RNAS Culdrose Airday 2008

Sorry Lee, lost my anorak,

And the prize for the richest statement of the day goes to…..:rolleyes:

T-6 TEXAN, Bob. Repeat after me….!

Yes, we left early. In fact I was officially the first arriving crew, signing in at 1040!! Blimmin long wait for everyone else to turn up.

For some inexplicable reason the organisers had decided to put all visiting display aircraft at B site – right over by 814 NAS and well away from the public. The 750 NAS apron was handed over to the public, but to be honest not many of them used it. The three F.3s and a single Firefly parked there, but it was a complete waste of the space and made the logistics of pilots getting to/from their aircraft a bit of a nightmare. A real shame, as the public just couldn’t see the far side.

Despite a few showers on Tuesday, the weather was actually quite good. Wednesday was pretty miserable and today was very bad. IFR all the way back, and the Chipmunk and Auster are still there as I type this.

Hats off to the guys who managed to display.

Sorry Lee, lost my anorak, you must have taken it with you to CU

😀

Just as we turned off for D site I presume? Wondering where the hell we were being put!

Strikemaster left a while ago but returned about 10 minutes later… so looks like he’s staying for the time being!

At least the Tonkas flew on Wednesday, pics in the photography section. 🙂

P.S:

Heard the Harvard leave Yeovilton this morning, no doubt with Mr Howard onboard, followed later by the Wasp, on Spotlight tonight they showed a clip of a Dutch SH14D arriving, weather still not looking too good for tomorrow sadly.:(

T-6 TEXAN, Bob. Repeat after me….!

Yes, we left early. In fact I was officially the first arriving crew, signing in at 1040!! Blimmin long wait for everyone else to turn up.

For some inexplicable reason the organisers had decided to put all visiting display aircraft at B site – right over by 814 NAS and well away from the public. The 750 NAS apron was handed over to the public, but to be honest not many of them used it. The three F.3s and a single Firefly parked there, but it was a complete waste of the space and made the logistics of pilots getting to/from their aircraft a bit of a nightmare. A real shame, as the public just couldn’t see the far side.

Despite a few showers on Tuesday, the weather was actually quite good. Wednesday was pretty miserable and today was very bad. IFR all the way back, and the Chipmunk and Auster are still there as I type this.

Hats off to the guys who managed to display.

Let’s face it, despite the weather, it was a pants display. In fact it was the worst Culdrose airday I have attended in almost 30 years of attending them. I think they have forgotten that an air display is not about ground displays, but about aircraft. Or perhaps I am in a minority?

On a positive note however, hats off to the RAF Tornado F3 crews who did their very best to put on a display in appalling weather conditions with a cloud base of as low as 200ft AGL.

Heard the Harvard leave Yeovilton this morning, no doubt with Mr Howard onboard, followed later by the Wasp, on Spotlight tonight they showed a clip of a Dutch SH14D arriving, weather still not looking too good for tomorrow sadly.:(

Here’s a sneak preview of tomorrow… :;):

Well I just got back from ‘arrival’s day afternoon at Culdrose.

In all my time living in Helston and attending airshows since the late 70’s, I have to say that arrival day today is nothing short of pathetic. In the 3 hours or so I was at the 12 end of the runway all I saw was :

1 x Jetstream
1 x Seaking
1 x Hawk
1 x Auster AOP9
1 x RNAF F-16 (flying from St Mawgan)
1 x SF260

The first three aircraft are actually based at Culdrose, so don’t really count! It really was that quiet – in fact if it wasn’t for those few movements and with the high fencing now around CU, I actually felt as if I was standing outside an open prison!

Either everything is coming in tomorrow morning, or it is going to be a very quiet display tomorrow…

Can’t comment on a/c that might already be in, but from where I was standing I couldn’t see the tails of anything interesting.

As I write this, a JP/Strikemaster and Venom have just departed…

Strikemaster and Venom seem to be practicing a duo display now. There was a fair bit more than what you said, but much of it landed on one of the smaller runways. RAF stuff is due in this evening, everything else in the morning.

Well I just got back from ‘arrival’s day afternoon at Culdrose.

In all my time living in Helston and attending airshows since the late 70’s, I have to say that arrival day today is nothing short of pathetic. In the 3 hours or so I was at the 12 end of the runway all I saw was :

1 x Jetstream
1 x Seaking
1 x Hawk
1 x Auster AOP9
1 x RNAF F-16 (flying from St Mawgan)
1 x SF260

The first three aircraft are actually based at Culdrose, so don’t really count! It really was that quiet – in fact if it wasn’t for those few movements and with the high fencing now around CU, I actually felt as if I was standing outside an open prison!

