Iwan

Anyone else going this weekend?

I am, looks like there could be some good stuff there this year. Including first UK appearance of the Mig29OVT demonstrator. Demo vid at the site below, looks pretty amazing the things it can do!!

http://www.aviapedia.com/videos/figh...9OVT_Smotr.wmv

Page location in case link above doesn't download directly

http://www.aviapedia.com/fighters/mig-29vft-video-smotr

They also have a couple of USMC V-22 Ospreys, never seen one before so looking forward to that too.

Geddon

I'm going on Saturday
Went last year and it was cool
Even 'she' enjoyed it...

I like the sound of the above

Great couple of weekends what with going to Goodwood last Sunday

TopBanana

...then Farnborough then the London motor show

Kuro

I'll be there on Saturday

maddog321

its down the road from me and its you buggers that clog up the roads so I can't get anywhere!!!!!

Turbohot

Nope,not this year.I do it every year but this year,I am gonna miss it.
Ah,well! I look forward to 2007 RIAT

Freak

I live not far from fairford....

Twice today have had what i am pretty sure was a lancaster bomber with two or three hurricane/spitfire escorts fly over.

Flew over once late this morning, and again in the opposite direction just a couple of minutes ago.

Dont know if it was anything to do with the show, but it was very cool

Turbohot

For the same reason,I don't think I am gonna miss out on much.
I loved the show with Stealth bombers:What a sight!
That year,that pilot of F16 ( I think he was Swedish;He was called Duncan) went nuts flying it about! It was most entertaining!

Geddon

Sounds like jealousy to me

I will be staying about a mile away at the mrs's parents and I will be on a bike so I wont be contributing to the traffic

I agree with the lancaster comment- they sound totally cool- nothing else like it imo

looking forward to ruski mig action. I went years ago and saw the 2 SU27s crash into each other mid display. Funny seeing afterwards that the only injury was a broken jaw caused by the other pilot!! Lucky boys!

Leslie

I did a Vulcan display there a few years ago. Enjoyed doing the display but was not impressed by the organisers attitude to the display crews.

Les

Iwan

Just seen a V-22 Osprey zoom past my office window (am about 10 miles from RAF Fairford)! Very impressive machine, it's the first time I've ever seen one. Normally I just see magpies and the odd deer outside, so I was pretty stunned to see one of these.

http://www.boeing.com/rotorcraft/military/v22/index.htm

Will be going to Fairford to watch the show on saturday, I can't wait.

Popped over for a look yesterday evening and there were quite a few planes there already.

Btw the 2 Migs that crashed were Mig-29s, I was there when that happened too.

I probably saw your display Leslie, I've been going there every year since 1989 as it's just down the road from where I live.

Simon C

Anybody know how much it is to get in? I can't seem to get on their homepage.

I wouldn't mind seen the Mig's.

Iwan

£31 in advance and £36 on the gate.

It's only once a year though so worth it IMO.

Just seen the V-22 zooming around practicing its display, 2 F-16s, and the Royal Jordanian Falcons dispay team flying past.

TopBanana

So is this much better than Farnborough?

Iwan

I couldn't say, I've only been to Farnborough once and that was about 15 years ago - so I'm not sure what it's like compared to Fairford. Both similar in size I think, though Fairford is more geared towards entertaining joe public than selling planes - so more display teams etc.

kelvin

I'll be off to Farnborough this year courtesy of the comany RIAT would have been nice but my services aren't needed for our stand regrettably

MrShades

Fairford remains the largest military airshow in the world - so, yes, it's pretty cool!

I saw that V-22 Osprey as well Iwan, was over in West Swindon taking the Scoob for a spin (and playing with an Elise on the way back) - though it was a Herc out of Lyneham from a distance and then noticed these two huuuuge props.

I'll be there on Sunday, in the "field opposite" - right on the display line - some may say dangerous, I say awesome! PM me if anyone wants to know what or where it is.... £10 per person for the whole day, take a picnic and sit by your car and listen to the commentary on 87.7. Incredible view.... but it is about 2 fields away from where the Migs crashed a few years back (yes, I was there too!)

Shades

Geddon

Doh!
First casualty award goes to:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/o...re/5177868.stm

Iwan

Yeah i saw that on the news last night, I used to go to bike meets at the pub right where it crashed. There was a civvy airport/airstrip across the road so I guess he was trying to land there.

Glad nobody was badly hurt, miracle really.

rob878

You should have been working on the line instead of reaching for you sun glasses and posing for the assembled ladies. Years ago i was "volunteered" to do aircraft guard, i can honestly there is nothing as scary as spotter with a SLR ( a Canon slr not the other type Leslie ). Nothing will stop these people from taking their pics. Actually i lie about that, american guard force and barb wire actually kept them away from the Stealths that year. But they just turned up with step ladders

ricardo_wrx

V impressive, however on some of the close up shots, the metal body work looks like a recycled tube train from the Northern line.

Geddon

Hehe just read again - the car involved was being driven by a policeman
Now that's skill

Leslie

Never bothered posing Rob878, was usually soaked in sweat after a display on a warm day anyway. The old triangle was not very cool inside at low level. The beer tent was favourite after all that!

You may well have seen me Iwan, can't remember the date I was there. I think it was well before that date though. Wish I was there doing it again this time.

Les

Iwan

Same here mate, I'd be able to point and say "that's Leslie off Scoobynet flying that".

Any news on when the last Vulcan is going to fly again, or if they're going to let you fly it?

Iwan

Yup, the brigade with step ladders, scanners, silver suitcases full of camera equipment, and pseudo flight suits.

I worked on the comms team for IAT for two years so I got to see all sorts of cool stuff the public never sees. Got invited inside a B-1B and a C-17 for a look around, but wasn't able to persuade either crew to take me up on their flying display.

Most amusing was following an F-117A along the taxiways in a Land Rover, as it was going to the same hanger we were going to put some cables in. And getting called on the radio by an air traffic controller whilst driving a Range Rover towing a 500m cable out of a conduit, and being asked if I was planning to drive across the runway while the B-1Bs were taking off (as that's vaguely where I was heading.

mr flibble

I used to work for the RAFBFE, so have worked on many a RIAT. They are always well organized, and excellent to watch, it is after all the largest Military air tattoo in the world.

I know the owner\founder of RIAT. He is an ex Legacy Turbo man, it was thanks to him that I got interested Impreza's.

M.

Leslie

They have got a problem with cash Iwan, getting on for £1 Mill to get it in the air I hear.

If they do succeed and I hope they do, I may find it difficult to get into it since the bloke who is nominated for it wants to do it all himself I'll keep my fingers crossed though-you never know what might turn up.

Les

rob878

They are currently trawling for help wiring the damn thing. Just a pity i'm a "heavy" splitter not a Leckie (or df ) or i might have been interested to have see if they needed a hand after all tonkas aren't that modern and i work on them