By: GliderSpit - 29th July 2008 at 12:05
BBMF can’t even make it to Sunderland air show ! Yet again the Lanc didn’t show, not that we could see it ‘cos of the fog !
last time I saw it was in 2004 !
In 2007 the Lancaster was at East Fortune.
By: DazDaMan - 28th July 2008 at 22:33
Disapointed that there were no engines there for run ups though.
Yeah, one of the highlights for me the last time I was there (2006) was the engines they had being run up!
By: Lee Howard - 28th July 2008 at 20:52
Unfortunately the Sea Hawk went U/S at RAF Cottesmore which precluded her going on to East Fortune. Sorry to disappoint those hoping to see her.
By: Drem - 28th July 2008 at 20:36
Air
Taking all things into consideration, I thought the longer the show went on, the better it got.
Helped of course by some really good commentry.
One of the unmentioned stars of the show I thought was the display from the glider (who didnt have their hearts in their mouths when it landed beyond the trees), and the Tiger Moth.
East Fortune always seems to be (as with every other air show I suspect),a very much hit or miss affair.
Regards aircraft line up, EF has always regarded it self as more of an aerobatics air show.
Yes we need TBoBMF and noisy aircraft to bring in the crowds (10,000 on Saturday they say), but there are some of us who I am sure went away very happy with (taking away yhe above), what they got.
Disapointed that there were no engines there for run ups though.
By: Der - 28th July 2008 at 18:01
I noticed the Vulcan listed in the brochure as attending. Would have been good to see but guess we have to wait till Leuchars to see 558 north of the border.
Given the poor visibility I’m not surprised the BBMF didnt turn up- I think we did rather well all things considered and I have no gripe about the ticket price. We did get the Catty, Miss Demeanour,Jumping Jacques and PT462 after all.
By: vildebeest - 28th July 2008 at 14:53
It was my first visit to an air show at East Fortune, been to the Museum before but not for some years. Impressions?
Well, I think the key thing is that I was taking my two sons, aged 10 and 5. There were plenty of activities laid on children/families, and not just the ubiquitous bouncy castle! Plus of course the museum was open. So, whilst they were both interested in the aviation side – I am doing my best to make sure they follow in the family tradition – there was also enough there to keep them being bored in the gaps. So as an family aviation-related day out, it was excellent. £41 for the three of us, which is quite a bit, but I guess what you pay for days out nowadays.
As an airshow for aviation enthusiasts, I can see it could be a bit disappointing, especially if you have been round the museum several times before. Partly, although there was a decent display in difficult conditions, most of the no shows were the ones which posters on this forum would particularly want to see I suspect (BBMF, Sea Hawk, Vampire – I still do not quite understand when BBMF did not come, it was I understand based in Newcastle for the Sunderland airshow, it was misty at Sunderland, but Newcastle airport which is only about three miles from where I live was in clear sunshine – was it just being held in case it could fly at Sunderland?) Partly because as Mauld pointed out, a short display line, no runway, therefore no “live” static, no take offs, landings. I am not suggesting the organisers can do anything about that, just pointing out that the lack of it does make it less interesting for the enthusiast .
Paul
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th July 2008 at 14:21
No, good point.
By: kev35 - 28th July 2008 at 14:06
At Lowestoft, was admission to a Museum of National Significance included in the price?
Regards,
kev35
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th July 2008 at 14:03
Yes, £17 is alot of many for what’s flying, Lowestoft airshow was a pound, and you got a bit more, plus Xh558.
By: Portagee - 28th July 2008 at 13:53
As I pointed out earlier, the tickets were less than £17 when bought in advance. I paid £14 for mine.
£14 plus the £4 parking (which paid the farmer for the hire of the old runways as this isn’t museum land).
Deduct the standard museum admission of £5.50 (which includes a 10% voluntary contribution…The NMS is a registered Charity)
Leaves a 14 item display for a net cost of £12.50.
Mauld: The North/South flight line is ideal at East Fortune given that it’s an afternoon show. The sun when out is usually working its way behind the crowd line by afternoon bathing the aircraft in light.
As pointed out above East Fortune doesn’t own the full airfield, only the small section where the museum is, the rest it has to hire. If the display was to move around an use the Main E/W axis runway…where would the spectators park?
The BBMF at Leuchars is a different proposition as being in September and towards the end of the season. Namely not as many bookings and so can give themselves a transit window to get up here.
It’s unfortunate that East Fortune being at the end of July is the height of the season and the BBMF have so many commitments that they have to base themselves in the North East of England, rather than transiting into Edinburgh on the Friday and displaying at East Fortune before heading South to Newcastle.
