Little Gransden airshow

Thank you, Mike and Peter! I don’t think I’ve seen a Storch in the air since 1982, so I really must get somewhere where I can see you putting it through its (lack of) paces. I’ve seen the film of Udet (?) chucking one round the sky in the 1930s, but not in the flesh for a long time.

Adrian

That’s explained it far better than I could ever hope to.

Hi all,
My Storch is unique for sure.
The controls and their defection are both massive in order to provide full control at very low speeds. It is therefore possible to perform extreme, seemingly impossible manoeuvres by using them to their fullest extent. Coarse rudder inputs at low speeds and with flap plus aileron droop enable the thing to be turned with negligible bank, if at all. Properly balanced turns are simple, achieving incredibly small radii, however, the flat ones look bizarre – so thats why we do it.
It is also an aeroplane that doesn’t stall in the conventional sense, with or without power. Huge rudder inputs at low speeds are therefore possible without this concern. the risk of a stall is hard wired into us all – it takes a lot of practice to overcome it.
Sideways flying – In essence a coarse sideslip with power added to stop the descent. Dial in its slow speed and the angles are extreme. The effect is even more marked in an off-crowd wind.
Slow flying – Is simply a case of slowing, dropping everything ( 40 degrees of flap and 20 aileron droop), hauling the stick back and adding power to prevent the descent. You get to an optimum point where you have full power at an extreme nose-high attitude and thing just starts to come down. You ‘pin’ it there and work hard on the controls to sustain it.
The Storch is utterly amazing. It is a massive privilege to own it and a blast for everybody who flies it.
All the best.
HP

[QUOTE=adrian_gray;2162946]
Anyone know why the huge rudder deflection on the Storch? Or is just that it needs that much input to get it to change direction at Storch-mph?

Adrian, the huge rudder deflection is possibly because Peter Holloway was flying sideways at the time. In anything remotely like a decent crosswind he flies sideways with little more than enough forward speed to keep the aircraft in the air. I saw his demonstration of the flying characteristics of the Storch at Abingdon and was totally amazed at the fact he was probably going sideways faster than he was forwards.

Thanks Propstrike and SimonR, see you next year:)

As an aside, is anyone able to name the three Lancaster veterans who were at Gransden? You can see the gents in question in my 5th and 6th photos above.

I’d like to add their names to my photo database. Cheers!

Just speaking personally. It’s the first time I have seen him fly since the accident.

Moggy

Speaking of which, great that Howard Cook is back in the cockpit after his serious Tiger Moth accident. 🙂

He has been for quite some considerable time now.
Not sure if he has actually performed in public since though, if that is what you meant?

Speaking of which, great that Howard Cook is back in the cockpit after his serious Tiger Moth accident. 🙂

Moggy

Simon

Thanks. When I was editing it (the original was a bit darker) I zoomed in and although grainy I realised that the chap behind the pilot was taking a photo of the crowdline. 🙂

I enjoyed the Lancs and Vulcan and when my wife asked which was my favourite I was hard pushed to say – the whole day was great and very different from many of the other airshows (I am usually at Duxford several times a year).

Your photo of the vets with Lancs in the distance is atmospheric (is that the right word?) – I like it.

My mother was a flying instructor and was with us. When the Tiger Moth and Cessna 172 came over and the announcer said who was flying the Cessna, she said (rather loudly) ” I know him, I used to fly with him – didn’t know he was still flying” much to the consternation of those around and near enough to hear and see her (clearly too old to fly now!!). 🙂

Hi

I rarely post here (just noted – this is my first post!), but enjoy reading most of what appears.

I was also at Little Gransden yesterday… I have put a few shots

The Vulcan was great. Just as it came in my wife asked “what is a Vulcan?”, I told her she would soon find out. When it roared she nearly jumped out of her skin!

Hi Stephen,

Congrats on the first post 😉

Thanks for sharing your photos, I really like the first one of the Canadian Lanc (https://flic.kr/p/oS6Kq7) and the two Lancs against the clouds (https://flic.kr/p/oU6Bmq).

