FighterControl

I am tempted to make the journey down for this just for Ferocious Frankie!

First Press brief: Abingdon Air & Country ‘Charity’ Show 2012


The 13TH annual Abingdon Air & Country Show takes place on Sunday 6th May, at Abingdon Airfield, Oxfordshire, one of the regions larger charity events and helping to raise funding for the local Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust.

Amongst the first confirmed participants so far are a World War Two P51 Mustang and World War Two Hurricane as part of the Flying Displays, the Hurricane hopping over from its base at North Moreton, Didcot, owned by Peter Vacher. Military participants are being allocated over the coming few months.

On the Ground, varied Arena Displays are being sought, Rock guitarist Rick Chase will be returning, and it is hoped once again one of the locally based Formula One teams will be providing a showcar statically amongst other attractions. There will be a small Static aircraft area also featuring around 40 types, including the United States Army Blackhawk helicopter based in Belgium,and hopefully RAF Benson based Merlin & Puma helicopters, frequent users of the airfield, subject to operations.

The 2011 event raised £8,075.00 for the Air Ambulance Trust after essential running costs were paid for, but the Organiser Neil Porter is hoping this total can be matched in 2012.
The show has raised £23,075.63 for the Air Ambulance since 2007, and a further £14,000 from 2001 – 2006 for the Oxford based Helen & Douglas House Respite Centres.

Advance Tickets will be on sale from 1st February at selected local Tourist Information Centres and online from our website via paypal – http://www.abingdonfayre.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

On the day prices are Adults £15, Senior Citizens £10, Child 5-15yrs £5, Under 5s Free

------------------------- End --------------------------


Colin Smith
Press Co-ordinator
Abingdon Air & Country Show

Robin
(...& indeed anyone else wishing to fly-in)

please see this page for details;-

http://www.abingdonfayre.com/flyin.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

cheers
Colin

Ok update again - to keep you all updated !!

Flying Display:

DC3 Dakota
Miles Whitney Straight
Hurricane mk1
Breitling Wing Walkers x2
P51 Mustang
Jungmeister & Bucker Bestmann formation/solos
Pitts Pair
T28 Fennec
RAF BBMF Spitfire (as seen from the schedule released)
RAF solos tbc soon
RAF 'heavys' flypast possible - at least one type we hope,gonna push for a VC10 flythru as we had in 2010.

Static will include over 40 selected vintage types to fly in, RAF JHC helicopters tbc but hoping at least for one of our regulars the Merlin, Royal Navy & / or Army Air Corp Helicopter (type tbc) a possibility, US Army SHAPE Flt UH60 Helicopter and most of the Flying Display aircraft will be on the ground.

Ground displays include the local Abbey Brass Band, Lumbawakks & Vale islanders dance troops, Rick Chase rock vocalist live music, Crafts, Vintage vehicles, Kids amusements including a Flight sim, Crooked cottage and Zorbs, a this point well over 50 assorted trade stalls booked with more to follow, local MG Car Club rally, hopefully a Formula One car and much more

Advance tickets are available now from the website(http://www.abingdonfayre.com/tickets.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) and also Visitor Info Centres in Abingdon,Didcot,Oxford,Wallingford,Wantage and Witney plus from 1st March at branches of Newbury Building Society in Abingdon,Didcot,Hungerford,Newbury and Thatcham

Sound like it's shaping up to be a fantastic show!

RAF Solos expected to display are the Hawk(operating from Brize),King Air,Tucano and Tutor

Also due to display is the Coventry based Avro Anson while on static we're expecting a Royal Netherlands AF Pilatus Pc-7

With the exception of the RAF Hawk solo and the BBMF Spit we're expecting all flying display participants to be operating from Abingdon this year

Got your tickets yet??????????????

Colin

Flying Displays confirmed:

T28 Fennec (Radial Revelation),
The Trig Aerobatic Team (2 Pitts Specials - Richard Grace & Dave
Puleston).
1930s Bucker Bestmann (WW2 German markings),
World War Two P51 Mustang 'Ferocious Frankie' (Alister Kay),
World War Two Hawker Hurricane (Peter Vacher),
Bucker Jungmeister biplane (Dan Griffiths),
1930s Miles Whitney straight (Jez Cooke),
Breitling Wing Walkers x2 (ladys on the top wing of Boeing Stearman
biplanes!!)
WW2 DC3 Dakota 'Drag em oot' (John Dodd)
RAF World War Two Spitfire (Memorial Flight)
RAF Hawk
RAF Tucano
RAF Tutor
RAF King Air
Avro Anson (Classic Flight
RAF VC10 Tanker flypast
RAF C130 Hercules flypast


