Hi all
Permission to say a few words on the Cody flypast?
Thanks...
First, it was terrific that such an important milestone in British aviation should have been remembered at all, and it was certainly good to see many enthusiasts gathered around the Swan area joining in with the festivities. Well, I assume that there were festivities behind the shut gates of FAST.
Jobsworth was outside the Swan booking cars that were innocently committing offences under some road traffic act.. OK maybe parking on the pavement is not wise but the car I saw booked was doing no harm. WHY is it that Rushmoor should send their traffic gestapo into action just because some good meaning aviation buffs are watching a few planes for half an hour??
The fly past... Well, it was rather well punctuated with air, and I only hope that the great Cody appreciated what was being done in his name. As one who spent some years being paid to fly on VC10's it was sad that Britains most succesful commercial jet was not represented. The Spitfire? I am quite sure Mr Cody would have been beaming with pride to see our immortal fighter give him a wing waggle.. Post war. Vampire, Meteor, Canberra, Hunter, Jet Provost, Piston Provost. Auster. Lancaster. The 748. 1-11 as Bill says.. British successes that are still flying and would have been a superb salute to the guy who first took our country into the air.. I just felt saddened that after all the years of toil, in 2008 we could only muster such a small collection of aeroplanes.
I know these aircraft are very expensive to operate, I know the difficulties in putting flying events together. But I have this niggle within that tells me today's performance could possibly have been made a little more complete - and not launched by a foreign designed helicopter or supported by an American transport even if it was flown by the RAF.
The weather was good, and the Tiger Moth boys were making good use of their sticks in the lumpy air. The Anson looked good and sounded far more gutsy than I recall from the days of Blackbushe and the RAE shuttles. The Eurofighter gave a nice touch of afterburner just over one of the airfields noise sensitive spots. Nice. The Vulcan. What can one say? Poetry in motion as the aluminium cloud passes over head..
I hope I have not offended anybody by these comments. No doubt budgets are stetched, and no doubt "restrictions" on doing anything in this country may well have been a problem..
So, thank you to who ever put today together, and thank Mr Cody for starting it all in the first place!! Rest in peace.
BBC local news at 6pm is coming from FAB this evening.
PB