What air shows will you attend this year?

[Frank]

Well Guys,

The air show season is upon us, what shows, if any, will you be attending this year both at home and abroad?

My nice girlfriend has allowed me to have free reign this year with regards to air shows trips as she just so happens to like all things fast & loud (I'm so lucky!)

Anyway, here's where I'll be this summer, will any of you guys be there as well?

Florennes - TLP June
Murcia - Aire06
Punchestown - Mach1
Leeuwarden - Open Dagen
Satenas - Swedish AF 80th
Salthill
Koksijde
Cambrai
Duxford - Flying Legends
Fairford - RIAT
Old Warden - Shuttleworth Collection (Possibly)
Lakenheath
Brno - Czech Air Show
Leuchars
Duxford - October (Possibly)


Regards,

Frank.

[warthog]

hi frank you might see myself and papa 242 at duxford so!
hopefully the aer corps two seater spitfire will be airborn!

[Silver]

Jeez Frank you're lucky! ....going to all those airshows AND you have an 'aerosexual bird' !  

I don't reckon that I will get to any airshows this year
 '>  ...work commitments

[Fouga]

Just how sound are ur bosses frank?

[papa 242]

Hi Frank,
I dont know who's more remarkable...your bank manager or your girlfriend!!!!

[pilatus]

il just be making it to the irish airshows!maybe next year il try to make it to the ones in england too!

Northolt in June, Music in the Air in Middle Wallop in late June, dont know about Salthill, believe it or not, I've never been! Must pull out the stops for next year.

[Frank]

Oh God, my bird is no aerosexual, she, as well as myself, likes the travel, but her hobby is more along the lines of any kind of fast car, rally cars, motor bikes, F1, etc.

Saying that, she's no slouch when it comes to air shows, she knows her F-16's from her Eurofighters!

As for the bank manager & nice bosses, no big issues there. When you have the internet, Ryanair and a credit card you're sorted.

Most of the shows I'm going to require very little, if any, holidays...

Examples:

Florennes - TLP June (1 days leave)
Murcia - Aire06 (1 days leave)
Punchestown - Mach1 (No holidays - on a bank holiday)
Leeuwarden & Satenas (5 days leave - our "summer holidays")
Salthill (No holidays - On a Sunday)
Koksijde & Cambrai (No holidays - Saturday & Sunday)
Duxford - Flying Legends (No holidays - Saturday & Sunday)
Fairford - RIAT (1 days leave)
Old Warden - Shuttleworth Collection (Possibly) (No holidays - On a Sunday)
Lakenheath (No holidays - on a bank holiday)
Brno - Czech Air Show ( 2 1/2 days leave)
Leuchars (No holidays - On a Saturday)
Duxford - October (Possibly) (No holidays - On a Sunday)

So you see, with a bit of research, it's very easy to get to a European or UK show, Ryanair from Shannon, Cork or Dublin will get you to the general area, public transport will usually take care of the rest although a hire car is always good.


Regards,

Frank.

[202]

Was lucky enough to be in Washington DC the other week and to get along to the Joint Services airshow at Edwards AFB. All very well organised shuttle bus services from the end of the Washington metro and free entry. Just getting a look around a facility as vast as Edwards (home of course to Air Force One etc) was rewarding enough.

The flying display was probably not hugely different from what one might have seen at Casement or Baldonnel.  There was solo aerobatics; a T6 formation flight; some warbirds and an AV 8 doing the same sort of thing that the Harrier did in Galway some years back. However there were three major inputs that were exceptional: a drop of 100 plus from the 82nd airborne from 3 C-130s; a naval 'heritage' fly past consisting of a P47, F4, F14 and F16; and the jet display team, this time the 6 ship F18 Blue Angels team. Lots of inverted passes and stuff, some right behind the crowd, although the crowd line was strictly enforced for the rest of the programme.  


However the strongest point of the show was the extensive static display.  Lots of hardware from all five services available to clamber in and around. Among the stuff which stood out were access to C7, C130 and KC135; peer into the cockpit of the legendary U2, still part of the USAF reconnaissance inventory; a somewhat more distant look at a F117 which also did a triple flyby; the USCG aircraft looked very well including C130 and Dauphin or whatever its called in the US; there was also a very sleek looking heli in black and gold livery of the Dept. of Homeland Secturity and, before I forget, got a good look at an A139, about the only civilian operated machine among an apron of military hardware.  

There was also a strong line up of warbirds and military aircraft all in flying condition; the b17 used in the Memphis Belle film for instance; a B26, Spitfire, and a range of American fighters and trainers.

So all in all a good day stateside.

[Fouga]

and where are the ( coughs ) pics 202? '>  The USCG Dauphin is simply the same except they call it by its English name "Dolphin".

Was the Homeland Security Helo a Blackhawk? painted glossy black with a gold trim ?

[Irish251]

Quote (202 @ 04 June 2006,21:59)

Was lucky enough to be in Washington DC the other week and to get along to the Joint Services airshow at Edwards AFB. All very well organised shuttle bus services from the end of the Washington metro and free entry. Just getting a look around a facility as vast as Edwards (home of course to Air Force One etc) was rewarding enough.

I think you are referring to Andrews AFB, as Edwards is in California!

[Fouga23]

Autum airshow Duxford 8 october: last EVER Belgian AF Fouga Magister solo display. If you wanna see a Fouga display, this is your last chance! other showdates on my site www.fougamagister.be. I'll probably be there too :-)

[202]

Your right of course short finals, it was Andrews, jet lag addled the oul brain I am afraid.

[sealion]

Quote (Fouga @ 05 June 2006,20:11)

and where are the ( coughs ) pics 202? '>  The USCG Dauphin is simply the same except they call it by its English name "Dolphin".

Different Engines for starters....

[warthog]

different winch,different doors,different avionics...