Display listing for the SUNDAY at RHYL:The weather was a complete cover of high cloud, with a cool, stiff on-shore wind from the NW. A result was that the small aerobatic aircraft seemed to fly their routines further away from the crowd so as to prevent on-shore drift, and silhouetted somewhat against the bright white cloud.
Uncertain if the 'Falcons' para-drop took place at 1300 hours. Certainly did not see anything, but was still whistling along the A55 at the time.
1415-1428 G-IIHI Extra 300 "Abarth" sponsor, solo aerobatics - not on programme, replaced the Dakota & solo Pitts slots
1430-1439 TE311/4D:V camouflaged & MK356/UF:Q silver; Spitfire 16 & Spitfire 9, Battle of Britain Flight
1441-1451 G-PSST Hawker Hunter F.58A "Miss Demeanour"
gap
1457 ZJ267/67 AS350B Squirrel HT.1, DHFS, with 'Red 10', noted in distance arriving. Why don't the RAF get the pilot 'Air Display Certificated' so that he can help the seaside air show organisers out by performing a few passes along the crowd-line on arrival/departure? Doesn't have to be a full routine, just showing off an aircraft that is there anyhow.
gap
1542-1552 G-IIIP & G-PIII Pitts S-1D "Trig" aerobatic pair
1554-1603 G-EXTR Extra EA.260 yellow, solo aerobatics by Steve Carver
1605-1614 G-CGLK Magni M.16C Tandem Trainer, gyrocopter, all red
1616-1625 G-HILZ & G-RVMZ Vans RV-8 'The Rv8tors' "Fly2Help" aerobatic team
1530-1550 9 x Hawk T.1 of the 'Red Arrows'
Did not walk down to the 'arena' area behind the RNLI station where there are usually military recruiting displays, to see if there were any aircraft displayed.
I am no lover of a protracted gap in what is a fairly compact airshow programme anyhow. The lack of RAF service aircraft (Hawk, Tucano, Typhoon, Tornado, Chinook) left the organisers offering mainly diminutive aerobatic routine 'acts'. The Hunter, as always, was splendid. The Sunday display, while it did feature the 'Red Arrows' did miss a larger historic aircraft eg Catalina, B-17, Sea Vixen etc - I am told the Vulcan on Saturday was magnificent.
The Spitfire pair from the BBMF made an interesting change, however flew a mainly tail-chase routine - I'd have appreciated a normal solo display in addition to the tail-chase pair fly-bys. The shape of the clipped wing Mark 16 made a contrast to the elliptical wing of the Mark 9. The 'Red arrows' too seemed a little distant, and appeared to fly the majority of the first half (the full formation sequences) mostly right to left. The opposition passes in the second half were superb, especially considering the gusty conditions, with I'm sure two new variations, but I still miss the finale 'bomb-burst'.
Sorry Rhyl, I was full of praise for your first air show, pleased with last years event, but left somewhat disappointed by this year's offering.
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Display listing for the
SATURDAY, RHYLA number of aircraft performed on both days, only to be seen on the Saturday:
The BBMF comprised of Spitfire 16 TE311/4D:V, but accompanied by PZ865/EC:S Hurricane II.
XZ593/I Sea King HAR.3 'Rescue'
XH558 Vulcan B.2
While only to be seen on the Sunday:
The BBMF comprised of Spitfire 16 TE311/4D:V, but this time with Spitfire 9 MK356/UF:Q.
The 'Red Arrows' team and their associated Squirrel helicopter
Uncertain if the Extra EA.300 G-IIHI appeared both days, or just Sunday.
A solo Pitts and the BBMF Dakota were 'no shows' on both days, both due to technical problems. The 'Falcons' drop was certainly cancelled on the Saturday due strong winds, suspected also cancelled on the Sunday too.
