Enduring Memories of Leuchars BoB Shows ('06 &'11)

[F3]

As it's the eve of the anniversary of the Battle of Britain I felt that a post was needed to commemorate the occasion. In 1949 82 RAF Stations were At Home to the public but by the beginning of the millenium there was only one; Leuchars in Scotland. It was a fair distance even from North Yorkshire so I only managed to attend just two of its shows but in retrospect I'm so glad that I made the effort. The first, in 2006, was absolutely awesome and probably the last really great one. We travelled up on the Thursday in order to catch the arrivals on the eve of the show. What a day that was. Finding a position on the hilltop fence at the western (Guardbridge) end of the base early doors the first arrivals were a pair of F-15s and thereafter there was an almost constant stream of arrivals. The afternoon saw display practices by several jets, including Belgian F-16, Polish MiG-29 and Typhoon. The day of the show dawned cold and bright. There was even a frost, seen melting in the morning sun on the F-15 on static display. Naturally the display was dominated by the resident Tornado F-3s and the highlight was undoubtedly the diamond nine formation and final beat up. The static display seemed endless stretching all the way from the control tower to the car park and contained a/c from 10 foreign nations. We returned in 2011 to a show which was a shadow of its former self. While the flying display was just as strong the static display was considerably reduced with the representatives of just a few nations. Also the weather was pretty dire throughout the w/end (Dreich is what the locals would call it!). These Leuchars shows marked the end of what had been a golden age of September shows for aircraft enthusiasts.

Leuchars - USAF Participants '06 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - Danish F-16 '06 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - RNLAF F-16 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - PAF MiG-29 Red 77 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - Typhoon Display Practice by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - BAF F-16 FA-131 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - BAF F-16 take-off by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - BAF F-16 display (1) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - BAF F-16 display by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - Harriers + Chinook by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - Lancaster over St.Andrews by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - Chinook over the Fife scenery by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - Frosty Eagle by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars; Danes in Shades by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - F-16s in Static by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - F3 ST 56 Sqn. by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - F3 three ship take-off by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - F3 nineship '06 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Leuchars - F3 X5 inbound by Michael Britton, on Flickr

leuchars 2011 RNLAF F16AM by Michael Britton, on Flickr

leuchars 2011 RNLAF F16AM Flying the flag by Michael Britton, on Flickr

leuchars 2011 Patrouille de France by Michael Britton, on Flickr

leuchars 2011 Patrouille de France inverted by Michael Britton, on Flickr

leuchars 2011 Czech AF Gripen by Michael Britton, on Flickr

[Unknown74]

Ah the memories, brings a tear to my eyes just thinking of the shows I attended between 1987 and 2013 and the good times of those fantastic airshows, big mistake and a total joke to close this base and give it to the Army (sorry my opinion!), Lossie's a great base, really love the place, but Leuchars holds a real place in my Heart. Was at Ayr for the Airshow last Weekend, great day out but it's just not the same as Leuchars was.

Those pictures are fantastic really enjoying looking at them.

[F3]

Ah the memories, brings a tear to my eyes just thinking of the shows I attended between 1987 and 2013 and the good times of those fantastic airshows, big mistake and a total joke to close this base and give it to the Army (sorry my opinion!), Lossie's a great base, really love the place, but Leuchars holds a real place in my Heart. Was at Ayr for the Airshow last Weekend, great day out but it's just not the same as Leuchars was.

Those pictures are fantastic really enjoying looking at them.

Thanks. Glad they're evoking memories. Big difference in conditions between the shows. Perfect weather in '06, perfectly horrid in '11. Still give anything to get back tho'.

[robinminffordd]

Thanks for sharing your memories. I went to four shows there on trips run by the Valley Aviation Society. A coach would pick us up outside Caernarfon at about 8pm on Friday, and bring us back about 3am Sunday Morning. As well as seeing good airshows, it was always a time of fun and good camaraderie.

[clarke]

hi
leuchars was the best, 1963-2012
fondly missed
Dclarke

[slogen51]

Brilliant

Wish I had made the effort

Terrific F3 shot - ZH552

Firebirds

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these, some years I used to come up Thursday night and watch the arrivals in Friday, before travelling south for Finningley. Then at some time, there was no clash, so visited both until 1994. I did 1995-1997, followed by a break until 2006, when I attended each show until 2012. Always a bit heavy on fighters, not that I had any problems there, but always some interesting visitors. Looking through these, some great memories.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

hi
leuchars was the best, 1963-2012
fondly missed
Dclarke

Last Leuchars Airshow was 2013 not 2012 and yes it was the best.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Ah the memories, brings a tear to my eyes just thinking of the shows I attended between 1987 and 2013 and the good times of those fantastic airshows, big mistake and a total joke to close this base and give it to the Army (sorry my opinion!), Lossie's a great base, really love the place, but Leuchars holds a real place in my Heart. Was at Ayr for the Airshow last Weekend, great day out but it's just not the same as Leuchars was.

Those pictures are fantastic really enjoying looking at them.

I'm the same as you Unknown Leuchars will always hold a special place in my heart and I agree with everything you said about turning it into an army base.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Awesome set of photos

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Ah the memories, brings a tear to my eyes just thinking of the shows I attended between 1987 and 2013 and the good times of those fantastic airshows, big mistake and a total joke to close this base and give it to the Army (sorry my opinion!), Lossie's a great base, really love the place, but Leuchars holds a real place in my Heart. Was at Ayr for the Airshow last Weekend, great day out but it's just not the same as Leuchars was.

Those pictures are fantastic really enjoying looking at them.

Thanks. Glad they're evoking memories. Big difference in conditions between the shows. Perfect weather in '06, perfectly horrid in '11. Still give anything to get back tho'.

I'd give anything to have it back to F3 was always a great weekend, That's Scottish weather for you, You can get 4 seasons in 1 day here at times