Ulster airshow press day

The Ulster Airshow was on the Saturday 15th of May and on the Monday it went into Marshalls for painting .

Thank you, when was she repainted?

Lovely photos. Whos is the colourfull Catalina?

It’s the Rastacat from Duxford, now in white.

It’s the Rastacat from Duxford, now in white.

Lovely photos. Whos is the colourfull Catalina?

Camlobe, what a fantastic event to have been involved in – pure gold. Thanks for posting.

Fantastic looking weather. Fantastic story. Fabulous aircraft. Bad traffic. Sounds like a Brilliant airshow. Sorry I missed this one. Did remind me about the time a certain Mr Alex Henshaw went flying in a two seater with a certain Mr J. Quill sat surrounded by the aircraft owner, the Chief of Air Staff and various other klingons. After about twenty five minutes, the Spit owner turned and said to me in a rather nervous voice ‘ How long were they going up for? I was told about twenty minutes.’ I mumbled something incorherant and was saved by CAS cornering the aircraft owner. Without any warning the tranquil setting was exploded by a Spit right over the top of us at about 100 feet followed by a rather tight right hand turn and straight across the top of the hangar. Relieved owner. Worried us, not knowing what CAS was going to say about the unauthorised and unbriefed ‘low flying’. CAS big smiles and happy. Everybody breathes again. Aircraft taxies back in. Well known, now retired pilot in front cockpit raises hands in gesture of ‘it wasn’t me’. Mr Henshaw profusely thanked everyone and made one comment – ‘these modern helmets are a bit heavy in a turn’.
Let us hope that more of those gentlemen who flew Spits and other types for real get the same chance as Mr Mussen. They really do deserve it. Perhaps charitable donations to help fund it??? Might lead to another thread….

Glad you like the pics the look on your fathers face that day when he got out of the aircraft was amazing .I have more photos if you would like copies of them PM me and I will send you a disc of them.By the way do you think you father would be interested in visiting my ATC sqn in Ards and talking to the cadets about his experiances.

I have just come across this thread (Jan 10/06). What a surprise! That’s my Dad (Victor Mussen) getting out of the Spitfire!

What excellent photos. He will be chuffed to see them. He hasn’t got the internet but I will certainly be showing him this thread when he next visits.

His overriding memory of the day was one of total enjoyment mixed with memories of his pals who lost their lives.

If interested, you can read of his exploits in John C. Hewitt’s book, “Ireland’s Aviator Heroes of World War II.”

Trouble with Ards is there are only 3 main ways into the town and only one usable entrance to the crowd side of the airfield ,this was brought out at the meetings and another entrance was proposed but on checking it was found to have a largge trench dug accross it by developers,also more people than expected showed up, sorry you didnt make it you missed a brilliant show.

Bucc Driver,
At least you made it there, I left Dublin in good time to get there. Traffic was horrific bad signposting only saw one AA sign for airshow (in Newtownards) couldnt get in and watched helplessly from the car as the Spitfire and Dakota teamed up for the formation flypast. I could not get space to park on the road and enter as a pedestrian so I continued on the road past and went back to Dublin disappointed. It would seem to have been a great show.
Tony K

Problem with the traffic was part of the airfield previously use has been bought for development limiting the access to the Comber Rd gate,also the numbers attending were a lot more than expected an extra part of the airfield had to be opened for parking.Like you say a great show but probably the last due to development in the area.I was on the field from 07.00 to 21.00 last to leave supervising the cadets cleaning the field.These taken Friday.

A few shots from yesterday. Thought it was the best display at Ards for some time. Pity I cant say the same about the traffic management on the way in,oh dear!

Earliest I could get on today on the airfield from 10am till now, today 11.00 practice display by 4 PC9s sitting on airfield at present,Hurricane,Mustang,Catalina,buldog,Spitfirex2 Whirlwind.due tommorow Grob Tutor,Tucano,Harrier (2 flew over this afternoon) Jaguar ,Tornado(again 2 beat up airfield today) helicopter Merlin/Chinook Strikemaster,Reds.Blue Eagles,Utterly Butterlys sorry at airfiel BBQ slightly under weather! 😮

Mark,
If it did route through Baldonnel (it’s home at one time) we wouldn’t let it get back to UK!
Tony Kearns

I understand that on Friday 2 Tornado F3, 2 Jaguars, 2 Harriers, 2 Tucanos, A Tutor, and the Blue Eagles will arrive at Aldergrove for this weekends shows. There are also supposed to be 4 GR4s arriving even though there are no GR4s on the programme for Ards or Enniskillen.

Eire.

Be nice to think that it might route back through ‘previous pastures’ at Baldonnel.

Great thread.

Mark

Excellent – and still loving 161’s paint scheme 🙂

What aircraft will be displaying over the weekend Sniper?

hats off to people who arrange this day, its great that pilots and owners do this for veterans, I certainly never tire of seeing pics like the one of Mr Mussen giving the thumbs up in the rear cockpit.

🙂