Sun 'n' fun at Fairford
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:19 pm
After a few last minute arrangements, me and my Dad came down for the Fairford weekend ahead of Indradhanush at Coningsby. Somehow the weather, despite forecasts changing between aircraft maneuvers, managed to come up trumps over the weekend. Looking at BBC weather on the drive down and seeing rain for all of sunday and instead managed to be sunburnt was a nice change. With tickets already sold out, we headed to Rhymes Farm and it spent two great days there with also great company.
It was one of the best RIAT flying displays I've enjoyed, up there with 2012 and 2007 which were both fantastic also.
1. Patrulla Aguila opened both days like in 2011, although this time they managed to fly..
Patrulla Aguila by Chris Milne, on Flickr
2.
Patrulla Águila by Chris Milne, on Flickr
3. The Apache demo was also excellent, nice with two aircraft!
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr
4.
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr
5.
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr
6. The Kawasaki P1 was definitely the highlight for many, great albeit short demo. It sure has performance!
Japanese P-1 of VX-1 displaying at Air Tattoo 2015. by Chris Milne, on Flickr
7.
Kawasaki P-1 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
8.
Ramex by Chris Milne, on Flickr
9. The Osprey was a superb little demonstration, the fast pass in the beginning caught me out!
DSC_5375 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
10.
Swiss Formation by Chris Milne, on Flickr
11.
Untitled by Chris Milne, on Flickr
12.
Untitled by Chris Milne, on Flickr
13.
Untitled by Chris Milne, on Flickr
14. The Vulcan on Saturday was unbelievable.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
15.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
16.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
17.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
18.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
19. Great to see a Hind back in the flying too, especially after missing its demo in Switzerland.
Mil Mi-35 'Hind' by Chris Milne, on Flickr
20.
Mil Mi-35 'Hind' by Chris Milne, on Flickr
21.
Mil Mi-35 'Hind' by Chris Milne, on Flickr
22. Red Arrows flypast with the Vulcan was a nice touch.
Red Arrows with Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
The weather on Saturday then deteriorated and we left shortly after the synchro pair, we returned on sunday and the clag rolled in shortly after the flying. After checking BBC weather multiple times and the closer it got to twelve still disbelieving that it would break by then - and suddenly it did and it was a glorious day. Especially compared to how it had been forecast!
23.
Patrulla Aguila by Chris Milne, on Flickr
24.
DSC_6129 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
25.
A400M by Chris Milne, on Flickr
26.
A400M by Chris Milne, on Flickr
27. Shame about the birdstrike but carrying on with one aircraft was much better than cancelling the whole demo, so kudos!
Deux Mille by Chris Milne, on Flickr
28. Swiss team were polished, both the aircraft and their routine!
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr
29.
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr
30.
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr
31.
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr
32.
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr
33. If only the sun favoured the naughty field..
Kawasaki P-1 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
34. Not as vigorous as Saturday but another great take off!
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
35.
Hind! by Chris Milne, on Flickr
36. Yeah..
DSC_6546 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
37. Yeahhh!
Mil Mi-35 'Hind' by Chris Milne, on Flickr
38.
Red Arrows with XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
39. Red Arrows against a dark blue sky was fantastic!
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr
40.
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr
41.
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr
42.
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr
43.
Belgian F-16 Solo by Chris Milne, on Flickr
44.
Fulcrum by Chris Milne, on Flickr
45.
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr
46.
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr
47.
Untitled by Chris Milne, on Flickr
48. Finnish F-18C was one of the best fast jet displays I've seen in a long time.
Finnish F/A-18C by Chris Milne, on Flickr
49. Spotted this Britannia at Kemble on the way back to the hotel.
Britannia at Kemble by Chris Milne, on Flickr
50. This probably won't happen again for a while..
DSC_7111 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
51.
DSC_7167 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
52.
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr
53.
Scorpion by Chris Milne, on Flickr
54.
See. Sense. Sting. by Chris Milne, on Flickr
55.
SF-5BM by Chris Milne, on Flickr
56.
DSC_7505-2 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
57.
Spinners by Chris Milne, on Flickr
58.
German Navy P-3C by Chris Milne, on Flickr
59.
Breitling Dakota by Chris Milne, on Flickr
60.
