It's that time of year again, where the town was taken over by an estimated 1.2 million visitors - plus a coastguard-confirmed figure of 1000 boats viewing from the sea - over four days for the local air extravaganza. Now in its seventh year, it has become firmly established on the air display calendar, and gets better every time it is staged. I had Nic stay with my for the first two days, but sadly she couldn't stay for the two weekend displays. Next year, eh?
One of the highlights of the festival was to be the flight of the world's last two airworthy Avro Lancasters; one having flown from Canada for a two month visit to the UK, but unfortunately the day before is was due the latter experienced an engine problem and was consequently grounded.
However, the good news was that the local towns people had a (considerable) whip-round, and financed an unscheduled second display of the Avro Vulcan. This iconic Cold War aircraft is always a crowd pleaser, but is rumoured to have only one more year of flying before it remains forever grounded. Already heavily modified beyond its design specification to keep it in the air, the problem of maintenance and spare parts is beginning to work against it. See it while you still can, folks.
Some of the aircraft that flew in the festival are featured below:
Top three: The Red Arrows
RAF BBMF Dakota C-47
RAF BBMF Memorial Flight comprising the Avro Lancaster and two Spitfires
B-17 Sally-B Flying Fortress
3 images of the Avro Vulcan
2 images of the RAF Typhoon FGR4
The Royal Navy Black Cats helicopter display team
Two parachutists of The Tigers Freefall Team
Sea Vixen
Heritage Flypast, comprising a Hunter Jet (Miss Demeanour), Canberra and Sea Vixen
Royal Marines Commando Assault
300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter
© 2014
