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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 10:16:51 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOWS -
THE TWENTY SHOWS SO FAR
1991 - 2011 [/b][/center] The highly successful ‘Southport Seafront Air Show’ took-over where the ‘Mersey Festival Air Display’ at either Otterspool or New Brighton left-off. The first ‘Southport Air Show’ was in September 1991, initially as a one-day event, but quickly grew in 1995 to a two-day event. Only one year has been missed – in 1997-when major seafront defences reconstruction prevented access to the waterfront. Largely the September ‘slot’ in the calendar has been kept throughout the 20 years, although this has led to poor weather curtailing or cancelling the display on two occasions at least. While I have stood and shivered in an icy blast more frequently than watched the display in shirt-sleeves, the September event has worked well to draw visitors, in some large numbers, into Southport extending the summer season into September. Unlike many air displays with a regular ‘slot’, the weekend selected does change year to year due to the need to have an afternoon low tide.
I don’t have logs full logs for all the Southport Air Show days, I’m sure that others will join in quickly to extend the knowledge and post pictures. Most of the earlier reports come from ‘North West Air News’ magazine of the former Air Britain (Merseyside) Branch, with several relying heavily on Blackpool Airport movements report by the Blackpool Aviation Society, to whom due credit. The completeness and style of the reports does vary from year to year. After 1995, once the show became a two-day event, whilst the displays were similar, there would often be minor differences between the two days, the logs are normally for one day or the other though.
It is interesting to note how aircraft types have come and gone over the years. It is noticeable too, how the participants have gone from being mostly current military to mostly civilians with an increasing number of ‘warbirds’ displaying. Several ‘constants’ through the twenty years have been the great crowd pleasers, the ‘Red Arrows’ aerobatic formation team, the ‘Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’, Stearman wing-walkers, the Navy Lynx team and Army helicopter team.
Brian JonesTWENTY YEARS OF SOUTHPORT AIR DISPLAYS [/b]
Seq. Year Post Dates
1st 1991 #1 Sunday 8th September
2nd 1992 #1 Sunday 23rd August
3rd 1993 #1 Sunday 12th September
4th 1994 #2 Sunday 4th September
5th 1995 #2 Weekend 2nd & 3rd September
6th 1996 #2 Weekend 21st & 22nd September
= 1997 #3 No event, due to the reconstruction work along the seawall coastal defences
7th 1998 #3 Weekend 29th & 30th August
8th 1999 #3 Weekend 4th & 5th September
9th 2000 #4 Weekend 9th & 10th September
10th 2001 #4 Weekend 8th & 9th September
11th 2002 #5 Weekend 31st August & 1st September
12th 2003 #5 Weekend 6th & 7th September
13th 2004 #6 Weekend 11th & 12th September, both days weather affected
14th 2005 #6 Weekend 10th & 11th September
15th 2006 #7 Weekend 2nd & 3rd September, Saturday badly weather affected
16th 2007 #7 Weekend 22nd & 23rd September
17th 2008 #8 Weekend 6th & 7th September
18th 2009 #8 Weekend 26th & 27th September
19th 2010 #9 Saturday 18th September, Sunday cancelled due forecast weather.
20th 2011 #9 Weekend 23rd & 24th July
21st 2012 anticipated, weekend 8th & 9th September
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 10:24:07 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW,
SUNDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 1991 Regretably there was no commentary to fill out the bare details of this first show in the NWAN magazine report. There was an Air Display at R.A.F. Woodvale the day before, many of the Southport participants being there too. No participants are included in the Liverpool or Blackpool visiting aircraft movement reports. The Southport listing does not state if the helicopters landed on the beach or not. The Southport display was mostly military in participation; while the civilian Whirlwind probably was mundane at the time and kept flying at Blackpool Airport, now it would be considered quite exotic! FLYING DISPLAY PARTICIPANTS:G-AYXT Whirlwind Srs.2 G-XTRA Extra EA.230 PA474/PM:M Lancaster 1 BoBMF ----- Spitfire BoBMF ----- Hurricane BoBMF XS644/644 Andover E.3A 115 Sqdn (suspect was the para-drop aircraft) XT646/Z Scout AH.1 Army, 666 Sqdn XV676/707 Sea King HAS.6 RN 819 Sqdn XW431/A Jet Provost T.5B 6 FTS XX222/222 Hawk T.1A 1 TWU/79 Sqdn XX495/C Jetstream T.1 6 FTS XZ645 Lynx AH.1 Army, 659 Sqdn XZ698/479 Lynx HAS.3 RN, Lynx Support Flt ----- Nimrod MR.2 ----- Bulldog T.1 ----- Tucano T.1 (one of the two at RAF Woodvale) ----- Gazelle AH.1 Army, 669 Sqdn (one of the two at RAF Wodvale) Plus the nine ‘Red Arrows’ Hawks Although ‘off topic’ for the thread, of interest may be RAF Woodvale, the day before!A.T.C. Anniversary Air Show, R.A.F. Woodvale, Saturday 7th September 1991XS644/644 Andover E.3A 115 Sqdn XS733/Q Dominie T.1 6 FTS XT646/Z Scout AH.1 Army, 666 Sqdn XV676/707 Sea King HAS.6 RN, 819 Sqdn XW431/A Jet Provost T.5B 6 FTS XW897 Gazelle AH.1 Army, 669 Sqdn XX222/222 Hawk T.1A 1 TWU/79 Sqdn XX392 Gazelle AH.1 Army, 669 Sqdn XX495/C Jetstream T.1 6 FTS XZ645 Lynx AH.1 Army, 659 Sqdn XZ698/479 Lynx HAS.3 RN, Lynx Support Flt, RN XZ990 Harrier GR.3 HSF, Wittering ZE809 Tornado F.3 23 Sqdn ZF242/242 Tucano T.1 7 FTS ZF244/244 Tucano T.1 7FTS xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW,
SUNDAY 23rd AUGUST 1992 Report is from NWAN magazine. Again no commentary, but a list that looks to be fairly complete. Many of the military aircraft operated out of RAF Woodvale. No indication of wether any of the helicopters landed on Southport Beach. Noteable for the first appearance of a civilian warbird, a Tornado F.3 and of the Dutch Air Force. FLYING DISPLAY PARTICIPANTS:G-AYWT Stampe Sv.4B “Daily/Sunday Express” G-IIIT Pitts S-2A “Toyota” G-IITI Extra EA.300 “Lexus” G-TIII Pitts S-2A “Toyota” G-XTRA Extra EA.230 “Daily/Sunday Express” 133722/15F.22 (NX1337A) F4U-7 Corsair (op from Woodvale) PS915 Spitfire PR.XIX BofBMF XM424 or XM466 Jet Provost T.3A 1 FTS (both at Woodvale) XS644/644 Andover E.3A 115 Sqdn (para-drop, op from Woodvale) XV248/48 Nimrod MR.2P Kinloss Wing XV676/707 Sea King HAS.5 RN, 819 Sqdn (op from Woodvale) XX163 special scheme or XX238/238 Hawk T.1 CFS (both at Woodvale) XX965/07 Jaguar GR.1A 16 Sqdn/226 OCU, special colours (op from Woodvale) XZ930/Q Gazelle HT.3 2 FTS ZE339 special colours or ZE961/FD Tornado F.3 25 Sqdn (both at Woodvale) A-324, A-350, A-390, A-398 & A-465 Alouette III KLu, “Grasshoppers” team (based Woodvale) Plus a Lynx HAS.3 ‘Navair 332’ a 22 Sqdn ‘Rescue’ Wessex (which may have been XR504 ‘Rescue 122’ which called at LPL for fuel) 9 x Red Arrows Hawks xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW,
SUNDAY 12th SEPTEMBER 1993 From NWAN magazine comes a highly reliable report of the 1993 event, submitted by one Brian Jones! I also still have the programme for the event. Oddly the programme is dated for the Sunday only, yet according to a review of past Southport Air Shows in the 2002 programme, this was the first year that it was a two day event. It was certainly the first to feature a Harrier demonstration, a Buccaneer, Tornado GR.1 and a Stearman of the “Crunchie Flying Circus”. Spectator entrance was free, car parking on the beach £5 per car if paid in advance, programme £2. A number of aircraft operated from RAF Woodvale. Held on a cool, dry afternoon with a cover of medium height cloud. Fortunately the strong breeze was off-shore, making watching the show comfortable. Although rain was forecast, it held off until a few minutes after the final display item cleared the area! In addition to the pleasure flying Jet Ranger and Cessna 172; the Navy Gazelles and the Army “Silver Eagles” operated from the beach, while the “Red Arrows” commentator’s Gazelle used a site just inland from the Prom. A very enjoyable show with a smooth flow of aircraft – the only ‘no show’ was a Sea King. Full marks to the organisers for a 3 hour ‘free’ flying display. STATIC & OPERATING