Aerobatics @ Sandtoft – 31Mar12

Well there were eventually aerobatics ‘near’ Sandtoft Airfield. The British Aerobatic Association were holding the Icicle & Newbold Trophy and being the first competition of the season, the Icicle bit lived up to its name. After a heat wave the previous week, a weather front passed over the country with a taste of winter returning. Flying was supposed to start at 09.30 but the cloud was below the minimum height for aerobatics. It cleared enough for flying to eventually start at 14.00 with virtually nonstop movements as they tried to get the two flying sessions completed before it got to dark for the pilots to fly home afterwards.

Despite the wind chill and delayed start, an excellent long day out. For photographers there was unprecedented access provided by the airfield. If you had a high-viz (let’s not go there) and following a briefing of do’s and don’ts, we were free to wander around the aircraft all day. The display box was a couple of miles to the north of the runway so flying shots were limited to take offs and landings and plenty of taxi shots.

Many thanks to my brother for the lift and to all the people I met and the staff at Sandtoft who looked after everybody all day from pilots to visitors and photographers.

Photographs in the order they were taken. Sony Alpha SLT-A35, Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Piezo Drive lens.

Brian