first air show

[swingy]

Must say I'm envious of those of you lucky enough to witness shows in the 1950s-70s. A true golden age of British aviation.

I wouldn't worry about it Dan we are all likely to be pushing up the dasies when you are still going to shows.

[Wes_Howes]

At the rate the decline in airshows has been going, we'll be lucky to have one fly-in to attend on a bi-annual basis

[Mad Dan]

DanO1978 mumbled:

Must say I'm envious of those of you lucky enough to witness shows in the 1950s-70s. A true golden age of British aviation.

Spot on, Dan - eat your heart out!!! Problem was that most enthusiasts only had recourse to public transport for a lot of that era, so getting about wasn't as easy as today in many respects. On the other hand, there were many more events - US Armed Forces Day for instance often resulted in most of the USAFE bases being open on the same day. My first Wethersfield show involved a train journey from Liverepool Street to Braintree and then the local bus service out to the base and back. Took a while but was well worth the effort, though I wish I had been shooting colour trannies then. By the mid-1960s, some enthusiasts were acquiring vehicles, so if you started really early, you could hit Alconbury, Mildenhall, Bentwaters and Wethersfield in a single epic thrash, although it wasn't easy as there wasn't the motorway network (or the power in many cars) we now have. And on Battle of Britain day with careful planning it was often possible to take in three shows. One for the static early morning, one for around mid-day and the third later, although that often restricted you to just gawping from outside.

Days like that are long gone - I'm sad to say...

[F-22 Raptor A]

Must say I'm envious of those of you lucky enough to witness shows in the 1950s-70s. A true golden age of British aviation.

Try being our age and being envious of the early 2000s!

[andyxh558]

my first two shows were Woodford and Finningley in 1977. fond memories of both..which is amazing considering I was 4 and you can guess what my favourite aircraft was

[capercaillie]

Took a while but was well worth the effort, though I wish I had been shooting colour trannies then. Days like that are long gone - I'm sad to say...

Sexist and racist in one sentence....you fiend

[lambo17841]

My first show I can remember was 67 at North Weald and 68 at Wethersfield.also did a Heyford show around that time but not certain of date,these were made by public transport which to the USAF shows from L ondon was a treck.The first visit to a Hall show was 69 with a B-58 in static which was easier with a car.
Those were the days when you had no advance info as to what was present which made the visits even better.

John

[Dragon Rapide]

my first two shows were Woodford and Finningley in 1977. fond memories of both..which is amazing considering I was 4 and you can guess what my favourite aircraft was

Finnigley was the Silver Jubilee Show and a fantastic event, which I made a very easrly start for. My son and I eating cereal at the front of queue at 6.00a.m.!! MikeH posted some grreat pictures on the thread below. Even though you were 4 it might jog your memory. Look at those flypasts!!!

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=28290

[andyxh558]

It did jog my memory, shame it didnt jog how old i was, i was 5 not 4.... Typical i cant count!

[Dragon Rapide]

Oh, well by then you knew the difference between a Vulcan and a Victor!!

[fiesty fox]

Hi
My first show was Hucknal in the 1960s I think.
I seem to remember going by train on the old central line and the station just a short walk from the airfield.
Have recollations of a dog fight between a Spitfire and a ME109?, could be wrong tho, also the Black arrows.
Cheers
Jeff.

[hussar]

The finest show I have been to was a one off at Boscome Down in June 1992.Planes from all over the world gathered here The flying started at 0930 and continued till 1730. There were display teams from France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, The USA as well as our own Red Arrows. There were about 200 planes on static display 36 in service with the RAF Most sadly now just a memory. I still have the programme which cost £4.50. We will never see the likes again, Does anyone remember the little Optica? I believe there is one stored at Old Sarum near Salisbury.
I have only flown in a couple of oldies. A Shackleton and a Varsity, Did several pleasure flights in a Dak. Nice to sit back and reminisce'
Fred

[Synthetic]

My mother was an aviation enthusiast so when I was about knee high I was taken to Roborough (Plymouth as it would now be) Airshow some starting some time around the mid 60s. I remember the Lightning doing the flat take off and 85 deg pitch up burner climb, a Victor, the Vulcan, a Shackleton. the Red Arrows (still in Gnats), an Argosy I think and many others. I was immediately hooked.

[Dragon Rapide]

The finest show I have been to was a one off at Boscome Down in June 1992.Planes from all over the world gathered here The flying started at 0930 and continued till 1730. There were display teams from France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, The USA as well as our own Red Arrows. There were about 200 planes on static display 36 in service with the RAF Most sadly now just a memory. I still have the programme which cost £4.50. We will never see the likes again, Does anyone remember the little Optica? I believe there is one stored at Old Sarum near Salisbury.
I have only flown in a couple of oldies. A Shackleton and a Varsity, Did several pleasure flights in a Dak. Nice to sit back and reminisce'
Fred

The Optica - very well indeed! A couple are in storage here and there are still examples flying in Australia and the US, I believe. Test Pilot was none other Neville Duke. I think John Edgeley is hoping top get a redesigned version back in the air....

