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  1. Stewart H Honorary NJ Resident Jun 15, 2014

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    Some of you may (or may not) know that the Biggin Hill Air Fair, as it used to be known, ceased after the 2010 show. That was a great shame as 2010 was the best one I have seen as it was the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

    Well, yesterday, there was a much reduced version (half day instead of two days) and despite mixed weather, it was another great day despite taking two hours to drive the seven miles.

    This year marks the 50th season for the Red Arrows and 4,500 displays ago, their first ever display was at Biggin Hill in May 1965.

    I'm sure you don't want a load of words from me, so here are the pictures:

    Let's start with a watch theme - the Breitling Wing Walkers:
    DSC00907.jpg
    DSC00908.jpg
    A Mustang for our American Friends:
    DSC00916.jpg
    DSC00931.jpg
    A pair of Spitfires, resplendent in their D-Day stripes, to mark the 70th anniversary:
    DSC00944.jpg DSC00957.jpg DSC00966.jpg
    Douglas DC3. This is the UK version, the Dakota, but about 100 of these and 800 US DC3s delivered 14,000 paratroops into Normandy on 6th June 1944.
    DSC00973.jpg

    My favourite, the Hurricane:
    DSC00999.jpg

    Let's not forget the "other side":

    ME 109:
    DSC00984.jpg
    DSC01006.jpg
     
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  2. Stewart H Honorary NJ Resident Jun 15, 2014

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    Part 2 - The Red Arrows:

    DSC01067.jpg
    DSC01017.jpg DSC01019.jpg
    DSC01025.jpg
    DSC01047.jpg
    DSC01050.jpg
    DSC01051.jpg
    DSC01054.jpg DSC01055.jpg
    Their closest formations have them separated by 6 to 8 feet at 350 miles per hour (1.85 to 2.4m at 560 kph)
    DSC01092.jpg
    A detail from this last photo looks like a lot less than 6 feet:
    DSC01092a.jpg
    DSC01097.jpg DSC01106.jpg
     
  3. CdnWatchDoc Jun 18, 2014

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    Great shots Stewart! What plane do the Red Arrows use? I am not familiar with that model; European made?
     
  4. JimInOz Melbourne Australia Jun 18, 2014

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    British Old Chap!
    BAE Systems Hawk, a variant is also used by the USN as the Goshawk.

    See here

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Hawk
     
  5. Stewart H Honorary NJ Resident Jun 19, 2014

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    Thought I'd add this one of a low pass over the runway:
    DSC00897.JPG
     
  6. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jun 19, 2014

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    Punch line comes at the end, begin at 1:11
     
  7. Stewart H Honorary NJ Resident May 1, 2015

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    Thought I'd bump this one as that time of year is coming around again.

    This year's Festival is on 13th June and as last year is advanced ticket sales only. The line up looks even better this year - fingers crossed that the Fairey Swordfish isn't stuck in its hanger this time - http://www.bhfof.com/event/air

    Ticket sales here:
    http://www.bhfof.com/tickets

    ..... and yes, I have already booked mine.
     
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  8. Alpha Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector May 1, 2015

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    Spike likes this.
  9. calalum May 1, 2015

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    Very cool. Doesn't look too safe, so I am not volunteering, but fun to look at the pix. Thanks for posting.
     
  10. Spike May 1, 2015

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    That drop of Scottish blood in me means I shall be sitting in my garden which seems to be under part of the flight path of the display watching a lot of it for free!

    When my son was younger he dived on the floor when the Red Arrows screamed overhead!
     
  11. barmy May 2, 2015

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    Great pictures....btw was the CWHM Lancaster part of the show last year?
     
  12. Interstatetime May 2, 2015

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    Thanks Stewart!

    JohnCote
     
  13. Stewart H Honorary NJ Resident May 2, 2015

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    Regrettably not. I've never seen that one but the BBMF Lanc. is a beauty. What a sight that would be, to see them both flying together ::love::

    The only thing that spoiled last year's Festival was the scarcity of catering facilities and I was deep in the queue for what there was when Sally B was performing. I shall not make that mistake this year even if they do claim to have addressed this.

    Here are some of the BBMF one from 2010:
    Lanc 1.jpg Lanc 2.jpg Lanc 3.jpg
     
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  14. barmy May 2, 2015

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    I live only a few miles from the CWHM Lancaster and there's no sound like it when it's in the air. I can't imagine what hundreds would sound like when they took off during WW II
     
  15. Fritz genuflects before the mighty quartzophobe May 2, 2015

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    Agreed... I live about 10km down range of Hamilton and the Lanc and the B25 Mitchell are regular visitors over my house during their weekend "exercises". I've lived here for 13 years and still scurry outside like a kid at the sound of those engines.

    I made sure my kids' first ever flight in an aircraft had an open cockpit and an unmuffled radial, a nice 30s Stearman over the parlament buildings in Ottawa.....
     
  16. Hijak May 4, 2015

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  17. Stewart H Honorary NJ Resident May 8, 2015

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    Just to bump this for anyone thinking of going, look what the postman brought me today:
    Ticket.jpg
    It might be five weeks away but I'm already excited. Not sure that I'll get there when the gates open (flying starts at 13:30 IIRC) but lessons learned last year were:
    1. Take food.
    2. Remember that it took two hours to drive 7 miles to get there.
    3. Place a decent order with HS Walsh and ask if they'll let me park in their car park. The stewards do marshal you to a good parking area if you turn up in the "right" type of car but escaping was still a nightmare.
     
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  18. Hijak May 8, 2015

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    That's why I go to the Air show here in a boat.;)