Mild fun from the JDK Archive

Didn’t the blackbird make an appearance at one of the Greenham Common shows of that Era?
Or am I thinking of Mildenhall?
My Main memeory is of a flypast on one afterburner with the rudders fully deflected…..

I seem to remember an F15 scraping it’s tail at GC around that time as well…

Hah.

Sure – as long as I can ‘phone a friend’ 😀

There’s one remaining question which is a toughie:

4. Avro Rota. It’s old Warden, but what was the event? In 1986, and the only time they’ve done it. Oh, and one flight all day. (Clue – there was a load of wood and canvas and paint on the field, which wasn’t aircraft.)

I’ll promised to do my best in return (anyone else?)

Cheers

A return match perhaps?

Hi JDK

Once I get my scanner working again then maybe I’ll throw a few posers back at you? I’ve alreday got a few ideas if I can dig out the old slides and/or photos – just need to reinstall the scanner software first….

Paul F

Well done Paul.

Absolutely correct. The Middle Wallop shows were organised (in part) by the IAT Team IIRC.

While I try and remember the name of the show as well (oops!) I wonder if anyone would like to number off the Spitfires?

A sudden thought…..

🙁 Sudden Inspiration 😮

Middle Wallop????

he says, suddenly remembering the static and airborne line up of what for the time was a huge number of flying spitfires. Possibly even the largest airborne gathering of the type for many years? Of course, since then the number of flying examples has mushroomed, as have the number of shows where ever larger “massed” Spitfires have gathered.

This was probably the first year the massed helicopter display took place there too – most impressive to see flight after flight of choppers departing, and then to see them rise above the many crowd front treelines, thinking how the heck did they get them in there without us noticing them…

Would also explain why the Vulcan did not land, being an all grass airfield.

(Sorry can’t remember what the MW airshows were called though)

Paul F

This time, two shots from the same event, which is a different event to all the other pics posted so far.

It’s a group of Spitfires – back then, a great achievement to get them (all eight) flying together.

What show where (and when?)

It is XH558, BTW, and it didn’t land. 😉

OK, Some more from the same event and place (in 1986) – should amuse, and I hope someone is able to nail the facts quick!

Apologies for the poor picture quality – I plead being a mediocre photog, and hope the historic interest grabs your attention. 😀

[Edited to add first two pics from previous post]

*sigh*

The year is 1986. We’ve established that Albert. It’s like restored colours, one must pay attention, even at the back of the class. 😀

It doesn’t matter IF Sally B can land on grass or not, respective to the quiz – the aircraft didn’t. (Interesting and useful point though)

It was indeed a Tiger Club airshow. Have two warm feelings and a momentry red face combo.

Well done.Next answer please!

Sally be was shooting an approach at Redhill – but not landing, as it’s a grass field.

Correct, Albert. What was the show?

Well, the fact that its a grass airfield is not the reason for not landing, as I’ve seen ‘Sally B’ operate from Middle Wallop. I suspect the length of the grass strip with trees surrounding it are more of a factor. As ‘Sally B’ is in her ‘yellow tail era’, that must mean this was taken between 1984-88 and can only guess it was perhaps a Tiger Club Air Show, or vintage ‘fly-in’?

Sally be was shooting an approach at Redhill – but not landing, as it’s a grass field.

Correct, Albert. What was the show?

Archer is correct on both points.

Stearman is at Cranfield (an airfield with a University)

And Sally B didn’t land at this venue, which HAS been mentioned for another pic, btw.

Sorry, West Malling (despite repeated asks) is NOT, repeat NOT featured as any of the unsolved venues. 😉

“Sally B” at Redhill perhaps?

Archer is correct on both points.

Stearman is at Cranfield (an airfield with a University)

And Sally B didn’t land at this venue, which HAS been mentioned for another pic, btw.

Sorry, West Malling (despite repeated asks) is NOT, repeat NOT featured as any of the unsolved venues. 😉

Allright, I’ll throw in another thought then (brave thing too, with all the abuse I’m getting 😉 ). Our esteemed Quizmeister is being quite elusive, but also he puts a lot of emphasis on a place where you can study for qualifications. Any chance of the Stearman being at Cranfield? Or is this the wrong university?

Thanks for the recognition by the way! I’ll freely admit that it was a complete guess based on Sally B’s colours. Going back to that photo by the way: It appears to be Sally B landing, so with the clue given that is probably what is not happening. Meaning that it could be a gear down fly-by at a venue where Sally B didn’t land.

Over to the rest of you now 🙂

Hi Pete,
Very impresive, but wrong on two counts I’m afraid. 😀

Not Conningsby, and the test’s going quite well from where I’m listening thanks! 😉

Wouldn’t have said that Conningsby was a famous Battle of Britain field, and the Vulcan could land there, I’d have thought…

Computer just crashed, if not Conningsby, was the event repeated at West Malling later in the year?
You must be from Oz, hooray it’s raining at the Oval, have time to take the dogs for a walk now.
Presumably any resemblance to Steve Waugh is coincidental.

Spitfires and Vulcan, Coningsby, must have been 1986 as my son was a baby, it was a red hot day and the cortina estate overheated, my pal got sunstroke , but the beer was good, Batemans I recall. You must have been well over to the west of the flightline as only one ragged pass was made north to south in that area, near the BBMF hanger, there were also quite a few gate guardians displayed. Spencer Flacks red spitfire should be in there somewhere, this was also the debut of Tornado F2’s in the Queens Birthday flypast, one of which aborted and did an emergency landing, on return they performed an impressive dog fight with the resident Phantom squadron.
Second day at the Test not going too well.

Hi Pete,
Very impresive, but wrong on two counts I’m afraid. 😀

Not Conningsby, and the test’s going quite well from where I’m listening thanks! 😉

Wouldn’t have said that Conningsby was a famous Battle of Britain field, and the Vulcan could land there, I’d have thought…

Abingdon, Battle of Britain show, its the only ones that were held there since the Coronation review.

I’m bored now!

…..up till the fantastic Abingdon Fayre Air & Country Show 😉 😉 😉

Spitfires and Vulcan, Coningsby, must have been 1986 as my son was a baby, it was a red hot day and the cortina estate overheated, my pal got sunstroke , but the beer was good, Batemans I recall. You must have been well over to the west of the flightline as only one ragged pass was made north to south in that area, near the BBMF hanger, there were also quite a few gate guardians displayed. Spencer Flacks red spitfire should be in there somewhere, this was also the debut of Tornado F2’s in the Queens Birthday flypast, one of which aborted and did an emergency landing, on return they performed an impressive dog fight with the resident Phantom squadron.
Second day at the Test not going too well.

Off home so someone else will have to try to fill in the blanks…

I’m bored now!

Why? You’ve got a few other close guesses, but can’t quite go all the way. Lightweight. 😉

Have a bit more thought on what you’ve already posted and mix it up a bit, and you’ll nail one or two more…

Abingdon, Battle of Britain show, its the only ones that were held there since the Coronation review.

I’m bored now!

Abingdon – Battle of Britain show?

Yup.

Want to try one of the harder ones now? 😀