I saw a Tornado on the apron at White Waltham last week, by the Film Prop Yard. I wonder if it is the same airframe.

I do agree, the PR Spit performance was really good, almost constantly curving and turning. The display as a whole was imaginative, and I especially enjoyed the energetic 6 Pitts race. For photography, the light became a bit flat ( no one’s fault) ! ) , but the flying as a whole seemed slightly distant, with not many topside angles, going round the bend.

I believe the spectator experience would be greatly improved if the visiting aircraft were parked together at the far end of the display line, up at the end of the runway extension. It seems un-neccessary to block the view from the fenceline, and I would be very pleased if the Trust were to give this serious consideration.

Overall, Shuttleworth has had a very good season, and at the moment, they are really on top of their game. Well done, and thanks especially to Dodge Bailey, who yesterday retired as Chief Pilot, though he will continue to serve as a display pilot.

NW, Are you endorsing the quoted sentiment, or questioning it ? Confused..

That is my impression also. I think people are discouraged by its clunky, frustrating operation, hence a fall in contributions, and a decrease in readers, which feeds back to a further fall in contributions.

I hope it does not become a death spiral. I am at a loss to understand why Key allows this situation just to drift on.

If they have no effective committment to the functionality and future of their forum, then they should at least come out and say so .

Flying legends was about 10 weeks ago, but that scorching weather is a VERY distant memory, and today was ,frankly, a bit of a test of endurance, and I would have slipped away mid afternoon, has it not been for the Spits.

The lineup was really good, and all the performers did a very polished show, but the drizzle was relentless from arrival to exit and did take the sparkle off the day, a bit like having the most fantastic meal, into which someone has added finely sprinkled sand. The site was packed, and chairs were lined 4 deep from the fence line.

The formations were very innovative like the Lanc, Tornado and F35 all bustling along together, but even that could not motivate me to get out the camera, as it was all black shapes in a grey sky, The Red Arrows were a bit stately for their first half, but picked up the pace for the 2nd part, and almost grudgingly I found I was actually quite impressed. Other formations included Anson , Pembroke, Dove, and Rapide, really well done.

The Spitfires closed the show, with 18 up together, the biggest formation of the preservation era, quite amazing really, but somehow the magic did not quite flow today, and I think many people were so damn chilled and damp that attention was diverted to more ground-based distractions, like getting somewhere warm and dry.

I think the weather today was worse that expected, though not so windy, and maybe, hopefully, tomorrow will be better that forecast. For those going tomorrow, I would seriously advise WARM clothing, waterproof gloves and scarfs will make a big difference, as well as a broad rimmed waterproof hat ( Indiana Jones style ) Dress for a winter’s day, and you have more chance of making it to the end.

Fantastic video ! Flames flickering in the half-light, the gusting wind, and the shrieks of delight……wow !

22 years since a Mosquito fired up in the UK. It’s been a long wait.

Well done Wallace, a really nice piece, and well illustrated. That would be a great article for the Vintage Aircraft Club magazine, now edited by our very own Consul. I hope he see this.

The Sopwith looks beautiful, and with luck they will not encounter some of the difficulties that some other Rotec operators have run into in recent times.

Great opportunity and some nice shots. Shooting through perpsex is not ideal, but you seem to have managed pretty well. Shutter speed looks like about 250th ?