Oldies – Farnborough 92

I have a photo of my wife looking into the Frogfoot’s cockpit, and if memory serves we were actually charged for her to do this.

The Tu-22 was without doubt the loudest aircraft I have ever heard, and the groung pulsated as it took off! For the “spotters” amongst us that must have been THE Farnborough. I remember a MiG-25 flying on practice day (I lived in nearby Guildford so spent the best part of the week there), and one of the Yak jump-jets scorched the runway with its downward facing engines (and wasn’t allowed to fly again!). I’ve got a photo somewhere of me sat in a Frogfoot, I remember it being extremely agricultural in its build, with a very old-school looking cockpit.

Terrific days which will never be repeated.

Unfortunately it didn’t fly the day I was there. Just towed from it’s display rank, down the runway and parked behind the tree line facing the crowd line. I think the only Russion to fly that day was the Mig-29.

A good year at Farnsbarns…. the Tu22 did a “display” on the day that I was there which consisted of a takeoff, one (possibly two) flypasts, and a landing. The noise it made was tremendous, and set off just about every car alarm in the car park. Cracking stuff….

Paul F