Spent a very lovely afternoon today at RAF Cosford, warm and sunny. Main reason for going was to catch any some arrivals for the airshow as well as validations. TORNADO ids (Italian) did a rather for very laid back routine ALL slow passes well space apart No high energy passes or turns; it only used its speed & afterburners when it was far out (and i really do mean far away in the distance well away from the airfield ) i hope this isn't the affect of the new safety regulations and if it is, then it doesn't bear well for an exciting & dynamic displays in the future at UK airshows
Even so, Nice to see a foreign Tornado and it did do a low slow pass over the museum car park at the end which i got a good close view of it before it gave full welly back to RAF Shawbury
2 Gunships (Apache) turned up about 16.40. Listening to the communications between the pilot and the tower, revealed that the gunships are scheduled to validate TOMORROW (Saturday 10th June) with the airspace restrictions in place between 2pm and 6pm so i guess if goes head it'll be between those times like it was today. The forecast is for dry weather between 1pm and 4mp but heavy showers either side of this.
Other arrivals today I saw were Swiss PC7 team, OV10 Bronco, a few helicopters, etc. Just lovely day to be at Cosford. Most items due in after museum closed at 5pm so i guess that's understandable but there were lots of people and cars parked off the road around the perimeter of the airbase waiting for the 'heavy' items to arrive.
The AN-2 was due in at 6PM I didn't stay to see this arrive. Also NATS website states restricted airspace due to A MILITARY FLYPAST at RAF Shawbury which is just up the road from Cosford between 20.45 and 21.15 THIS EVENING 9 June. May be worth a look??? Also, red arrows leave RAF Shawbury on the airshow day 11 June at 13.40 for display at Welshpool then Cosford at about 2pm before returning to RAF Shawbury at 14.23
Paul
) I remember seeing one several years ago.
