Tiger Meet Cambrai 1986

[hvaneupen]

A selection of the variety in types and colourschemes in those day's:

[fisherman]

Nice one Harold, the Spanish F.1 Mirages looked so good in that scheme. Had never realised that there had been a Mirage 1V 'Tiger' Sqn.
Very nice scans as well.

[F3]

Makes an interesting comparison with pics of the recent Tiger Meet. Obviously more reserved back then but nice to see the RAF represented (74 Sqn. being one of the original members of the Tiger club - dating from the 60s when it operated Lightnings).

[david14]

That's very good Harold - agree with F3 re comparison with current NTMs

[dollar99]

Nice one Harold, the Spanish F.1 Mirages looked so good in that scheme. Had never realised that there had been a Mirage 1V 'Tiger' Sqn.
Very nice scans as well.

Fisherman, the Mirage IV wasn't from a Tiger Sqn. IIRC it was a Porte Ouvertes held during the Tiger Meet, there were a few none tigers there

Harold, I do believe you must have been stood next to me on that taxiway Did you get the Eagles?

[Malcolm]

Makes an interesting comparison with pics of the recent Tiger Meet. Obviously more reserved back then but nice to see the RAF represented (74 Sqn. being one of the original members of the Tiger club - dating from the 60s when it operated Lightnings).

Hmmm - the colour schemes may have been a bit less striking back then, but for me the 86 Cambrai show was the best, bar none, of any show I have ever attended. Some will say the previous years Kleine Brogel show was better (they did have a tiger tailed FB-111) but I didn't get to that one.

The atmosphere was absolutely amaizing. The weather glourious. Walking in from the car park (admittedly after a silly O'clock ferry crossing) past static examples of each of the types at the show. Then reaching the flight line where everything else was lined up from what seemed like horizon to horizon. Once the flying display started, wave after wave of based Mirage F1C's taxying out from the shelter areas and taking off. Then that horizon to horizon line all started up, taxied out and took off, later to perform a formation beat up. Not just one of each type, virtually ALL of it.

I remember the special black suits the Bitburg F-15 pilots and crews were wearing.

The mildly pornographic event T-shirt stating "Tigers make you hard" or some such.

And a mate who didn't speak French buying a program with a ticket inside it saying "Vous avez gagnez une vol en Transall", but not showing it to anyone till we were on the ferry home.

The Mirage IV doing it's trademark JATO takeoff.

And 'That" Bitburg F15 departure.

I'm sure everyone else there will have similar memories. Todays paint jobs may be better, but I'd swap all that for another era similar to the 80's in a heartbeat.

[fisherman]

Makes an interesting comparison with pics of the recent Tiger Meet. Obviously more reserved back then but nice to see the RAF represented (74 Sqn. being one of the original members of the Tiger club - dating from the 60s when it operated Lightnings).

Hmmm - the colour schemes may have been a bit less striking back then, but for me the 86 Cambrai show was the best, bar none, of any show I have ever attended. Some will say the previous years Kleine Brogel show was better (they did have a tiger tailed FB-111) but I didn't get to that one.

The atmosphere was absolutely amaizing. The weather glourious. Walking in from the car park (admittedly after a silly O'clock ferry crossing) past static examples of each of the types at the show. Then reaching the flight line where everything else was lined up from what seemed like horizon to horizon. Once the flying display started, wave after wave of based Mirage F1C's taxying out from the shelter areas and taking off. Then that horizon to horizon line all started up, taxied out and took off, later to perform a formation beat up. Not just one of each type, virtually ALL of it.

I remember the special black suits the Bitburg F-15 pilots and crews were wearing.

The mildly pornographic event T-shirt stating "Tigers make you hard" or some such.

And a mate who didn't speak French buying a program with a ticket inside it saying "Vous avez gagnez une vol en Transall", but not showing it to anyone till we were on the ferry home.

The Mirage IV doing it's trademark JATO takeoff.

And 'That" Bitburg F15 departure.

I'm sure everyone else there will have similar memories. Todays paint jobs may be better, but I'd swap all that for another era similar to the 80's in a heartbeat.

Thats what it is all about the memories and with you I would go back to the good days, and you could get to Dover only seeing a few other vehicles if you travelled at night?

[SW Sky Blue]

Superb set...Cambrai was such a great base

[3Greens]

Excellent post Harold, thanks very much for posting.
Unfortunately never made it across to Cambrai, but great to see a great line-up

3Greens

[paddyboy]

Hi Harold

Awesome post

Mirage IV, Ginas, Hooter, 'Tooms and even a gorgeous little Northrop

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[Ridge Runner]

Ah yes, what a great show that was. . Its nice to be taken back to it. Thanks.

Martin