Iconic Aircraft Aviation Forum

by **350wedge** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 8:34 am

Decided to give it a go, arrived at fairford about 15 mins ago.

Nice easy drive on blue route, no queue at all!!

Tis raining at the moment but fingers crossed for a littke dry action later!!

by **Mayfly** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:26 am

Hope it clears up and you get to see lots of displays!!

by **Crew chief** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:43 am

Mayfly wrote:From what I read the A10 went tech on Friday during practice display too.

If it did it was at the end of its display because it was going like a good un.

cc.

by **Bovril** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:55 am

a10 did display then when u/s during display

by **Olicat** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:38 am

Anyone else think the Italians came a bit close to the crowdline on some of their passes?

by **RLN** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:59 pm

Went on Saturday and for the first time we got parked before the gates opened. So it rained in varying degrees from 7-ish until lunchtime with a cloudbase of about 200 feet at times and maybe a mile visibility on the ground (I thought I was at Brunty for a moment

). It then started to brighten up and by hometime it was blue sky and sun.
Gripes:
Concert stage going from 10 in the morning and the tannoy playing music as well, then when they try to give you info, you can't hear it because of the second rate cover band caterwailing at full volume. That's it really, can't blame RIAT for the weather or for what flew when the cloud lifted. Yes, it was disappointing, but can't be helped.

Saw Kev Rumens throw 558 around a bit and then left. Why, oh why, was 558 parked right at the end? I know someone has to be, but the organisers know about 558 needing money from the public, and although I went over in the morning it was a hell of a way when you are fighting with crowds and umbrellas and rivers of rainwater. Once again, she flew in the sun, and where I was, everybody stood up and were silent while she flew with a big round of applause when she landed. Nice long aero - braking from Kev.

Disappointing day, but it was the weather that caused it. Hey ho.

Nice to see you again, Paul.

by **Mayfly** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:42 am

RLN I have looked at the interactive map and can't see where else 558 can go if they want the VV next to her so they can tow her out to fly.

RIAT

I confess to not knowing the layout of RIAT very well - are there any other areas not shown where 558 could be placed?

And was the RIAT XH558 stall situated next door to the VV again?

by **RLN** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:23 am

Yes it was. I think she was better at the right hand side of the runway ( as before), but she does need easy access to the runway.

by **Mayfly** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 10:18 am

Al I know is I've been twice through the public gates as opposed to the participants entrance from 2 different ends and both times she was at the other end!! :))

by **Mayfly** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:16 pm

Crew chief wrote:
Mayfly wrote:From what I read the A10 went tech on Friday during practice display too.

If it did it was at the end of its display because it was going like a good un.

cc.

Just read it was before the display - they thought he would have to give the display a miss but he cleared the [electrical] fault by flying around for a few minutes, then the same happened during the display on Saturday.

by **Kermit** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:11 pm

A10 did a great display on Sunday, as did quite a few others. The most amazing one was the italian Spartan, when did you last see a bulky transport plane do a Spitfire type display, loops, barrel rolls etc ?? It was just amazing and I am glad to hear it got some prize or trophy for it.
558 did its usual "crowd still and silent" trick with a nice wing wawe in the middle (Martin says it was Bill Perrins!) all in sunshine, and I do agree about the Italians, quite close.
Amazed by the lack of queues and the traffic management on way out was equally superb. All one way roads in had been reversed to one way out, excellent planning. Not sure what the locals thought of it !!!