Either everything is coming in tomorrow morning, or it is going to be a very quiet display tomorrow…

Can’t comment on a/c that might already be in, but from where I was standing I couldn’t see the tails of anything interesting.

As I write this, a JP/Strikemaster and Venom have just departed…

They have had F-16s on the ground at CU before now, but that dosen’t mean they will always do that. If the show organisers, or controllers are unhappy about it then they will prefer to base them safely nearby (St Mawgan).

I remember the Lightnings down there and was amazed to see them parked up! Starfighters are another ground loving type to have visited CU shows.

I seem to recall back in 2006 when they based the two F-16s at St.Mawgan that they were concerned about the length of runway for operating the type out of CU, so perhaps this is where they went.

Find out tomorrow!

If ’12’ is the western end then I expect that’ll be the runway in use – 09 has been in use at VL for the past few days.

Even though, sadly, RNHF will be in depleted numbers in terms of aircraft arriving, the sales trailer will be there. Don’t forget to stop by and say hello to Alan, Sue, Derek and Sarah! They’ll have a plentiful supply of umbrellas at very, very decent rates if nothing else! 😀

Amazing really as I was at CU in 1986 when the first Lightning (XS925) landed on runway 30. That was before CU had reinstated crash barriers! If you can land a Lightning then an F-16 should be easy-peasy (well sort of)! Also we’ve had Draken’s in (last time 1982 I think) and they aren’t exactly slow on approach!

Hopefully see you Weds (with a RNHF brolly)!!

I’ll be in the viewing gallery from about 9:00… I’ll be the guy standing on the hedge with my little brother and some bikes, feel free to say hello. 🙂

PS. Yeah, 12 is the western end.

I seem to recall back in 2006 when they based the two F-16s at St.Mawgan that they were concerned about the length of runway for operating the type out of CU, so perhaps this is where they went.

Find out tomorrow!

If ’12’ is the western end then I expect that’ll be the runway in use – 09 has been in use at VL for the past few days.

Even though, sadly, RNHF will be in depleted numbers in terms of aircraft arriving, the sales trailer will be there. Don’t forget to stop by and say hello to Alan, Sue, Derek and Sarah! They’ll have a plentiful supply of umbrellas at very, very decent rates if nothing else! 😀

No, sorry Nick; as with the Piston Provost she’s being pampered at the moment and unfortunately won’t be ready in time so Kennet have very kindly substituted the T-6. Something different, anyway, and quite rare! I don’t think LN-AMY has been this far south before.

Chipmunk WK608 is also coming down – a rare foray away from base. The Wasp is different too – XT793 as opposed to XT787 of last year. Still in her original 829 Sqn markings too.

Oh that’s a shame, but fully understand why.

Will probably take a walk up to ’12’ end tomorrow if its not raining too hard!

Two F-16’s flying around this morning – I’m sure one had a problem, as both my Dad & I saw a brief flash come out of one on the final flypast. It looked a bit like a flare but surely they wouldn’t have launched one when they were flying in close formation? Anyway I don’t think they landed so presumably operating out of St Mawgan again?

See you then! Hopefully you’ll be landing on 30, next to the gallery. 🙂

What’s going on with the Skyraider at the moment?

No, sorry Nick; as with the Piston Provost she’s being pampered at the moment and unfortunately won’t be ready in time so Kennet have very kindly substituted the T-6. Something different, anyway, and quite rare! I don’t think LN-AMY has been this far south before.

Chipmunk WK608 is also coming down – a rare foray away from base. The Wasp is different too – XT793 as opposed to XT787 of last year. Still in her original 829 Sqn markings too.

…and I’ll (hopefully) be arriving in T-6 LN-AMY around 10.00 tomorrow (Tuesday) morning with Chipmunk WK608, Chipmunk 1277/G-BARS, Wasp XT793, Auster AOP.9 XR240 and hopefully Sea Hawk WV908 following suit mid-afternoon.

All due out again Thurs am.

See you there!

Seafire 17 as well Lee?

…and I’ll (hopefully) be arriving in T-6 LN-AMY around 10.00 tomorrow (Tuesday) morning with Chipmunk WK608, Chipmunk 1277/G-BARS, Wasp XT793, Auster AOP.9 XR240 and hopefully Sea Hawk WV908 following suit mid-afternoon.

All due out again Thurs am.

See you there!

Wheres the pictures? You did get pictures?!