Ok well my personal favourites are the following:
Waddington
Elvington – coupled with a good museum
Coventry
Duxford Flying Legends
Fairford was a big improvement & especially liked the 100 years of Flight display, very imaginative.
Some of the smaller events like the Popham aerojumble & Flyin / Little Gransden / Old Sarum Fly In are well worth a visit as you often find some gems fly in which you do not often see from localised Farm strips etc..
Can’t say anything about my Abingdon Fayre event as would be biased but all i’ll say is watch out for the 2004 event on 2 May!!!!!!
By: dhfan - 21st October 2003 at 21:49
Only managed three-ish airshows this year. The “ish” was Breighton where the crosswind was so high nothing flew so it doesn’t really count.
Unfortunately, the other two were Coventry on Saturday and Legends on Saturday. It’s not been a good year.
It was great see the Sea Vixen but I think it has to be the Spitfire tailchase at Legends. It may be considered heinous, but sitting in the Flypast enclosure with the sound bouncing off the AAM behind us, I loved the sound of the Griffon Spitfires, they sounded so much meaner than the Merlins. I don’t profess to be able to tell the difference if I just hear one or the other but then and there it was obvious.
By: philo - 21st October 2003 at 13:51
I went to 7 or 8 shows this year and to be quite honest the things that stick in my mind unfortunately are seeing Mr Hollander perish in his Ryan rep at Coventry and the wreckage of the Firefly being inspected during day two of Legends.
There were some enjoyable bits, sure, but in the main I shall look back on this year with some sadness.
I have become slightly disillusioned by the whole airshow scene anyway and will probably be spending more time at Old Warden rather that anywhere else next year.
You never know, a winter lay off might re-kindle my enthusiasm.
By: mike currill - 21st October 2003 at 07:41
Originally posted by gbwez1
Highlight of the year was seeing Michael Carlson’s highly spirited Bleriot XI display at Sun n Fun.
Idon’t see how anything with a built in headwind and only 35hp can be displayed in a spirited fashion, or has he put something more powerful in it? On the subject of the Bleriot XI wonder how many people realise that the only reason it was the XI is that he crashed the previous 10? I can’t remember whether it was No 6 or 7 that he crashed into a hay rick due to miscalculating the take off run it required
By: gbwez1 - 20th October 2003 at 23:58
Highlight of the year was seeing Michael Carlson’s highly spirited Bleriot XI display at Sun n Fun.
By: Tony C - 20th October 2003 at 15:05
I only did two Airshows this year, Legends and Duxfords Centenary show so have to choose my favourite moments, from these two.
First has to be the SAA 747 which still has me in complete awe.
The second would be getting absolutely drenched watching the Red Arrows display on the Saturady of the Centenary Airshow. To this day, I still have no idea why I didn’t find cover.
By: kev35 - 20th October 2003 at 13:14
Legends, my first, was just amazing and it was a real privelege to see the Breitling Fighters.
The South African 747 at Duxford, just jaw dropping.
The unveiling of the Memorial to Sgt Wiseman and F/Sgt Haddon which Snapper organised.
And, probably most important, meeting and making so many new friends.
Regards,
kev35
By: Steve Bond - 20th October 2003 at 13:11
SAA 747 at Duxford
Spitfire tail-chase – ditto
Woburn
The Canberra every time it appeared
Relief at missing RIAT – sorry.
By: Mark9 - 20th October 2003 at 11:24
Hi
Has to be Duxford Autum air show seeing the Breitling Boys for the last time. They are just so brilliant.;) 😉 Anna:D
By: mike currill - 20th October 2003 at 08:54
I forgot I made it Blenheim Palace. I think that was my favourite of the two. Can’t wait for next year’s
By: D R - 19th October 2003 at 23:30
Noratlas!
Thank you!!!!!
I was so gobsmacked at that landing a dropped my Hot Dog! Doh!:D
By: sat - 19th October 2003 at 23:28
I can’t believe no-one’s mentioned it but my favourite was the Proms at Duxford-so emotive.
