Pagent of Power, Cholomondeley in Cheshire

[viscount]

I much enjoyed my visit to the first day of the 'Pagent of Power'. A great day out, just 50mins from South Liverpool down the A49. Historic Cars, power boat racing - and the JCB Dancing Diggers should not be missed - the 'Red Arrows' of the construction industry - I jest not, well worth watching.

However, the 39 helicopters and 1 aircraft noted is what needs entry on this forum site:

FLYING DISPLAY

Nigel Lamb in the Breitling sponsored (Extra like) aerobatic Mixr Technologies MX-20, 1310-1320. All bright yellow, black sponsors name, logo etc. Tiny regn N263MX at base of rudder. (Regn thanks Ian in post #2 later in this thread).

WITHIN CROWD AREA (NB all but the Robinsons checked out from CAM/MAM)

XL812 Saro Skeeter AOP.12 ARMY (G-SARO)
XR379 Sud Alouette AH.2 ARMY AAC HAF
XT626/Q Scout AH.1 ARMY 666 Sqdn badge AAC HAF
ZJ236/X Bell 412EP Griffin HT.1 60(R) Sqdn/DHFS
ZJ273/73 AS.350B Squirrel HT.1 DHFS

The brochure stated that the Staffordshire Gliding Club from Seighford had a stand in the tented area, however I could not find them to see if they perhaps had a glider present. There were a number of adventure groups with stands, looked out for any microlights, but (unless I had walked blindly past) did not spot any - a missed opportunity by the West Lancs or Staffordshire Clubs.

HELICOPTER LANDING ZONE

XT223 (G-XTUN) Bell 47G-3B1 Sioux UN markings
ZJ257/57 AS.350B Squirrel HT.1 DHFS
ZJ269/69 AS.350B Squirrel HT.1 DHFS flown in the Tri-Services competition, left 1445
G-BLZN Bell 206B Jet Ranger
G-BONG Enstrom F.28A arr during pm
G-CCBL AB206B Jet Ranger 3 arr during pm & dep 1700
G-CCYT R.44 yellow & blue
G-CDXA R.44 blue
G-DSPI R.44 blue (not G-OSPI, thanks Ian for the correction)
G-EWAW Bell 206B Jet Ranger 3
G-GRZZ R.44 black dep 1420
G-HEHE EC.120B Colibri
G-IFTS R.44 white
G-IGHH Enstrom 480
G-IJBB Enstrom 480
G-JAKF R.44 mid blue
G-JPJR R.44 black
G-JTSA R.44 maroon
G-JWEB R.44 white providing pleasure flights
G-KRIB R.22 maroon
G-LADZ Enstrom 480 dep 1455
G-MACA R.22 pale blue
G-MCCG R.44 black
G-NOXY R.44 Union Jack flag colours arr 1520
G-PBYY Enstrom 480
G-RISK Hughes 369E (500)
G-RUZZ R.44 purple
G-RYDR (a 2 seat gyroplane)
G-SASY EC.120B plain white arr 1510
G-SCAM R.44 black
G-TOLI R.44 dark blue
G-WDKR AS.355F Ecureuil 2 arr 1435
G-WEAT R.44 silver & Maroon
G-XTEK R.44 pale grey & white providing pleasure flights

There may well have been others that had arrived and departed before I was able to start logging (around 1345).

To get to the helicopter area. From the car parks cross the footbridges over the motor track into the central area, then watch for the pleasure flyers to give a clue which way to walk. You are not too far from rotary action, but the race track is between you and the activity. Photo spots where flying helicopters are against a tree background abound, providing a reasonable magnification lens is available. Lots of places to try your hand at action shots of bikes, cars and race-boats too.

Pleasure flights in R.44s cost £29 per person.

[viscount]

From the glossy programme, the aviation programme for Sunday has two additional items than the day before:

0830-1030 Helicopter fly-in
1200 'Breitling' display, flown by Nigel Lamb
1230 Spitfire from the BBMF
1245 'Falcons' para-drop
1300-1345 Tri-Services Agility Competition (three different pilots flying the same Squirrel around an obstacle course).
1530-1645 Helicopter landing zone open for arrivals and departures.

All, naturally, weather dependent! Nothing in the programme about the B-17G 'Sally B' appearing - which is just as well as she is once again grounded at Duxford with yet another engine failure. See a post elsewhere in this section 'North West Aviation Events'.

[ian531]

I also had a great day at Cholmondeley, easily worth the £15.00 entry fee.

Viscount, the Breitling plane was N263MX Mixr Technologies MX2 also in your list is G-OSPI this should be G-DSPI a bit confusing as they are both Robinsons.

Here's my pictures





























































G-SASY was only registered in the UK on 23rd June 2009







I've got loads of images of the cars let me know if anyone is interested and I'll post them in the non-aviation section later this week

Ian

[johnoakes]

Seems to have been a great show-I especially liked the autogyro-would have been worth the entrance fee just to see that.

What was the guy in the helicopter fishing for?
Judging by the line thickness it must have been a big one.LOL

[ian531]

Hi John

The guy 'fishing' was taking part in the Tri-Service Agility Competition. This involved dropping a buoy on a rope into some buckets, then a slalom course whilst carrying a bucket of water then a bean bag drop into a bucket

Ian

[superian]

nice pics ian. don't know about anybody else but i wouldn't mind seeing the cars.
ian.

[ian531]

Hi Ian

No problem, i'll upload some later this week

Ian

[johnoakes]

re the guy with the rope--that MUST have taken some doing.
A few shots or a short video of that would be a real laugh.

Thanks for the info.

[Deleted]

Great pics, and thanks for the report by Viscount.
I only found out about this last week, had other plans for Sunday, changed them round, got up late and saw the weather, so abandoned it because of its effect on the flying!
I didn't see any mention of this on the local TV news either before or after, or any local posters etc., and I live about 15 miles from there!

[viscount]

I was actually suprised how far away from Cholmondeley I picked up roadside banners advertising the event, around Tarporley and Nantwich. There has also been a fair bit of comment on this forum too! (in the further afield - civil section, a thread 'North West Air Events 2009'), probably the first comment was over 2 months ago.

I also heard frequent adverts on 'Radio City' during the week before.

[viscount]

I'll post a reply here to a point made in the 'Non-Aviation' section of the Forum (post relating to the historic cars at CPOP).

The CPOP promotional website gave a very precise number of 175 helicopters over the weekend. I've been wondering how such a high and definite figure was arrived at a long time ahead of the event. I'm speculating that this is perhaps the upper limit on the number of movements (350, so 175 landings) permitted over the weekend. Indeed, if the pleasure flying missions are included, the Saturday landings must be around the 80 to 90 mark - ie half of the figure quoted.

Note, the above is purely speculation on my part.

Incidently, one last thought, just short of 40 helicopters on the Saturday puts this event well ahead of the only other North West event that attracts visitors by helicopter in numbers - Grand National day at Aintree. So while maybe some optimistically pictured 80 visiting helicopters per day (based on the CPOP advertised number of 175), this event was still the busiest helicopter event in the region this year!

I for one, look forward to attending next year as the event is much more than just the helicopters.

[ian531]

Hi Viscount

I agree with your comments, I too wondered how they had come up with such an accurate figure. I wondered if it was people who had expressed an interest to arrive by helicopter. I'm sure the figures would have been higher had the weather had been better.

Despite that I think for the £15 entrance fee it was very good value and will definately be going again next year. I would have paid £15 just to see the cars so I suppose any helicopters were really a bonus.

Ian