Can East Fortune deliver.

Seems so Drem. Hadn’t thought about the ELG scenario!

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/irony-of-the-typhoon-display-at-leuchars-1.130605

Cant see them being allowed to remove anything.
I would think that Leuchars will always be an “At ready” base even though the army have taken over.
Any aircraft finding itself in trouble will I am sure, have Leuchars waiting for it.
East Fortune has proved as the video shows, that a great day (Or 2), can be had there.
Certainly it would take an awful lot of arranging but am sure they could deliver a really classy big show. Obviously things would have to be changed but a different set up could be a good thing for the museum.

Any idea what the army plans to do with Leuchars anyway? Will the runways be ripped up or built upon or left as they are? What about the hangars?

Sadly Strathallan was a big money pit which is why one of the reasons for the collection and air displays demise.
Although the Air Displays attracted many enthusiasts my impression that the vast majority were local residents from Perthshire. I am not sure about the numbers of people quoted however my reccolection was that there were around 7,000 each day.

Must remember that at Leuchars the attraction is the military aircraft. I dont know if the non RAF are paid to attend but I dont think they cost as much as say a civil Jet Provost from Newcastle.
If you have to pay for every flying participant including handing at a differnet location, accomodation and fuel it soon mounts up.

The 2000 Airshow

I think the reason that Leuchars works is that it is accessable by different means of transport and the local roads are quite good. Good road links to Balado but no train. Prestwick is a bit far for non enthusiasts and Lossiemouth the same.

How times have changed – back in 1978 Strathallan drew 25,000 spectators over 2 days to a small airfield with no rail or bus links and which lies on a B-road. While there was certainly an excellent museum to look around I would say there was no ground based entertainment at all and only a few stalls selling aviation-related items. I guess people’s expectations have changed over the years.

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I think the reason that Leuchars works is that it is accessable by different means of transport and the local roads are quite good. Good road links to Balado but no train. Prestwick is a bit far for non enthusiasts and Lossiemouth the same.
You reallly need lots of ground based entertainment and aircraft to view as well which in my view is why East Fortune works if you are not a regular visitor and havn’t seen the exhibits.
Many people I have spoken to say that apart from childrens entertainment on the ground at East Fortune the aviation element is missing so they dont go back.
The good old Scottish weather is such you also need to have some things under cover.
No-one is going to subsidise a show it needs to make money.

Just a thought but, if it’s the crowd size that is the problem, would a display have to be held at an airfield? Are there regulations which would prevent it being held at say Balado? The T In The Park music festival caters for more than twice the size of the Leuchars crowd; the setup surely isn’t much different – traffic management, emergency service availability, etc – all things which are there at the festival. The farmer doesn’t seem averse to renting out his fields for a noisy event and the location is within easy reach of several other airfields for refuelling/emergency purposes. It is just a suggestion but would that kind of scenario work and be acceptable to the authorities?

There has been a little work done on the Beau but at a gamble, I would say you are looking at another perhaps 2-5 years before we see some heavy work being done on her.
Good news though is that the Blenheim/Bollingbroke is coming along nicely though not at all sure about the up coming paint scheme.
One of the other problems with East Fortune is just how many people they could cater for as well.
Read that there was around 40,000 at Leuchars on Saturday.
Yes money is a big problem and I could not imagine The NMS who own The Museum of Flight, splashing out a lot of cash for a one day show.
Have heard from people who attended for the first time that they enjoyed this years show at E.F and that they would come back.
Bigger and better I think would draw more people to what could become a huge event for them and Scotland.

Thought the title referred to a restored Beaufighter for a minute there…….

Wonder what happened to the one held at Scone a few years back?
I fear foks from north of the border will have to head south to Sunderland now for a decent airshow. East Fortune can’t fill the gap left by Leuchars unfortunately.

I don’t think there has been a display at Scone for at least a couple of years now. The last one I was at there was not particularly well attended which may have something to do with the decision not to hold another. If I remember correctly there was not a big attraction like the Red Arrows or any current military craft so it was only enthusiasts who really turned out. I remember being at one of the Scone shows probably 10 years or so back and it was a real family day with a small fairground to entertain the youngsters and a great selection of aircraft. Hopefully the folks there can come up with something for next year. I guess finance could be a problem though as it must be expensive to host a show.

Wonder what happened to the one held at Scone a few years back?
I fear foks from north of the border will have to head south to Sunderland now for a decent airshow. East Fortune can’t fill the gap left by Leuchars unfortunately.

Think Montrose might be a bit small but they usually manage to put up a Spitfire when needs arise.
Have heard that Lossiemouth or Prestwick might try something but it is all hear say just now.
Sad to see Leuchars go.
East Fortune have done a couple of Fly-ins before so it theoretically could be done up to a point.
Would like to see a 2 dayer, a bit like what they did in 2000.

I seriously hope they can or that some other place steps in to fill the gap because we are starting to get starved of airshow action up here (i.e. Scotland). Maybe Montrose with its strong RFC history will stage something for the centenary of the First World War. We can but hope.

Some good shots from the Leuchars Show in today’s Dundee Courier-
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/gallery-65th-and-final-raf-leuchars-airshow-1.128531