It wasn’t an airfield attack, but the last couple of years at southport the beach has been well shaken up by a few Harrier Gr7’s and last year by a tornado as well with the help of a couple of lynx and a Chinook. The Cannon runs were particuarly impressive.:)

Thanks for the replies, it makes a change to have someone answer the questions. I think it is good that the recent purchases have been of more ‘robust’ aircraft that can fly when the weather isn’t perfect. It is good to see the collection also thinking about non british aircraft as well. Personally in the future i would like to see a Harvard , Stearman or maybe ME108 added both of which are classics and up to a bit of wind and light rain and able to do aerobatics, which most of the aircraft there are not allowed to do ( for good reason) though it would be nice to see the Sea Hurricane do a loop and a roll occaisionally. Also what happened to the arangement with Duxford operaters as far as i remember it was if you send us something we will give you something back. It worked well if i remember rightly. personally i like seeing things in different colour schemes, so the more varied the better.

The one thing i would like to see more of is visiting acts, having gone to over 50 shows i can remember the supurb shows of the mid 90’s especially the 96 may air spectacular. I wasn’t sure wether to go on the Sunday after the tragic accident that cost pete Clark his life in the Slingsby firefly, but i was glad i did, The airfield was full of aircraft and was the biggest show i have ever seen at Old Warden. The visiting aircraft were always a highlight for me as you get to see them closer than at any other venue. Just off the top of my head this is the visiting displays for the 96 show….Corsair / Avenger / Spit XIV (TE184) / Lysander / Spit IX (MJ730) / Crunchies / Aerostars / RN Gazelle / Pitts (G-BIRD) / Gnat / An-2 / Extra 300 / Turbulent Team / Jet Provost / Catalina / Sally B / Met police para team and a couple of others i cant remember, also the old Military Pageants used to get loads of Visitors now and this is in no way meant to sound disrespectful the visitors are a bit lame and down on number. Maybe they could hold one big show every year where they get the quality acts from the TFC and OFMC and some RAF stuff too, the last couple of years have seen no GR7 operate from the grass and even though the RAF website has had RAF acts too appear on the day they have never turned up WHY ( case in point last October when RAF site had Tucano / Hawk / Tutor for show at old warden yet none turned up ). I agree that Old Warden has its own unique appeal but there must be something exiting for Joe Public after all how many people are going too turn up to watch slow aircaft go up and down the flightline. they need noise, exitement etc and this can be done but people are not going to flood through the gates to see some DH whatever flutter around for 15 minutes doing nothing.

I personally prefer more modern stuff but one thing that sticks in the memory was the F-15 and 2 x Mustangs at Mildy a few years ago. The ‘ heritage’ fly-bys were good but the duo mustang display after was the closest bit of flying i have ever seen.
My other fave mildy moment was the pair of eagles at air fete 97 that went ballistic right in front of me and just kept going straight up until they were out of sight.
I was also well impressed by the late Mark Hannas Display of MH434 at a shuttleworth evening display a good few years back it was one of those rare occaisions when everything is just perfect.

‘ an RAF Falcon’ i see the parachute team have had major cutbacks then:D

I do not think that Kennet own the Lansen, otherwise it would of gone to weald would it not?

Although the F-15 is an impressive beast you are too busy defending your ear drums where as with the Harvard/Texan/ SNJ whatever you can appriciate the noise as with all radials:)