By: kev35 - 28th July 2008 at 12:00
Perhaps I’m wearing rose tinted glasses again but that doesn’t look that bad a line up for your 17 quid. You’ll note I’ve removed the no shows. The most important thing you neglect to mention is the line at the bottom stating that the programme is subject to change. Perhaps, just perhaps, some of the various no shows had struggled to get there but were beaten back by the weather, perhaps there were technical issues. Do you not think that the owners, crews and engineers are just as disappointed as you? And I daresay the no show cost them a lot more than £17. I’ve no idea of the weather conditions prevailing along each aircraft’s intended route that day, but I’m sure that you would agree that it would be folly to risk a crew and aircraft unnecessarily for the sake of an airshow.
• The Blades
• Scottish Aviation Bulldog
• Catalina
• Hawker Hunter
• Beechcraft King Air
• Mustang
• Supermarine Spitfire T.IX
• Stolp Starduster
• Swift Glider
• Team Guinot Wingwalkers
• de Havilland Tiger Moth
• GROB 115E Tutor
• Eurofighter Typhoon
*Subject to change
Now, the line-up that did display. Considering that illness, finance and being carer for my Father means that I have not been to a single airshow this year, I would have been more than happy to see that line up. In fact I would have been delirious. But it looks increasingly unlikely that I will see any airshows this year. Try looking at it from the position of how much did actually manage to display under trying conditions.
As for the comments re: Concorde entrance and parking, if it was not stated that those costs were included in the ticket price you have nothing to complain about. However, if they were and you were still charged extra then wouldn’t that be some kind of breach of Trading Standards?
Regards,
kev35
By: Mauld - 28th July 2008 at 10:00
The BBMF always make it to RAF Leuchars air show, and the reason for that is that they can land there. One of the problems at East Fortune is that the airfield land owners won’t allow aircraft to land. Also the flight line is from North to South with high trees at either end, this tends to push the aircraft to a higher level with the crowd huddled at one end of the display. The airshow would be better if it ran east to west along the main runway with THE SUN (No Show) at the crowd’s backs.
The 2000 Festival of Flight airshow over three days was brilliant, with aircraft landing at the site and the crowd getting a close view of the aircraft. Over the years the show has become very stale and lacking imagination in the air and on the ground with virtually the same line up of aircraft every year for example I have never seen Classic Flights Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer attend the show considering its connection should have been a must or a Gyroplane an aspect of aviation which I think gets ignored at airshows over all a good effort but could be better.
By: avro - 27th July 2008 at 23:51
BBMF can’t even make it to Sunderland air show ! Yet again the Lanc didn’t show, not that we could see it ‘cos of the fog !
last time I saw it was in 2004 !
By: Portagee - 27th July 2008 at 23:42
To say wiped out is a little harsh…
They still managed to get 14 display items over the site…though admittedly not quite in the order that they had originally planned, and yes some of the displays were of the flat or rolling variety rather than full height, but for those of us with modest lenses on cameras, the aircraft are within range longer.
It’s become something of a tradition for the BBMF to make it no further than Newcastle when scheduled for the East Fortune show.
EDit: Further to above…Tickets were less than £17 if bought in advance.
By: Robert Whitton - 27th July 2008 at 23:42
It didn’t meet the Hype!!
All for £17 , family ticket £45, prices do not include Concorde boarding pass, parking £4. Thats about £1 per aircraft.
🙁
Fun takes off at East Fortune airshow
from “The Scotsman”
By LIAM RUDDEN
THUNDERING from the clouds, the roar of their engines ensuring every head below is turned skyward, some of the most spectacular civil and military aircraft in the history of aviation will fly-past East Fortune Airfield a week tomorrow, providing the highlight of the Museum of Flight’s 2008 Airshow.
FLIGHT PROGRAMME*
• Battle of Britain Memorial Flight NO SHOW
• The Blades
• Scottish Aviation Bulldog
• Catalina
• Hawker Hunter
• Beechcraft King Air
• Mustang
• Pitts Special NO SHOW
• Sea Hawk NO SHOW
• Sea King Demo NO SHOW
• Supermarine Spitfire T.IX
• Stolp Starduster
• Swift Glider
• Team Guinot Wingwalkers
• de Havilland Tiger Moth
• GROB 115E Tutor
• Eurofighter Typhoon
• de Havilland Vampire NO SHOW
*Subject to change
By: DazDaMan - 27th July 2008 at 23:22
I wish I could have gone, but I was due to do the RDA training yesterday morning anyway…
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July 27, 2008 at 11:18 pm