Here are a couple of piccies from Sunderland International Airshow taken on Saturday. Weather was overcast, the cloud staying at 3500 all day, but at least it stayed dry. An interesting mix of acts, with the Belgian and Dutch F16s, the usal RAF solos, and a couple of historic jets in the shape of the Fouga Magister and a Gnat.
One suprise not in the programme was a flypast from a B52. Disappointment of the day was the BBMF calling off with the Lanc going tech.
enjoy
Ken
By: Skybolt - 26th July 2004 at 16:14
Thee big problem with Sunderland is that the venue has a concave crowd line along the beach and promenade so apart from the really light aircraft, VSTOL and choppers you cannot get closer than around 500 metres to crowd centre.
Thank God for the occasional convex crowd line such as at Old Warden.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
By: dodrums - 25th July 2004 at 19:21
Ahem, It’s G-BVPP from North Weald, Pilot Chris Hudson & with a RAFAT chap in the back seat.
Thank you for the correction, apologies.
By: Ewan Hoozarmy - 25th July 2004 at 19:11
The Gnat is one of Delta Jets at Kemble.
Ahem, It’s G-BVPP from North Weald, Pilot Chris Hudson & with a RAFAT chap in the back seat.
By: Papa Lima - 25th July 2004 at 18:50
Just remember to take your waist-length waders next time (you know, the ones that come up to your armpits), Ken! I’m sure you go fly-fishing in them.
By: dodrums - 25th July 2004 at 17:26
Any truth to the rumour that the B-52 was trying to find Farnborough at the time? 😀
last seen heading out to the North Sea 🙂
By: dodrums - 25th July 2004 at 17:12
The Gnat is [one of Delta Jets at Kemble: wrong] from North Weald. I can’t remember the name of the pilot, but it was the first time he’d flown with the Reds.
The Lancaster was carrying the ground crew for the Spitfire and Hurricane, so the Spitfire and Hurricane couldn’t operate out of Teeside on their own.
At Sunderland the flightline is quite far out, with the normal separation measured from the low water mark. As I didn’t want to get me feet wet I had to work at 300mm all the time (equiv to 450mm), plus a good bit of cropping.
thanks for the comments
Ken
By: dhfan - 25th July 2004 at 16:00
What’s the score with the Sea Harrier colour scheme ?
I think Damien mentioned it in a previous thread. IIRC, they couldn’t do the scheme they wanted as the right colours weren’t in stock, so it’s painted as an Admiral’s barge.
By: Hatton - 25th July 2004 at 15:59
The crowd line was about a 1/4 of a mile away owing to having HMS Ocean out to sea, and at least it did not rain. Anyone know why the BBMF spit and hurri cancelled, fair enough the Lanc went tech but why not just have solo Spit and Hurri displays?
There will be someone on here who will be able to fill the gaps in this answer but I think the reason the Spitfire and Hurricane did not turn up is because the Lanc effectively acts as a shepherd for the fighters. Im guessing this is because either the lanc has some supplementary nav aids that the fighters don’t or because the Lancaster has a Nav. I may be wrong though.
By: stewart1a - 25th July 2004 at 15:56
at a guess i would say Ray hanna because of his connection and the 40 years of the reds.
By: multivac - 25th July 2004 at 15:46
Guess the Gnat is from Kennet?
Who is flying it? Not every day you get to fly with the Reds.
By: Shorty01 - 25th July 2004 at 15:17
Definitely like the Reds with the gnat routine. What’s the score with the Sea Harrier colour scheme ?
By: Nighthawk - 25th July 2004 at 15:15
The crowd line was about a 1/4 of a mile away owing to having HMS Ocean out to sea, and at least it did not rain. Anyone know why the BBMF spit and hurri cancelled, fair enough the Lanc went tech but why not just have solo Spit and Hurri displays?
By: Papa Lima - 25th July 2004 at 12:56
Great pics, Ken, I especially like the last one. Did you have to use full zoom all the time? Looks like the “crowd line” was quite far from the “display line”.
By: WSA - 25th July 2004 at 12:18
Very nice pics, I particularly like the B52 and Reds/Gnat shots.
🙂
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July 25, 2004 at 12:15 pm