Airshows from your Youth

[Gully]

Airshows today seem very different from those I remember from childhood / teenage years. Less aircraft, fewer types. Heck, they almost seem quieter too, but that could be accumulated aircraft and motorsport exposure!

Anyway, given that we've quite an age-range on here, meaning our memories cover a goodly proportion of the powered flight years , I thought it would be good to have a topic where we can reminisce about what stands out from our earliest recollections of airshows and what inspired our interests in aviation. For instance, my Mum's best airshow memories are of the Black Arrows, the 3 V-bombers in formation at Farnborough and an aircraft crashing at her first attended airshow @ RAF Grange (pilot okay). I'd love to have seen the first two...

So, here we go with my memories. All from HMS Deadalus airshows, the first of which I attended when I was 3 and apparently was scared to death by a Phantom (not that I can remember it!). We lived around half a mile from the base so saw the show each year and I recall the Shackleton, Sea Fury, Buccaneer, Harrier, Meteor and Vampire pair (whatever happened to them?) and above all, the mighty Vulcan. Every year I hoped for a Lightning, having read a book with one on the cover (!),but it never happened. For the Lightning I had to wait until well into my teens and a wet, windy day at Hatfield: it was worth it!

Anyone else?

Gully

[Saracenman]

my first airshow would probably have been Biggin in the early-mid 1980s

the obvious collection of Spits, BBMF, Reds etc - of course 558, Nimrod blah blah blah

i KNOW i saw Lightnings somewhere once, but where i really can't imagine. the one i REALLY would've liked to have seen was Victor, but i never did

I've done a few others over the years, including Mildenhall and RIAT, but i really wish I'd been born some 20 years earlier - in time to catch the golden years of UK airshows

oh for a time machine

sm

[Dan4th]

"Scared to Death by a Phantom"........

Have you spoken with your analyst about this??????

A Great Aircraft, certainly, but has it really affected
you to that extent?

My own "BIG EVENT" as a kid was sitting under the
final approach of a B-36 Peacemaker less than a mile
from where I am currently typing this message.....

I'd just like to say that I believe strongly that LOUD
NOISES have had a profound effect on ALL of us on
here.

As for ME, I say TURN UP THE VOLUME!!!!!!! (please, sir?)

Yours, etc.

Dan4th

[Spitfire]

The thing that stands out in my mind is when I was 12 (1964) {I think } seeing a Vulcan flying at Farnborough with a Concorde engine attached underneath - and then the Concorde engine being started in flight and the Vulcan flying by with its own engines at idle and the Concorde engine on full song and pouring out clouds of global warming

I do remember Lightnings doing fast low level fly bys and rocket climbs - I can still feel my rib cage vibrating now

I was also fortunate to see the Red Arrows do the same thing at Halfpenny Green - apparently there was a gap in the airshow running order and they got permission - after their main show - to fly through the flight line in line astern at high speed low level then at the end of the runway pull vertical - one white smoke as it went up - next red smoke - next blue - back to white - etc etc going straight up till all we could see was the smoke Brilliant.

Then getting to go up in a Westland Whirlwind chopper at an airshow when I was about 8

Thinking about it there's so many different memories I could go on for hours ..... but wont

[Dan4th]

Me too, Davey........

Good GOD, I guess you've got to get them YOUNG!

My Dad loved aircraft and he made certain I did, too!

Danf.

[Saracenman]

funnily enough, although I've always liked aircraft, i was never passionate about them until i started working at LGW - the whole industry fascinated me. it was after many months of seeing weird and wonderful machines arriving and departing that i got myself some registration reference books - not to become a spotter, but simply to see what they were and where they were from!

that's when my real passion started - especially when i then worked at LHR and was the luckiest man alive - seeing/hearing/EXPERIENCING Concorde EVERY evening

added to that - my landlord had a PPL and was 'into' aeroplanes - he even flew me in his Cessna/Piper (whatever it was) from Cambridge, L-O-W over Brunty ( i wanted to see 558 ..........but she was in the hangar ) - then on to land at Duxford

even so, my first passion has remained unchanged since childhood....................

















































TANKS

reminds me - must start a thread.................

sm

[Mayfly]

We never did airshows as a family - but living in Lincolnshire were never short of seeing them flying around & I used to watch them on the Lincolnshire ranges....My fist memory is of Vulcans flying line astern amazing.

