SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW: Report from our Glenn Field Correspondent Scoop B

Hi Woodsy, I attended the Southport Air show, northern England, last weekend and as usual took a few snaps. Thought maybe you and the blog readers might like to see one or two.

 

There was plenty to see, wing walkers, helicopters, aerial display flying, parachutists and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

 

But, like most overgrown schoolboys with Thunderbirds in the blood the Jet displays are what I look forward to.

 

The show opened with the fabulous Red Arrow display team, always a crowd pleaser. Seen them dozens of times but their precision flying never fails to impress me.

 

As with last year the mighty Vulcan XH558 once again flew majestically over Southport beach. I’m told that next year might be its last outing as it’s Olympus engines would by then have reached the end of their operational life.

 

Another restored vintage aircraft also made an appearance. The Gloster Meteor, the first operational British jet fighter. Looking like a design straight out of a Dan Dare comic strip, these jets first saw service towards the end of the Second World War, shooting down V-1 flying bombs. Unfortunately, these planes were involved in quite a few crash landings, as they proved a bit too fast for pilots at the time who were used to flying Hurricanes and Spitfires.

Coming right up to the present day, the Typhoon Eurofighter multi-role combat aircraft flew past the crowds at a fantastic pace. This futuristic plane is capable of Mach 2, around 1,400 mph.

Finally, two Tornado GR4 swing-wing aircraft treated the crowd to a simulated bombing run, complete with a pyrotechnic display. Both Tornado’s sped above the onlookers from either direction accompanied by loud explosion's and clouds of smoke coming from the beach.

Great stuff.

Watch The Skies

Mike Scoop B

Glenn Field