All I can do is agree with everyone in that it was a grand show. Got in at about 8.15 so missed the queues, but didn’t even join the outward bound queue until around 8pm and took about 10minutes of crawling to get out – I didn’t join the queue earlier as I don’t believe in abusing my bus by stop/starting.

Thanks Southern Cross for correcting me, I watched your display this year as I normally give it half of my attention, I must say well done, a great display and I loved your entrance from crowd rear,

With reference to crowd rear entrances, besides the Reds and the Aerostars, the Blades also started their display that way – have the CAA relaxed rulings about this sort of opening? I remember that at one time (even up to last year?) only the Reds were alowed this privilege

Purely from memory istr that the B25 nose covering was left on for take off and climb out to protect against insect splatter on the nose,then ripped off in flight !!
V nice pics !!

regards baz

That seemed to be the way they went about it for Memphis Belle, took off wrapped in brown paper and returned without, although I never quite worked out how.

The postion of the tannoy system at Kemble wasn’t entirely helpful either – mounted on poles a few feet from the crowdline fence – between the viewer and the aircraft.

Great when you are trying to photograph the arriving and taxying aircraft – having a massive pole in the way. 😮

I don’t like criticising the organisers – they did a magnificent job putting on the display – but couldn’t some thought be given to placing the poles and speakers BEHIND the crowdline???

Ken

PS In praise of commentators – the Turkish Stars commentator at RIAT a few years ago certainly made my day.:D

I remember quite some years ago attending a number of air shows where the speakers were situated on the grass in front of the crowd line, literally on the grass, no poles, although can’t remember how well the sound travelled.

As regards commentators, I agree with Moggy C and Lord Roxeth, John Blake was the best – does he still commentate?

Thanks Sage, you’ve just saved me £25.

I was going to email Airfix asking about this as I was interested in the book, but only if they were the original pictures (complete with any original hakenkreuz). I hate pc censoring, but I suppose if I ever see it at a knock-down price I’ll give in, but not until then.

I vaguely remember this part work from my days working for WH Smith in the 60s/70s but am not sure of its original number of parts, although I did collect it at the time – long since gone.

However, Orbis Publishing published a part work called “Wings” – my last index is dated (c)1980 so I supposed it was published in the late 70s to 1980. The reason I mention this is that the last binder (number 11) consists of what I believe to be a reprint of “The History of Aviation”. This version (of 20pp) consists of 15 parts.

Hope this is of help.

I told a lie – actually I hadn’t noticed, but I have just found a picture of the Miles Trio in flight at Nottingham, with G-MIOO bringing up the rear.

I remember it at the 1974 Hatfield open day (see photo below). I also have a photo, not scanned yet, of it at Duxford in about 1984.

I too have some unscanned photos of it – on the ground with others at Duxford 6.7.85 and again at Nottingham (again on the ground with others and also one of it flying) 18.8.85

Baz.. totally agree with what you have just said.
But personally i would be interested to know if anyone on here, or during the subsequent investigation, witnessed DB successfully doing exactly the same at a much greater height and possibly with fewer individuals on board.. such as a practice flight close to Dx. Its hard to believe that any pilot would carry out such a manouevre without having done it at least once before and so believing that he could do it again..

Unlike Skybolt I can’t remember which show it was performed at, but I too recall seeing Don barrel roll the aircraft – I saw the plane 8 times twixt June 78 and August 80 but would need to dig out my albums to see if I actually photographed it doing so.