Just one to start with, I’m sure most have read semae’s thread and know why. No need to keep repeating it here.
However, I was both disappointed and amused at the same time, at Kemble this year.
The nearest loos to the disabled car park were up a flight of 3 or 4 steps. Imagine trying to get your wheelchair up that, Kev? I had to grab both rails and haul myself up.
A big let down for disabled people – I hope there was an alternative set somewhere, but I didn’t go for a wander round the site.
Anyway, a rare bird at any airshow (I don’t recall seeing it before) is Air Atlantique’s Percival Prentice : –
It must be hairy enough for a glider being yanked into the sky behind a sports plane such as the Extra – but to be yanked up, and then perform aerobatic maneouvers in formation with said sports plane – well that takes more bottle than I’ve got:
By: RobAnt - 26th June 2007 at 22:51
It’s difficult to keep track of who flies what – about the only aircraft I think I know of the pilot is the P40 & that is, I believe, Peter Teichman. So thanks, I’ll try to incorporate this info into the notes on my website (at the moment, I’ve only done notes for 3 aircraft at the 2003 Kemble album on my website. So it might take a while 😀
By: alanl - 26th June 2007 at 22:12
Nice pictures Rob, you have inadvertendly (? ! ),got a Classic Flight connection with your first two pictures. The pilot of the Extra was Jon Gowdy, one of the Flights pilots.
This is an airshow act that he has developed with a friend of his, Guy Westgate and it is very unusual and exciting.
Jon also flew the Rapide into the show, in the morning before displaying the Extra.
Cheers, Alan
By: grow45 - 23rd June 2007 at 12:55
I agree it takes some courage to put together a display with such dissimilar aircraft. I certainly would not be willing to try it.
Video of even more dissimilarr aircraft displaying together here – http://www.crazyaviation.com/movies/ash25_3.zip. Its a zipped file so needs pk unzip or similar.
By: RobAnt - 23rd June 2007 at 01:17
Here’s another, just because:
By: mike currill - 21st June 2007 at 09:00
I agree it takes some courage to put together a display with such dissimilar aircraft. I certainly would not be willing to try it.
By: RobAnt - 20th June 2007 at 22:52
Thanks Pete, and noted.
FYI I was told to park behind and between the burger and ice cream van at the very beginning of the display line. I’m not sure if your attendants noticed the disabled card. However, what toilets there were, were at the very beginning of the display line (R26 end). Because the able bodied toilets were so prominent, may I suggest a disabled one is placed alongside every set.
Unfortunately I didn’t feel up to visiting the attractions and stayed more or less in that vicinity.
I note you had disabled scooters for hire, if desired, for which many were probably very grateful.
Having said that, had a smashing day, the weather held, and the display flying was certainly up to snuff.
By: hunterxf382 - 20th June 2007 at 22:07
Hi Rob,
Firstly my condolences to you….
I have just looked through your pictures on your weblink – and they are a nice selection from some good angles too – very impressive Sir…..
With regard to your point about the disabled toilets provided – may I make comment as one of those who helped set up the event as part of the volunteer team.
There were indeed several disabled toilets provided on site – with full wheelchair access (they resemble the conventional portaloo cubicles but much bigger, are at ground level, and they were white if I recall.) I know that they were positioned around the site by the contractor from whom they were hired on the Friday / Saturday…. and I found at least 2 up in the main stalls area when I was busy escorting traders to their pitches etc. I can only assume that a mistake may have been made in the lack of positioning within the immeadiate area of the disabled carpark – and I will pass that on as feedback in my emails to the relevant people.
Speaking as one of those who help out to get the show up and running – I can assure you that every effort is made to do things right – and learn from any shortcomings… Some may recall the apparent chaos surrounding leaving last year’s event. Well that was caused by a few things – but it was not a lack of communication as some thought at the time, and lessons were learned. This year saw the introduction of traffic lights controlling exits and everything went smoothly as I witnessed myself…
So please rest assured that when things like this are mentioned, they are heard by those that need to, and next year it will be different…..
By: RobAnt - 20th June 2007 at 19:33
I’ve finished my Kemble page, which you can see in full if you Click Here!
Although I’m not as pleased with the results, compared to Cosford, here’s a taster anyway:
By: SEMAE - 20th June 2007 at 01:01
Hi Rob
Nice pic of the Prentice. I was looking at your thread when all of a sudden your glider/sports plane tug pic appeared.
The glider display was very entertaining including the formation pass. I was very impressed when the glider pulled out at it’s normal level during the solo display prior to positioning to land.
Martin
By: dean f - 19th June 2007 at 19:35
Nice captures RobAnt, the Prentice did make an appearance at Abingdon this year, lovely to see it. The glider display was amazing, alot better than at Biggin, did you see at the end of the display when it came in super steep, almost a dive. Everyone around stood up to see, i really thought he was going to bite the big one. Well done.
Dean:)
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June 19, 2007 at 1:09 am