morning but dried out later. Star was of course XH558. Magnificent achievement by all concerned. Must admit I was originally one of the many doubters but now . . . well, it all came together yesterday for thousands of people.

The pic I wanted was 558 and 602 together. Knew it had to taxy past its old stablemate so . . .

http://www.canberra.plus.com/pics/Vulcans.jpg
Surprisingly many around me at the time hadn't actually thought of that!

It will become obligatory in years to come to have taken and show your photo of the two Avros in flight yesterday. This is one of mine. I say one of because age is giving me more camera shake these day so I was pleased to get something that didn't look like an out of focus butterfly following a wasp.
http://www.canberra.plus.com/pics/avro2.jpg

As for the cost of food! Well, all I can say is do what we did, take your own.

I suppose the biggest niggle yesterday was the commentator. Displayed a total, and embarassing, lack of knowledge and sounded like an over-excited space cadet at a village fete. For an International Air Show the RAF could (and should) do better.

:ok:

BBC report on the show and 558

BBC NEWS | England | Lincolnshire | Thousands watch Vulcan's display

The last two paragraphs...


There were 134 Vulcans built and the plane also saw action during the Falklands conflict. It was later used as an air-to-air refuelling aircraft.

Was it indeed?

Yes - with a single Mk17 HDU in an 'MFI wardrobe' under the tailcone.

And a very nice stable platform to refuel from it was too!

See The Royal Air Force - History Section

I put what explanation I could find in the 558 folder

How did the display compare with the old RAF display of the 80S? I've memories of the Vulcan being pretty much the best display jet around.

I guess they will be much more gentle with it these days

Very much so. Sedate compared to the way it used to be displayed, but for very good reason I suppose. Also much quieter than I remember it - I suspect that lower engine power is used now with the aircraft being much lighter than it was in 1993, and engine parts being in short supply.

I remember being sat in the traffic jam for the same show, and seeing the Lightning disappear vertically into the clouds! That was the last time I saw one flying I think. That was a very grey day too!

Thank BEagle, I either never knew that or had completely forgotten. More likely the former.

passpartout: Though the punters (and me and you) would love it, I doubt if we'll ever again see the old party trick of take off and pull straight up into the wide blue yonder which used even to make our glorious allies go very quiet. Memories! :ok:

But just seeing 558 yesterday rolling down the runway and taking off at her old home was enough for me. :{

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1215380730

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1215380771

iansmith: These were taken at Funningley in 1984. Any good?