I tried to spark up some conversation with a guy near the club tent but he was clearly p***d off as he had driven for 5 hours and it did not look like he was going to get a flight. Brave effort though for the Moth pilots as the wind was pretty bad on Sunday. Could not believe the over reaction of the emergency services if it was all for the one mishap. I counted at least 3 police cars and 2 fire engines, all with lights flashing. Unless there was something else going on the required their attention.

RE: Pyrotechnics?

Seem to remember that Mildenhall did some interesting stuff with 2 (or 4?) A-10s attacking some wooden tanks, some time on the 80s?

RE: Display Routines-Fast and Low or Lots of Aeros?

Interesting direction for this thread.

Should make it clear, I am no pilot. But surely, in terms of pure risk management, a close fomation of warbirds performing full aerobatic routines has to be a higher risk than each warbird performing solo aerobatic routines. This, in turn, would be more risky than each warbird flying straight and level along the crowd line.

And yes, before someone makes the obvious point, zero risk would not be to fly at all. The balance must be made between, on one hand, the thrill of aerobatics (and formation) flying, not to mention the right of the owners/pilots to do this: compared to the risk both to themselves, spectators, and least importantly the airframes.

I am sure these argumants have been going on almost since airshows began. My own thoughts are boringly middle of the road. Now and again, I see airshows where undoughtedly talended and experienced pilots flying wonderful, well maintained and rare warbirds seem to want to do that little bit extra and cross the line between risk and crowd enjoyment.Lets face it, how many letters of compaint would Duxford receive if they did not include formation warbird aerobitics in the show. And how many punters (including ourselves) would not decide to attend?