RIAT 2007 (56k warning)

Post by **DaveB** » 16 Jul 2007, 21:18

Yes Andy. I don't think their routine has changed much and if it has, I've not noticed it

They also have the most enthusiastic display commentator on the globe which all add's to the show

ATB

DaveB :tab:

kit · Post by **kit** » 17 Jul 2007, 02:23

Awesome, I'm sad to say I missed it for the first time in years. Grrrrrr....

That Bulldog lives at Kemble, with a sister ship, and they offer High G rides for those of a strong constitution. Apparently they are both ex-Swedish machines as the RAF ones were all past their fatigue limit!

For enthusiatic commentating I think the al time star was the guy who did it for the Turkish F-5 team, he REALLY was over the top!

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 17 Jul 2007, 11:45

Fabulous pictures Dave...Very well done

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 17 Jul 2007, 16:54

Thanks Dave

Printed and up on his lordships wall

Leif

Post by **Trev Clark** » 17 Jul 2007, 17:58

With the exception of that (hideous :shock: ) Nimrod, I think that these shots (super shots, they are too) could have been taken at any RIAT since 1995! Funny how change and progress seems to have stopped. Not like Farnborough in the 1950's, how I wish I could have gone there!!!

Post by **DaveB** » 17 Jul 2007, 18:11

Hi Trev..

That's one reason why I don't go every year. I've looked back at the shots I took in 2005 and they're almost identical

Thank goodness they're all digital

Truth to tell.. every airshow you go to at the same location year in, year out is pretty much the same as the previous year/s. Every now and again, something new turns up.. at Duxford it was Miss Velma (ok, another P51 but not many have flown over for the show!!) and at RIAT.. the Thunderbirds and Grimnod.

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Chris558 · Post by **Chris558** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:30

So was this the first year for RIAT to host the T-Birds? Wonder why they've not appeared before? But I suppose saving things up does help to keep things sparkling, if not every year.

To be honest, I think the cream of (R)IAT was from '93 (the 'Bear'/Midas Tanker) until about the year the Stealth Planes appeared...late'90s? (ALthough I still haven't seen 'em!

)

But in recent years we've seen many, many more lovely classic types on the scene.

At least the return of 558 will appeal to a whole new generation who've not seen it, so thats a minimum age of about 20!! :shock:

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:49

I guess I'm spoilt by having the Thunderbirds live on my back door step and watching them practice during the off season - My memories of the Reds are
more vivid and impressive than the Birds - I hate to say it - when we go to the Nellis open day in Novemember we usally leave before the Birds demonstration starts as it means a clear shot at the parking lots and the highway while everyone else is ooohing and Ahhing.

BTW I notice that they have begun doing the USAF celebreation fly past - last year at Nellis we had a F22,F16,F86,and P51 do the formation - the most surprising thing being that they were all bascially about the same size rather than 3 aircraft dwarfed by a F15

Leif

Scorpius · Post by **Scorpius** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:57

Whilst the Thunderbirds are good, did anyone ever see the Blue Angels at Finningley in (I think) 1992?

I have never seen such quality, skill and sheer balls in a display.

A real show!

Post by **DaveB** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:31

Leif..

They call it the 'Heritage Flight' over here.. an F-15 from Lakenheath and what ever they can drum up to run with it. At Duxford, it was 2 x P51 and 1 Airacobra though I guess it should have been Miss Velma (P51), the P38 and a-n-other, had the P38 made it across :sad: The F-15 pilot sure flies tight into whatever he's with which says a lot for the skill of the crew and the flexibility afforded by the aircraft

The T-Birds aren't a common sight here and it's nice to see them. As DG said earlier, their display is a little lack-lustre when compared to some teams but they fly tight and it's nice to see F-16's in formation. No B2 this year and the B52 never made it into the air (although it was scheduled to display around the same time as the B1).

It was unusual to see so many of the BBMF aircraft in the air on one day.. 3 Spits, a Hurricane and the Lanc which was a treat. So often is the case that one of them (or more) goes tech.

ATB

DaveB :tab: