LA FERTE ALAIS 2005 – Rainy days

Great show.

Thanks for the info on the SPAD – it must be ultra-frustrating when something like that happens before the big event. Apart from hiccups though, are all the Memorial Flight aircraft that were present airworthy at the moment?

Yup, all six. Bleriot, Fokker Dr1, Se5a, SPAD, Morane and Cludster

As the show will be in June next year it has the best possible chance of good weather so hopefully it will be even better – perhaps the pretty red aeroplane will be able to come out to play more?!

Tony Andrews

The red beastie was scheduled for this year but the brake problem made me decide to play safe. The weather was too bad to fly on Saturday and I am glad I left on Sunday (apart from missing the show and any post-show festivities) as the weather as crap until we crossed the Seine and was fine all the way home. Monday was not a day to cross the channel.

However, we had a great time doing the display practice on Tuesday and Wednesday and I was really pleased about how well it flew and according to those that watched it looked good too. Of course, we had the spats on then as well.

I also managed to get one of the workers flying on Wednesday. That was fun too. We had to go and stooge around while the Mustang did its practice. On Tuesday we also had Baptiste Salis come and formate for a bit in the Jungmeister.

M

Last year there was a stonking crosswind and the SPAD is one aeroplane you don’t want to play crosswinds with. This year there was a mag problem. We spent much of Wednesday replacing the mag that had been repaired (not and easy job on a SPAD) and it was test run that evening but was still not running properly. The Mag is going to need replacing and they ain’t ten a penny!

Thanks for the info on the SPAD – it must be ultra-frustrating when something like that happens before the big event. Apart from hiccups though, are all the Memorial Flight aircraft that were present airworthy at the moment?

As the show will be in June next year it has the best possible chance of good weather so hopefully it will be even better – perhaps the pretty red aeroplane will be able to come out to play more?!

Tony Andrews

Next year will be even better . . .

I guess many of us are kicking themselves that we managed to miss out for yet another year!

-Probably time to encourage a certain Coventry-based classic aircraft operator (with an appropriately French sounding name) to send some aircraft there. Also, if there was enough support/bookings, I bet it is well within Dakota/Twin Pin range… if anybody fancied it.

Do any other operators run passenger flights into the event?

Only disappointment for me was that the one aircraft I really want to see fly is a SPAD – nearly got there last year when it taxied but this time it stayed motionless.

Tony Andrews

Last year there was a stonking crosswind and the SPAD is one aeroplane you don’t want to play crosswinds with. This year there was a mag problem. We spent much of Wednesday replacing the mag that had been repaired (not and easy job on a SPAD) and it was test run that evening but was still not running properly. The Mag is going to need replacing and they ain’t ten a penny!

Needless to say we don’t risk it!

Nice to see all five Mem Flight aeroplanes out on the line Sunday morning. Bridget was not too far away dribbling into the mud and the Rearwin had just the Morane 138 parked between it and the SE5.

Next year will be even better . . .

I’ve been to many airshows over the past 25 years. It takes a lot to impress me these days. At La Ferte, I was impressed. Very impressed. The shortened Saturday display was as good a day’s aviation as I can ever remember. The Sunday’s was much, much better.

As there’s a representative of AJBS viewing, I’d like to add my compliments on the standard of the show – based on about 20 years of airshow attendances. I’ve been to LFA a few times before and it always really does offer a great atmosphere and a huge range of interesting acts well choreographed and well presented. Even with the pretty awful forecast and actual weather this year, almost all the participants were present and the full-length show on the Sunday really was excellent. With the simple addition of good weather I’m sure it would have been a strong contender for the best show in the world this year.

Only disappointment for me was that the one aircraft I really want to see fly is a SPAD – nearly got there last year when it taxied but this time it stayed motionless.

Tony Andrews

Ah well I’ll join you next year then. But for this year, I’m still glad I didn’t go – after Duxford’s VE show (and countless others prior) I think I’ve reached my limits on standing in the cold/wet/wind to watch displays! Must be getting old!

After the Calvados Andy was not cold at all . . .

two Morane 406 photos under bad weather

Mike,

Thanks, I’m one of the AJBS member, I can’t find a better compliment than yours !!

Thanks for all AJBS association

Thanks Falcon, I’ll add the Owner

no Curtiss Hawk? No B-25?

Nice pics Franck.
Btw, the owner of the Bf 109 G-4 is the “Me Air Company” short: “MAC”.

Mmmm Calvados.. nice with apple pie too…

interesting selection of a/c at LFA then.. like the look of the Flamant(s) and the ‘109’ .. would be nice to see some of that stuff tempted ‘over here’..

Neil.

Calvados

Oh yeah the Calva.
Recomended for breakfast anytime.

Calvados

Just arrived home tonight.
The forecast according to Hiscock for Saturday was “sh*t till twelve, then slightly less sh*tty in the afternoon”
That was pretty much the case.
Sunday was tons better with a full display flown.
Highlights.
MS 406
Me 109
Fokker Triplane–with a rotary
and then after all else had flown on Sunday out came one of the Bleriots and the MS monoplane and the Caudron G.III and I was a happy man.
Later
A.

Hi all bas satruday and better sundays, some of mines

the other here : http://pegase.foxalpha.com/new.php

Oh by the way….

the Rearwin had “wet wings” when I saw her Sunday – this also from Bridget ?

Martin

Only because he was standing there lusting after the Dr1!

Oh by the way….

the Rearwin had “wet wings” when I saw her Sunday – this also from Bridget ?

Martin

Mike J, Bridget and Papa Lima were about six feet away from it most of the morning as the Jones boy could not bear to drag himself away from the MFA Triplane or Morane. Most of the mud was not from the rain but from how Bridget was dribbling.

And Hector is a goose.

At 8.00 h in the morning ? Yeah right – didn’t hear any English talking so either they were speechless or still in the sack (after drowning in Calvados on Saturday).

And my sincerest apologies to Hector – now I know why he looked so menacing.

Martin