Having missed the main event over the weekend I cannot say how good or otherwise the security was, but I can say how crap it was yesterday.
I went to departures yesterday, with a mate, arriving at the west end at before opening time, about 6.45,not too many folks around, everyone seemed to be at the east end (strongish X wind, probably folks were hedging bets about direction of take off). Anyhow when we were let it we wandered into what turned out to be a poorly planned enclosure, but more importantly there were large sections of fencing open to the static parks. These aircraft parks were, at that time, completely unguarded and bearing in mind that no search was undertaken at the gate completely open to sabotage.
There were several F16’s, Apache, Black Hawk, Chinooks, Bo105’s, KC10, F4 and all of the historic park within a very short dash for anyone with evil intentions. In fact if you had put on a set of overalls and eardefenders and walked on you could have got access virtually anywhere. It took at least half an hour before someone came along and closed the gaps up, by that time it could have been too late.
Anyhow we decided to move away from the main area and go back to just inside the entrance, much closer to the threshold. This turned out to be a real good move as a little way into the morning the emergency services turned out en-mass to deal with a leaking Dutch F16 (Hydrazane ?) and susequently moved the crowd away from the parked aircraft and perry than parked all of their vehicles in the crowds view. We were in th main unafected by this and had a very enjoyable day.
The highlights being the Mirage IVP which taxied and held in front of us then gave an excellent long low take off, several F4’s,F104,DC2 and other historic stuff.
By: philo - 22nd July 2003 at 22:14
Mark V,
The barriers I was talking about were the ones around the park and view area, this was not closed so effectively the airfield was open to the outside world. I appreciate that the static areas were opened for aircraft movements.
Roger,
I took several shots of the french Hawkeye, assuming they are OK I’ll post one when I have them (still in the dark ages !)
Phil
By: RobAnt - 22nd July 2003 at 20:48
Roger S – Hawkeye
Don’t know about a French one, but managed to take these photo’s of a US Hawkeye & Greyhound at Culdrose Airday on a rare visit last year.
Culdrose was a washout this year, unfortunately.
Don’t know why the first picture won’t display, probably because of the filename – but clicking the link seems to bring it up, for me anyway.
I have more HERE
By: Mark V - 22nd July 2003 at 18:48
Modern military jets, but you knew that.
By: SR71Habu183 - 22nd July 2003 at 18:05
Grey things? What are these mysterious grey things?
By: Mark V - 22nd July 2003 at 17:30
Philo,
The static park area was ‘open’ in order for the aircraft to depart, or at least it was where I was at the West end of the 100 years exhibition. There were movements all day here and cones and rope would have caused more than a small problem. As far security goes – there were crews with the TFC and ARCo planes all day and they would not have taken kindlly to anyone tampering with their precious charges I can assure you!
Can’t comment on the static areas for the modern grey things, was’nt there.
By: EHVB - 22nd July 2003 at 15:06
Damien, did you manage to shoot a French Hawkeye? Chasing tose for years now and just as I decede to never go to Faifrord again, I am told there was one:mad:
BW Roger
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July 22, 2003 at 1:18 pm