An e-mail from Pamela Anderson

[MOD]

I have just received an e-mail from Pamela Anderson!!!

Apparently the T-Birds are confirmed for the 2nd/3rd of July at Waddo.

It is from a certain MSgt Pamela Anderson

[Jigsaw]

I have just received an e-mail from Pamela Anderson!!!

Apparently the T-Birds are confirmed for the 2nd/3rd of July at Waddo.

It is from a certain MSgt Pamela Anderson

Get a pic of her airbags mate

Well some silicon had to say it

[Xplumberlives]

Well some silicon had to say it

And you thought you'd save anybody else the trouble!

[Jigsaw]

Well some silicon had to say it

And you thought you'd save anybody else the trouble!

You were not on line mate

[Thumper]

Apparently the T-Birds are confirmed for the 2nd/3rd of July at Waddo.

T-Birds as in USAF F-16 flying Thunderbirds???!!!

[Olicat]

What else would it be, puppets?

[Nickolas]

Oooooh, saw them at Mildy some years back.

Very circussy on the ground, lots of Razamataz etc. Quite good in the air though.

[MOD]

Yes it's the famous F-16 Fighting Falcon T-Birds. I saw their first UK display at Upper Heyford in the 80s and they were a joke!!

Even the USAF people I was with were embarassed!!. Endless posturing by the crews in front of the aircraft to the sound of Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds theme going on and on!!. The commentator giving each crew member's life history. 30 mins later they taxied out and one by one took off. I swear they disappeared for 10 minutes before doing a very slow flypast followed by a turn back to the crowd line and a high level fast pass and a turn somewhere over Birmingham. By this time a lot of people had taken the opportunity to start queueing for the burgers which were out of this world.

Then without any fuss or ceremony the Reds appeared, 'smoke on' , from behind the crowd line, and just went into their very tight display. The crowd left the burger stalls and the USAF guys I was with started clapping spontaneously.

At the end of the day - Reds 1, T-Birds 0..

[RLN]

Saw them a couple of years ago a RIAT. Not impressed. Yes they flew close and tight, but took so long to set up each pass it was tedious. However, the usual Murkin commentary kept everyone in stitches.
Didn't see the ground crew's antics, thank goodness, but I've seen videos of their posturing.

[XR219]

I'd rather have the Blue Angels (or even Pamela Anderson, come to think of it!)

[Mayfly]

It's the only display in the UK this year, and there are certainly 2 schools of thought surrounding them, like Marmite you love then or hate them!!!!! [no offence Sarah]

And to my mind the fact they disappear off for 10 minutes as most display teams do is what shows the Reds to be so good....

[Xplumberlives]

Was it the Thunderbirds that managed to follow their leader in to a hill some years back?

[Mayfly]

They lost the diamond 4 in '82 when preseason training

[Jigsaw]

It's the only display in the UK this year, and there are certainly 2 schools of thought surrounding them, like Marmite you love then or hate them!!!!! [no offence Sarah]

And to my mind the fact they disappear off for 10 minutes as most display teams do is what shows the Reds to be so good....

Absolutely spot on Pam. The Reds are in a class of their own without a doubt

[Thumper]

Who cares, it's great to have a US display team in the UK. Yes I would also prefer the Blue Angels but who am I to complain when airshows are just a clutter of grey military aircraft. I'm a big F-16 fan anyway, not bothered if they disappear for 10 minutes, as long as they come back

The emphasis on what I am saying is... yes the Red Arrows are excellent but it's nice to see something DIFFERENT!

[Olicat]

I saw them in 2007 at RIAT and ive seen the stupid ground display somwhere
Here it is, for those fortunate enough not to have seen it:

The flying wasn't too good either, some of the passes were over the crowd and i dont remember much other than that which seems to suggest that it wasn't very good.

[XR219]

Who cares, it's great to have a US display team in the UK. Yes I would also prefer the Blue Angels but who am I to complain when airshows are just a clutter of grey military aircraft. I'm a big F-16 fan anyway, not bothered if they disappear for 10 minutes, as long as they come back

The emphasis on what I am saying is... yes the Red Arrows are excellent but it's nice to see something DIFFERENT!

