For me my favourite was this shot

Vulcan with the Red Arrows RIAT 2015 by Martin Stitchener, on Flickr

I had a poster of something similar taken at West Malling in the early 1990’s and had always hoped to see such a formation myself, finally in 2015 I got my chance.
I am currently sick from work after breaking one foot and spraining both ankles, this has given me time to look through photos I took at airshows this year, I realise we saw some truly amazing things this year and although my mind still looks back to the awful events of Shoreham, I have still been able to smile at the good things this season brought too.

Bombing alone cannot and will not solve this problem, and the biggest elephant in the room that seems to be untouchable by any of the political parties is who is funding ISIS?.
It’s clear they manage to sell oil and have other funding coming in, which is either from rich individuals,big business or other governments, they are able to buy/obtain arms easily and in all the photos they seem to have decent camouflage uniforms and other kit. They have been able to do this in a country where poverty is common place and in towns and cities that have already been badly damaged in conflicts. It is also pretty clear that the ISIS operatives in Syria will use whatever places of safety to hide from the bombings and possibly human shields, they know the countryside there and will adopt whatever guerrilla tactics needed to stay in control.

Frankly I do not see what either the USA or Russia has achieved so far with bombing and generally think that this has probably not hindered ISIS/ISIL much at all and more worryingly has probably gained them sympathy with people who will carry out attacks in Western cities and spread more death and despair. The fact is that putting troops on the ground against a group who know the area well and will use guerrilla tactics is going to be costly in lives and money but maybe the best way forward in the long run , BUT only after this issue of who is funding them is dealt with and the cash they are getting is stopped.
Then we need deal with why people are getting radicalised so much in the Western world, it maybe that we do not leave these countries alone and stir up the pot so much that it’s easy to convince them that we are the enemy as we meddle so much or it maybe something else. Either way it along with whose funding these groups needs to be tackled and soon.

Bombing is not the solution and I very much doubt in reality anyone thinks it is.

In the City of London and at airports the Police carry guns and when first saw this it worried me, now it feels normal. As I live near London I also have often see armed response teams in action and feel they do a great job in many difficult situations and have the right skill set for that role.
I think in this case of ISIS it would not help as personally I think the type of threat they give needs to be countered by military rather than training more police to carry guns. The one thing is the game has changed now and I feel this is something that will mean adapting how we respond to it. I would hope and expect the military to take control should a situation arise, and wish to this day that they had been called in for the 2011 riots. Some may not agree but some threats need a be hit with bigger force than the police.

Nice set of photos Brian, Tower Bridge is one of my favourite sights in London.

I am so glad to hear that Stephen has been awarded in this way, we all owe him so much for what he has done on the UK airshow scene.
When I think about it I never would of seen any of the following aircraft if not for him

1)Bearcat
2)Hellcat
3)Wildcat
4)P-39
5)P-63
6)Hawk 75
7)P-36
8)P47’s

and I am sure I have missed a few too.
Thanks Stephen and all the guys at the Fighter collection.

To me the Corbyn bashing gets pretty tedious after awhile,OK he dresses like a sack of sh**e and has Republican views. But if fairness he is less repulsive than a awful lot of the political shower we have in all parties these days.
I am sure he will turn up at the cenotaph and pay his respects to the fallen in a decent manner, and the press will make up some sort of story anyway. However if he does not show his respects I hope he will be looking for alternative work my the Monday.

Great set of photos, nice to see so many vintages jets getting booked after events of this year, and so glad the Gnat team are flying again.
I may need to book some time off I visit this show next year, should it become a regular event.

From what I have seen of Jeremy Corbyn it seems the press have a smear campaign, the Tory party have a smear campaign and oddly his own party the Labour party have a smear campaign. Which all in all does not really help his position in terms of being elected PM in the future, but it kind of plays in his favour now it makes him a bit anti establishment and a bit different from the rest. Top that with the fact he certainly appears to be a man of principles and a man of his word it escalates him above others and whether by intent or otherwise I can honestly say I know nothing about any of the other candidates for Labour leader, they have all blended into the background.

The questions I am asking are
1) Will he be good for the Labour party? Not if they want to get elected in 2020
2) Will he be a good rival to David Cameron before 2020? I think so yes as will actually oppose things and maybe get a few Tory rebels on side too
3) Will Labour rebuild behind him? Doubtful with all the infighting
4) Will he help the country? If never in power he probably will be a voice of reason and that’s not a bad thing

Ultimately in a General Election against Boris Johnson who knows how to play an audience and will have the press onside I doubt Jeremy Corbyn will have a chance, however none of the other Labour candidates show any metal and would all get run over by the Boris bandwagon before they could blink an eye.

All I know is I want a change in politics but I am fairly sure its not going back to the 1970’s but until a better option comes along I am willing to give Corbyn a go.