One of the most successful airshows of the past two years has been the Bournemouth Air Festival. In 2009, over 1.2 million spectators enjoyed the Air Festival so this should be a popular production.
Hallmark have produced a very different DVD. The coverage of each display is far more extensive than we may be used to. Many items have their display covered in it’s entirety making the complete flying displays portion of the DVD run for around 1 hour 40 mins! That doesn’t include all the extras!
Commentary on the DVD is shared in the most part by Brendan O’Brien and Jez Hopkinson. Commentary for the Red Arrows, Blades and the Black Cats is provided by thier own team members and often recorded from their live commentary. This may lead to the odd bit of background noise, but it does give a really good feel of the show’s atmosphere.
Despite some small errors in the commentary, there are several very pleasing aspects to the coverage. Despite having to face into sun, there is some really wonderful footage and great image quality. The seafront at Bournemouth allows for several different views of the flying display whether it be from the beach or on top of the cliffs. It is very good to see that Hallmark have taken full advantage of this with a wide variety of angles of the flying display alongside the occasion on-board footage. I’m really quite envious of the cameraman who filmed the event from the top of the Queen’s Hotel -- that footage is particularly spectacular.
The coverage takes in all the displays, even those that appeared on just one of the days making this DVD a complete record of the weekend. The only minor niggle was a rather odd caption for the Hunter display (“Kemble Jet 01″) which appears to be someone taking more notice of the flying display directors flying programme rather than the aircraft!
As well as the main flying display program, there’s an extensive set of bonus interviews and footage. Interviews come from a number of displays including the Vulcan, Team Guinot, Black cats and Typhoon. There’s also an interesting time lapse section of the show as well as features with the show organisers and coverage of other aspects of the festival. These extras add another dimension to the coverage, particularly explaining how the Air Festival benefits Bournemouth and it’s business which is not often covered in other productions.
There may some small faults with this DVD, but I really think this is a well thought out and content packed DVD. It’s refreshing to see something a little different from the norm.
A good place to start would be the Abingdon Air & Country Show, one of the very first airshows of the year. The Abingdon show was one of the first for Planes TV using new camera equipment bringing some very good image quality throughout the DVD.
The DVD starts with a brief look around the show with some passing shots of the classic cars and even the daleks! The “aviation” side of the DVD is opened by the dramatic arrival of the RAF’s C-17A Globemaster III. For anyone who was actually at the show, you’ll remember just what a sight it was and PlanesTV capture it well. Interviews with the crew are particularly welcome.
The flying displays are all captured well with the odd interview and some stunning on-board footage of the Jet Provost, Swift Aerobatic Display Team and the even the Tigers Parachute Display. It would have been nice maybe to have a little more interviews, particularly from those displays with the onboard footage.
The bonus features for this particular DVD are the complete display sequences from the Jet Provost and Swift Team’, the departure of the C-17 and even some footage from 2008. The Jet Provost and Swift Team footage features Planes TV unique “Interactive” functions utilising the “ANGLE” function. This allows you a very close up view of the action including the concentration on Guy Westgate’s face during the famous “roll-on-tow” and the smoke trails leaving the wingtips during the glider solo! The only slightly strange thing is the sound is from a ground recording and you occasionally get the noise of a support vehicles during the on-board footage!
As a record of the day, this is good production which captures the event really well without many distractions.
A new feature from Flightline UK in 2010 will be regular reviews of the latest Airshow DVD releases. I should confess that I actually haven’t bought an airshow video or DVD for a number of years. I suspect a lot of this is down to the emergence of Video Sharing websites and pretty “iffy” productions in the past.
Planes TV setting up another angle at Biggin
However, the companies producing these videos have not gone away and the advent of the DVD and it’s versatility as well as the online “On demand” TV channel may mean these productions make something of a come back. From what we’ve seen so far, the productions are far more professional and the image quality has been superb.
We be looking a various different productions and we must thank Planes TV and Hallmark Productions for kick starting this new feature.
Flightline UK hopes all it readers had a very merry christmas and have a very happy new year. Hopefully the good weather we had in 2009 will continue for the next air display season. 2010 is promising to be an exciting display season with the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain providing the focus for a number of airshows.
There should be plenty of Spitfires and Hurricanes gathering at venues such as Biggin Hill, Duxford and Shoreham for some spectacular set piece displays. Biggin Hill is looking to attract some of the allied air forces that also took part in the Battle and things are looking look for a couple of spectacular performers to make their Biggin début. The modern day Royal Air Force will of course pay tribute with major displays at Cosford, Waddington, RIAT and Leuchars.
