One always spends the week before an airshow anxiously browsing the various weather forecasting sites, knowing full well that things will undoubtedly change during the week.
We were booked for the Shuttleworth Military show on 4 July, and for much of the week it looked pretty grim, with rainshowers and thunderstorms predicted. Nevertheless, we headed off on Friday night where we booked in at the Clock House in Old Warden. Theo couldn’t be there on the Friday but hoped to make it in time for the show on Sunday.
On Saturday Chill and I cleaned the trailer prior to needing it for our visit to Stow Maries on 25 July. It looks pristine now!
In the evening we ate at the Hare and Hounds, and were joined by SVAS volunteers Dave Proctor and Bob Richardson, as well as a couple of muntjac deer.
By Saturday night the forecast seemed no better than before, and we woke on Sunday morning to the accompaniment of heavy rain. By the time we got to the Collection, the rain had cleared, but more was threatened.
But in the blister hangar, there was a cheerful atmosphere, as volunteers and aircrew demolished Sue’s Guinness cake in record time.
There was a special tribute to SOE agent Violette Szabo and Debbie Land had dressed accordingly.
At midday the aircrew briefing started, and I was delighted to find Sean Fleming’s 1/4 scale models displayed, including his most recent addition – 1264 perfect in every detail, and being flown by Sue!
The sky cleared pretty much exactly at 1400 as the Spitfire and Buchon started the display, and the WWI aircraft were rolled out shortly after, though we’d put covers over the cockpits just in case.
Our slot was around 1530, and went well; the most important thing in any display is to land on time, and we did just that.
Clare Cargill took some stunning pictures, and she’s given permission for us to use them here.
Amazingly, the rain stayed away all day, and started exactly as the final display by the Spitfire landed. By the time we’d attended the briefing and cleaned 1264, it was gone 2300 before we got home, tired and very happy!
We’re looking forward to a static display in two week’s time on Saturday 17th July, celebrating 75 years of the Light Aircraft Association, without whom 1264 would never have got air under her wheels.
After that we’ll be trailering down to Stow Maries in Essex for the Wings ‘n’ Wheels event on Sunday 25th July.
See you there!
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