I have just read on another board, that the application for variation of number of movements at Turweston for 19/9/04 and ALL the VAC dates for 2005, has been REFUSED.

Where can they go now? Back to Finmere perhaps. What sort of democracy is this, when one individual, can scupper the efforts, and recreational outlet of so many other people? The revoltion gets closer………

Steve, sorry to sound like Mr Grumpy, but I think this idea is better binned. It sounds just more trouble than it is worth. No controller would entertain such an idea, especially at an airshow, when everyone is keyed up. If anything goes wrong, their jobs are on the line, so ask yourself, are they likely to approve an ad hoc formation of mixed types, flown by unknown amateur pilots ( sorry but that is what we are) perform a non standard arrival.

And you want to drag the ‘formation’ in from ten miles out at Cub speeds, say 8 minutes, with the faster a/c nose high and unusually slow. Throw in the random factor that always pops up, ie someones radio fails , or maybe the viz is quite poor, or one of the passengers is feeling unwell.

Ask yourself exactly why you want to do this, and it probably boils down to exhibitionism, and the laudable wish to give the veterans a memorable trip, though to be frank, whether you arrive like the Red Arrows or ‘same way-same day’ probably will not make a lot of difference to them . I bet their preference is for a nice safe trip, which probably means a nice safe arrival, in the conventional manner.

Where or what is the BRNO show, please? Is it in Eastern Europe, which might explain the Morava twin in the back-ground, which is of Czech origin. The engine may be a Walter Mikron, but whatever it is, it does nothing for the lines of this Tiger. Still, better flying with that than grounded, I suppose.

Bit of an odd-looking bird really. I wonder if she is still with us
(The Whirlwind, that is.. not your gran )

To witness such evil, even at a distance, is so profoundly sickening and disorientating that the we feel utter revulsion. The way that the horror unfolded over three days made the events more immediate to our own lives, and the reality that we could go to bed on Thursday night, knowing that the hostages were still captive, knowing that it would probably end soon, and that it was very likely that many people who were still alive would soon not be. So it proved, and the BBC now confirms 330 deaths.

It is probably trite to look for any good in such an evil act, but perhaps the best we can hope is that the revulsion at this event will be so widespread that, like the IRA attack at Eniskillen, it will be seen as the ultimate outrage, and the start of a meaningful process to find a solution. A vain hope maybe, and only time will tell.

It is a symptom of 24 hr, instant global news that these events now have such an immediacy and crowd in on us as never before. The nature of ‘News’ is that is more likely to be alarming and distressing, and the ‘good’ stories far less prominent. The relentless diet of bombings, genocide, religous conflict can engender a jaded, cynical and suspicious outlook on life, but it is surely vital to hang onto the reality of the compassion, co-operation and stabilty that what we more usually see and experience within our own lives.

Though it may not feel like it, we in the UK, Europe, the West, are lucky enough to live more stable, secure lives than probably any previous era. This reality takes nothing for granted about the future, and is in no way indifferent to the plight of millions of people around the world. Let us hope that there is never a time when these events no longer shock us.