FROM THE BEACH:G-AYRG Cessna F.172K Inglis Aviation, pleasure flights G-FINS Jet Ranger III Brian Seedle Helicopters, pleasure flights XW870/F Gazelle HT.3 2 FTS, “Red Arrows” commentator, op. from behind Prom. XW846, XX408, XZ327, XZ329, XZ344 Gazelle AH.1 Army, 670 Sqdn, “Silver Eagles” XW864/54:CU & XW436/39:CU Gazelle HT.2 RN, 705 Sqdn “The Sharks” XZ607/M Lynx AH.7 Army, 671 Sqdn, “Silver Eagles” FLYING DISPLAY, PARTICIPANTS:G-IIII Pitts S-2B “Microlease” G-IIIT & G-TIII Pitts S-2A “Toyota” G-IITI Extra EA.300 “Lexus” N54922 N2S-4 Super Stearman “Crunchie Flying Circus” PA474/PM:M2 Lancaster 1 BBMF PM631/N Spitfire PR.XIX BBMF PZ865/J Hurricane IIc BBMF XV292/292 Hercules C.1P LTW (operated into Blackpool) XV248/48 Nimrod MR.2P 42(R)Sqdn XX116 Jaguar GR.1A 16(R)Sqdn, special black colour scheme XX226 Hawk T.1 CFS, special black colour scheme XX885 Buccaneer S.2B 12 Sqdn XZ726/306 Lynx HAS.3S RN, 815 Sqdn ZA496/R Tornado GR.1A, 2 Sqdn (operated from Blackpool) ZD322/A Harrier GR.5 20(R)Sqdn ZF406 Tucano T.1 CFS, special blue colour scheme Plus 9 x Hawks of the “Red Arrows” Also, ‘spare’ aircraft noted at RAF Woodvale were: XX236/PK Hawk T.1 CFS ZD402/E Harrier GR.5 20(R)Sqdn ZF245/245 Tucano T.1 CFS While a ‘spare’ at Blackpool was ZA401/I Tornado GR.1 2 Sqdn Clearly back in the '90s with 'negative film' I chose my photos carefully to reduce costs, although my choice of subject is not alwasy logical. For the first 4 Southport Air Shows I attended I took less than a handful at each. These are digitised from 7x5 prints, so are not of the best quality!   |
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 10:26:25 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW,
SUNDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 1994 This report is again from a certain Brian Jones’ submission in NWAN magazine. It is the first Southport Air Show to be reported by TAS in ‘Winged Words’, although the report was clearly copied from NWAN. The NWAN report noted that: This free airshow was much larger than last year and was, once again, fortunate with the weather. Although a grey day with a cloud base of 3000ft and occasional light rain; the heavy rain and a 300ft cloud base held off until the airshow was virtually over. The show ran smoothly with no real gaps in the proceedings – the only ‘no show’ being the penultimate item – a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire which turned back in the rapidly deteriorating weather. The rotary items all operated from the beach, many of the others from RAF Woodvale, with the “Red Arrows” using Blackpool. The air display lasted from 1230 to 1600 hours. Full marks to the organisers and, I for one, look forward to next year’s show. STATIC & OPERATING FROM THE BEACH:G-AYRG Cessna F.172K Beach Aviation, pleasure flights G-BDWY PA-28-140 Cherokee Comed Aviation, pleasure flights G-MTML Mainair Gemini/Flash IIA static G-MYKI Mainair Mercury static G-MYTD Mainair Mercury static XW858/C Gazelle HT.3 2 FTS with “Red Arrows” commentator from Blackpool XW897, XX408, XZ310, XZ344 Gazelle AH.1 Army, 670 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” XX441/38:CU & XZ942/42:CU Gazelle HT.2 RN, 705 Sqdn “Sharks” XZ574/704:PW Sea King HAS.6 RN, 819 Sqdn XZ727/636 Lynx HAS.3 RN, 702 Sqdn ZB666 Gazelle AH.1 Army, 670 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” static on beach ZD278/A Lynx AH.7 Army, 671 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” FLYING DISPLAY, PARTICIPANTS:G-ANAF C-47B Dakota 3 Air Atlantique “Pollution Control” titles G-XTRA Extra EA.230 “Daily/Sunday Express” 54137/69 (G-CTKL) AT-16 Harvard IIB “Radial Pair” USN period colours FE992/K:T (G-BDAM) AT-16 Harvard IIB “Radial Pair” RAF camouflage and yellow period colours RR299/HT:E (G-ASKH) Mosquito T.3 BAe XV215/215 Hercules C.1P LTW, 70 Sqdn crew (operated from Woodvale) ‘Falcons’ drop a/c XV245/45 Nimrod MR.2P Kinloss Wing XX116 Jaguar GR.1A 16(R)Sqdn, special display colours XX244 Hawk T.1 74(R)Sqdn/4 FTS, special display colours, back with dragn on tail ZD378/A Harrier GR.7 20(R)Sqdn (operated from Woodvale) ZF514/514 Tucano T.1 1 FTS (operated from Woodvale) ZG774/AY Tornado F.3 56(R)Sqdn (operated from Woodvale) C-8 F-27M Troopship 300 Klu, 334 Sqdn, special display colour scheme (based Woodvale) Plus 9 x Hawk T.1/T.1As of the “Red Arrows” drawn from: XX227/233/237/253/260/264/266/294/306 & 308 (operated from Blackpool) Additional ‘spare’ aircraft noted at RAF Woodvale, from where many of the display aircraft operated were: ZF348/348 Tucano T.1 1 FTS ZG768/AX Tornado F.3 56(R)Sqdn Plus a not identified Harrier GR.7 of 20(R)Sqdn. The military helicopters on the beach also used R.A.F. Woodvale. White cloud glare (coupled with mis-calculated meter readings) has seriously over-exposed these shots. I place them here as record, not as examples of my camera prowess! Prestwick based Sea King HAS.6  Special paint scheme on C-8, a Royal Netherlands Air Force Fokker 27 Troopship.  Air Atlantique Dakota, G-ANAF, in 'Pollution Control' colours  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 1995
WEEKEND 2nd & 3rd SEPTEMBER The NWAN magazine report for 1995 was compiled by Carl Hope. This is the first time that I can be certain it was a two-day event. The log accounts for both days. It would appear that this was the first Southport Seafront display without the “Red Arrows”. Billed as the ‘biggest free air show in north’, this event was certainly better than many I’ve paid to go to. The F-27 put on a spirited display, but the ‘star turn’ was probably the Canberra which did an excellent low-level routine. The helicopters arrived en-masse and operated from the beach, deploying to Woodvale overnight. The majority of other aircraft operated from RAF Woodvale. STATIC & OPERATING FROM THE BEACH:G-AYRG Reims Cessna F.172K Comed Aviation G-BDWY PA-28-140E Cherokee Comed Aviation G-MYKC Mainair Gemini/Flash IIA Lancs Micros G-MYLT Mainair Blade Lancs Micros XR505/WA Wessex HC.2 2 FTS “Aries” XS677/WK Wessex HC.2 2 FTS XW853/53:CU & XZ942/42:CU Gazelle HT.2 RN, 705 Sqdn XW865, XW908, XZ349, ZA726 & ZA737 Gazelle AH.1 Army, 670 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” XZ175/Z Lynx AH.7 Army, 671 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” XZ579/706:PW Sea King HAS.6 RN, 819 Sqdn FLYING DISPLAY, PARTICIPATION:G-AYNN Cessna 185B ‘banner-towing’ before the show, Sunday only G-BCHV DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 G-HIII Extra EA.300 “Rover” G-IIII Pitts S-2B “Microlease” NB Sunday only G-SIII Extra EA.300 “MG-F” N54922 Super Stearman “Crunchie” wing-walker (overnight at Blackpool) 474008/VF:R (N51RR) P-51 Mustang Intrepid Avn 54-2447 (G-SCUB) PA-18-135 Super Cub (overnight at Blackpool) P7350/RN:S Spitfire IIA BBMF AB910/AE:X Spitfire VB BBMF PA474/WS:J Lancaster I BBMF RR299/HT:E (G-ASKH) Mosquito T.3 BAe TD248/D (G-OXVI) Spitfire LF.XVIa XH568 (G-BVIC) EE Canberra B.2/6 XV255/55 Nimrod MR.2 Kinloss Wing XX116 Jaguar GR.1A 16(R)Sqdn, special black display colours XX638 Bulldog T.1 CFS, special black display colours ZD329/H Harrier GR.7 20(R)Sqdn ZE732/AS Tornado F.3 56(R)Sqdn, special display marks NB Saturday only ZE811/AB Tornado F.3 56(R)Sqdn NB Sunday only ZF484/484 Tucano T.1 I FTS C-8 F-27 Troopship 300M KLu, 334 Sqdn, special display colours Also Piper PA-46-310P Malibu G-BMBE overflew xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIRSHOW, 1996
