Really? On what basis?

It was indeed

.....I envy you living so close to what is the best annual airshow in the UK (I'm ignoring Farnboro).
Were you one of the enterprising local villagers offering their gardens as a cheeky £ 5.00 viewing point? My wife suggested we take that advantage next year to allow her to wander around the local pretty villages instead of muddy churned up grass. It will be hard to convince her the advantage of being at the end of the runway to watch the taxi-ing (sp?) and take offs supersedes any alternative appeal of quaint shops and cafes.



Glad I got there early.....the Vulcan and the Black Eagles display team were the highlights of the day, although the gradually improving weather allowed some brilliant high displays from the likes of the Super Hornet and Rafale. The 'spooky' B-2 was [ialmost[/i as good as seeing the mighty Vulcan ....and it might be the last time I see a VC-10 too.

Shouldn't you be advocating replacing all the old, clapped out planes with shiny, new, updated versions?

I respect and admire the magnificent old timers and all they have achieved: the best in their day in fact.

However, I would not consider keeping them in the front line today. They would get well and truly smashed

I live in Wootton Bassett, close enough though. I know a few RAF and ex RAF guys who worked there that weekend on the gates etc. We train on Friday night with the kids (I coach U10's) at the rugby club. Last year we had a Spitfire do aerobatics over us (the pilot must have seen all the kids cheering and waving so he stayed a while overhead), this year was the stealth bomber. I see the Vulcan every now and again, but now Lyneham is closed we don't get the waves of Hercules anymore.

For me that depends on whether their roles have been adequately covered by newer aircraft or systems.

For example, what has replaced the search and rescue co-ordination capability of the Nimrod? Am I alone in thinking that may have been a useful bit of kit to call upon in the recent Moray Firth incident.

_________

As you saw the Vulcan display on Sunday you were treated to a Kev Rumens' special - loves a good wing-over and you may recognise the name of his co-pilot for the day .... Bill Ramsey.