Southport Airshow, Saturday 8th Sept.

[Deleted]

The Eurofighter Typhoon creating its own cloud!



Thanks for looking!

[viscount]

Thanks 'Aviation Cafe' for opening up a thread on the Saturday display at Southport - and with a cracking photo of the Typhoon.

Here goes with a complete log for the Saturday, 8th September.

Weather was sunny all day, however high white cloud to the south made the light very bright across that section of the sky, shilloutting aircraft, a problem that increased as the afternoon progressed. However to the west and north the light was great, providing you got the aircraft at the right angle to the sun. Challenging, but fun - and great results when you got it right too (as I will show later). The atmosphere was quite moist, despite the sun and warmth, so the Typhoon, Meteor, Tornados, even the Sea Fury(!) drew wing tip vortex and flashes of moisure over the wing. There were gaps in the afternoon's programme which stretched from 1200 to 1650. I do prefer the earlier start and earlier finish, though I do like a display programme that runs through with no real breaks.

Considering the weather, I expected even more people the there were on the beach and prom - maybe they are all going tomorrow drawn by 'the Vulcan effect'. Entrance £9 per person, £6 to park a car.

A considerable number of light aircraft parked on the beach, many across from Ince, but some very nice older aircraft too. Next year I'll have to go over earlier in the day to get photos of these aircraft landing on the beach.

Good weather, good variety of aircraft, some good photos - pleased I'm went.

Parked on the promenade/beach

BS435/F:FY Spitfire 9, full size replica, on promenade, along with a period refuelling bowser.
XZ327 Gazelle AH.1, Army, with recuitment stands.

G-ADNE DH.87B Hornet Moth
G-AJEE Auster J/1 Autocrat
G-AJKB Luscombe 8E Silvaire
G-BCSL DHC.1 Chipmunk 22
G-BSVH Piper J3c-65 Cub
G-BXCU Rans S.6 Coyote II
G-BZHO Pegasus Quantum 15 (a flexiwing)
G-BZJV CASA 1-131E Jungmann 1000, Spanish Air Force markings.
G-CBNJ Raj Hamsa X'air 912
G-CCDO Mainair Pegasus Quik (a flexiwing) (regn now corrected, thanks to Darren)
G-CDBU Ikarus C.42 FB100
(G-CDJU)/E3B-37:72-36 CASA 1-131E Jungmann, Spanish air Force markings
G-CDKM Pegasus Quik (a flexiwing) (regn now corrected)
G-CEHD Best Off Skyranger 912
G-CFDP Flight Design CTSW
G-CFTJ Aerotechnik EV-97A Eurostar
G-CLEE Rans S.6.ES Coyote II
G-GTSO P&M Quik GT450 (a flexiwing)
G-MVBL Mainair Gemini/Flash IIA (a flexiwing)
G-MYVA Klob Twinstar Mk.3
G-MZJA Mainair Blade (a flexiwing)

Also participating G-BPCF, G-IIIP, G-PIII, G-LEXY,G-RVMZ and 'Red 10s' Squirrel 'taxi', all operated off the beach, but are included in the display participants listing:

Participating Aircraft

G-BPCF Piper J3c-65, O'Brien's Flying Circus - landing on moving platform
G-IIIP & G-PIII Pitts S-1D Special, 'Trig Aerobatics' team
G-LEXY & G-RVMZ Van's RV-8, 'Rv8tors' team
G-OFFO, G-ZEXL, G-ZXEL, G-ZXLL Extra EA.300/L 'Blades' team
G-SKYE Cessna TU.206G, drop aircraft for the 'Tigers' Army skydive team
N54922 Boeing PT-17 Super Stearman, not in sponsor's colours

LF363/YB:W Hawker Hurricane IIC, BBMF
PA474/KC:A Avro Lancaster B.1, BBMF "Thumper Mk.III" - new colours
PL965/R (G-MKXI) Spitfire PR.11, Hangar 11, PR blue colours
PS915/- Spitfire PR.19, BBMF, "The Last", PR blue colours (thanks Aviation Cafe for the regn)
VX281/120:VL (G-RNHF) Sea Fury T.20S, RNHF
WA591/FMK:Q (G-BWMF) G. Meteor T.7, TCAT
413704/B7-H (G-BTCD) NA P-51D Mustang, "Ferocious Frankie"
69-16011 (G-OHGA) Hughes OH-6A Loach, period US Army markings
72-21509 (G-UHIH) Bell UH-1H Iroquois, period US Army markings

7 x Hawk T.1, the 'Red Arrows' team
XX278 BAe. Hawk T.1, 4 FTS special display colours
XZ196/T Lynx AH.1, 671 Sqdn, Army
XZ232/634 Lynx HAS.3, 'The Blackcats'
XZ692/641 Lynx HMA.8 'The Blackcats', in special black cat scheme
ZA105/Q Sea King HAR.3, 203 Sqdn (blue sea horse badge)
ZA547/-- Tornado GR.4, 15 Sqdn, special 1,000,000 flying hours tail scheme
ZG754/130/XV Tornado GR.4, 15 Sqdn
ZJ279/79 Squirrel HT.1, DHFS, with 'Red 10'
ZK327/EJ Typhoon FGR.4, 6 Sqdn.

no shows: P-40M Kittyhawk of Hangar 11 (replaced by their Spitfire PR.11); RAF Grob Tutor; RAF King Air (cancelled in advance).

[Deleted]

Viscount, The Spitfire PR.19 registration is PS915 "The Last".

[Barfluer]

A few more from a lovely sunny Southport.

[qsyonroute]

Sept 8, 2012 21:04:39 GMT 1 viscount said:

G-CDXM P&M Pegasus Quik (flexiwing) recently canx regn, restored, or my logging error?