[Dollar99]

The finest show I have been to was a one off at Boscome Down in June 1992.Planes from all over the world gathered here The flying started at 0930 and continued till 1730. There were display teams from France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, The USA as well as our own Red Arrows. There were about 200 planes on static display 36 in service with the RAF Most sadly now just a memory. I still have the programme which cost £4.50. We will never see the likes again, Does anyone remember the little Optica? I believe there is one stored at Old Sarum near Salisbury.
I have only flown in a couple of oldies. A Shackleton and a Varsity, Did several pleasure flights in a Dak. Nice to sit back and reminisce'
Fred

I can sit on my hands no longer. ATI '92 was the second show at Boscombe, not a one off. In the static were 27 RAF aircraft unless you are counting MOD/Test Establishment aircraft in your list. There was no team from Denmark, Italy or the US, but you missed The Netherlands and the FAA Sharks!

How in all your memories of this wonderful show did you miss the Su-27?

I worked on the checklist, great weekend for the volunteers.

BTW the first show I was actually on the airfield for rather than watching from afar was Halfpenny Green in 1972, followed closely by Farnborough and the BoB day at Wattisham

[hussar]

Hi There.
Yes perhaps the 92 show was not a one off but it was the last held there. I have now found the programme for that show and you are right.
Put it down to age as I am getting a little long in the tooth now. I can even remember seeing the airship R101 That shows how old I am. I have seen Danish and Italian display teams somewhere but cannot remember where, I must get my old programmes out. I did see the US Thunderbirds? at Upper Heyford and was very disappointed in their display. I think at the 92 BD show there were planes from 19 countries including Britain having planes on display if not flying.Sadly the days of the big, big shows are gone. My main interests lie in the pre war types more so than the modern jets. I had an uncle who was on the design staff of the DH Flamingo. I try to get to Shuttleworth at least twice a year but as I have said age is my worst enemy. I do not go to the IAT at Fairford as the last time I went it took me three hours to get as far as the exit gate.
I would like to wish you and all other enthusiasts the very best and enjoy the few shows that are on this year
Fred

[farnboroughrob]

IAT Greenham Common 1977, remember a few bits like the Australian A4's, RCAF Starfighters, Tiger striped Mystere IVA and I-BILL P-51. And in the following year Blackbushe Air Festival, Bassingbourne and Farnborough. aaah the days when you knew nothing of what would appear, when airshows were cheap and the sun mostly shone and we had a airforce, them were the days

[AMB]

Hi
My first show was Hucknal in the 1960s I think.
... also the Black arrows.
Cheers
Jeff.

Think you'll find they were the "Blue Diamonds", Jeff. The "Black Arrows" disbanded at the end of 1960 to be superceded by the "Blue Diamonds" for the 1961 and '62 seasons. Both superb and much missed teams.

[Dragon Rapide]

Perhaps I am being both nostalgic and prejudiced but, for me, the Hunter was, and still is, the best looking formation aircraft bar none.

[dayglowhippet]

Hi, first ever post on this cracking forum so as good a thread as any to start with I guess! First air show I can remember was at Southend airport around 1970 (I'm sure I have the programme buried away in the loft somewhere - must dig it out). I think it may have had something to do with the adjacent aircraft museum which must have recently opened. Taken along by dad and uncle (uncle was ex-RAF Meteor pilot). Can't remember an awful lot about it (5 or 6 at the time) but do remember we were approaching the airfield walking along one of the adjacent lanes when a lightning came over the top at what seemed like hedgerow height (probably not far off actually judging by some of those old lightning clips on YouTube)! That was the first time I ever experienced fear and excitement at the same time (there were possibly a few tears - definitely from me, not sure about my dad!) and from that moment on I was hooked. Only other act I can remember was a small twin-engined (I think) prop aircraft spraying perfume into the air as it flew over. Not sure that sort of thing would be tolerated by the environmental lobby these days (or the local farmers), but it's the first and only time I've arrived back home from an airshow not smelling of jet fuel and chips!

[adam]

my first airshow was the lightning airshow at binbrook in 1987 when i was 4!!

[aviodromefriend]

Only other act I can remember was a small twin-engined (I think) prop aircraft spraying perfume into the air as it flew over.

Ah! Even then there were chemtrails

[tankbuster]

Tangmere BoB 1963, although my parents took me to a display at Thorney Island somewhen before that probably 1958 - 1960. I'd love to know when the Thorney display was and what I would have seen if there is anybody out who remembers it.

Trevor C

[MikeH]

Hello All.
I am new to this forum and this is my first post.
Which was the first air show you attended? Mine was at Greenham Common on June 27 1971. The entrance fee was I believe £3 and the programme, which I still have was 80p.

Looks like you were conned then . Ten years later in 1981 with huge inflation in the '70s they were still charging 80p for the programme but at least then there was an air show to go with it, unlike in 1971. It would be another two years before the first Air Tattoo was held at Greenham Common.
My first air show was 1970 at North Weald. I don't remember too much about it as I was very young! I can remember a Jet provost team (The Macaws?) starting their display by flying very low over the crowd.

[Ryand19]

Perhaps I am being both nostalgic and prejudiced but, for me, the Hunter was, and still is, the best looking formation aircraft bar none.

Would have to agree with that, although the most I've seen in formation are the 4 Hunters of Team Viper at Leuchars two years ago.