Salthill Has Gone Through the ROOF!

[clan]

Airshow was fantastic, the PC9's were excellent, bloody excellent. What can you say about the Red Arrows, except they should move to Galway they must like it so much.

[sealion]

Looked great on the News,Just the right level of cloud cover...light and fluffy...

[Turkey]

I missed the damn thing this year,  '>  But unfortunatly the scum did'ent, RTE had a quick moment, [as one would expect from a left-wing station with serious gender issues] with one of the 'peace' people, geraldine somethingorother, who looked disturbingly familiar, probally from one of the 'fringe' political parties, they then redeemed themselves with a word with a Jag pilot.
They did however point out that the jag in the show came from a squadron which had seen some service in the ME, [the relevence of this is yet to strike me........

[clan]

There was the sum total of 9 tree huggers there, four holding a banner beside the Irish Army tents which said something along the lines of stop the war. Which surprised me as I did not know we were at war. And the group shown on RTE totalled 5 of the great unwashed,and by that I mean they did hum a bit. So 9 out of a projected 100k people. They are gaining support.

[P.Doff]

Great show, even if I was baked alive.
I know the PC-9's were great but I see them every day so best of show had to go to the Jag's second display with his almost Mach 1 run in from the city. It was a close second between the Hawk and Tucano. Good laugh when Kevin Byrne unintentionally gave the crowd the wrong direction from which the Hawk was coming,I had him spotted ages before, circling of the city; years of watching to see if aircraft were coming back so I could go home on a friday evening '> .
The look on peoples faces when he rattled over from behind.
Luckily it wasnt a frontliner with burners or there would have been some coroneries!!
Of course the G.O.C doing what from my position looked like an almost vertical climbout in the Lear was an eye opener for me, seen as Im used to seeing it floating off the runway in the Don.  
I left as the "Reds" started to beat the traffic but watched them from the ring road. Did the F3 display or was it cancelled? As I was leaving I heard Kevin say that there were a couple of more acts after the Reds??

[pym]

wasnt able to go, just saw the clips on the news and the pc-9's looked brilliant

did a hercules stay overnight in baldonnel last night? saw one very low heading in the general direction the casa's take when theyre rtb

[Fouga]

after the reds there was a Para drop by the Black Knights and Eddie goggins in his Extra 200. Tonka F3 didnt arrive atall as he has a nose gear problem and his spare AC had an Engine problem and they were the only designated F3 team for the 2005 season so there was absolutely no chance of another F3. Also the RAF Jag had a bird strike on the way back to Shannon but landed safely. The Jag is grounded now until the necessary repairs are completed at Shannon. BTW the bird strike occured after his second display.

[Bailer]

What a great Day!! Sorry I couldn't make a weekend of it but there's always next year. Was a good display, Pity about the Traffic (Coming through Loughrea on the Way home was a nightmare 5 mile tailback!!) Plus the hangover from the night before didn't help!!

That Jag was on his way to America when he showed up the Second time!! at 200ft whhhhoooooossssshhhhhhhhh!! out of nowhere.

Same with the Black Hawk. Couldn't hear it start up but Suddenly there it was popping up from behind the hotel. Good stick control from the 4ft tall Pilot!!

[sealion]

Quote (Fouga @ 27 June 2005,12:59)

after the reds there was a Para drop by the Black Knights and Eddie goggins in his Extra 200. Tonka F3 didnt arrive atall as he has a nose gear problem and his spare AC had an Engine problem and they were the only designated F3 team for the 2005 season so there was absolutely no chance of another F3. Also the RAF Jag had a bird strike on the way back to Shannon but landed safely. The Jag is grounded now until the necessary repairs are completed at Shannon. BTW the bird strike occured after his second display.

Peace Doves maybe?

[pilatus]

The airshow was brilliant!though what about the AB412 and Commando?was the second jag display to compensate for the F.3?red arrows were bril!i was sitting down on the rocks at the furthest point and they did there sort of run at each other right in front of me were they fly head on at each other and dodge at the last minute!it was pretty cool!

