Biggin Hill 79 Photos

Point taken baz… just glad that nowadays more thought is given to the airframes longevity rather than the pilots bravado..;)

Sorry…but the subject has been ‘debated’ ad nauseum previously…me… I love low flybys but am not so comfy with display aerobatics,but that might be because I have a bad neck :D.

cheers BV

Please let’s not revisit the Invader can of worms again.

Point taken baz… just glad that nowadays more thought is given to the airframes longevity rather than the pilots bravado..;)

Might be more somewhere in my boxes of smilar era, I’ll have a dig. Those were taken on an Instamatic, so imagine how close that B25 was. I wonder who the BBMF pilot is?

I generally don’t like those ultra low level flypasts as the paying public can’t see the aircraft, but in Ray Hanna’s case, I’ll make an exception 🙂

That B25 is loooow.. could it be Jeff Hawke i wonder. When you see pics like that, together with a previous pic of RH in the Spitfire and Sally B down low, it really makes you think just what went on before the Invader incident the following year. Very poignant shots by the way.:)

Please let’s not revisit the Invader can of worms again,all I would say is that a fairly ‘upright’ low pass along a clear runway is not inherently unsafe but looks spectacular…..looping and rolling manoevers are much more dangerous but I have to say that during 39 years aviation involvment I have never seen anybody injured because of low flying along a ‘clear’ runway.
I know a few people have been hit by low flying a/c but that is why I used the term ‘clear’.
Incidentally our Hawk display pilot for that year (John Thorpe) was a really smooth pilot ie elegant and smooth aerobatics,some of the other airshow pilots were really impressed by the quality of his show,I had the pleasure of flying with JT twice in a Hawk and 25 years later in a piston twin.

Thanks v much for reposting your original pics SFF…lovely ‘colour’ ,I like old colour shots,although I admire some of the modern airshow images ,to me they are almost too good – and I really like the softer tones of ‘real’ film.
Perhaps there is a parallel with the softer/more rounded sound from valve amplifiers etc.

Errrr… do you have any more please 😀

cheers BV

That B25 is loooow.. could it be Jeff Hawke i wonder. When you see pics like that, together with a previous pic of RH in the Spitfire and Sally B down low, it really makes you think just what went on before the Invader incident the following year. Very poignant shots by the way.:)

Hi all, latecomer to this thread but here are my ’79 Biggin pics again.

My recollections of Brawdy are slightly different and mainly revolve around the long gorgeous summer of ’76 and the accommodating arms of a local lass after a NAAFI disco (well I was 18 and it was my first time)..

I’d been seconded there to help carry out a FOD survey, which involved several of us sitting beside the taxiways at strategic intervals looking out for Hunters taxying too close together and noting down their details when they did. The hardship was obviously considerable.. and how I wish now I’d taken a camera.. 😡

Aye Baz – one of quite a few I have bookmarked actually….. 😉

There’s something nice and nostalgic about our Hawks in cammo – same with our JP’s 😀

😀 Terrific shots from Brawdy mate – brings it all back…

must have felt strange being on the line on a Saturday – really quiet compared with the average weekday…..lol
Just think – 1 month later and I arrived by old RAF bus to a fog-bound Brawdy – not knowing the sea was even that close….lol

Pete
Have you seen this link before,some Brawdy photos and memorabilia…

http://www.vaq136.com/brawdy/memorabilia.html

Reminded me for some reason of the tall blonde American Navy Lady with the 4.7 litre Sunbeam Tiger,impressed me with her 2 position right foot driving back from Newgale 😀

regards BV

Weeell, you have to be gluttons for punishment. Take a very big swig from the oxygen bottle and another from the brandy, and struggle through this lot. All true and all my own work.
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Canal/fighternav.html

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll start running now.

Interesting read there PV…thanks for the link !
Do you have any more for us !!

regards BV

😀 Terrific shots from Brawdy mate – brings it all back…

must have felt strange being on the line on a Saturday – really quiet compared with the average weekday…..lol
Just think – 1 month later and I arrived by old RAF bus to a fog-bound Brawdy – not knowing the sea was even that close….lol

Yes Pete
It was a bit odd with just 2 a/c on the apron,as opposed to the usual number (what …50 – 60 ?)
what was not so enjoyable was flying back on monday morning with a kingsize hangover :rolleyes:

regards BV

😀 Terrific shots from Brawdy mate – brings it all back…

must have felt strange being on the line on a Saturday – really quiet compared with the average weekday…..lol
Just think – 1 month later and I arrived by old RAF bus to a fog-bound Brawdy – not knowing the sea was even that close….lol

Hi Bump
According to my old log book…May 19th 1979
I think our route was something like
Brawdy,Neath,Newport,Lyneham,Greenham Common…trouble is I was so busy sightseeing I didnt take any en route pics,I was not familiar with the south of england at all then.
I included the A10 because I was not sure if it had displayed at BH previously.

cheers BV

Thanks BV, 1979 would have been the A-10’s first UK demo season as at that time the 81st TFW were still re-equipping with the Hog.

And Ray Hanna was one of those pilots who fully lived up to the praise he received over the years, Ray really did get down low.

May 19th 1979……..to think just over a month later at Greenham Common was one of my most memorable childhood airshows………’them’s were the days’, how many times do we mutter that phrase to ourselves when looking at old photographs?

Weeell, you have to be gluttons for punishment. Take a very big swig from the oxygen bottle and another from the brandy, and struggle through this lot. All true and all my own work.
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Canal/fighternav.html

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll start running now.

You can’t just leave it there 😀

We’ve all pulled up a sandbag now, so you may as well tell all !

Absolutely yes Peter…I have my sandbag,cup of tea and swinging lantern…you will have to tell us the gory details now 😀

Yes. In my wilder days.

You can’t just leave it there 😀

We’ve all pulled up a sandbag now, so you may as well tell all !

Yes. In my wilder days.

Thanks very much for posting these, Ray Hanna could not be bettered at displaying a warbird. Great to be reminded of the Mossie, I have dug deep in my album for this, if you want to get up close.

Those were different days

Thanks Peter..did you take that picture ??

cheers BV

Great shots and memories thanks for posting, I didnt realise a Hog had displayed at Biggin as far back as 79……..was that a May show or the September BoB show?
Lovely to see Ray and MH434.

Hi Bump
According to my old log book…May 19th 1979
I think our route was something like
Brawdy,Neath,Newport,Lyneham,Greenham Common…trouble is I was so busy sightseeing I didnt take any en route pics,I was not familiar with the south of england at all then.
I included the A10 because I was not sure if it had displayed at BH previously.

cheers BV