My first interesting airshow was Waddington back in the 70's - in those days I wasn't allowed to go on detachment with the squadrons as they were in the field, so I got a strop on & my lovely boss arranged for me to do a Waddington airshow static exhibition. I remember the vulcan flying right over my head with her bomb bay doors open - little did I realise at the time but it may even have been DT. Been hooked ever since - the problem I have is a husband who doesn't want to go into the 'office' on his time off ...........

[MadNaddy]

I've always lived in the village I'm living in (sad to some I know) but it's only about 4 miles away from what was RAF FInningley........... and so as a child that was THE airshow I was taken to......

At 3yrs of age I wen to my first airshow as my big bro was 5 and loved aeroplanes........... I hated it apparently but loved the big 'moth' that was flying around, the world stopped whenever there was one flying around so I'm told when I was little. As I got older and can remember independantly, I used to lie on the grass and wait for the Vulcan to rumble down the runway and feel the pressure on my body and to listen to the howl with no one to disturb me or stand on me - I was on the grass in front of the crowd line you see

(It was fantastic - in the 70's very little trafic noise, so we could hear the aircraft taking off from Finningley........ Amazing) I can hear the early and late planes now from my house and see them from my bedroom window too

As for the other articipants in the airshows........... I can remember the Lightning going vertical because I fell over watching it but as for the others I haven't got a clue Old age..... but ask me when the kids were born and their birth weights etc and i can tell you all that stuff LOL

[Hungry Haggis]

First Airshows can I really give my age away here . We lived in Scone between us and Scone Airfield Was one farm so about a mile from the end of runway 03/21 the long one.back in 1954/55 was about 5/6 years old I could watch all sorts arrive and depart mostly De Haviland Rapides on short passenger and pleasure flights & parachute drops ,so that's where my insane desire to fall out of planes came from. also chipmunks the odd Lysander lots of Spits ,Hurricanes ,Javelins Meteors and a host of others during the summer they all seemed to go there and do practic displays lost count of the many types over the years . Then we moved in 59 to next door to Leuchars and I started going to that one Lightnings the very first in this country Mirage low pass (he really was if had extended the gear it would have been a touch and go )at almost the speed of sound into a vertical Can't remember the year but also clearly recall one summer a lightning over Leuchars doing his pre show display routine come down from a high loop and power straight in .That is the Lightning that was for a while the gate guard they dug her out in one piece canopy on bang seat in place ,she was empty .About 63 saw my first Vulcan also as went away into the forces about then ,often came back to Leuchars and saw heard and felt the mighty Vulcan when they were deployed there on QRA not sure but I think at that time I met Lyne at Leuchars with at least 2 Vulcans sitting on the pan very clear memory of the blast of the mass start and instant departure of Vulcan airlines in the anti flash .Also had th epleasure of watching many Royal Navy types arrive and depart as Leuchars was 801 RNAS home base up here .My biggest thrill (sad I know) was an on field invite to Concord landing direct from America with their ryder cup team on board coming to St.A for the match in 82 the sight and sound of her landing at dusk and then departing then a fully lit fly by before lighting reheat and vanishing out over the north sea for a full north south super sonic run to LHR .That one beat nearly all other apart from the Vulcan departures for me.
These are a selection from years past some stick in the mind The other one that does is the first time Concord landed at LHR and they put the Air France and BOAC one nose to nose in front of the Terminal ,was up on the View point on top to the Queens building that day.One from that day

[Tom.com]

they were like what they are now for me

[Hihonyr8811]

I can't remember any airs shows I went to when I was younger lol
Even though I know I used to go to several as my dad and his mate used to go.

Only memory I have of a Scampton air show is going on the walzers

We've lived in the same house since 1981 (well I havn't obviously i've been there since '83 ), and we have Scampton to one side and Waddington to the other, so I've watched nearly all the Waddington ones from my doorstep. Also my nana lived in Sleaford so when we used to go on a Friday/Saturday we'd see bits of it on the way.
Or we used to go up to (near) Cherry Willingham and watch from there (mum kept hoping that the Concorde joke may not be a joke one year lol sadly it was always a joke).

