WIX suggest that it was first solo on type, rather than FIRST solo.

Its not impossible though. Dirk Leeward, 16 year old son of Lee, did his first solo on his father’s Mustang (Cloud Dancer) in the 1980’s. He also soloed a T6and a Stearman the same day.

I heard they will do the first flight at night, taking off on just two of the four engines to keep the noise down, and not alert freeloading spectators

At most airshow venues, there are certain spots ”off piste” which a few people with local knowlege may take advantage of, but it is not something to be encouraged on a high profile public forum such as this.

Remember too that a high profile accident with loss of life could kill the whole scene stone dead. As it is, the last public casualty in the UK was the John Derry DH 110 disaster at Farnborough in the late 1950’s. More recently, fence hangers at Fairford came within an ace of being beheaded by a barbed wire fence plucked up by one of the crashing MiGs.

If airshow goers/photographers find encouragement to wander from the prescribed safe areas, this will without question be a very dangerous and troublesome trend.

I have happy memories of Kirkbride, a blessed sight to a scud-running Luscombe 10 years ago, forced back by low-level grot near Sellafield.

Two rather over-stimulated pilots retired to the hotel bar for a fast debrief, only to be approached by a gentleman bearing a decanter of whiskey saying that we had won the prize for the Best Vintage Aircraft.

Apparently there as a fly-in, and we were the only visitor that day!

Camping at Fowlmere and getting at at 6.00? Luxury. I used to dream of camping at Fowlmere.

I had to sleep in an old septic tank on a rubbish tip in St Neots. I got up half an hour before I went to bed, and put on my old hob nailed boots with no soles, or nails. Then I had to carry my father AND my grandfather in an old sack all the way to Duxford.

When we got there, the first aeroplane we saw was an Easy Jet 737. I was so disgusted, I sold my relations for medical experiments, and donated all the funds to the ‘Doodlebug To The Sky’ appeal. It was the best show yet-I was even angrier than last year.

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Bl**dy Legends!

Quite agree that it is fairly pointless ruminating about the weather.

However, given the monumental drenching we have endured for a month, I think it is worth cheering ourselves up with the thought that there is a glimmer of hope for better things to come.