Ground displays include:
HawkHawk Falconry demonstration, Ferret Racing, Punch & Judy Show,
Formula One Car, assorted Kids amusements, Trade Stalls & Crafts,
Flight Simulators, aircraft cockpits to sit in, Oxford Harmony
Accapella group, Viv'O'Gara Irish Dancers, Punch & Judy, Vintage
Vehicles & Steam, Live Music by Rock artist Rick Chase & Abbey Brass
Band, Arena Displays including MG Car Works Parade around the ring &
Vintage Police Car parade around the ring, 'Vale Islanders'.World War
Two Encampent, Dukes of Hazzard 'General Lee' car, 'Herbie' VW Beetle
car...


Static Aircraft include:
Royal Netherlands Air Force Pilatus PC7, RAF Merlin / & / or RAF Puma
tbc, United States Army UH60 Blackhawk helicopter (subject to ops),DH60
Moth,based RAF Vigilant, Tiger Moth, Chipmunks, Bulldog, Zenair Zodiac,
Luscombe, TB10, Auster, C172,Harvard, Stearman,Jodel,ex German Air
Force OV-10 Bronco & more. Don't forget apart from the RAF Hawk & RAF
Spitfire which are touring items, all other Flying Display aircraft
will be on static viewing also.?


Proceeds from this event go to the local Thames Valley & Chiltern Air
Ambulance and tickets are now available from the
website(http://www.abingdonfayre.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;),Visitor Info Points in
Abingdon,Didcot,Oxford,Wallingford,Wantage and Witney,branches of the
Newbury Building Society in Abingdon,Didcot,Hungerford,Newbury and
Thatcham,and the Wearhouse store in Stratton Way,Abingdon

Thanks for your support and hope you enjoy your day with us on May 6th

So given the amount of rain thats fallen and due over the next 3 days surely there has to be some doubt about Abingdon going ahead?

The Grass strip, spectator area and car parking must be as soft as hell?

I really hope things dry out, and soon, but I cannot see it.

PMA Dunk, PMA!

The weather has got to improve before next Sunday otherwise I will be one very unhappy bunny.

Jonesy wrote:PMA Dunk, PMA!

The weather has got to improve before next Sunday otherwise I will be one very unhappy bunny.

You will be okay in Willy!

Dunk been working down there today and belive me the grass strip and show area are very firm,good cover of grass is a wonderfull thing ,parking area is fine too ,grass has been mown today , rool on Thursday to start the set up !!

shaggie wrote:Dunk been working down there today and belive me the grass strip and show area are very firm,good cover of grass is a wonderfull thing ,parking area is fine too ,grass has been mown today , rool on Thursday to start the set up !!

Thats good to know mate, fingers crossed this stops after Tuesday!

good natural ground drainage at Abingdon, as long as the cars go on and off the grass it should not churn up to bad,
tarmac hardstanding a plenty, so fingers crossed the weather on the day is ok.

should be a very good show.

Hoping it stays dry as well, will be my first trip to Abingdon and looks like it will be a good show!

Rumour that the Bat-mobile will also be there, but no word on your boss!
TM74

Tri Star and UH-60 both cancelled due to operations elsewhere as per their twitter feed this morning ...

Paulo wrote:Tri Star and UH-60 both cancelled due to operations elsewhere as per their twitter feed this morning ...

Sadly so,but

...the Dutch Pc-7 is due in lunchtime/early afternoon today followed by the Tutors and Tucanos mid-afternoon

Just to confirm that despite the recent rains we are definitely ON for Sunday

The grass might be a bit damp(so wear sensible footwear) but apart from a couple of soggy patches which we will NOT be using then the car-parking and show-ground areas are generally quite firm and useable

Colin

Has the Herc flypast now gone also?

Yes, VC-10 and Herc pulled, Tristar which was one of the suprised also cancalled. You have gained the Catalina though

May still get lucky though!

7

Big thank you to Neil, Glen, Shaggie et al for your tremendous efforts in producing another great show, had a fantastic day, friendly faces galore, stall holders and aircrew very interactive and chatty.

Amazing value for money.

Was good to meet so many fellow aviologists as well, just a pity about that darn cloud!

Thanks again guys, awesome day.

Dunk (and Sue)