Airshow

Brian Franklin · Post by **Brian Franklin** » 09 Jun 2007, 16:21

Anyone going to Cosford tomorrow?

Chris Sykes · Post by **Chris Sykes** » 09 Jun 2007, 17:03

I believe Andy Nott is going...

Vulcan_to_the_Sky! · Post by **Vulcan_to_the_Sky!** » 09 Jun 2007, 23:00

I'll also be there with the air cadets...look for people wearing blue polo shirts with crests on, chances are that will be me and Andy Nott...

Brian Franklin · Post by **Brian Franklin** » 10 Jun 2007, 20:32

Well having just returned from Cosford I have to say - why did I bother....

Majorly disappointed with the weather, a disjointed and strung out display with few major attractions. Chinook gave a beautiful display, Typhoon was impressive and as ever the Reds tried valiantly to thrill the crowd but were beaten by the weather and TWO separate incursions into their airspace by microlights! in the end they called it a day.

Guess some people have never heard of NOTAMS.

I think it will take a lot to tempt me to Cosfords air days in future. Thank God they have a museum!

Vulcan_to_the_Sky! · Post by **Vulcan_to_the_Sky!** » 10 Jun 2007, 21:02

I have to agree with you a bit there...the display was nothing like the program and the Canberra pulled out again. Apart from that I didn't find it too bad but the microlight thing was seriously annoying.

Tom Everitt AFG · Post by **Tom Everitt AFG** » 10 Jun 2007, 22:53

Can I just say the Canberra didn't "pull out" by choice. It developed a technical issue on Friday which we just couldn't fix in time.

Also you wouldn't believe the problems we have had this year trying to negotiate double rotating the Dak into there. The Twin Pin is also poorly at the moment but every possible solution we came up with to get all our passengers into the show was met with a rather blunt "NO"

It's that kind of willingness to be flexible that really makes us wonder if it's even worth us bringing people to show next year at all!

Tom.

airboatr · Post by **airboatr** » 11 Jun 2007, 01:26

yep Tom, after ya do your best......
people turn on ya, thats to bad (not speaking of you vulcan)
I mean ......
well,
I hope it works out better for ya next time .all of you infact.
it's always a bummer when things happen outside of your control.
but look at it this way. you all made it home safely
so you have the chance to give it another go tommorrow

just beware:
statistics show most accidents at home.

:think: <now wherez my steel toed boots>

Brian Franklin · Post by **Brian Franklin** » 11 Jun 2007, 08:41

I don't think I made my point too well. I am by no means criticising the hard work put in by volunteers across the country on thoer various aircraft to get them ready for the season. What I am saying is that I think Cosford did a poor job of the flying display, particularly after the great shows they have done in the past.

Whether this is symptomatic of just how stretched our military has now become is probably the real question.

The only saving graces of the flying display yesterday were indeed mostly from civilian enthusiasts and their veteran aircraft.

That the RAF could only provide a Hawk, Tucano, Chinook & Typhoon (except the inevitable Reds) is a poor show, particularly at an RAF display.

Quixoticish · Post by **Quixoticish** » 11 Jun 2007, 10:28

That the RAF could only provide a Hawk, Tucano, Chinook & Typhoon (except the inevitable Reds) is a poor show, particularly at an RAF display.

I believe with the exception of the Tutor and the BBMF that is indeed it from the RAF stable this year no matter what the event, the other aircraft will only be appearing in the tactical demonstration. The F3 display was cut a few years ago, the GR4 and Harrier displays were cut in lieu of the tactical demonstration, the Merlin and Hercules displays were cut due to operational commitments, the Jaguar was cut a few years ago and has just left service, there hasn't been a Nimrod display for quite some time as there aren't enough serviceable aircraft, and the Sea King doesn't seem to do the rounds anywhere near as much as it used to (I recall you couldn't get away from the Sea King display no matter how big of small the airshow when I was younger!) I won't start to wax lyrical about the past or comment on how it's a "poor state of affairs" as plenty of people have already aired those views on plenty of forums, but I'm sure the RAF is doing the best with what they have. I still however firmly believe that cutting the solo displays for the tactical demonstration was a big mistake, they would have worked perfectly well together.

Vulcan_to_the_Sky! · Post by **Vulcan_to_the_Sky!** » 11 Jun 2007, 18:35

Tom Everitt AFG wrote:Can I just say the Canberra didn't "pull out" by choice. It developed a technical issue on Friday which we just couldn't fix in time.

Also you wouldn't believe the problems we have had this year trying to negotiate double rotating the Dak into there. The Twin Pin is also poorly at the moment but every possible solution we came up with to get all our passengers into the show was met with a rather blunt "NO"

It's that kind of willingness to be flexible that really makes us wonder if it's even worth us bringing people to show next year at all!

Tom.

Tom,

I hope you didn't think that my post was directly intended at you at classic flight, because if it has been read that way then I apologize. I recognize the hard work, and appreciate it, that you put into keeping these war birds in the air and displaying them.

Having re-read my first post I now realize it sounded a bit harsh and certainly wasn't meant as such, but it can be difficult to convey feelings on the forum. I nearly didn't recognize the dak as it was in the new to me paint scheme.

Thanks once again,

James.