SATURDAY 21st & SUNDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER This report from NWAN magazine covers both the Saturday and Sunday of the two day FREE event. On the Saturday the Twin Pioneer failed to show, although it was present on the Sunday, while the “Utterly Butterly” An-2 failed to appear on either day, although it was expected. Car parking on the beach £5. This was the last year that fixed wing aircraft operated off the beach for over 10 years. STATIC IN PRINCES PARK(G-ALYW)/38 Nimrod MR.2 fuselage mock-up EP&TU “ZD472/01” Harrier GR.7 replica EP&TU STATIC & OPERATING FROM THE BEACHG-APRS Twin Pioneer 3 Air Atlantique (Sunday only) G-AYRG Cessna F.172K (visitor, Sunday only) G-BBEF PA-28-140 Cherokee (pleasure flights, Saturday only) G-BDWY PA-28-140D Cherokee (pleasure flights, Saturday only) G-BEBO Turner Special (visitor, Sunday only) G-BJXA Slingsby T-67A (visitor, Sunday only) G-MYLT Mainair Blade West Lancs Micro School, sales stand on beach G-MZAA Mainair Blade (visitor, Sunday only) G-MZCC Mainair Blade West Lancs Micro School, sales stand on beach N707TJ/2 N2S-1 Super Stearman ‘Honey’ “Crunchie Team” N5057V/1 PT-13D Super Stearman ‘Charlie Brown’ “Crunchie Team” XR516/WB & XR521/WD Wessex HC.2 2 FTS XW897/Z, XX385/X, XZ317/R & ZA777/B Gazelle AH.1 Army, 670 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” XZ675/E Lynx AH.7 Army, 671 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” XZ254/308 Lynx HAS.3S RN, 815 Sqdn R-01 Agusta-Bell 412SP Klu, SAR Flight FLYING DISPLAY, PARTICIPATION:G-HIII Extra EA.300 “Rover” G-MIII Extra EA.300/L “Microlease” G-SIII Extra EA.300 “MG F” W5856/A2A Swordfish II RNHF PA474/WS:J Lancaster 1 BBMF ‘Still Going Strong’ PS915 Spitfire PR.XIX BBMF WB271/204:R Firefly AS.5 RNHF XV306 Hercules C.1 LTW Mass paradrop by 4 Para (Saturday only) (operated into Liverpool Airport) XX638 Bulldog T.1 3 FTS, special display colours XZ391/A Jaguar GR.1A 16(R)Sqdn ZA360/B-56 Tornado GR.1 TTTE (operated from Warton) ZD582/718 Sea Harrier F/A.2 RN, 899 Sqdn (operated from Warton) ZF446/446 Tucano T.1 1 FTS, special display markings Perm 9 Hawk T.1s from: XX227, 233 , 237, 252, 253, 260, 264, 292, 294, 306, 307 “Red Arrows” (op from Warton) ‘spare’ aircraft Tornado GR.1 ZA321/B-58 at Warton all weekend. Can find no mention of any aircraft using Blackpool, so presumably the helicopters, historics etc all used RAF Woodvale as is usual. Again suffering from over-exposure, but not quite so badly!         |
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 10:28:48 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW 1997 No show possible in 1997 due to reconstruction of the sea wall defences and promenade at Southport. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 1998
SATURDAY 29th & SUNDAY 30th AUGUST No introduction is provided for the log in NWAN magazine. From other sources I find that Southport enjoyed ‘Mediterranean’ weather for the ’98 show. Largest ever (so far) attendance figures, with over 270,000 visitors over the two days. Southport was the only ’98 airshow to feature the brand new Eurofighter, they claim. Indeed local company British Aerospace participated for the first time, also featuring their Pilatus PC-9, and were presumably behind the appearance of the Swedish Air Force Gripen too. This log is for the SATURDAY 29th AUGUST ONLY. STATIC & OPERATING FROM BEACH:G-MZLC Mainair Blade 912 on West Lancs Micro’ School stand ‘XX226’ (BAPC.152) Hawk T.1 replica EP&TU XW865, XX403, XZ349, ZA777 & ZB673 Gazelle AH.1 Army, 671 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” (XX403 in a silver overall 25th anniversary scheme) ZD272/H Lynx AH.7 Army, 671 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” ZD637/700:PW Sea King HAS.6 RN, 819 Sqdn R-03 Bell 412SP Klu, 300 Sqdn FLYING DISPLAY, PARTICIPATION:G-MIII Extra EA.300/L “Microlease” HA-MEP Antonov An-2R “Utterly Butterly N707TJ/2 N2S-1 Super Stearman ‘Honey’ “Crunchie” N5057V/1 PT-13D Super Stearman ‘Charlie Brown’ “Crunchie” RA-……. Sukhoi Su.29 RA-……. Sukhoi Su-31 W5856/A2A Swordfish II RNHF AB910/ZD:C Spitfire Vb BBMF ‘President Roosevelt’ PA474/WS:J Lancaster I BBMF ‘Still Going Strong’ WK163 (G-BVWC) Canberra B.6(mod) XF516/F (G-BVVC) Hunter F.6A XX638 Bulldog T.1 CFS, special display colour scheme XZ391/A Jaguar GR.1A 16(R)Sqdn ZA322/B-50 Tornado GR.1 TTTE ZD407/36 Harrier GR.7 20(R)Sqdn ZD433/45 Harrier GR.7 20(R)Sqdn ZG969 Pilatus PC-9 BAe ZH588 Eurofighter 2000 BAe 39801/70 JAS-39B Gripen Swedish Air Force, F.7 ‘Spare’ aircraft, Bulldog XX686/4 at Woodvale all weekend. Both Bulldogs and the An-2 flew from Woodvale to Liverpool Airport Sunday evening. Majority of aircraft overnighted at Blackpool eg “Blue Eagles”, “Crunchie”, the BBMF, Sea King, Bell 412, ZF418 Tucano T.1 (possibly a Sunday only participant). Warton had a large ‘Families’ Day display on Friday 28th August. Majority of the Southport participants were there, including the “Red Arrows”,” Crunchie” pair, “Microlease” Extra, Canberra, Hunter, 2 x Harriers, RN Sea King and 2 x TTTE Tornado (ZA355/B-54 being the ‘spare’) and Swedish Gripen. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx EASYJET 1999 SOUTHPORT AIRSHOW,
WEEKEND 4th & 5th SEPTEMBER, 1999. The 1999 Southport Air Display was sponsored by EasyJet, who had commenced operations out of Liverpool Airport a year or two before. Weather wise, it was another ‘Mediterranean’ weekend, again with record crowds. Air Show still free, although car parking on the seafront now £10 and the souvenir programme £2. Now billed as “The North West’s Greatest Air Show”, the ‘log’ here is from NWAN Magazine, with additional notes from my log for SATURDAY 4th:STATIC & OPERATING OFF THE BEACH:G-MZCC Mainair Blade West Lancs Micro’ School stand G-NAAA Bo.105DBS/4 National Air Ambulance, call-sign ‘Helimed 08’ XW848/D, XX376 XZ330, ZA726/F1 Gazelle AH.1 Army, 671 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” XX447/D1 Gazelle AH.1 Army, 671 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” static display XZ184/Z Lynx AH.1 Army, 671 Sqdn “Blue Eagles” ZG817/702:PW Sea King HAS.6 RN, 819 Sqdn ZJ271/- Squirrel HT.1 DHFS with “Red Arrows” commentator FLYING DISPLAY, PARTICIPANTS:KN442/G-AMPZ C-47B Dakota Atlantic Air Transport G-MIII Extra EA.300L “Microlease” G-WILD Pitts S-1T “Microlease” N54922 Super Stearman “Utterly Butterly” 472773/QP:M (G-SUSY) P-51D Mustang ‘Susy’ 511701A/AF258 (G-BSZG) Beech C-45H ‘Southern Comfort’ FX301 (G-JUDI) Harvard III LS326/5A Swordfish II RNHF ‘City of Liverpool’ PA474/WS:J Lancaster I BBMF ‘Still Going Strong’ PS915/UM:G Spitfire PR.XIX BBMF SEAC marking WH588/114:NW (G-EEMV) Sea Fury FB.11 RAN dark blue colours WK163 (G-BVWC) Canberra B.6 ZA322/TAC Tornado GR.1 15(R)Sqdn ZE295/AV Tornado F.3 56(R)Sqdn Plus the “Red Arrows” team The Canberra operated from Liverpool Airport, the only aircraft participating to do so. No clues in the movements lists for where the participants overnighted, although most used Blackpool, while the BBMF used Hawarden. I have the programme for 1999. Although participating in a totally different sequence, the line-up for the two days was broadly similar. Differences are on the Saturday only, a Boeing 757 of Airtours, the Tornado F.3, the Harvard and the BBMF. While on the Sunday only, Spitfire PT462/SW:A. ‘No shows’ on the Saturday were an Airtours International Boeing 757 and a Hawker Hunter. Slight improvement in the quality of shots in 1999, although the original prints look better.     |
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 11:02:47 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2000
WEEKEND of 9th & 10th SEPTEMBER. What a contrast. After two consecutive years of glorious weather, 2000 was the wettest so far, with rain a problem on the Sunday. Conditions on the beach could be described as ‘soft’, so on the Sunday, even the Sea King started to sink into the sand! I was there on the Saturday, when highlights, without doubt, were the Boeing 757 being thrown around the sky and a rare British appearance by the Swedish single seat Vampire. The log here is for SATURDAY 9th taken from NWAN magazine with details added from my own log of events. ‘No shows’ on the Saturday were a Tucano, Sea Fury and a Chinook. STATIC AND OPERATING FROM THE BEACH:G-NAAA Bo.105DBS/4 AA Air Ambulance departed on an operational mission Sat pm Also a ‘plastic’ mock-up of an air ambulance Bo.105 for fund raising, with ‘G-BAFD’ on a cardboard instrument panel! ‘G-OGEE’ (G-BRZL) Pitts S-1D “one2one” on an exhibition stand G-WLMS Mainair Blade 912 West Lancs Microlight School, on their stand XZ922/701:PW Sea King HAS.6 RN, 819 Sqdn ZJ278/78 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS, with “Red Arrows” commentator ‘Red 10’ FLYING ONLY, PARTICIPANTS:G-BWFM Yak-50 G-BYVR Grob G.115E CFS/3 FTS G-IIZI Extra EA.300 “Flight Composites” G-JALC Boeing 757-225 Airtours International G-MIII Extra EA.300/L “Microlease”, flown by Brian Lecomber G-OGEE Pitts S-2A (the real one!) “one2one” G-YYYY MH.1521M Broussard “St.Ival Shape” paradrop a/c 472218/WZ:I (G-HAEC) CA-18 Mustang 22 ‘Big Beautiful Doll’ 28693/G (SE-DXY) Vampire FB.6 Swedish historic Flight, Swedish Air Force markings NX448AG/17 FG-1D Corsair TFC, US Navy markings N5057V PT-13D Super Stearman “St.Ival/Utterly Butterly” N54922 N2S-4 Super Stearman “St.Ival/Utterly Butterly” WK163 (G-BVWC) Canberra B.6 (mod) Classic Jet Avn. XF516/19 (G-BVVC) Hunter F.6A 236 Sqdn markings XV306 Hercules C.1P LTW (operated into Liverpool Airport Sat, dep on Sunday) ‘Falcons’ team a/c ZA613/TL Tornado GR.1 15(R)Sqdn, anniversary markings 1914-2000 ZA947/YS:H Dakota C.3 BBMF ZE292/AZ Tornado F.3 56(R)Sqdn ZG859/91 Harrier GR.7 4 Sqdn or 20(R) Sqdn 9 x “Red Arrows” perm from: XX233, 237, 253, 260, 264, 292, 306, 307, 308, 156, 227. All 11 overflew Southport 1720 hours, Saturday. A Police Twin Squirrel (presumed G-BOOV) noted flying well inland of the display line out of Woodvale. The Broussard, Canberra, Pitts, Stearmen, Yak 50, Extra, Vampire, Mustang, Corsair, Dakota, Hunter, Harrier, “Red Arrows”, Tornado F.3 (with ‘spare’ ZE889) and Tornado GR.1 (with ‘spare’ ZA321) all operated from Blackpool Airport. Also at Blackpool on 9th were further Yak-50s G-BWJT, G-BWYK, RA01294, RA02246, RA01493, LY-ANG and LY-ASG, which could well have been in connection with the Sunday at Southport Air Show. The Grob used RAF Woodvale overnight.                  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2001
WEEKEND of 8th & 9th SEPTEMBER. Weather on the Saturday was bright and warm, with plenty of blue sky between white clouds. However gale force winds the day before threatened the show, still rather breezy on the Saturday. Car parking on the beach had now increased to £15, however pedestrian attendance was still free. An estimated 150,000 extra visitors were in Southport that weekend. Very much a familiar mix of military, historic and aerobatic performances, with the Airtours A.320 being the most unusual aircraft taking part. The BBMF were below strength, while participation by the RNHF was very welcome. No report in NWAN magazine for 2001. However this is a combination of my own basic notes and Blackpool movements, to produce a reasonable list for the event for SATURDAY 8th:STATIC & OPERATING OFF THE BEACH:……… Mainair 912 pod only West Lancs Microlight School exhibit G-NAAA Bo.105DBS/4 Air Ambulance XW848/D Gazelle AH.1 Army, exhibited alongside recruitment stand XW846, XX447, XZ349 & ZA726 Gazelle AH.1 Army “Blue Eagles” XZ237/630 & XZ250/631 Lynx HAS.3S RN, 702 Sqdn “Lynx Pair” ZA135/705:PW Sea King HAS.6 RN, 819 Sqdn ZD281 Lynx AH.7 Army “Blue Eagles” team ZJ272/72 Squirrel HT.2 DHFS, with “Red Arrows” commentator FLYING PROGRAMME, PARTICIPANTS:G-BOOV AS.355F Twin Squirrel Police, fly-bys along beach before the flying display G-IILI & G-IIMI Extra EA.300/L “Microlease” (G-PSST) Hunter F.58A “Miss Demeanour” bright sunscape scheme G-SIIC Pitts S-2C “Goldair” G-TICL Airbus A.320-231 Airtours International, thought to have operated from Manchester W5856/A2A Swordfish II RNHF MK356/21:V Spitfire LF.IXc BBMF PT462/SW:A (G-CTIX) Spitfire T.9 XV184/184(?) Hercules C.3 from Teesside with TA for mass para-drop, canx due winds. XV227/27 Nimrod MR.2 Kinloss Wing XX117 Jaguar GR.3 16(R) Sqdn, special ‘saints’ tail colours Either XX205 or XX320 Hawk T.1 special aerobatic mount colour scheme ZA947/YS:H C-47A Dakota BBMF ZE295/AY Tornado F.3 56(R) Sqdn ZG857/89 Harrier GR.7 20(R) Sqdn Plus the “Red Arrows” who closed the show at 5pm, with 9 a/c drawn from: XX156, 227, 233, 237, 253, 292, 294, 306, 307, 308 & 349. All the above bar the static Gazelle, Police Squirrel, the BBMF and the Hercules night-stopped and operated from Blackpool – including the Nimrod. Also at Blackpool were ‘spare’ aircraft ZG478 Harrier GR.7 and one of the Hawks listed above. Also at Blackpool that weekend were Grob G.115E G-BYXA and Super Stearman N707TJ & N5057V, but neither were logged by myself displaying at Southport Saturday. Also at Blackpool to display on the Sunday were the “Aerostars” team with Yak-50s: LY-ANG, LY-ASG, LY-IOO, RA-01293, RA-01493, RA-02246, one of which would be a ‘spare’. Also at Blackpool was Air Atlantique Dakota G-AMRA, possibly just a co-incidence?          |
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 11:04:24 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2002
WEEKEND of 31st AUGUST & 1st SEPTEMBER. Notable for a rare British air display appearance by the Khalifa Jet Team with their 4 x L-39 Albatros aircraft. They made up for the lack, in 2002, of the “Red Arrows”. I also caught up with watching the “Aerostars” operating 6 x Yak-50s for the first time. New on the British air display ‘circuit’ was the mighty Sea Vixen, which certainly impressed. Possibly unique at an air show, the demonstration of 4 Harriers together, nicknamed ‘Fours Four’ certainly ended the show on both days with plenty of noise – a stunning and unforgettable demonstration in collaboration with Army units on the ground! Again no fixed wing aircraft operated from the beach. I have the souvenir programme (£3) for 2002, differences between the two days being the mass drop by 4 Para (Sat only), although the ‘Falcons’ were due both days; SAR Sea King (Sun only); ‘no shows’ were a Corsair (probably same one as previous year) and the Tornado GR.4, while an ‘extra’ was the T-33A . This report, a combination of my own notes and Blackpool Airport movements, is for SATURDAY 31st, when the afternoon started off bright and sunny, but deteriorated to rain shortly after the flying had ended. STATIC & OPERATING FROM THE BEACHG-JOOL Mainair Blade 912 on West Lancs Microlight School stand G-UTZY SA.341 Gazelle liaison flights f&t Blackpool before show commenced ZD251/636 Lynx HAS.3S RN “Lynx Pair” ZD254/- HMS Glasgow Lynx HAS.3S RN “Lynx Pair” ZA291/ZX Sea King HC.4 RN ZJ136/U Merlin HC.3 28 Sqdn FLYING ONLY, PARTICIPANTS:G-CBLJ/02 & G-CBPM/black 50 Yak-50 “Aerostars” team G-IILI & G-IIMI Extra EA.300/L “Microlease” pair G-IVOR/white 46 Yak-50 “Aerostars” team (G-PSST) Hunter F.58A “Miss Demeanour” G-XMII EC.135 Merseyside Police several passes along beach before the display started ES-YLF, ES-YLI, ES-YLP & ES-YLR Let L-39C Albatros “Khalifa Team” LY-ANG Yak 50 “Aerostars” team RA-01293/ outline R93 & RA-02246/- Yak-50s “Aerostars” team RA-44531 Sukhoi Su-26M “Team Alpine”, aerobatics 21261 (G-TBRD) Lockheed T-33A RCAF markings P7350/XT:D Spitfire IIa BBMF LF363/US:C Hurricane IIc BBMF PA474/QR:M Lancaster B.1 BBMF XP824 (G-CVIX) Sea Vixen U.3 in red/yellow ‘drone’ colours Either XX220 or XX337 Hawk T.1 208(R) Sqdn markings XZ385/.. Jaguar GR.3 16(R) Sqdn ZD352/19, ZD406/35, ZD438/50, ZD470/- Harrier GR.7 4 Sqdn one with 4 Sqdn special tail colours ZF407/407 Tucano T.1 ZH885/885 Hercules C.5 Lyneham Wing, mass drop cancelled, single fly-by along display-line All operated from Blackpool with the exception of the microlight (by road) and Police EC.135 (lives at Woodvale). At least one Navy Lynx also used Woodvale. Also at Blackpool was the ‘spare’ Hawk, Tucano ZF139, and Harriers ZD435/47 and ZG506/77 (I think I have the 4 participating correct). Pitts G-SIIC and Dragon Rapide G-AIDL were both at Blackpool during the weekend, could be co-incidence as neither featured in the display programme. Some confusion as the registrations and codes on the six Yak-50s. RA-01493 also quoted, error – or was there a ‘spare’ at Blackpool, if so which one?             xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW & MILITARY DISPLAY, 2003
WEEKEND of 6th & 7th SEPTEMBER. This report is from my notes made on the day, plus Blackpool movements, coupled with the souvenir programme (£3). Weather on the Saturday was cool, but fine with sunny intervals, but rather soggy wet underfoot on the beach. Good to see participation by the Dutch SAR Unit again, previously appeared in 1996 & 1998. Somewhat unusual in that all the items on the programme turned-up, with the two-seat Spitfire being an addition! The four-ship Harrier routine once again impressed, building up with the Army Lynx and Chinook into a good role demonstration. This log is for the SATURDAY.
STATIC & OPERATING FROM BEACH/PROMENADE:G-JOOL Mainair Blade 912 exhibit with West Lancashire Microlight School stand “XX227” plastic Hawk T.1 “Red Arrows” colours, recruitment stand XZ257/640 & ZD254/635 Lynx HAS.3S RN “Lynx Pair” ZJ276/76 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS, “Red Arrows” commentator R-03 Agusta-Bell 412SP Royal Netherlands Air Force, SAR Unit FLYING ONLY, PARTICIPANTS:G-CVIX Sea Vixen FAW.2 “Red Bull” sponsor titles, logo and colours G-IIDI & G-IIZI Extra EA.300X “Xtreme Team” N707TJ A.75N-1 Super Stearman “Utterly Butterly” wingwalkers N74189 PT-17 Super Stearman “Utterly Butterly” wingwalkers RA-44531 Sukhoi Su-26 “Alpine” 21261 (G-TBRD) Lockheed T-33A RCAF period scheme P7350/XT:D Spitfire IIa BBMF W5856/A2A Swordfish IV RNHF LF363/US:C Hurricane IIc BBMF PT462/SW:A (G-CTIX) Spitfire T.9 WK163 (G-BVWC) Canberra B.6mod XX244/244 Hawk T.1 solo aerobatics XZ257 & ZD254 Lynx AH.7 Army ZA705 Chinook HC.2 ZD895/TI Tornado GR.4 15(R) Sqdn ZF242/242 Tucano T.1 ZH876/876 Hercules C.4 30 Sqdn crew, with the ‘Falcons’ free-fall team. Also 4 x 4 Sqdn Harrier GR.7 drawn from: ZD323/04, ZD346/13, ZD466/56, ZG505/76 & ZG506/77 (codes 04 and 76 certainly involved on the Saturday) Also 9 x “Red Arrows” Hawk T.1 drawn from: XX179, 227, 260, 264, 266, 292, 294, 306, 307 & 308. The majority of participants used Blackpool as a base. The ‘spare’ Harrier, Red Arrows Hawk and XX253 Valley Hawk were all at Blackpool. The two seat Spitfire & Canberra operated from elsewhere, while the 2 Navy Lynx presumably used Woodvale. The Hercules C.4 used Liverpool Airport, after the ‘Falcons’ drop on the Saturday went ‘tech’ so missed the end of show drop of 4 Para. On the Sunday performed both drops at Southport. Also at Blackpool for the weekend was Pitts S-2C G-SIIC, but certainly did not perform at Southport on Saturday, nor mentioned in the programme.       |
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 11:06:28 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2004,
WEEKEND of 11th & 12th SEPTEMBER. No Air Show log was published in NWAN magazine, nor did I attend in 2004. This therefore is a list of probable participants and ‘spares’ that used Blackpool Airport during the weekend. The Dutch Bell 412 participated again, the 4 Harriers performed for the third successive year a routine not seen at any other British Air Show. The “Red Arrows” though appeared on the Sunday only. Additional comment can be found on post #15, pointing out that 2004 was a very weather affacted weekend, with the display affected on both days. PARTICIPANTS USING BLACKPOOL AIRPORT:G-CBLJ/02, G-CBPM/50, G-GYAK/-, G-HAMM/-, G-JYAK/93, G-YAKK “The Aerostars” (G-PSST) Hunter F.58A “Miss Demeanour” G-SIID Sokhoi Su-26M2 G-SIIE Pitts S-2B (at Blackpool, but I suspect that it did not perform at Southport?) C-FNJF/7 PBY-5A Catalina orange-yellow scheme N707TJ A.75N-1 Super Stearman N74189 PT-17 Super Stearman 21261 (G-TBRD) Lockheed T.33A RCAF period colours XX217 & XX219 Hawk T.1A (XX217 the ‘spare’ aircraft both days) XX179, 227, 237, 260, 264, 266, 292, 294, 306 & 308 Hawk T.1 “Red Arrows” (Sunday only) (list includes the ‘spare’) XX378, XZ349/G1, ZB673, ZB688 Army “Blue Eagles” may have overnighted at RAF Woodvale XX847/PY Jaguar T.4 XZ257/640 & ZF557/318 Lynx HMA.8 “Lynx Pair” may have overnighted at RAF Woodvale ZA704 Chinook HC.2 probably Saturday only ZH775 Chinook HC.2 probably Sunday only ZD281/K Lynx AH.7 Army “Blue Eagles” may have overnighted at RAF Woodvale ZD347/14A, ZD403/32A, ZD408/37A, ZD411/40A & ZD431/43A Harrier GR.7A 4 Sqdn. One a ‘spare’ aircraft (known to have been code 14A on the Sunday) ZE812/XR & ZG770/WK Tornado F.3 56(R) Sqdn (ZE812/XR was the non-flying ‘spare’ both days) ZH884/884 Hercules C.5 LTW, both days ZJ276/76 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS, Sunday only, with ‘Red Arrows’ commentator R-01 Bell 412SP R.Neth A.F. (at Blackpool Sunday pm only, otherwise at Woodvale?) It is very likely that a few other aircraft participated, maybe the BBMF, RNHF, civilian ‘warbirds’ etc that did not call at Blackpool. Air Ambulance Bo.105DB G-WAAN called at Blackpool on Saturday, probably not connected with Southport though. Neither have I any clue as to which aircraft were statically displayed on/by the beach, or which helicopters operated from the beach. So, does anyone have a good log of events in 2004 to help improve this account? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW 2005,
WEKEND of 10th & 11th SEPTEMBER. By now, no longer a ‘free’ air show (anyone know the year when pedestrians were first charged?), with many of the recruitment stands in the ‘Army Village’ on Princes Park , inland of the prom. In advance a pedestrian £4, while on the day £6. Car parking on Princes Park £18 in advance, £22 on the day (on the beach parking £25), including occupants. I was at the Air Show on the Sunday, a calm, blue skies, sunny, but cool day. Most impressive new ‘act’ were the French “Team Reva” with two Rutan AcroEze aircraft, flown very closely together. The Catalina, now in fresh white US scheme was smart, and being large and slow quite impressive. I have the souvenir programme (£3), the two ‘no shows’ during the weekend being the Yak-50s of the “Yakovlevs” and the 4 x 4 Sqdn Harrier GR.7s, while the “Matadors” team was reduced to one aircraft. As usual, while the programme for the two days used mostly the same aircraft in a different sequence, there were a few differences. On the Saturday RNHF Sea Fury VR930/110:O was billed, and I suspect the RN Lynx “Black Cats” did not perform. While on the Sunday the BBMF attended with Dakota, Spitfire and Hurricane and the show was closed by the “Red Arrows”. The log here is a combination of my notes and Blackpool movements, and is for the SUNDAY:STATIC & OPERATING FROM THE PROMENADE & BEACH:G-CCAG Mainair Blade 912 West Lancs Microlight School stand G-OMEN HAB “Manchester Evening News” tethered inflation in am, Princes Park. G----- Jet Ranger pleasure flights in morning XZ730/632 Lynx HAS.3S RN “Black Cats” ZF123/WW Sea King HC.4 RN, 848 NAS. FLYING ONLY, PARTICIPANTS:G-CVIX Sea Vixen FAW.2 “Red Bull” G-IIIS Sukhoi Su-26M2 “Red Bull” Matadors team G-PBYA/433915 PBY-5A Catalina US military markings G-SIID Sukhoi SU-26M “Honda” G-XMII EC.135 Merseyside Police, several passes along crowd-line before the air display F-PREV & F-PYSM Rutan AcroEze “Team Reva” N5057V & N54922 Super Stearman “Utterly Butterly” (billed both days, but only landed at Blackpool on the Sunday) N14113/119 T-28A Trojan French Air Force period markings LF363/US:C Hurricane IIc BBMF(Sunday only) PM631/- Spitfire PR.XIX BBMF (Sunday only) PR blue & D-day stripes XX205 Hawk T.1A solo aerobatic demonstration, RAF Valley special scheme XX179, 237, 242, 253, 260, 264, 266, 292 & 294 Hawk T.1 “Red Arrows” XZ112/GA Jaguar GR.3A special tail colours ZA469/TM Tornado GR.4 ZA917/AI C-47A Dakota C.3 BBMF (Sunday only) ZG472/62A Harrier GR.7A 20(R) Sqdn, solo demonstration ZH846/587:CU Merlin HM.1 RN, 824 NAS ZH887/887 Hercules C.5 LTW, RAF ‘Falcons’ drop aircraft ZJ121/E Merlin HC.3 28 Sqdn (quite possibly Sunday only, although billed to appear both days) ZJ264/64 Squirrel HT.1 with ‘Red 10’ commentator (Sunday only) It would appear that all the flying display participants visited/night stopped at Blackpool Airport. The only one that didn’t was the Saturday only Sea Fury VR930 (provided it displayed). ‘Spares’ on the ground at Blackpool were XX201 Hawk T.1A, XX306 ‘Red Arrrows’ spare Hawk, ZD251/636 Lynx “Black Cats”, ZA459/F Tornado GR.4 (although both Tornados flew on the Saturday, this was the ‘spare’ on Sunday), XZ103/FP Jaguar GR.3A. RAF Rescue Sea King XZ598 visited Blackpool Airport on the Saturday, it may or may not have been a Southport participant, likewise Pitts S-2B G-SIIE was at Blackpool for the weekend, but was not on the programme and certainly did not display on the Sunday. My log is confusing as to whether the BBMF Lancaster appeared on the Sunday or not. It certainly did not land at Blackpool, although the Dakota, Spitfire and Hurricane did. The photos here are some of the first air display photos I took using a Fuji compact, with a x 12 optical lens. Unlike all earlier and a few later years, these are digital images, not scanned prints.             |
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 11:08:32 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2006
WEEKEND of 2nd & 3rd SEPTEMBER. I was there in 2006, but took only a few photos, did not buy a programme and cannot locate my log notes for the event! The NWAN magazine finished mid 2006, while my record of the participants was lost on the shut-down of the NWAN xsorbit bulletin board. However, thanks to the great help of John Wiseman and the Blackpool Aviation Society, I can trace a great number of the participants over the two days. On the Saturday the weather was very poor and the flying display curtailed. I was there on the Sunday and certainly the sand was waterlogged and very wet; although the afternoon started dull, it ended bright and sunny with an on-shore breeze. The Sea King on the beach sank upto its axles and the stall holders and exhibition stands had great problems extricating themselves at the end of day. I was there with the FoLA/Liverpool Airport stand and conditions were dreadful. With decreased RAF participation, not the most impressive of Southport Air Shows, although it was the first to feature an operational Typhoon (previous one was a BAe flight-test Eurofighter 2000 in 1998). SATURDAY’s FLYING DISPLAY PARTICIPANTS:Participants on the Saturday included, flying out of Blackpool Airport: the Navy Sea King, Pitts G-SIIE, XX159 Hawk solo, the ‘Reva’ team and ‘Blades’ teams, along with communications Squirrel ZJ276. The 4 x ‘Wingwalker’ Stearman, 3 x ‘Yak’ team (G-YAKM arrived Sunday), Lynx pair of the ‘Blackcats’, ‘Red Arrows’ team, Hunter, Mustang, Harrier, Nanchang and the Su-26 appear to have all stayed on the ground at Blackpool. The Sea Vixen did not arrive until Sunday. PARTIAL PARTICIPANTS LISTING FOR SUNDAY'S AIR SHOW G-BVVG Nanchang G-CIVX Sea Vixen FAW.2 “Red Bull” (G-PSST) Hunter F58A “Miss Demeanour” G-SIID Sukhoi Su-26 “Road Angel” G-SIIE Pitts S-2B “Road Angel” G-OFFO, G-ZEXL, G-ZXCL & G-ZXEL Extra EA.300 “Blades” team G-YAKM/red 61, G-YAKN/red 66, G-YAKU/red 49 & G-YAKZ/red 33 4 x Yak 50s of the “Yakovlevs” team N707TJ, N5057V, N54922, N74189 4 x Stearman of the “Utterly Butterly” wing-walking team together! F-PREV & F-PYSM Rutan AcroEze “Reva” team 414450/B6-S (N167F) P-51D Mustang “Old Crow” ZD479/? Sea King HC.4 Royal Navy, drab matt green colours XX159 Hawk T.1 RAF Valley solo aerobatic mount, special scheme 9 drawn from: XX179/227/233/237/242/253/260/264/292/294/308 (11) Hawk T.1 of the ‘Red Arrows’ XZ276/76 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS ‘Red 10’ communications hack ZD257/672 & XZ722/671 Lynx HMA.8 RN, “Black Cats” ZD406/35 Harrier GR.7 20(R) Sqdn -------/BW Typhoon single seat 29 Sqdn (did not operate from Blackpool Airport)(in theory most likely ZJ921) ‘Spare’ aircraft on the ground at Blackpool Airport all weekend were: XX217 RAF Valley Hawk, ZD467/ Harrier. Puma XW209 called at Blackpool Friday and Monday, but I think co-incidence. Of the ‘Red Arrows’ one of the spares was XX294. No Grob solo aircraft at Blackpool – but it could well have used Woodvale, if one participated! The 2006 photos were taken on a digital Fuji compact, with x16 optical zoom. However with the data lost, these are scanned from 7 x 5 prints, some rather tightly cropped! The soggy conditions in 2006 are illustrated by this 'sinking' Sea King.           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2007
WEEKEND of 22nd & 23rd SEPTEMBER. [/size][/b] The participants list was “lost” with the shut-down of the NWAN site on xsorbit. However, again John Wiseman and the Blackpool Aviation Society have provided me with detailed movements at Blackpool Airport to piece together the display listings. I cannot tell what landed on the beach, or if other aircraft/helicopters operated out of Woodvale. I do have a flyer with the dates and information that admission was £5 in advance, £7 on the day; with car parking £5 per car payable on the day only. The ‘Red Arrows’, Typhoon, Hawk, BBMF, ‘Team Guinot’ wing walkers, ‘RAF Falcons’ free-fall team, ‘Blades’ team, ‘Black Cats’ and Chinook all promised in advance. Additional comment regarding participants on post #13 below. PARTIAL PARTICIPANT LISTING, SATURDAY G-ATBG “NJ+C11” Nord 1002 posing as a Messerschmitt 108 G-BSMD “+14” Nord 1101 Noralpha, together ‘Messerschmitt Team’ G-OFFO, G-ZEXL, G-ZECL, G-ZXEL Extra EA.300 ‘The Blades’ team G-YAKM, G-YAKN, G-YAKU & G-YAKZ Yak-50/52 ‘Yak Team’ 414450/B6-S (N167F) NA P-51D Mustang “Old Crow” 434602/B (N165F) Douglas A-26B Invader XV577/V (G-BXKF) H.Hunter T.7 Drawn from: XX179, 227, 233, 237, 242, 253, 266, 292, 294, 306 & 308 (x11) Hawk T.1s of ‘Red Arrows’ XX205 Hawk T.1 RAF Solo display, from RAF Valley ZA683/? Chinook HC. RAF solo demonstration ZD251 & presumably another, Lynx RN ‘The Blackcats’ ZF448 Tucano T.1 RAF solo demonstration ZJ256/56 & ZJ265/65 Squirrel HT.1, communications ‘Red 10’ and ‘Red 11’ ZJ809/? Typhoon T1A (in theory /BH 29 Sqdn) The question is did ‘Team Guinot’ with their Stearman operate out of RAF Woodvale or cancel? The RN ‘Blackcats’ Lynx pair, certainly appear to have used Woodvale as a base, ut did other aircraft too? The BBMF and were billed to appear, and presumably did, but did not call at Blackpool Airport. Likewise the free-fall parachute team. Spares on ground at Blackpool: XX242 & XX292 (Saturday), XX294 & XX308 (Sunday) ‘Red Arrows’ Hawks, XX263 RAF Valley solo Hawk, ZF295 Tucano, ZJ918 Typhoon F.2. PARTICIPANTS, SUNDAYSame participants operating from Blackpool Airport, however, the solo Hawk, Typhoon and Tucano are not shown as operating on the Blackpool movements – did the weather do ‘duff’ towards the end of the display, so stopping the show early? Anyone able to illustrate 2007 displays? |
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 11:10:34 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2008
WEEKEND of 6th & 7th SEPTEMBER. 2008 was the first year that Southport experienced ‘the Vulcan effect’ on visitor numbers. There were a number of changes. Liverpool John Lennon Airport became a major sponsor, so the RAF aircraft all operated out of LJLA. The RAF had changed the way they allocated display aircraft to air displays, allocating just a few air shows ‘role demonstration’ status and extra aircraft, and provided quite a major spectacle. Also the beach airstrip was again available for fixed wing aircraft (last available 1996). I have my list for the SATURDAY, the programme (£4) and digital images to help cobble a near complete list together. Once again, the original NWAN BB listing was lost with the shut-down of the xsorbit site, however this list I consider fairly complete and accurate. Conditions were not ideal with a cold gusty wind and soggy, wet sand underfoot. The Vulcan was billed to appear on the Saturday, but due to en route weather was postponed, displaying towards the end of Sunday afternoon’s show. Apparently a Vagabond, Fox Moth (canx) and several microlights were expected to land on the beach, may have done so on the Sunday, certainly they were not there on the Saturday. Indeed there were less aircraft on the beach than usual! The ‘Twister’ team used the beach both days though to recover their glider. Given the current air show ‘scene’, the lack of any ‘historics’ in 2008 was much commented on, although largely due to the weather elsewhere. Despite the weather and conditions underfoot, certainly one of the better Southport Air Shows I’ve attended, despite a number of ‘no show’ gaps and the cold; with dramatic flying from a glider and Twister all the way up to multiple Tornados and a Sentry, by way of impressively flown Apache and Chinook helicopters. The log here is for the SATURDAY (very much the same on Sunday) EXHIBITION VILLAGE/BEACH:W3850/PR-A Spitfire Vb Full size replica XE584 Hawker Hunter F.6 nose only in ‘Heritage’ Tent, all black. GH.2126 Hovercraft – providing rides to the north of the Pier along the sands FLYING DISPLAY, PARTICIPANTS:G-BDPJ PA-25 Pawnee glider tug, landed on beach after the display ended G-IZII/BGA5240 S-1 Swift glider “RAFA”/”CRH Plant” landed on beach G-TWST Silence Twister G-BYXN/XN Grob G.115E Tutor RAF markings G-OFFO, G-ZEXL, G-ZXCL & G-ZXEL Extra EA.300 “Barclays Commercial” XX325/ - Hawk T.1 RAF solo aerobatics, special markings XZ233/634 Lynx HAS.3S “Wildcats” solo display due to illness of the other pilot ZF338/338 Tucano T.1 RAF solo aerobatics, special display markings ZJ274/74 Squirrel HT.2 DHFS, with ‘Red 10’ to commentate, landed on beach. ZJ805/BD Typhoon T.1 29 Sqdn, solo demonstration ZK451/K King Air B200 3 FTS/45(R) Sqdn (displayed twice) XZ661/V Lynx AH.1 Army, standard green/light grey camouflage (displayed twice) 9 x Hawk T.1 of the “Red Arrows” RAF ROLE DEMONSTATION:ZA&08 Chinook RAF (also solo demonstration earlier) ZJ222 WAH-64A Apache AH.1 Army (also solo demonstration earlier) XX194/ - Hawk T.1 100 Sqdn, no unit markings XX280/CM Hawk T.1 100 Sqdn, full squadron insignia ZA373/007:H Tornado GR.4A 2 Sqdn, full markings ZA404/013 Tornado GR.4A no unit marks ZE785/HS Tornado F.3 111 Sqdn colours ZH102/02 E3D Sentry AEW.1 (same a/c both days), from/to Waddington The ‘spare’ aircraft at Liverpool Airport: ZJ803/BA Typhoon T.1 29 Sqdn, ZD851/112 Tornado GR.4 no unit colours, XX220 Hawk T.1 solo, ZE941/KT Tornado F.3 43 Sqdn – went tech on arrival, so became the ‘spare’ by default, ZE810/GG Tornado F.3 43 Sqdn aborted take-off on Sat, participated Sunday. ‘No shows’ on the Saturday were the Great War Team, Stearman wing-walking, and the BBMF. Don’t know if any of these ‘missing’ aircraft made it for the Sunday show. The line-up for the 2 days was the same, with the exception being the addition of Vulcan B.2 XH558 on the Sunday. All the helicopters were at RAF Woodvale on Saturday morning as I passed on the train: 2 x Navy Lynx (regn of 2nd one unknown), Army Lynx, Apache, Chinook & the Grob Tutor, together with the Police EC.135 (which did not overfly the beach this year). The Sentry operated from Waddington, the other RAF aircraft (Hawks, Tucano, King Air, Typhoon, Tornados from LJLA, while the “Red Arrows” used Blackpool. The “Blades” appeared to use Blackpool. Digital images, but scanned from 7 x 5 prints, as the original data now lost. Camera a Fuji compact with x16 optical zoom.                 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2009
WEEKEND of 26th & 27th SEPTEMBER. The 2009 show, right at the end of September was the latest date that the Air Show has ever been held. While cool it was not a bad weekend weather-wise. After the spectacle of the Armed Forces ‘Role Demonstration’ the previous year, and with no Tornado F.3, Tornado GR.4, Apache or Harriers on offer from the MoD, 2009’s show was a very different affair. Even a number of helicopter types expected were axed at relatively short notice. The Pawnee/Swift/Twister combine were once again amazingly impressive and quite breath-taking to watch. The Seafire and Sea Hawk formation provided an unusual photo op for the regular airshow attender. The Catalina, once again impressed with its slow speed and size, while the RAF Falcons unusually jumped out of the Cark based Fletcher Fu-24, regretably it did not make a low pass along the flight-line. Photos and comment from the time on: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=woodvale&thread=1500 Cancelled items: Sea King HC.4, Sea King HAR.3 (Sat), Puma (beach static), RAF Merlin and Chinook. The BBMF appeared on Saturday only, the Seafire and Vulcan on Sunday only. It would appear that again the beach was little used – I recall only the Pawnee and Swift glider and the two Squirrel HT.1s landing. Although I was there on the SUNDAY, log covers both days, but does not include static display aircraft in the ‘Exhibition Village’. FLYING DISPLAY, PARTICIPANTS:G-BDPJ PA-25 Pawnee G-IIZI Swift glider G-RIOT Twister G-BYXN Grob G.115E Tutor RAF Cranwell G-OFFO, G-ZEXL, G-ZXCL & G-ZXEL EA.300 Extra “The Blades” N707TJ & N74189 Super Stearman “Team Guinot” ZK-NAY Fletcher Fu-24 drop a/c for RAF ‘Falcons’ parachute display team 433915 (G-PBYA) PBY-5A Catalina LF363/YB:W Hurricane IIc BBMF (Sat only) MK356/UF:Q Spitfire LF.IXc BBMF (Sat only) silver scheme SX336/105:VL (G-KASX) Seafire F.XII (Sun only) WV908/188:A Sea Hawk FGA.6 RNHF XH558 (G-VLCN) Vulcan B.2 VTS Trust (Sun only) XX307 Hawk T.1 208 Sqdn, solo aerobatic demonstration, special colours The 9 x Hawk T.1s of the “Red Arrows” XZ234/630 Lynx HAS.3S RN “Black Cats” team XZ697/641 Lynx HMA.8 RN “Black Cats” team ZA947/AI Dakota C.3 BBMF (Sat only) ZH856/ - Merlin HM.1 RN (went ‘tech’ Saturday so no display, performed on the Sunday though) ZJ267/67 & ZJ276/76 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS liaison with Blackpool for ‘Red Arrows’ etc ZJ926/QO:Y Typhoon FGR.4 3 Sqdn, solo demonstration ZK454/N King Air B200 3 FTS/45(R) Sqdn Operating from Liverpool: Typhoon, Hawk, King Air 200, Sea Hawk, Catalina. ‘Spares’ at Liverpool: XX195/195 208 Sqdn & XX245 special cols Hawk T.1 and ZJ809/BH Typhoon T.3. Operating from Woodvale: Tutor, Merlin, Seafire (Sun), ‘Black Cats’, ‘Swift’ team, ‘Team Guinot’, ‘Blades’ & the Catalina Sun pm Operating from Blackpool: ‘Red Arrows’, BBMF refuel on Sat The Vulcan operated from Brize Norton. These are digital images, posted here without refinement.           |
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 11:14:18 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2010
effectively just SATURDAY 18th SEPTEMBER For 2010 I decided to split the weekend, LJLA on the Saturday, Woodvale on the Sunday. However events, or more correctly the weather, overtook my plans. Due to the heavy rainfall overnight, with a poor forecast for the Sunday, with a potential to flood, and fresh memories of the problems caused by heavy rain (2006 or 2007 I think), early on the Sunday morning the organisers took the bold decision to cancel the event for the whole day. While this disrupted the plans of many, including myself, it may have been a wise decision, although the Sunday afternoon showers were not that heavy (at least not in South Liverpool), conditions would not have been far from pleasant for spectators or pilots. Although no display list was posted on this forum, there are multiple photo and information threads covering the event: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=woodvale2&thread=4121www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=eggpmovements&action=display&thread=4236Plus plenty of LJLA photos on the dated threads for Friday 17th (=4249) and Saturday 18th (=4259). Clearly photographic highlights were the mixed formation of de Havilland types, all with local connections, the pairs of Venom, Gnat, Tornado and the non-BBMF WWII fighter duo. From these threads, a good listing of participants, with only a couple of queries, on the SATURDAY:FLYING DISPLAY PARTICIPANTS:G-ACEJ DH.83 Fox Moth G-AGTM DH.89A Dragon Rapide 6 G-ANFM DH.82 Tiger Moth - these 3 together “DH Formation” G-ASIY PA-25 Pawnee G-DJMC G-BYXN G.115E Tutor RAF Solo aerobatics G-OFFO, G-ZEXL, G-ZXCL & G-ZXEL Extra EA.300 ‘The Blades’ “RAFA” sponsored (G-PSST) Hunter F.48A “Miss Demeanour” 433915/G-PBYA PBY-5A Catalina BE505/XP:L (G-HHII) Hurricane IIb SM520/KJ:I (G-ILDA) Spitfire LF.IX two seater “WK436” (G-VENM/J-1614) DH.112 Venom FB.50 “WR470” (G-DHVM/J-1542) DH.112 Venom FB.50 XP820 DHC.2 Beaver AL.1 AAC Historic Flight XR244 Auster AOP.9 AAC Historic Flight XR538/01 (G-RORI) F. Gnat T.1 4 FTS red/white period colours “XS111” (G-TIMM/XP504) F.Gnat T.1 ‘Red Arrows’ colours XX263 Hawk T.1 4 FTS special scheme, solo aerobatics The 9 x Hawk T.1 of the “Red Arrows” team XZ597/M Sea King HAR.3 RAF Valley yellow ‘Rescue’ colours XZ730/634 Lynx HAS.3S & ZD268/643 Lynx HMA.8 RN “The Wildcats” ZA947/AI C-47A Dakota C.3 BBMF ZD742/090 no sqdn marks & ZD895/115 15 Sqdn ‘XV’ Tornado GR.4 15(R) Sqdn ZF171/LZ:R Tucano T.1 Solo aerobatics, green/brown early WWII period camouflage colours ZH854/84 Merlin HM.1 RN, 824 NAS, Culdrose ZJ992/AB Merlin HC.3A RAF ZJ256/56 & ZJ275/75 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS both used the beach, communications with Blackpool. ‘No shows’, principally the Typhoon FGA.4 solo, due to a ‘fleet-wide’ grounding for inspection. The BBMF Spitfire and Hurricane were unable to appear so were not programmed, while an addition to the programme was the AAC HF Beaver and Auster. Woodvale based were the ‘Swift’ team, Tutor, Spitfire & Hurricane, Catalina, ‘The Blades’, ‘Wildcats’ and both Merlins. Also there in connection with the Air Show, but thought not to have participated: G-AOIR Thruxton Jackeroo and G-PRAG a Colibri MB.2 (but reported as a Pitts!) in “RAF Benevolent Fund” sponsor titles. Woodvale hosted a Battle of Britain fund raising event on the Friday evening. Additional to the aircraft gathered there for the Saturday, BBMF Spitfire PS915 displayed, but did not stop. LJLA based: the Tornados, Hawk, Tucano, both Gnats, both Venoms, Hunter. ‘Spare’ aircraft: Tornado ZA549/041 15 Sqdn, ZF169/169 Tucano 72 Sqdn & XX220/220 Hawk 208 Sqdn. Blackpool based: The ‘Red Arrows’. The Sea King operated from RAF Valley. Questions: Did the parachute team use the reported Cessna 182P G-BMUD out of Woodvale, or the anticipated Cessna 206 out of Blackpool, if they jumped at all? Did the Army HF Auster display alongside the Beaver, or was the Beaver a solo display? I don’t have absolute confirmation that the ‘Blades’ used the aircraft listed, although 99% certain. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 20th ANNIVERSARY SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2011
WEEKEND of 23rd & 24th JULY. The earliest ever weekend for a Southport Air Show. I for one enjoyed the sunshine, without a need to be well insulated! Certainly the organisers had no need to resort to drastic weather based decisions in 2011. At last, after several years of expectations, a static park on the beach comprising aircraft that had flown in for the day. No report for the Saturday was ever posted, but I gather there were light aircraft visiting then too. A good show, with a varied line-up. The combination of the Swordfish in formation with the Lynx pair, provided a great photo opportunity. The noise and fast passes of the Tornados in the finale ‘attack’ sequence provided needed spectacle. Liverpool John Lennon Airport were major sponsors for the 4th consecutive year. The Air Show programme (£3) showed that there was little difference to the display line up on the two days, although the sequence was much different. Main changes being that, for SATURDAY only was a RAF Valley Sea King HAR.3 and XH558 Vulcan B.2 VTS. There were presumably differences to the visiting aircraft in the beach ‘static’ park. This log is for the SUNDAY.