My mum used to take the children she used to look after to air shows in the 70s, although this

was the extent of her photos anyone want to identify what ever that is, I havn't got a clue lol

[Xplumberlives]

It's a NIMROD Helen

[Dangerousdave]

My first was RAF Waddington in bright sunshine in 1977 when I was 6. I remember a 4 Vuclan Scramble when they took off and flew straight over the crowd at VERY low altitude, you know, in the dyas before Europe turned us into a nanny state!
I also remember the Lanc flying down the flight line and that was the first time I had seen one but I was hooked from that point on.

[RLN]

My first airshow memory is being at Yeadon aerodrome (Leeds - Bradford now) and being sat on Dad's shoulders when a Hunter came fast and low along the crowd line. I'd never seen a jet close up and of course at that height and speed you can't hear it. I did as it went past - I fell off Dad's shoulders onto the grass. After that it was usually Church Fenton and that is where I saw things like Shacks, Buccs, Argosy, Blackburn Beverley, Canberra, Lightnings, Lancs, Spits etc. Too many to mention and the variety of our RAF's planes was amazing. I was also lucky to live under the flight path to/from RAF Finningley and almost everyday saw Vulcans and Victors.

[Cluny]

First airshow memory ?
RAF Abingdons at Home day in september 86 in the rain [nothing changes ] .
Mosssie , Lightning , Phantom , Buccaneer , VC10 and F111 were the types i most vividly remember displaying [the Lightning display is burned into my brain it was so loud and impressive]
Although i have been told my first show was IAT 83 at Greenham Common , only 18 months old then

[Pujgnie]

My parents never did airshows, so I dipped out

Joined RAF and first met the Vulcan at the pass out parade at Swinderby . RAF St Mawgan was my first introduction to proper airshows mid 70's.

Lightnings, Buccaneers, Shackleton, Nimrod, Phantoms, Canberra, Vulcan, BBMF and Red Arrows (Gnats). Noisey but great. Remember a few veterans shedding a tear at the Lanc, Spitfire and Hurricane solo displays.

I got chatting to the veterans - and it was the evocative sound of the Merlin engines which stirred so many memories for them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2nlGN6aS8g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vy7UgCwEkk

Since then, have been a fan of the Merlin sound, and all things fast and noisey.

[320psi]

My earliest memories of airshows were the Leicester fly club 'barn storming' days at Stoughton, in the late 60's, being about 2 or 3 years old, lots of piston 'laggy band jobs' flying under wires with streamers and smoke on, all was fun, with a great atomphere on Aug bank holiday Sundays
I was even then, dead keen on anything that flew, my uncle. father and grandfathers were all keen avaiaton followers and so I suppose I kinda fell in with the crowd.
Even down to being with my grandfather when he was helping a guy called Ken Sword, build a Midget Mustang up there, my grandfather doing most of the wood work, with me messing around in the hangar while he worked, abit like Camron does with me today

I remember seeing Ken display the mustang very 'keenly' its was bright purple and went like 'stink' I had this feeling then, my god what holds it together !
And that I had played a very small part in it being up there and remember my grandad saying 'I wish he wouldnt do that' when he looped or rolled it fast.

These early family days were the start for me, my uncle learing to fly from there and me being used as 'ballast' I could only just see over the coning, but boy did I have fun

At the early/mid 70's do's up there the star of the show as always the Lightning, I will always remember these displays and they are the things that really kicked me off to where I would finally ended up.
The commentator would say 'we have conformation, the lightning is in bound, 2 minutes away' but fromt where ?

Then in less than 2 minutes the beast would come in low and fast from behind (yes behind) the crowd and pull into the vertical infront of us, then climb burners blazing, and roll off some where up above in the blue sky, then back down for a fast L-R pass and gone. WOW I still feel a tingle even now.

Then there were the Viking Star fighter display team, 4 Starfighters in very close formation.