I was there with my 6 year old nephew who hadn’t seen the Vulcan before and he had much the same reaction to your wife. An experience not easily forgotten, eh?

Cheers for now..

Some interesting replies and great photos on this thread for what sounds like a great show, in an intimate setting. Well done to all. Propstrike, there’s something very special in your photos, can’t put my finger on it, but you’ve really caught the mood, it seems to me. Vulcan and Lancs at a distance, and the Chipmunks, all lovely. We are lucky to have such a great photo forum, endless pleasure, every season. Thanks, Flypast and all who contribute.

Hi

I rarely post here (just noted – this is my first post!), but enjoy reading most of what appears.

I was also at Little Gransden yesterday – been meaning to go for ages and finally made it. What a great show. A great mix and some fine flying.

I have put a few shots I took in Flickr and for anyone interested they can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/63405925@N08/sets/72157646423425017/

I have done aeros in a Slingsby and am glad the pilot (ex-RAF!) did not try some of the stuff we saw yesterday, but it was great to watch.

Really moving to have the Lancs come over with perfect timing at the end of the remembrance part.

The Vulcan was great. Just as it came in my wife asked “what is a Vulcan?”, I told her she would soon find out. When it roared she nearly jumped out of her skin!

Also really nice that the commentators said enough, but not too much, and let the aircraft speak for themselves.

Stephen

I love that Spartan pic Propstrike – I hadn’t noticed the grass at the bottom first time I saw it!

Congratulations to the organisers, a fabulous job done by them.

Only jarring note – the God bit in the middle, but I guess there must be a background reason why this intrusion?

Here, here on that first statement!

They do the God bit every year, and yes I agree. Why give thanks to God for the bravery and sacrifice on the part of our Armed Forces when you’ve got three WW2 Lanc veterans standing next to you?! Doesn’t make a great deal of sense. But I guess given a lot of the cr@p that’s going on at the moment in the name of religion, it was well intentioned if inappropriate.

My favourite bit was when the preacher chap said something along the lines of ‘the skill of the pilots to take off and the grace of God to land safely’ – er, no it’s still the skill of the pilots and good old physics that causes landings to take place safely!

Rather than all that, I’d favour a reading which acknowledges our gratitude, followed by a minute’s silence and a minute’s applause.

However, that said – the timing of the two Lancs to arrive right at the perfect moment in the ceremony was inspired!

Great pictures, looks like everyone had a great time.

I believe BBC’s Look East has a feature on the show, Tuesday evening.

A lovely show, most atmospheric.

The Slingsby pilot did a VERY energetic performance, with a L O N G spin and flicks at maybe 400 feet, great but rather alarming.

Totally agree with both those statements. With the T67 reputation for spinning that was heart-stoppingly low.

But what a fabulous and varied show.

Better than RIAT? Oh yes, by a huge margin.

Congratulations to the organisers, a fabulous job done by them.

Only jarring note – the God bit in the middle, but I guess there must be a background reason why this intrusion?

Moggy

That sixth photo says it all, Steve. I think you might find an extra follower on your Flickr next time I log in there!

Anyone know why the huge rudder deflection on the Storch? Or is just that it needs that much input to get it to change direction at Storch-mph?

Adrian

Here you go..

Hah – beat me to it!

The Spartans are my other half’s favourite aircraft and I can see what she means. Sadly their beautiful shiny livery shows up all the shortcomings in my photographic equipment so I wasn’t all that pleased with my photos. However, these ones weren’t too bad after a brief spell in Photoshop.

IMG_1582 by sboreeves, on Flickr

IMG_1576 by sboreeves, on Flickr

IMG_1571 by sboreeves, on Flickr

IMG_1573 by sboreeves, on Flickr

IMG_1566 by sboreeves, on Flickr

IMG_1564 by sboreeves, on Flickr

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