STATIC ON THE BEACH AND IN THE EXHIBITION ‘VILLAGE’ AREAG-BSVH/N87702 Piper J-3c-65 Cub, all yellow G-CBLW Raj Hamsa X'Air Major G-CBNJ Raj Hamsa X'Air 912 G-CCDD Mainair Pegasus Quik G-CCJM Mainair Pegasus Quik G-CFTJ Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar G-GTSO P&M Quik GT450 G-MVBK Mainair Gemini/Flash IIA "BS435"/F-FY Spitfire 9, full scale metal replica, very realistic. "IR206"/IR trailer mounted fibreglass Typhoon, 29 Sqdn marks "XX308" full scale fibreglass Hawk T.1, Red Arrows colours DISPLAY PARTICIPANTS OPERATING FROM THE BEACH:G-BDPJ PA-25 Pawnee 235, banner and glider tug G-IIFX MDM-1 Fox sailplane, "GliderFX.com" G-HILZ & G-RVMZ Van's RV-8 'RV8tors Team' "Fly2Help" G-SWIP & G-ZWIP Wells Silencer Twister, 'SWIP Team', "Scottish Widows" ZJ257/57 & ZJ276/76 Squirrel HT.1, DHFS, on beach, liaison with Blackpool during morning FLYING DISPLAY, PARTICIPANTS:G-BYWL Grob G.115E Tutor, RAF Cranwell G-IIFM Edge 360, Sbach aerobatics, no sponsor name displayed PL965/R (G-MKIX) Spitfire PR.9, all PR blue, Hangar 11 (G-PSST) Hunter F.58A, "Miss Demeanour" 472035 (G-SIJJ) NA P-51D Mustang, "Jumpin'-Jacques", Hangar 11. G-ZEXL, G-ZXCL, G-ZXEL & G-ZXLL Extra EA.300 'The Blades' Team, "RAFA" sponsored N5057V/1 & N74189/2 Super Stearman, "Breitling" wing walking team (AB910)/RF-D Spitfire Vb, BBMF LF363/YB-W H.Hurricane II, BBMF PA474/BQ-B & HW-R Avro Lancaster B.1, BBMF "Phantom of the Ruhr" LS326/L2 Fairey Swordfish, RNHF "City of Liverpool" XX244 BAe Hawk T.1, 208 Sqd, 70th Anniversary special markings XZ722/645 Westland Lynx HMA.8, RN 'Blackcats Team' special black Puma scheme ZD257/642 Westland Lynx HMA.8, RN 'Blackcats' standard scheme ZA410/016:XV Tornado GR.4, 31 Sqdn flash on nose ZD743/091 Tornado GR.4, no unit flash. Together operated as ‘Alien’ (call-sign) ZF379/379 Shorts Tucano T.1, standard RAF black scheme ZH852/68 Merlin HM.1, RN standard grey scheme, code on nose only ZK450/J Beech King Air B200, 45(R) Sqdn, 3 FTS plus 9 x "Red Arrows" BAe.Hawk T.1 The only 'no show' was Hangar 11's P-40 Kittyhawk, which had been replaced by their Spitfire PR.9 after the programme printed. Parachutists, the "Tiger FFT" formed by the Royal Artillery, unusually jumped from the two RN Lynx. The Hunter, Hawk, Tornados, Tucano and King Air operated from Liverpool LJLA Most of the light aircraft eg Blades, SBach, Swordfish, Spitfire, Hurricane, Black Cats, Breitling, SWIP Team etc used Woodvale. The ‘Red Arrows’ used Blackpool, as I suspect did the BBMF. There are great digital images of the participants: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=6885www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=6893www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=6894www.derbosoft.proboards.com.index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=6902In patchy sunshine for much of the afternoon, and a constant cooling stiff on-shore breeze provided a recipe for lots of rather red faces by the end of the afternoon. Quite a change to need sun block not gloves and hat! An entertaining display. Some slight gaps, but that is in the nature of a beachfront air display. Nice to see three participant duos actually operating off the beach. Also good to see a small collection of aircraft that had landed onto the beach during the morning. Apart from some great flying, the only innovative item was a formation formed by the two Lynx led by the Swordfish. The BBMF seemed to have refined their display since I last properly watched them a year or so ago, with the Spitfire and Hurricane flying together before solo slots. The 'Alien' Tornado GR.4 pair at the end were terrific, don't think I've seen a Tornado demonstration with so many wings swept-back fast passes before. A great spectacle, an increasing difficult feature for display organisers to find. With serious traffic jams developing after the display on the Saturday, the Sunday programme was brought forward, the first item being the Spitfire PR.9 at 1210 (40 minutes early), the last item, the Tornados 1630-1638 (again 40 minutes early), the sequence of the programme was considerably different to that published. The PA system on beach and prom was loud and clear without echo, but a real problem when trying to take an urgent mobile phone message! I really enjoyed the afternoon, well done to the organising team. Apparently it is back to September in 2012, I for one regret that, as I enjoyed not getting freezing cold and wet in 2011! A few of mine to add to the better shots on the links above:                   |
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Post by viscount on Jan 17, 2012 11:18:10 GMT 1
SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW, 2012 Indeed it is back to September for 2012, weekend of the 8th and 9th, to be precise. This will be a difficult year for the organising team, with a clamp on local authority tourism funding, funding limitations on RAF display appearances and companies examining closely any proposal for sponsorship deals. It will be interesting to see what the line-up for 2012 will produce and what part LJLA will play this year. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx IN CONCLUSION
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APPEAL FOR 2004/2006/2007 INFORMATION I’m amazed at how much detail I’ve been able to dig out for this review of the Southport Air Show. It was my intention to have this ready for the 20th anniversary, well, I’m a little late (or am I a little early for the 21st anniversary) but that doesn’t matter! I reckon that I’ve attended 13 of the 20, at times frozen and wet, just occasionally warm and comfortable. There can be no doubt that the show has improved as it has grown over the years and become a permanent fixture on the air display calendar. It is also remarkable how many seaside resorts have followed Southport’s pioneering lead. I really would like to be able to complete detail logs for 2004, 2006 & 2007. Amendments, additions and comments for any other years would be welcome too, either by PM or a posting on the thread. In addition to the weather cancelled Sunday in 2010, I have memories other badly weather hit days, certainly the weekend of 2004 and in 2006 Saturday’s flying was severely affected by cloud and rain, but where there other days too? Which year were pedestrians first charged for entering the promenade area, so ending the era of the Air Show as a ‘free’ event? In ‘digging’ around the Internet for additional information, I’ve come across several erroneous statements (mostly as photo captions) eg ‘At the first Southport Air Show’ (dated 1993), or ‘First appearance of the Typhoon’ at Southport (dated 2009) or even the 2002 programme stating that the first two-day event was in 1993, whereas I’m sure it was 1995! Incidentally, although lacking any detail, there is even an entry on Wikipedia! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southport_AirshowTrust you enjoy this factual and illustrated walk down memory lane and, please, do feel free to add your own memories and photographs. Brian Jones The hazards of beachfront air display photography:  |
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Post by john1958 on Jan 17, 2012 18:43:53 GMT 1
As always Brian, superb report.
John
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Post by viscount on Apr 12, 2012 14:55:01 GMT 1
Thanks to a great deal of assistance from John Wiseman and the Blackpool Aviation Society, I have been able to re-construct decent logs of participants for the 2006 and 2007 displays, that I had previously been missing. Post reply #6 has been amended with the new information. Still seeking complete logs for 2004, 2006 and 2007 though.
This is an unusual thread in that no one, as yet, has added their photographs taken at any of the Southport Air Shows. In particular, I would love to see the shows for 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2004 and 2007 illustrated, although any of the years pre '08 would be welcome. Were you there with a camera?
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Post by eddywinch82 on Jun 22, 2012 21:55:54 GMT 1
Hi there,
One aircraft not mentioned that appeared both days I think at the 2007 airshow, was Spitfire IXT PT462, it definately appeared on the saturday as i was there, replacing the merlin helo which went tech.
Also the falcons dropped from a chinook on the saturday. Eurofighter appeared on saturday and I think Sunday. Team guinot "wingwalkers" appeared on the Sunday only with solo Stearman. The BBMF definately appeared on the Saturday with Hurricane IIC LF363 and Spitfire XIX PM631. The Dakota went tech at Coningsby so didnt appear, i'm not sure if they attended on the Sunday. A26 Invader appeared on the Sunday only due to nose wheel shimmy on the takeoff run at Blackpool on saturday. Not sure what else appeared on the sunday. Hopefully someone can else can help out.
Eddie
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Post by viscount on Jun 22, 2012 22:27:17 GMT 1
Eddiewinch82, Thank you for taking the time to fill-in some of the 'holes' in the 2007 report. Your input is much appreciated.
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