[davedublin]

have to say i enjoyed the show, but i feel the organisers will have some difficulties if they cant get more fast jets . i know the jag went twice, and personally, i thought the hawk display was better than the jag. i understand the show is free  to view, etc, but joe public needs noise . the pro displays were very good, but, the noise is lost on a seafront . also, i felt both the dutch pc-7, and the tucano displays were way ahead of the solo pc-9 .the pc-9 was too high and too far from the crowd . i dont like to sound like im whinging, , but having seen airshows in the uk and continent, i think i have seen what an airshow shuld b like.
i understand that many of the circumstances yesterday were outside the organisers control, but i feel they got the crowd yesterday, based on the last few years displays. if they cant up their game next year, i think the crowds may wilt

[Frank]

Hi davedublin,

Some things to note about foreign air forces & participation at air shows, especially Salthill:


- The RNLAF would probably send their display F-16 (brilliant display) if there was safety nets or arrestor gear at an Irish airport

- The RAF display Tornado and it's backup both went U/S

- A lot of air forces will not attend an air show if they cannot display as static

- The US has pulled back it's participation at European air shows a lot over the last few years, look at the line up for this year's Air Tattoo, all they have confirmed flying is a B-1, B-52 & F-16

- The Germans, who were strong supporters of Salthill, have ceased all display flying

- The RAF Harrier, which was here last year, was in Zeltweg

- The solo PC-9 pilot probably didn't have much time to work on a routine for the show and was playing it a bit safe

- The US Thunderbirds and / or Blue Angels were earmarked for Salthill but the word is the US decided to keep all display teams flying at home to boost recruitment after the Gulf War.


It's ok for people who regularly attend shows all over the UK & Europe to complain and gripe about Salthill but you have to remember that Irish audiences are not like those in the UK where there are huge amounts of enthusiasts who are seasoned veterans of the air show circuit and expect more and more exotic aircraft, I think we're very lucky to see something like the Hawk, Jaguar & Blackhawk in our skies once a year.

Every air force is Europe is contacted on an annual basis for aircraft participation and what you see is what you get.

I would love to see more fast jets and maybe the French or Italian display teams but you take what you're given.


Regards,

Frank.

[clan]

Been to airshows in the uk and yes they are fantastic. But salthill has something, it has Jo soap along in there thousands to see something they have never seen before or see just once a year in Salthill. The PC9's I thought were a treat as we do not see them this side of the country often, in fact including Sunday it was only the third time i have seen them. It was also I think I could be wrong the first time I have seen two A111's side by side. The fast jets are eye catching, but so were the PC9's as people do not know we have them and I thought the Tucano pilot was exceptional. It is a great day out and it was free. To see a Jag in Ireland in Galway coming in low and fast right across the sea front had my old man wishing he was 30 again. I personally think there was more people there this year then ever before and hopfully it grows and they keep coming. I was disappointed not to see the Navy Sea king and AB412 but the traffic was murder and I was a bit late.

[Guinness]

Sounds quite clear Frank.

Indeed the RNLAF F-16MLU demo demands a net & hook on the nearest airstrip / airbase for safety.

Too bad for the F-3's !! they looked smart in the colourfull outfit.
Hopefully you guy's will get some more " noise" next year.

Guinness '>

[Bigwillie]

For those of you who thought the Tucano and Dutch PC-7 did a better display than the PC-9, please bear this point in mind...The Pilot of the IAC PC-9 is a flight instructor in the flying school and has very little time outside of the 'normal' days flight instruction to Cadet Pilots to devise and practice his display. Secondly, the Pilots of the Tucano and PC-7 do nothing else all year round except practice and perform their routine on the international circuit. I thought the IAC Pilot did a fantastic job given the very little time he had to prepare/practice.