I agree with you to a point but the Thunderbirds have been to the UK fairly recently (RIAT) whereas the Blue Angels haven't. I've been in this lark for nearly 40 years and never seen the Blue Angels at a UK airshow so they really would be something DIFFERENT (and, besides, I think they put on a better show).

[Mayfly]

But the Thunderbirds haven't been to Waddington since 2000[ish] and if the Blue Angles aren't doing a European tour - there's not a lot airshows can do about it!

[Jigsaw]

I agree with Thumper. When I said the Reds are in a class of their own it was because it is a FACT. That doesn't mean I think the rest are cr@p.
Airshows are nothing like they used to be but are still a bloody good day out and I always enjoy Waddington. It will be good to see something different as well.

[XR219]

Personally I think the Frecce Tricolori are a good act and for me the Chilean Halcones team were also a highlight of past shows.

Having seen via Youtube what the late Renaud Écalle could do in an Extra 330, I feel sad that I never saw his act at a UK show but that's a team that would be on my 'to do' list, even without the great man.

Personally I think there's a lot to be said for all aerobatic teams. These guys do what they can often in their spare time and I really don't think we should dismiss them simply because they don't match our own high standards.

While we're on the subject, I think the 'Swifts' team is another that we might miss in 2011, assuming they haven't been able to replace the glider that crashed. i only saw the twilight show once and it was hugely memorable.

[Olicat]

I agree, The swifts are a great team

I'd like to see The JASDF Blue Impulse or any other JASDF Aircraft in UK skies soon, but i cant see it happening though

[Mayfly]

Personally I think the Frecce Tricolori are a good act and for me the Chilean Halcones team were also a highlight of past shows.

Having seen via Youtube what the late Renaud Écalle could do in an Extra 330, I feel sad that I never saw his act at a UK show but that's a team that would be on my 'to do' list, even without the great man.

Personally I think there's a lot to be said for all aerobatic teams. These guys do what they can often in their spare time and I really don't think we should dismiss them simply because they don't match our own high standards.

While we're on the subject, I think the 'Swifts' team is another that we might miss in 2011, assuming they haven't been able to replace the glider that crashed. i only saw the twilight show once and it was hugely memorable.

I totally agree. Naturally because of DT I have great respect for all display pilots/teams - It's fairly obvious that reading other fora many have no idea of the work & long hours that go into displaying and it's apparent that many think the a/c they like to see are they only ones that should appear at shows. You can't please everyone!!!!

I'm quite happy having a couple of hours 'off' to do other things - last year at Waddington I couldn't go to the loo for 4½ because I didn't want to miss what was flying

[XR219]

I agree, The swifts are a great team

I'd like to see The JASDF Blue Impulse or any other JASDF Aircraft in UK skies soon, but i cant see it happening though

They have been invited to RIAT before, I believe, so maybe one day!

It was a pity the Brazilian team never got to fly due to the washed out RIAT a couple of years ago - they'd have been nice to see, too.

[Sploosher]

Personally I think the Frecce Tricolori are a good act and for me the Chilean Halcones team were also a highlight of past shows.

Having seen via Youtube what the late Renaud Écalle could do in an Extra 330, I feel sad that I never saw his act at a UK show but that's a team that would be on my 'to do' list, even without the great man.

Personally I think there's a lot to be said for all aerobatic teams. These guys do what they can often in their spare time and I really don't think we should dismiss them simply because they don't match our own high standards.

While we're on the subject, I think the 'Swifts' team is another that we might miss in 2011, assuming they haven't been able to replace the glider that crashed. i only saw the twilight show once and it was hugely memorable.

I totally agree. Naturally because of DT I have great respect for all display pilots/teams - It's fairly obvious that reading other fora many have no idea of the work & long hours that go into displaying and it's apparent that many think the a/c they like to see are they only ones that should appear at shows. You can't please everyone!!!!

I'm quite happy having a couple of hours 'off' to do other things - last year at Waddington I couldn't go to the loo for 4½ because I didn't want to miss what was flying

Thank god for these then Mayfly.

[Mayfly]

Well if it hadn't have been you it would have been XP!!