Also single best display……747 at Dx-unbelievable!
By: Guzzineil - 19th October 2003 at 23:19
it was the Noratlas that was atempting to land on its nose!!!:D
By: D R - 19th October 2003 at 23:14
Top Shows
Okay then,
My favourite display moments (Random Order)
Boeing 747 at Duxford! (Wow!)
Brietling Fighters (Seen many times this year…simply the best!)
Yaks at Rougham (Pleasently suprised, look out Brietling’s! )
Charlie Brown in HAC Spitfire V at Rougham (Beautiful)
Denny Dobson at Elvington (Guilty of nipping off for a coffee when aerobatic planes are on however decided to sit and watch this one and i have now been converted! nice one Denny! Luvin your work!!)
Big french plane at coventry 😮 (Sorry can’t remember what it’s called! :confused: ) It landed like a Harrier!!!:D
Lastly and on a sad note The Sabre and Firefly at Biggin Hill.
I was lucky enough to attend nearly 20 shows this year and i can safely say i really enjoyed everyone! The moments listed above were top of my head! i know some organizers, operators, pilots, engineers, supporters and friends read this forum and i will take this oppertunity to thank you all for a fabulous season. All the sunburn was worth it… Roll on 2004
Doc::D
By: Guzzineil - 19th October 2003 at 22:59
my favorite ‘air event’ was the flight I took in the Dragon Rapide at the Coventry show this year.. like sitting in a transit minibus with wings !!!:D
2nd favorite ‘event’ was the week in the run up to the RAF display authorisation when the BBMF (especially the Lancaster) were flying twice a day at Coningsby practising their routines.. the weather was good and a free airshow is always welcome when it coincides with my days-off!!
as for shows, I was going to put Coventry ahead of Legends but on reflection Legends made up for it with the mass Spitfire take-off and tail chase..
Neil.
By: mike currill - 19th October 2003 at 22:51
As I only got to one airshow this year that has to be my favourite.
IWM autumn airshow
To LesB you are right I cannot remember airfields being that big when I was younger
By: Yak 11 Fan - 19th October 2003 at 21:26
Originally posted by Dav
Breighton’s Centenary of Flight
I understand that the Breighton event was very good, I unfortunately didn’t make it, however I did get to visit Breighton briefly last Sunday, what a wonderful airfield 😀
As for my list how could I have possibly forgotten about Woodchurch, for those who have never been make sure you are there on the first Sunday of August next year.
By: neal h - 19th October 2003 at 19:23
Shoreham, first ever visit and already looking forward to next year.
Fave acts – Denny Dobsons triple ribbon cut at Elvington.
Mark Linney in the Sabre also at Elvington.
Spanish F-18 at Waddington.
Guy Westgate Glider display at Shoreham.
I’d loved to have seen the 747 at DX.
Neal
By: Dav - 19th October 2003 at 17:54
Breighton’s Centenary of Flight and Reno… never a finer contrast!
By: Neil P - 19th October 2003 at 13:56
Wots that then Damien, the “Burkes Air Spectacular”!
By: Manonthefence - 19th October 2003 at 11:23
Favourite Air display
1. Any Old Warden display (perm any one from 4)
2. Kemble Classic Jets display
3. Flying Legends (sunday)
Favourite Display acts
1. Frank Chapman barnstorming in the Shuttleworth Chipmunk
2. SAA B747 Duxford
3. TF-51 and P-47 Flying Legends
Highly commendeds (sounds like a flower show !!) to the Canberra at the Delta Jets Fly-in, the Eurofighter at RIAT and the Matadors at the early Duxford display.
Favourite single moment, seeing the Lanc appearing therough the clouds on a stormy May evening, I was on the A420 and she was on her way to Shrivenham for a flypast. I stopped the car with tears running down my face. Very evocative.
All in all a very good year, a big thanks from me to ALL the display pilots who have performed this year. Heres to 2004
😀
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October 18, 2003 at 5:45 pm