Air Day at RNAS Yeovilton

[forthbridge]

Jim.. you sure you went on Airshow Day??

I've done the airfield from both main access routes and it's a complete tw@t. The Cirencester bypass.. what a joy. I pulled off there at 10pm and got into the show at 1310.. not bad going for 6 miles :@ ATB

DaveB :tab:

15 hours?? :o

We must be lucky.... the last two times, traffic only really held us up at Dunfield, maybe a mile or so from Whelford..... absolutely no delays before that!
CHEERS

[DaveB]

As you can tell Jim.. I'm not having a good day today

No.. the 10AM to 1310 was a nightmare. The good lady thought I was going to explode with anger :tab: OK I said.. we've missed this and missed that.. as long as we don't miss the Lancaster and then.. over RIAT Radio, we heard the commentator say 'And if you look over to the other side of the runway, you'll see the BBMF Lancaster starting it's engines' :o :brick: :doho: :@ A bad day mate.. a very bad day. What's more, when the airshow finished.. I had a nice little drive down to Dorset (we were going on holiday). All in all, one of those very cunning plans that went very sour very early on. At least we didn't miss the B2 and that was the whole reason for going (it's first display year)

You'd be surprised how many folk in posh cars have offered to swap em for the old ZX9R

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[forthbridge]

Funnily enough Dave, in the time we were in the queue, only a couple of bikes passed us - but, to be fair, we were there at about quarter to nine - left FM just before seven bells. Must bave been about the same time the year before. All told, with the 75-odd mile drive, we allow three hours from leaving to getting in.

We were in the car park at the Whelford end, and by the time we walked in (and I had to empty the Rucsak) to the middle of the runway, we were set up, and my first photo is 0945 and the F18!

I've only ever driven the once to Leuchars (never again) - having always done it by rail, and there's always a visible tailback for miles from the train - I have always been amazed that Fairford seems (to me anyway) less busy. Get there early, and after the show better to spend an hour and a bit relaxing instead of getting car-park exit rage! (Quite enjoyable to take a coffee and sandwich, and sit in/at the car watching the clowns shouting at each other to get out ;-) )

I can't remember the ADT from Fairford for the return leg, but there were no hold ups bar the crawl to Whelford from the Airfield, and we were back at base at 2300 hours, after a couple of pit-stops on the way.

This is doing me no good however, as I am starting to think 'what if....' - but even if I hadn't been only a month into my new job, the 12th is Samantha's birthday, so it would be pushing it to the extreme............... :think:

[forthbridge]

Well, to anyone who is going, have a great day... I will expect copious photographic links....... :flying:

Skippy - set the alarm!!! ;-)

[DaveB]

This is doing me no good however, as I am starting to think 'what if....' - but even if I hadn't been only a month into my new job, the 12th is Samantha's birthday, so it would be pushing it to the extreme............... :think:

Jim..
It'd be kinder to let her know what she's gonna be in for rather than try and wangle it after the event if you get my drift. That way.. she can accept you 'warts'n'all' or not at all :drinkers:

Concur with your last though.. fingers crossed for fair wx so you lucky b*****ds going get as many shots as poss

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[forthbridge]

Jim..
It'd be kinder to let her know what she's gonna be in for rather than try and wangle it after the event if you get my drift. That way.. she can accept you 'warts'n'all' or not at all :drinkers:

Concur with your last though.. fingers crossed for fair wx so you lucky b*****ds going get as many shots as poss

I think she found out about the warts quite a while ago....... ;-)
Seriously, the RIAT would be nice, but as it's normally tied in with a longer break, it's more the new job that's put it on hold this year - but that's the way of things ;-)

A secondary agreement on sentiments for those attending Yeovilton

[DelP]

I'd be interested to see what happened at Yeovilton today...

I live a 25 minute drive from there and my son's school fete was a wash-out...very heavy weather :-(

ATB,

Derek

[Steve M]

Not a bad day at all at Yeovilton. Started windy with sunny spells but cloud increased throughout the day. The wind unfortunately played havoc with the flying timetable and a lot of the light and vintage stuff was cancelled. What did fly was impressive though and included the Hunter, Sea Vixen, Vampire & Venom. The Seahawk couldn't play which was a great shame but all in all not too bad a day given the weather we could see passing north of the base. We even had a visit from C 17 bringing a sick Seaking back from Aghanistan which came in on almost full rudder to counter the wind. Apart from a few light showers the rain held off till the end of the battle scenario finale then the heavens opened as the last explosion went off.
Lets hope the weather gods smile on Culdrose at the end of the month.

Steve M. :flying:

[forthbridge]

Glad it was better than it could have been Steve ;-)

The satellite image earlier on showed some pretty ominous cloud formation circling down onto the south west :o

[SkippyBing]

Glad you enjoyed it Steve, unfortunately 23 aircraft cancelled on Friday, which I think would have made it much better (the 20 Sqn Harriers shouldn't have been there either, but a couple of Navy instructors got 'lost' on a Navex). The FOD Plod afterwards seemed to involve walking into a Tsunami!!