To be fair, we’re parked up at a premier inn. And get a taxi to the bus station. (We haven’t tried parking in actual Swindon)
Spec me an airshow over summer to go to
- Thread starter NeilF
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True. The f35 could have shown off its thrust vectoring a little bit more than it did.. but, it was by far, the loudest aircraft at the show. (When it takes off, Christ, it’s the loudest thing I’ve ever heard haha)
B1 was parked up as staticb2 did a fly past with 2xf15’s. in any case, incredible machines.
I definitely agree, the stall manuevre that the su27 can do is incredible, I just can’t believe how old that aircraft is. (And actually how large it is compared to the f16 for example)
This is my first air show, and I can definitely say I’m satisfied with what I’ve seen ! Although.. I really do want to see an f-14 tomcat in action. (Amongst other 80’s/90’s planes. ) (edit. Migs like the 21, 31 etc)
The F35 displays are lacklustre at best. Bring back the Harrier - that was a fantastic dynamic display. Heard about one in Japan many years ago doing a display, and at the end of it's routine as always, it bowed to the crowd. The extremely polite Japanese crowd bowed back.
Even better when you think that the Su27 is an analogue aircraft at heart. Designed to be turned around by minimally trained people in crappy conditions with basic tools. Something the Russians were always good at.
But, the Su35 is something else entirely. Imagine a more manoeuvrable Su27 with thrust vectoring. That thing can basically tumble through the sky while still being in control. It's insane.
Sadly, you won't see an F14 in action, unless you go over to Iran and are incredibly lucky. They apparently only have about 20-30 of the 79 still operational. They can't get any spares. America even ordered a large portion of the retired F14 fleet to be shredded to prevent spares going to Iran.
I've been lucky and seen the F14 several times, it's a big old noisy hector, but god it was pretty. It's one of those aircraft that just looks... right...
My first memory was a just subsonic low level pass at Mildenhall Air Fete many years ago. Cue all the car alarms going off.
I bought a harrier t-shirt yesterday such a legendary machine ! The su37 is amazing. Would love to see one in yellow/brown camo at some point !
Do America have no f14’s left as flyable demo/display aircraft ?? Wow. I was looking at maybe going to an American air show next year.
such a legendary machine ! The su37 is amazing. Would love to see one in yellow/brown camo at some point ! Do America have no f14’s left as flyable demo/display aircraft ?? Wow. I was looking at maybe going to an American air show next year.
So makes more sense catching hte Swindon park and ride, than trying to park there itself? ie: The coaches don't have to fight through the 25,000 cars trying to leave?
PS: Tomorrow is suppose to ben very very hot with no cloud cover. We're even taking a golf umbrella for periodic cover
I took a brolly for the rain but ended up using it mostly for sun protection, I had factor 30 on too and I’ve still caught it, a little red in places but not sore thankfully
I’d also take a camping chair or a couple of towels to sit on, the long dry grass is prickly and annoying
Some people also took little wind shelters if that’s your thing
B1 was parked up as static
I know
such a shame they didn’t have one in the air, even just for a flypast would have done itI bought a harrier t-shirt yesterday
Do America have no f14’s left as flyable demo/display aircraft ?? Wow. I was looking at maybe going to an American air show next year.
Not one. They have some as static displays in museums, but they are gutted shells and the rest were shredded.
Shame, as the Super Tomcat proposal was really interesting. Faster and also supercruise, extra manoeuvrability and thrust vectoring, extended range and increased weapon capacity too. Also as the Tomcat had one of the largest air intercept radars ever put to sea in an airframe, there was plenty of space to put an amazing radar in it. They also planned variants, ground attack, multirole, air superiority
They went F/A18 Super Hornet instead. Hmmm....
F/a18 ? Such a boring aircraft! All the Cold War jets, and jets just after are pretty awesome tbh. I really would like to see a mig 25/31, both really awesome aircraft. I read somewhere that when the engines get pushed to near max it can bend the airframe
and obviously not recommended !!
The F35 displays are lacklustre at best. Bring back the Harrier - that was a fantastic dynamic display. Heard about one in Japan many years ago doing a display, and at the end of it's routine as always, it bowed to the crowd. The extremely polite Japanese crowd bowed back.
The F-35B can't bow, if the nose attitude in the hover goes too far towards nose down, the thrust from the engine nozzle pointed down can cause the aircraft to potentially flip over. If the seat detects a dangerous angle of attack too far to nose down in the hover, it automatically ejects the pilot.
The plane is still new to the British Armed Forces, I've been lucky enough to be one of the chosen few to work on it with the RAF for the last 2.5 years in the US before I've come home to help form 617. We weren't there to practice air displays, I'm sure it's time will come eventually where a decent air display is worked out to wow the spotters. But we have far too much other stuff to worry about before hand.