Kawasaki P-1 by Chris Milne, on Flickr
And that was that, another year done. Had a belter - hopefully back next year!
Chris
It was one of the best RIAT flying displays I've enjoyed, up there with 2012 and 2007 which were both fantastic also.
1. Patrulla Aguila opened both days like in 2011, although this time they managed to fly..
Patrulla Aguila by Chris Milne, on Flickr2.
Patrulla Águila by Chris Milne, on Flickr3. The Apache demo was also excellent, nice with two aircraft!
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr4.
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr5.
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr6. The Kawasaki P1 was definitely the highlight for many, great albeit short demo. It sure has performance!
Japanese P-1 of VX-1 displaying at Air Tattoo 2015. by Chris Milne, on Flickr7.
Kawasaki P-1 by Chris Milne, on Flickr8.
Ramex by Chris Milne, on Flickr9. The Osprey was a superb little demonstration, the fast pass in the beginning caught me out!
DSC_5375 by Chris Milne, on Flickr10.
Swiss Formation by Chris Milne, on Flickr11.
Untitled by Chris Milne, on Flickr12.
Untitled by Chris Milne, on Flickr13.
Untitled by Chris Milne, on Flickr14. The Vulcan on Saturday was unbelievable.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr15.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr16.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr17.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr18.
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr19. Great to see a Hind back in the flying too, especially after missing its demo in Switzerland.
Mil Mi-35 'Hind' by Chris Milne, on Flickr20.
Mil Mi-35 'Hind' by Chris Milne, on Flickr21.
Mil Mi-35 'Hind' by Chris Milne, on Flickr22. Red Arrows flypast with the Vulcan was a nice touch.
Red Arrows with Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on FlickrThe weather on Saturday then deteriorated and we left shortly after the synchro pair, we returned on sunday and the clag rolled in shortly after the flying. After checking BBC weather multiple times and the closer it got to twelve still disbelieving that it would break by then - and suddenly it did and it was a glorious day. Especially compared to how it had been forecast!
23.
Patrulla Aguila by Chris Milne, on Flickr24.
DSC_6129 by Chris Milne, on Flickr25.
A400M by Chris Milne, on Flickr26.
A400M by Chris Milne, on Flickr27. Shame about the birdstrike but carrying on with one aircraft was much better than cancelling the whole demo, so kudos!
Deux Mille by Chris Milne, on Flickr28. Swiss team were polished, both the aircraft and their routine!
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr29.
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr30.
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr31.
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr32.
Swiss Pilatus team by Chris Milne, on Flickr33. If only the sun favoured the naughty field..
Kawasaki P-1 by Chris Milne, on Flickr34. Not as vigorous as Saturday but another great take off!
Vulcan XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr35.
Hind! by Chris Milne, on Flickr36. Yeah..
DSC_6546 by Chris Milne, on Flickr37. Yeahhh!
Mil Mi-35 'Hind' by Chris Milne, on Flickr38.
Red Arrows with XH558 by Chris Milne, on Flickr39. Red Arrows against a dark blue sky was fantastic!
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr40.
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr41.
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr42.
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr43.
Belgian F-16 Solo by Chris Milne, on Flickr44.
Fulcrum by Chris Milne, on Flickr45.
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr46.
AHDT by Chris Milne, on Flickr47.
Untitled by Chris Milne, on Flickr48. Finnish F-18C was one of the best fast jet displays I've seen in a long time.
Finnish F/A-18C by Chris Milne, on Flickr49. Spotted this Britannia at Kemble on the way back to the hotel.
Britannia at Kemble by Chris Milne, on Flickr50. This probably won't happen again for a while..
DSC_7111 by Chris Milne, on Flickr51.
DSC_7167 by Chris Milne, on Flickr52.
Red Arrows by Chris Milne, on Flickr53.
Scorpion by Chris Milne, on Flickr54.
See. Sense. Sting. by Chris Milne, on Flickr55.
SF-5BM by Chris Milne, on Flickr56.
DSC_7505-2 by Chris Milne, on Flickr57.
Spinners by Chris Milne, on Flickr58.
German Navy P-3C by Chris Milne, on Flickr59.
Breitling Dakota by Chris Milne, on Flickr60.
Kawasaki P-1 by Chris Milne, on FlickrAnd that was that, another year done. Had a belter - hopefully back next year!
Chris
