Favourite Leuchars Show moments.

[Stonefaction]

Ok, this year's show isn't looking like being a classic for whatever reasons, but over the years there have been some really great shows with numerous highlights. What is/are your own personal highlights from Leuchars shows (including arrivals/departure days)?

My own most memorable moments are the arrival of the Spotty Jet Provost sometime in the early 90s when he seemed to line up on the end of the crowd in the field rather than the runway, and went over my head rather low, before side-slipping into the runway to land. I'd taken a photo (which turned out a bit blurred - it was rather rushed) as it got closer, then threw myself to the ground. Must have been funny to see from the bottom of the road. Never saw a photo from that angle to see just how low he was over the top of us.


Number two was the departure on 09 of the two B-1Bs after the show. Most folk had left, but 3 or 4 of us were stood at the stairs and watched as the wave of heat from the afterburners made its way across the grass kicking up all the cuttings and various other bits of vegetation before hitting us in a rather warm wave of grass cuttings et al. And then got a repeat performance when the second one went up.

When I was a lot younger (mid-70s - that's decade - not age) a Danish AF Super Sabre was in the flying and the crowd were told to look to the left. He appeared going like a scalded cat from the right, and despite me clasping my hands over my ears, and my Dad covering them with his, the noise was really loud. Brilliant.

Also Lightning zoom climbs after a fast pass, and the noise of Starfighters displaying echoing around the hangars.....

Favourite visitors were the Russians in the early 90s (Russian Knights and IL-76 one year, and 2 Su-27s and Su-24 the following year) and the US Navy, especially the F-14s (VF-41 and VF-84 together 1986(?) - the same year that Top Gun was at the cinema).

[Ryand19]

Fairly new to the airshow as my first one was 2006, However, the 56 sqn diamond 9 formation really sticks out. I remember being awe struck by the noise and sight of them flying so closely together. Seeing the Vulcan for the first time on the Friday of 2008 was pretty amazing too, I remember being up near the 111 HASs for that. Doubt we'll ever be allowed south side again

[Spiny Norman]

So many over so many years but a couple jump to mind:

the black Eurofighter (as we called it then) appearing from the North Sea doing a very slow approach then blasting away

The Russian Knights in 91 accompanied by the Red Arrows was unbelievable sight over an RAF base. (did that really happen?!)

From further back an F-15 doing a upward S was stunning. I don't think any other aircraft has done such a thing. Maybe a Typhoon in 2011 will surprise us!

[Trevster]

Wasn't on base for the F3 diamond nine but over on the West Sands (kids!). Arrived later and as we got out the car, felt the ground rumble a touch and turned round just in time to catch them low right over my head. Awesome feeling and sound...

OK, it wasn't in the airshow itself but with younger kids who didn't want to be at the base, it was a great place to be - watching mine (and others') jumping up and down as a pilot waved to them while they made their slower approach over the beach before turning onto 27.

[DeanW]

I only made it to the show in 2001 and 2002.
I was still fairly young back then and didn't have the same appreciation of some of the aircraft as I do now. I remember watching Team 60 displaying and being really bored by them. Funny how different my attitude is to them now as they're one of the teams I'd most like to see.
'02 provided more highlights - seeing the French Navy Atlantique was a first for me but the display that most sticks out in my mind was the Luftwaffe Phantom. Those were the days, eh..!

[Neilf92]

Back about '72? - watching Sandy Davies running in from the West to close the show .
A Phantom half hidden in a vapour cloud against a lowering sun , flat out and low!

[stratocaster]

The Vulcan is up there,but what stuck out for me was the Spitfire,Tornado and Typhoon,especially the Spitfire and Typhoon duo,,fantastic! Will live with me forever.And I do have to mention the Dutch F-16,flares and a great display!

[Skyflash]

I well remember THAT arrival by the spotty JP. It was actually 1996, and he was I think the first arrival on a very busy Friday which also saw two Italian F-104Ss escorted in by a pair of Lossie Tornados, and a practice display from the Frecce which caused a huge traffic jam on the road to Guardbridge. That was also the same year that we had the pair of B-1Bs, one of which displayed under very threatening skies on the Saturday. When I got back home to Crail that evening, some 15 miles away as the crow flies, my dad and brother asked me if something huge had got airborne at about 4pm - astonishingly, the noise from the Bone's engines had carried all that distance! 1996 was a superb airshow.

Other great memories: the entirely unexpected arrival of 2 Portuguese A-7s in 1997; the arrival of the Starfighters (what was it with Italian Starfighter pilots? All mental...) in 2000 when they came haring in low from the Cupar side and blew off the hat of some bloke who was standing in the field; in fact just 2000 generally, the last great Leuchars show with a line-up to rival anything in Europe that year; the Russians of course in the early 90s; and the year, either '97 or '98, when the Friday arrivals became so chaotic that an RAF E-3, itself on its way into the static park, ended up circling the base and helping ATC organise incoming traffic.

But my all-time favourite Leuchars memory remains the arrival, on the Friday of 2002 and at about 9am (!), of the 2 German F-4Fs. 100ft off the deck, full afterburner, incredible sight and sound.

So many happy memories, such a great show.

[Trevster]

The Vulcan is up there,but what stuck out for me was the Spitfire,Tornado and Typhoon,especially the Spitfire and Typhoon duo,,fantastic! Will live with me forever.And I do have to mention the Dutch F-16,flares and a great display!

Yeah, I'll go with those as well along with the final Flypast of the F3s with the 'missing man' break

[stratocaster]

How could I forget that one!!!

[Trevster]

How could I forget that one!!!

Too busy slagging off Easter Road!

[Light Blue Spy]

Agree with the Diamond-9, especially the mass take-offs including Vics! Also, after the formation passes, the diamond split in to x3 Vics, shook it out a little, then charged the airfield in full burner.

"A sky full of power. A sky full of noise. A sky full of Tornado F3s"

[Firebird]

1988 - display by 6 Phantoms of 228OCU/64sqn in perfect blue skies. Think they did a tailchase as part of their routine and

Airfield attacks over the years with lots of Jaguars, Buccaneers and Tornado GR1s being chased by FG1s or F3s, helos and Herc dropping off the RAF regiment

B1 Lancer in 96? noise was awesome

Frecce Tricolori

[vandal]

But my all-time favourite Leuchars memory remains the arrival, on the Friday of 2002 and at about 9am (!), of the 2 German F-4Fs. 100ft off the deck, full afterburner, incredible sight and sound.

I'm certain I've got that on video somewhere, just got to find it.

Also remember the first arrival of the Tornado's to Leuchars during a show, flanked by the Red Arrows.

[stratocaster]

How could I forget that one!!!

Too busy slagging off Easter Road!

Me? Never!! As it happens my mate forgot about this years show despite my reminers,,daft bugger went on a camping trip instead,,oh well at least i'll be there!

[DaveI]

The year I put a request to the organisers that there were two USN Hornets sat at Mildenhall They subsequently repositioned to Leuchars awaiting their Tanker home. Result

[McG]

Probably the most poignant event I can remember during a Leuchars show -

The whole crowd stood in silence as Elgar's Nimrod was played over the PA, & a Nimrod from RAF Kinloss performed a low solitary pass along the runway.

This was 2006, just after XV230 had crashed in Afghanistan.