The wing of this aircraft resides in the back of the hangar at Barton, I'm not sure where the trike lives. But it's not going to me the one that you saw today.... Sadly I'm not sure what it could have been

Sorry I can't be of more help!

Slotted in here by an administrator: Viscount's recorded regn of G-CDXM, should have been G-CDKM, also a Pegasus Quik, therefore his confusion.

[viscount]

While I've been cropping and sorting, I've been beaten to some shots, however as I still have far too many, I'll cull them further in the light of the previous post.

In all I count 20 aviation 'acts' involved, using 37 participating aircraft, with a further 22 parked on the beach area.

Some of the promenade and beach 'static' aircraft.







As quickly pointed out, quite correctly by 'qsyonroute', my initial report of noting Quik G-CDXM was mistaken, the machine actually being G-CDKM. Not that easy to tell apart, even on the photo!









No apologies for including this superb DH.87B Hornet Moth twice, this time as she runsup for a departure from the beach.



OK, not beach static, but two of the three parachutists coming to earth.

[viscount]

Flying Display Participants

Maybe down to 7 aircraft for the 2012 season, but as always the immaculate precision of the "Red Arrows" impresses. The display was delayed, then broken off for several minutes due to microlight aircraft 'compromising' their 'sterile' display area.





The commentator 'Red 10' departing in his 'cab' for Blackpool.



Quite different, but the 'RV8TORS' also impress each time I see them at Seafront air shows.





The Typhoon display by a 6 Sqdn pilot from Leuchars well surpasses last year's solo demonstration of type. Remarkable efects in the tight turns. No wonder all the photographers are showing off their talents at catching the moisture flares!







Where did that Typhoon go, it was there a moment ago?
Why is that cloud moving so noisily?



The new 'Trig Team' show that when it comes to civilian teams, Britain has currently a depth of talent.



Hangar 11s Spitfire PR.11 - compare the shape of this 'classic' Merlin engined Spitfire with the later Griffon engined one with the BBMF. Pity the two Spits at Southport were both PR blue ones.



The 'Blackcats' team keep coming up with remarkable things to do with a pair of Lynx. Mind you the "push-me-pull-you" was not their intention, I'm sure!





Come on, give us a kiss!



The Vietnam era Loach helicopter buzzed around the sky



Later in the afternoon the same pilot returned with the 'thump-thump' of a Huey. Would have made a good shot had they appeared together though.



Quite amazed to see O'Brian's Flying Circus on the display list, surely driving the truck over sand would be problematical. No so it seems, as even with a cross-wind he managed to land on the truck, although not to engage the clamps. The skill and sheer guts gets me every time I watch him.





A closer shot to so some of the modifications to his J3c-65 Cub - including a fireworks launcher - well thats what the commentator said!

[viscount]

Final batch of Southport Saturday photos from me.

I do like the 2012 Hawk solo demonstration colours.





As three of the Superaerobatics Stearman are being readied for a trip to China, just the one 'wing-walker' this year and in a 'between sponsors' colours - the other three are all in full 'Breitling' scheme.



The BBMF Lancaster has been repainted in the past week. "Phantom of the Ruhr" has gone, replaced by "Thumper Mk.III" on one side, the 'City of Lincoln' coat of arms remains on the other. The squadron code is now 'KC:A', worn on both sides.







Oddly, the RNHF Sea Fury was placed immediately following the BBMF in the display sequence. The Sea Fury certainly out-performed the Spitfire in the display stakes.



What a wonderful machine the Gloster Meteor T.7 is. Beautiful in the sunshine and what a deep roaring engine note. Amazing to think this very aircraft for many years graced the gate at RAF Woodvale.





I may be slower, I may be quieter, I'm certainly alot older - but I too can hide in a cloud of my own making!!



"Ferocious Frankie" is exhibited well at displays, with plenty of top-side passes. She looks and sounds good too.



RAF Valley Sea King HAR.3 ZA105/Q



The blue sea-horse badge of 203(R) Sqdn can be clearly seen on the Sea King.



Then came the unmissable finale. A pair of 15 Sqdn Tornado GR.4s from RAF Lossiemouth creating a great spectacle of noise, fast and low flying, plus pyrotechnics! Plenty of opportunities as the aircraft departed each fly-past for more shots of clouds of pulled condensation.









Uncertain if this was intentional, or an in-flight failure, either way it did not seem to affect the routine!

[Deleted]

Still sorting through yesterday's photo's, but thought I'd post this one up of Meteor WA591:

[ian531]

What a shot, John - superb
Ian

[Beemer]

Yes, John. I agree with Ian, great photo. Regards Beemer.

[john1958]

Just viewed the pics......SUPERB guys!!!!!!! :-) :-)

John

[darrenkellett]

Great pics, and a great log Viscount.

My first visit to a Southport airshow for many years and I made 15 - the majority being those parked on the beach, but also included the Typhoon, one of the Navy Lynx and both of the GR4's.

One query over the log...
Pegasus Quik flexwing G-CCDD in your log Viscount...I had it in my book as G-CCDO....both are Pegasus Quik's and I need both of them....any definitive proof out there?

Cheers
Darren

[viscount]

Darren,

Interesting question, following on from a similar problem with G-CDKM and G-CDXM - while photographic evidence is inconclusive, G-CDKM proved to be the one. Looking on G-INFO G-CCDD is owned by a guy in Solihull, Midlands, while G-CCDO is owned by a guy in St.Helens. I've changed my log to G-CCDO accordingly. Thank you for spotting that!

Brian.

[johnoakes]

Breathtakingly brilliant photography.