how was 2004 for you

In my case it wasn’t just luck; I travelled with the British Aviation Enthusiasts Society which runs several such trips each year, so it’s well worth joining!

2004

The undoubted highlight of my aviation year was the Shuttleworth Pageant on 5 Sept. Sat behind the Bristol Fighter and was metaphorically and near literally blown away on start up. Lovely warm weather, the Avro trio in formation, extended straights from the Deperdussin and other ‘Edwardians’, topped off by a superb finale from the Spitfire.

I just wish it wasn’t such a long drive (from Devon) to get there.

The customary 4 days spent at RIAT were interesting, noisy and tiring but nothing this year matched the 2003 ‘100 year of flight’ line up.

Chris

2004 has been hectic. Changes in home and employment circumstances have had a major impact in my life. On top of this I spent a month getting my PPL and so far have 80 or so hours logged. The vintage aircraft side of things started within 3 hours of getting back from America with a flight in a Stearman, from then on there have been a number of highlights such as my first air to air with Janie, a number of great airshows such as Old Buckenham, Sywell and Woodchurch and a great weekend at Breighton in July. More recently having the chance to sit through a formation display practice with a couple of Mustangs blew me away, if I ever go home I may post a pic or two…. Other than that my introduction to the Spare Ribs at the Old Ram is simply maaaaarvelous!!!! mmmmmmm ribs, as a number of text messages have said…..
It’s been a good year I think…..

A good year on the aviation front: Legends, returning to Shuttleworth after 26 years, my first visit to Little Gransden and, echoing the comments of Robbo and others, meeting members of this forum for the first time and being made to feel very welcome by all that I have met. Thankyou all.

On the personal front, not so good with another relationship falling apart (and so did I nearly) (Anna – been there and done it and I know how crap it can be). Still, I have much to be grateful for – I have my health, AF Junior and some new friends (I hope!) from these fora.

….”Top fun”…

Similarly, arriving at legends in one of the stars of the show (see avatar 😀 ) had to be my highlight! My first experience of the grass runway at Duxford!

Oh, also forgot Brian Cornes’ display in WV318 at the Kemble airday, and the Chinook display at the same show. I didn’t know rotaries could do that!!

Not a bad year, not quite as many aishows done as I would have hoped.

Highlight : crossing the Waddo threshold at 450kts at not very high followed by a loop and then break to land at the airshow. Top fun…

Where do you begin ?

I’d echo the earlier comments about the friendships that have grown from this forum which struck me when I went to the recent Biggin Hill airshow – it was the first airshow that I’ve been to this year where I didn’t meet anyone that I knew. (Last minute decision to go and arrived late, so that’s probably my fault).

Other things that stay with me:
Legends (of course), Old Warden (superb as always) and Chailey (just excellent). East Kirkby – day and night taxi runs by Just Jane. Visits to museums at Hendon (a few times) Elvington and Yeovilton.
Meeting our resident American – Mr Patterson
Negotiating the main spar inside Just Jane with Kev – marvellous (thanks again Rob).
Watching the camera ‘arms race’ developing from the sidelines. :diablo:

what a season eh chaps?
It has been one of my favourite show seasons and with next year just around the corner i hope it is a much better season. my highlights have to be:
1. Spitfire Tailchase at Legends
2. Getting to sit in the Cockpit of ML 407 (pictures are still not developed)
3. Seeing a Bell Airacobra for the first time
4. Enjoying the Beautifully laid out ‘Milestones of flight’ hall
5. Getting up Close with the T-33
6. Abindon Airfare with Peter Teichmans P-51 upclose
7. Finding the forum and you guys
there are so many of great highlights aswell! fantastic! roll on 2005

Well, it was my third year of suffering from this aviation bug and certanly the best airshow season yet! A big highlight is (obviously) a cracking Shuttleworth season. I think I made all but 2 as well as Robbo and am feeling sanguine enough to forgive them the occasional funny choice of commentator……

I also made my first trip to Chailey, Shoreham and Biggin and had a great time at all – Legends was quite spectacular as well. And I’m making plans to get to some new venues next season as well. No, I’m not hooked. I could give it all up tomorrow….. :rolleyes: No RIAT as yet, maybe next year.

Stumbling across this forum was pretty much a highlight as well. I’m looking forward to meeting up with some of you in due course.

Having said that – I must admit it will be nice to get a few free weekends – if only to get time to finish cataloguing pics and get my airshow pages updated. And of course getting the chance to visit a few museums – Tangmere this weekend and hopefully Cosford sometime over half term for starters.

Regards.

Maarvin

intersting year.. favorite 2 shows for me were the biggest one I went to (Legends) and the smallest (Chailey).. Legends pulled a couple of nice visitors out of the hat and the ever reliable mass Spitfire tail chase.. good day out despite having to shelter under the Trident wing from rain at one point.. Chailey was excellent, great show with no filler items, nice location and chance to sit down and watch the world go by with some of ‘you lot’.. 😀

and from a personal point of view its been a good year – chucked my job, and having been involved with the airline world for over 20 years I decided to do somethign different… and, erm ended-up get a job involved with aeroplanes again, albeit noisy pointy ones..!

