Morning all,
Spent a quality day yesterday at Kemble for this years Cotswold Airshow. The weather forecast was not looking especially good, a point emphasised by the heavy rain encountered on the drive up from Somerset, but it turned out to be not too bad in the end, with only a few short showers forcing me to put the camera back in the bag. A thoroughly enjoyable show all round, the Hunter finale was spectacular. I hope we get to see more of the two Dutch Hunters over here more in the future; two stunning examples, the T.8 especially. Flapjack was bang on form in Miss D as ever, though he might want to have a look at the fuel venting system! ‘601 was singing the blue note good and proper too.
Sad to hear of the news that the Dakota is making it’s last public appearance in the UK before going to the US to be grounded- a real waste of a wonderful aircraft
Here’s a selection of my shots from the show, more can be found on my Flickr, with more to follow.
Kemble_2011_03 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_006 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_013 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_015 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_019 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_021 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_023 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_027 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_030 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_031 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_035 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_037 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_039 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_041 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_044 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_046 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_047 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_048 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_049 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_052 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Thanks for looking, comments welcomed as ever,
Shaun
By: Seamus - 20th June 2011 at 22:23
Firstly, thanks for the comments regarding the photos, very much appreciated.
To answer some of BK’s points, HFL has summed up the Exeter situation better than I could. HHA’s aircraft rarely display, if at all. They exist only to serve the MOD, not generate income through airshow appearances- this is why we don’t see their Bucc on the circuit either. I’m not too familiar with the French Hunter, which suggests to me it doesn’t get out and about all that much. Same can be said for the Swedish one- don’t think I’ve ever seen images of it displaying outside Scandanavia. It’s also worth noting that Delta Jets T.7 was unserviceable for the event. As for Brendan O’Brien, must admit it’s not my cup of tea, but I’d say it wasn’t aimed at the hardened airshow goer, more the general public that may only visit their local show, but typically make up 90% of the audience. Not seen the Reds yet this year so can’t comment.
There are far fewer Hunters around than there were 10 years ago (the recent demise of Delta Jets emphasising the point) so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see fewer aircraft involved. Personally, the sight of 8 Hunters’ in formation, something I have not witnessed before, was something very special indeed- it’ll take something especially good to top that as my season highlight. Credit should go to the organisers for making it happen.
Anyways, having gone through another round of editing, I though I’d post a handful more; more can be found on my Flickr
Kemble_2011_058 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_065 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_067 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_070 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_071 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_073 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Kemble_2011_075 by Seamus_85, on Flickr
Thanks again,
Shaun 🙂
By: HFL - 20th June 2011 at 16:27
Exeter
Just got in from today’s show, sorry but I was very disappointed. The last time I was at Kemble was for the 50th show & that blew this 1 away. 1st Miss D gets her display cut off due to the fuel leak ( fair enough ) but only 7 Hunters made the final flypast. Why wasn’t anymore from Exeter involved? Where were the 1’s from Scampton? What about the Swedish & French owned?
Red Arrows get untidier everytime I see them nowadays, tho I did like what they say is new & never before performed fast rolls in a loose diamond formation but the Gnats did it & called them twinkle rolls. Then there’s Brendan O’Briens truck landing, it was diabolical in the 80’s, are we really that desperate for airshow entertainment now?
It’s a shame Kemble is trying to go so commercial, the intimate Delta Jets open days were so much better.
Regarding why more Hunters were not from Exeter is rather dissapointing considering that all the Hunters that were flying were maintained at Exeter, including the Dutch pair along with the JP3 and JP5 that were on show, so i think we did a pretty good turn out as without the aircraft maintained by us being there it would have left the show with none in the sky.
Well done Glen and all the team at Kemble for all your assistance and well done for putting on an excellent show with the weather as it was.
By: Sky High - 20th June 2011 at 16:13
Sounds as though Seamus and Black Knight were at different shows.
By: Arabella-Cox - 20th June 2011 at 15:54
Black Knight
There are probably two very simple answers for the lack of aircraft flying:-
1) Money
2) Serviceability
CS
By: Blue_2 - 20th June 2011 at 13:23
Very nice! Nice to see all those Hunters together, can’t wait to see Team Viper at Waddo.
Still not sure about that Tucano display colour scheme though…
By: wiseman - 20th June 2011 at 02:31
Superb Hunters. Great photography. Nice to see the Gnat still performing so well. Love the Hawk and the Dakota shot. An excellent set.
Thanks
By: Black Knight - 19th June 2011 at 22:44
Just got in from today’s show, sorry but I was very disappointed. The last time I was at Kemble was for the 50th show & that blew this 1 away. 1st Miss D gets her display cut off due to the fuel leak ( fair enough ) but only 7 Hunters made the final flypast. Why wasn’t anymore from Exeter involved? Where were the 1’s from Scampton? What about the Swedish & French owned?
Red Arrows get untidier everytime I see them nowadays, tho I did like what they say is new & never before performed fast rolls in a loose diamond formation but the Gnats did it & called them twinkle rolls. Then there’s Brendan O’Briens truck landing, it was diabolical in the 80’s, are we really that desperate for airshow entertainment now?
It’s a shame Kemble is trying to go so commercial, the intimate Delta Jets open days were so much better.
By: The"Eh"Team - 19th June 2011 at 20:41
What a top shot set Shaun and only wish I could do half as-well..cheers:)
By: fiesty fox - 19th June 2011 at 19:23
Nice shots, love the first Miss D top side and the Hunters missing man.
By: Al - 19th June 2011 at 18:06
Superb photos!
By: Peter - 19th June 2011 at 13:43
Is that fuel spewing out of Miss D?
By: pagen01 - 19th June 2011 at 12:54
Excellent shots!
I can’t believe the weather either as I was planning on going but cancelled as it rained heavily all day here – should’ve taken the chance!
By: 92fis - 19th June 2011 at 12:52
Lovely set Shaun.
By: GliderSpit - 19th June 2011 at 12:35
Excellent pictures. Good to see that our Dutch Hunters made the trip to Kemble!
Sign In
June 19, 2011 at 12:12 pm