Elsewhere, RNAS Yeovilton will be celebrating it’s own 70th Anniversary and Shoreham Airport it’s 100th! Both should see some very special displays at their respective airshows. RIAT is looking good in 2010 having already announced participation from the Romanian Air Force with MiG-21 Lancers and a C-27J Spartan. Waddington too is finally hosting some decent foreign military participation with a sizeable contingent from the Czech Republic (Gripens, L-159s, Mi-24 and An-26.) Hopefully, both shows will be announcing further débuts in the coming weeks.
There’s also plenty of new display acts for 2010. Richard Grace is putting together a Pitts Special Duo while Pete Wells, Andy Preece and Guy Westgate will be seen displaying a pair of Silence Twisters. The “Duo” concept is proving to be popular with Bob Grimstead working on a Fournier pair and also a pair of “Boredom Fighters” available for displays in 2010. Hopefully the Royal Navy Historic Flight will be back with it’s unique and varied collection of naval air power back to full strength. Another historic collection that will hopefully be making a comeback will be the Fighter Collection after some paperwork issues with the CAA. In any case, TFC will undoubtedly be putting on the finest warbird flying display at Flying Legends Airshow in July.
A RARE Cold War jet fighter will perform its first flying display in the UK for almost a decade when it appears at next summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) has agreed to send two MiG-21 ‘Lancers’ to the Cotswolds: one for static display and the other to take part in the flying display. It also plans to send its latest support aircraft – the C-27 Spartan – to the airshow on July 17-18.
Air Tattoo organisers welcomed the news and said it reflected the excellent relationship the airshow enjoyed with the Romanians stretching back to 2001. Then, Air Tattoo co-founders Tim Prince and Paul Bowen helped the Romanians stage the Romanian International Air Show at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase – the first truly international airshow to take place in the country since the 1930s.
As a token of their thanks, the Romanians sent a MiG-21 to display at the Air Tattoo in the same year – though not at RAF Fairford. In 2000-2001, the Air Tattoo was staged at RAF Cottesmore whilst repairs were made to the Fairford runway.
Air Tattoo Chief Executive Tim Prince has thanked the Romanians and said the build-up to next’s summer’s airshow could not have been given a better start. “The Air Tattoo’s success is built on a unique spirit of friendship and professionalism that we share with air forces around the world. In some cases, foreign pilots who displayed with us in the 1970s have since risen through the ranks to now occupy senior military positions. Over the years, we’ve also been keen to share our experience of staging airshows with other countries and in doing so, have established genuine friendships.
“Displays in the UK by MiG aircraft are always a great treat not only because they come over so rarely but also because of their illustrious history. I think most British aircraft enthusiasts will consider that Christmas has come early!”
The ‘Lancer’ fleet constitutes the backbone of the Romanian Air Force, performing air defence, close air support and training roles. Whilst the aircraft has more recently participated successfully in various NATO exercises, during the Cold War, it was one of the Eastern Bloc fighters feared most by the West.
Earlier variants took part in the Vietnam War, the Middle East conflicts of the 1960s-1980s, the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, the Angolan Civil War and the Balkans War of the 1990s. The Romanians are due to replace the aircraft in 2012
The Heart of Scotland Airshow 2010 will be staged over 2 days (5th and 6th June, 2010) at Perth Airport. The aim of this event is to Celebrate some of the many aviation anniversaries happening in 2010.
1. The 100th Anniversary of the FIRST Scottish International Flight Meeting
staged at Lanark in 1910!
2. The 800th Anniversary of the Royal Burgh of Perth!
3. 70th Anniversary of The Battle of Britain!
4. 75th Anniversary of AST Aviation Training!
5. 50 years of AST Operations at Perth Airport!
The event also aims to raise money for some worthy local and National charities
and have a GREAT weekend of aviation from the past, the present and hopefully International too!
More details and updates to the website will be from early January 2010 – http//:www.perthairshow.co.uk
MONEY raised at this year’s Wings & Wheels airshow at Dunsfold Park near Cranleigh will help build a series of Army Recovery Centres across the UK.
Help for Heroes chief of staff Mark Elliott, accompanied by soldiers who have been seriously injured on active duty and undergone intensive treatment at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court near Epsom, made a special visit to the airfield on Wednesday to thank Dunsfold Park Ltd and local people for raising £20,000 for the charity.