These early family outings started it all for me, Finningley, Waddington, Mildenhall, and loads more, all the big piston stuff and the smells and sounds
Great stuff

[IanM]

My first airshow was the same as Cluny's, RIAT at Greenham Common in 1983. I remember my parents dropping my brother off with my grandparents and the 3 of us going "for a picnic" when we 'found' an airshow on

Even more suprisingly my mother's cousin was there with his Harrier...





Not surprisingly this was also my first experience of a Vulcan. XM597 to be precise (now at East Fortune)...


(not my picture)

I also can remember sitting in a cockpit of a Nimrod (I think) waving to people outside

An airshow I can remember better was Abingdon in 1985. Once again my mother's cousin was there but this time with a Hawk...



And also it was my first up close and personal experience with a Vulcan...



Some things never change...



Oh and an obligatory Lightning shot from RIAT 1985 at Fairford for 320psi...



Edited to add: from doing a spot of Googling I think it's XR726.

I might as well throw in another from 1985 while I'm at it...

[Saracenman]

those bring back some memories IanM - not necessarily the same airshows, or even exactly the same year - but definitely the same a/c line-up that i remember from my yoof

sm

[320psi]

Nice Ian, Yep I think your right re 726,

Lovely set of pics, I dont have any from my childhood in and around aircraft and airshows, will have to dig out some old albums from my parents house and see it there owt in there

Cheers

[Pujgnie]

Regarding Andys comments on the Lightning intro to air displays.

Same was said at St Mawgan.. confirmation that a Lightning was due iminently. I saw a faint dot.. which drew nearer by the second . She flashed past silently and went vertical........ then the sound caught up !!!!!!!!! Holy schmoly - it wasn't really a sound, more of a ripping noise as she parted the air. Many were looking everywhere for the source - but it was already completing a roll off the top and dropping for another pass.

That was my first very impressive introduction to the Frightening . Many years later - 56 Sqn at Akrotiri awed me with similar sights.

My fave was when a Phantom came in low as if to land, retracted under carriage and applied reheat and went vertical in the dusk. Spectacular as it was... a 56 Sqn Ligntning which was also in approach circuit could not help himself..... also put gear up and went vertical too. To rub salt into wound - he caught the Phantom up within seconds, and circled it for a while on full burn, while the Phantom was still on reheat going vertical attempting to outclimb the Lightning. Both sets of Lineys were hooting and cheering... then the Phantom lineys fell quiet.

Happy days.

It wouldn't be allowed nowadays.

[Dan4th]

Power-to-weight ratio.........

But boy oh boy, Phill, what I wouldn't give
to have been there/seen that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan4th

[Pujgnie]

Power-to-weight ratio.........

But boy oh boy, Phill, what I wouldn't give
to have been there/seen that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan4th

Needless to say - the Phantoms jockeys did not try it again.

[320psi]

I know its this memory isnt an airshow one as such but bear with me

November 1987, Binbrook, bottom end CG near the Q shed, about 3.30pm, the light is just going the sky is cristal clear and the temp is only just above frezing

Me and one other nutter are stood there thinking about going home, cup of tea in hand

Are you there with me yet ?

We had heard on the radio that Bulmar radar was out of action so all takeoffs were cleared to 35,000ft straight over Binbrook

Then the QRA bell rings, clear as if it was next to us, made me jump to be honest,, the next thing we heard was 2 together 'weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhut'

Then out of the shed and straight onto the end came Q 1 an 11sdq F6 she taxy's forward, 'plugs' the burners, brakes off, rolling, lift off, gear up, vertical, and I mean vertical

She climbed into the cold blue sky straight as an arrow untill I couldnt see her anymore, but could still hear her a long time afterwards, as a rumble in the distance

And you guessed it I didnt lift my camera, my mouth was just hanging open.

All the way home I couldnt get the image of those bunrers out of my minds eye, and that was the moment I seriously decided to go and buy a Lightning, if only to save my memories

Cheers

[Pujgnie]

Yep - those pencil thin tapering white/blue lines from the back of an operational Lightning are something to remember forever. The noise that accompanies it - is beyond comprehension .

A memory I will always treasure, along with many Vulcan ones in Cyprus during same era.

One of those things/sights you NEVER forget !