Conningsby Airshow 1986

[QUOTE=Pete Truman;1380748] At least they had Batemans Bitter in the beer tent on the day, I bet that soon sold out.

Ahh, “Bateman’s Good Honest Ales”. I recall being with a chartered trainload of beer monsters “up from town” on foggy and drizzly day in Feb some 15 years ago, greeted on Wainfleet’s single platform by a Jazz band and Mr George, (the Head Brewer) in top hat and tails….what a bizarre sight. But a great visit, including quaffing in the Windmill-cum-brewery tap.

Sorry, way off thread, but that sparked a pleasant memory!

Yes, I remember the heat very well, I had a real problem with my car stalling repeatedly, due to fuel vapourisation, when sat in the big queue trying to get in.

The centrifugal fan on my Cortina Estate packed in and we had to push the car in helped by keen members of the ATC I recall, my office junior who came with me succombed to heat stroke later in the day, I managed to revive him in a pub in Market Deeping with several pints of cold lager. At least they had Batemans Bitter in the beer tent on the day, I bet that soon sold out.
Thanks for your efforts chaps, I assume Nick Grace was flying ML407 that day. Would these have been the majority of the worlds airworthy Spitfires on show then, I assume so.
I remember the programme, I’m sure it’s lurking somewhere in my garage.

It was definitely June 14th, as I’ve just checked that was the date of Trooping the Colour for that year, as it was historic in being the last year that the Queen rode her horse, Burmese in the Trooping, since then she’s rode in a carriage.

These yet to be received ebay slides have clearly been mis-titled.

June 14th it is.

Mark

Coningsby 14th June 1986

The four static S pitfires,
EP120

LA255

PK624

TB382

The slides are listed on ebay as May 1986.

We will see later this week.

Mark

It was definately June 14th, as I’ve just checked that was the date of Trooping the Colour for that year, as it was historic in being the last year that the Queen rode her horse, Burmese in the Trooping, since then she’s rode in a carriage.

June 14th from memory…..:confused:

The slides are listed on ebay as May 1986.

We will see later this week.

Mark

I didn’t go to this show. I’m presuming we are talking May 1986.

June 14th from memory…..:confused:

More importantly, it was the airshow dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire. As I recall, every available flyable Spitfire in the UK was summoned, along with a bunch of non flying gate guards, which were arranged outside the BBMF hangar.
Does anyone have a record of which Spits were involved, I clearly recall Spencer Flacks red jobby taking part in the flypast, which I seem to remember totalled nine.
I presume that our aficionado, Mk 12, has all the answers.

I didn’t go to this show. I’m presuming we are talking May 1986.

By coincidence I purchased a few slides on ebay yesterday.

The static line up.

EP120
LA255
PK624
TB382

There may have been others. I will check.

Mark

Didn’t the Tornado F2 make it’s debut in 1985.

The Spitfires were,
AR501
AB910
ML407
MH434
P7350
RM689
PM631
G-FIRE

I did make a mention of this about a year ago, but in view of all the photos from the past that have been published on here recently, has anyone got anything from that particular day.
I know it was the first public appearance of the Tornado F2’s, with, from what I remember, ballast in place of the nose radar and they went on to form a diamond nine over Buck Palace for the Queens Birthday Flypast, the first Tornado fighters to do this.
I also recall that on their return that they were involved in a low level dogfight with Phantoms from the Connie OCU, or was I dreaming that, I can certainly remember a dogfight with Phantoms, but it may have been between themselves, can anyone remember.
More importantly, it was the airshow dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire. As I recall, every available flyable Spitfire in the UK was summoned, along with a bunch of non flying gate guards, which were arranged outside the BBMF hangar.
Does anyone have a record of which Spits were involved, I clearly recall Spencer Flacks red jobby taking part in the flypast, which I seem to remember totalled nine. I recall the heat on the day which caused problems with them ticking over prior to take off, and the rather muted flypast, which saw them take one flyby in loose formation, heading north to south and, to our dissapointment, that was it.
Mind you it was better than the planned 40th BoB display at Coltishall in 1980 when fog absolutely wrecked events and only a couple of BBMF Spits managed to arrive and do a flyby, or has my memory got that wrong as well.
I presume that our officianado, Mk 12, has all the answers.

All sounds about right from my also somewhat ageing memory cells, incl the bunfight with the F-4’s.
Yes, I remember the heat very well, I had a real problem with my car stalling repeatedly, due to fuel vapourisation, when sat in the big queue trying to get in.:o
I do have some photos somewhere, but am scanner-less at the moment.

I know it was the first public appearance of the Tornado F2’s, with, from what I remember, ballast in place of the nose radar

Ah yes, in line with the policy of radars being named Blue something, this was apparently known as “Blue Circle”. 😀

Adrian