Neil.

2004 well one has not had a good year in fact its been hell at times.

Airshows etc have been the last thing I have card about with so much going on but Wings and Strings and Waddo were both high points in a very very bad year.

Also been 2 a couple of museums etc but thats been it.

Anyway so far this year

1 a couple of close relations have died from Cancer.

2 I split up with my girlfriend

3 My car blowing up with me inside

4 my mum got very ill and could have died it was very close in fact

5 my brother got badly hurt playing footie and spent a few weeks feelign bad

The worst thing is this time last year I was going on another forum saying how well life was going and how happy I was yet now I wish I had kept my gob shut.

Anyway things look like they are settling down now and I’m looking forward to next year cause things can only get better now.

Well, so far things have gone well for me.

I’ve been interviewed by the BBC for transmission next year.

I’m waiting to hear if the book I’ve been working on for almost 20 years is going to be published (I’ll find out late October).

Worked at the Festival of Flight, East Fortune, and saw most of the airshow. 🙂
Bought nothing because there was not a single book stall there. 🙁
Saved myself some cash. 🙂

There is still a quarter of the year to go, so I would say so far things have gone wel, and I’m hopeful about the rest of the year, but we’ll wait and see!

What a year!!

Up until 5th June it was a good year. At 16:30hrs that very day I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on my way home from the Grace Spitfire Supporters display at Duxford. I spent 17 days all told in good old Addenbrookes. I’m mending now, still got lots of metal in my wrists, but I hope to get back on the aeroplane after the new year all being well.
But I’m still here to partake in this ere forum.
Hope next years better………….

Not great…went to NO airshows (wish Colorado would get it in gear and get some going in Denver again) 1 fly-in, which was enjoyable, saw the Collings bombers on their stop through, and DID just have an air to air session with a Mustang and two T-6’s this last weekend…but other than that aviation wise it was a bust…

Now on OTHER fronts it was a GREAT summer…

Mark

Where were you during the wonderful seaplane ‘splash-in’ at Boulder City?

Need I say more?

Well 2004 has had many highlights, ranging from starting my nursing course, to meeting people like the Denney family, Charlie Brown, Howard Cook, John Bradshaw, and then attending various airshows at Duxford and Old Warden.

Joining this forum has been great, although my aim for next year is to get to meet up with people so I can put faces to names (yes I know that there’s a thread on here with photo’s but I like interacting with people)

Another highlight was meeting some of the Battle of Britain veterans at Duxford. I was able to talk to them and give my neice a little history lesson that she won’t forget. As its been said many times before on this forum, it was great to be able to say Thank You to them in person.

Here’s to a good Autumn Airshow at Duxford.

Regards,
Snaps

Getting Divorced
Getting rid of old ghosts
Top Gun Sortie In Extra
Getting a cuddle and Picture with Ray Hanna
Meeting Rob Davies
Meeting Maurice Hammond
Meeting Charile Brown
Also Mark Greeners + Nitro
John Romain
Dave Miller
S.Patterson
Andy In Beds
and of course Robbo
Just a few examples 😉 😉 Anna 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 :diablo: :diablo: :diablo:

How was 2004? Dont ask!

Pretty bad really. Only managed to get to Duxford for Flying Legends and the weather was a bit iffy. The display was very good though. Due to lots of family commitments and a very recent family bereavement (Mum’s funeral on Monday next) I just seem to have missed some good functions what with one thing or another (you chaps who post your photos have done some wonderful things for my morale though – thank you all!).
To cap it all, the organisation that employs me announced that it’s downsizing again! to 41000 or something. Heck, when I joined the RAF in 1986 it was around 90 000 (was it something I said?!)
However, I managed a (work) trip to the USA earlier this year and saw loads of ac production lines including Astor, F16, C17, Bell etc, that was good I must admit! Roll on next year!

How was 2004 for me?

Firstly I have consolidated some friendships which I value above all else.

Legends. What can I say? Great aircraft, superb flying, excellent company (and the chance to attend another Memorial unveiling, thank you Mark) and the unforgettable sight of SRP’s and Andy in Beds picnic basket?/ Hamper?/ Buffet?/ Cold store?/ Delicatessen?

Elvington and an emotional dream fulfilled thanks to Robbo. I can’t say how much that day meant to me. I pulled up to get some petrol on the way home and the enormity of the experience struck me, and struck me hard. Those twenty minutes spent crawling around in the Lancaster will I very much doubt ever be surpassed. It is living history and through the efforts of ‘two farmers and a Lancaster’ my personal experience of the history of Bomber Command was multiplied a thousandfold. How can people not have respect and admiration for the men that fought and died in aircraft such as those?

Finally, the realisation of a personal dream. The opportunity to record the history of a Squadron, the reviewing of the archive, conversations and meetings with veterans, seeing the project coming together and realising that the publication date is only a few months away. Most of all the opportunity to say thank you to at least one group of men without whose service and sacrifice I wouldn’t be typing this now.

Have I had a good 2004? No, I’ve had the best. Thank you to everyone here who has supported me in getting this far.

Regards,

kev35