Like us all doing Sea Survival Courses
Soldato
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Just back from RIAT. Traffic wasn't bad at all getting in, nor was it bad getting out Impressed with the displays today; I went a few years ago and it seemed like today there was almost a complete run of high-intensity displays. Didn't see a huge amount from the F35, but from what we did see, holy **** what a capable machine! It really sucks that I may have seen my last Tornado and RAF Typhoon Display is still my favourite. It still seems crazy that I control/will control each of these on a regular basis
I took a few photos/videos today but not many. I was on The Mall on Tuesday for the flypast and i took pictures of pretty much all the formations; I now regret it as i wish I'd just stood there and watched, but hey-ho
Impressed with the displays today; I went a few years ago and it seemed like today there was almost a complete run of high-intensity displays. Didn't see a huge amount from the F35, but from what we did see, holy **** what a capable machine! It really sucks that I may have seen my last Tornado and RAF Typhoon Display is still my favourite. It still seems crazy that I control/will control each of these on a regular basis I took a few photos/videos today but not many. I was on The Mall on Tuesday for the flypast and i took pictures of pretty much all the formations; I now regret it as i wish I'd just stood there and watched, but hey-ho
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Not seeing much love for the F35 at RIAT. I was there yesterday and when it went into hover mode (I'm sure there's a more technical terms for that!) it was bloody fantastic. Sure it didn't (and it seems couldn't) carry out the classic Harrier bow we've all seen at Farnborough but still an amazing aircraft. I cannot believe how still to looked while hovering. Just incredible.
The B2 + F15 fly-by was my personal favourite. Never seen a B2. Missed out last year when it made an appearance on the final day. Was hoping I could make out 2 x Raptors flanking it through my binoculars as they circled in hold above Brize Norton. Missed out on half the Chinook's display trying to follow them
All in all an excellent show yesterday. Loved the A400M display and that 120 degree bank, the 9 Typhoons and the bonus sequence by the Red Arrows (100 pattern). Also learnt a thrust to weight ratio of one or more meant an aircraft can accelerate in a vertical climb*. On the flip side of the positive learning was a german Tornado engineer telling us they (Tornados) were capable of supercruise. Not so sure about that one.
Oh and talking to the F15 pilots about the Raytheon trophy which was on show which represents the squadron with the highest air-to-air kill count. Mixed feelings on that one!
*If that's incorrect, take it up with the RIAT commentators
The B2 + F15 fly-by was my personal favourite. Never seen a B2. Missed out last year when it made an appearance on the final day. Was hoping I could make out 2 x Raptors flanking it through my binoculars as they circled in hold above Brize Norton. Missed out on half the Chinook's display trying to follow them
All in all an excellent show yesterday. Loved the A400M display and that 120 degree bank, the 9 Typhoons and the bonus sequence by the Red Arrows (100 pattern). Also learnt a thrust to weight ratio of one or more meant an aircraft can accelerate in a vertical climb*. On the flip side of the positive learning was a german Tornado engineer telling us they (Tornados) were capable of supercruise. Not so sure about that one.
Oh and talking to the F15 pilots about the Raytheon trophy which was on show which represents the squadron with the highest air-to-air kill count. Mixed feelings on that one!
*If that's incorrect, take it up with the RIAT commentators
Just thought I'd bring my thread to a close with a few photos from yesterday Only had a crummy camera but managed to get a couple of nice shots.
Oh! And highlight of the day? The Fench Rafale! - I believe a B2 flew over on Saturday... Shame we missed that!
Only other let downs were that there was no Apache in flight and no B1 taking off!
Only had a crummy camera but managed to get a couple of nice shots.Oh! And highlight of the day? The Fench Rafale! - I believe a B2 flew over on Saturday... Shame we missed that!
Only other let downs were that there was no Apache in flight and no B1 taking off!
Some nice pics there. There was no Osprey on Saturday which was a shame but can't complain having seen the B2. And agreed - would love to see the Lancer take off. Bet that's noisy. Seen it at Farnborough before. On further reflection, the Mirage display towards the end was excellent. Pretty sure the same two flew last year as well.
My iPhone video of the B2 pass. Surprised it came out so well in terms of positioning, as I was looking directly at the planes, not using the phone display.
My iPhone video of the B2 pass. Surprised it came out so well in terms of positioning, as I was looking directly at the planes, not using the phone display.
Something just as hard to believe these days is it's actually a decade younger than the F-15 that it was designed to counter, the Ukrainian ones at the show are late 80's models too so doing well for their age
The MiG-29 was the size/role competitor to the F-16.
Aye. Sorry I should have clarified, I used the f16 as an example as there were six of them parked next to the flankerSomething just as hard to believe these days is it's actually a decade younger than the F-15 that it was designed to counter, the Ukrainian ones at the show are late 80's models too so doing well for their age
The MiG-29 was the size/role competitor to the F-16.
May interest some, the reason some 90's/early 00's Su-27/30 aircraft have canards whereas older/newer ones don't is to increase their lift due to the weight of the improved radars they were fitted with. The canard additions were originally conceived for the short lived Su-33 aviation cruiser based variant.