Dunsfold Park also treated its visiting heroes to lunch and an afternoon watching the next Top Gear programme being filmed on the test track and in the studio.
“Thank you very much for this donation,” said Mr Elliott. “Every penny we receive goes towards what is necessary to support our wounded soldiers.
“It will go towards our next big project, which is to build up to seven recovery centres as part of the welfare pathway to provide further rehabilitation for soldiers after they leave Headley Court.
“We are working with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the public for the benefit of these remarkable young men and women who need our help now.
“They will be built in super garrisons as directed by the MoD and there will be one in Aldershot. The first one in Edinburgh was opened by the head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, in August.”
H4H has just raised £8m to build a new rehabilitation complex at Headley Court, which will house a swimming pool, two gyms and a medical research centre.
Building work is already well under way and the project is due to be completed early next year.
“The pool is built now and it looks incredible,” said Mr Elliott. “General Dannatt told us to do something the army needs and everything we have done is driven by our passion to help these incredible young men and women.”
Lance Corporal Matt Kingston, 25, from the Royal Marines, had to have his right leg amputated below the knee after he was hit by sniper fire two years ago while on patrol in Afghanistan.
A truly inspiring role model, he was back on his feet as soon as possible with the help of a prosthetic limb.
He joined the fundraising Khumbu Challenge earlier this year and undertook the testing trek to Everest base camp.
“I’d never done anything like that before and it was pretty amazing,” he said. “My injury has definitely made me stop taking things for granted and made me want to get out there and do what I can for others.
“I’ll be running the London Marathon next year and will also be doing the Big Battlefield Bike Ride, which is more than 350 miles.
“I’ve just been discharged from Headley Court. It’s a brilliant place and the staff are fantastic. Everyone works really hard and it’s so busy at the minute.
“I hope to go back to the army but it won’t be in the front line. I want to be back with the boys. I have rough days but most of the time I just crack on
The organisers of Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival are backing an appeal to keep flying an iconic aircraft that has brought “the wow factor” to their past two displays.
The world’s only airworthy Vulcan bomber, based at Bruntingthorpe, near Leicester, is in danger of being grounded forever unless £800,000 can be raised before March 31.
Lowestoft airshow chairman Paul Bayfield hopes the money can be found so the giant, delta-winged aircraft can again add “wow” next summer’s show on August 12 and 13.
He said: “It is such a crowd puller. It has what we call the Harrier effect. The whole world stops and watches it. Part of the fascination is wondering how an aircraft with such a unique shape can stay up in the sky.”
Vulcan XH558 starred in 33 events this year – including Lowestoft on July 23 – and altogether appeared in front of 2.5m people throughout the UK and Europe.
Supporters need to raise the first £200,000 by Christmas in order to keep the aircraft in airworthy condition through to its 50th anniversary year in 2010.
Dr Robert Pleming , chief executive of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, said: “We recognise these are difficult times but we firmly believe we are doing the right thing, so we are asking for a mixture of pledges and donations towards the £200,000 we need by Christmas.
“It is hoped our proven reliability and known crowd pulling power, known as the Vulcan Effect, will be an attraction to corporate sponsors and add to our growing commercial activities making us self-financing.
“This has always been our aim, but in the meantime we can only survive on the goodwill of the public who continue to see our project as a worthy cause.”
Funding the Vulcan project has been a constant struggle, having taking the dedicated team 15 years to restore the Cold War bomber to flight in 2007.
Now a total of £2.4m is required to cover operations next year, including hangar and office rental, a large allowance for fuel and servicing with components overhauled or replaced. Revenue and donations should cover most of the bill but leave the £800,000 to find.
Donations and pledges to the appeal can be made by calling 01455 637 864 or visiting the website: www.vulcantothesky.org
On Saturday 5 December, Imperial War Museum Dxuford hosted a very special children’s Christmas party, organised by the 48th Fighter Wing of the United States Air Force in Europe in association with the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Seventy children from the Dolphin Ward at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow attended this very special Christmas party and mingled with service personnel, and their families, from the 48th Fighter Wing. They joined in arts and crafts activities, sang carols and welcomed Santa, who arrived in style via helicopter.
This very special party continues the tradition of Anglo-American relations that dates back to the Second World War. On Christmas Day 1943, the 78th Fighter Wing Group of the United States Army Air Force, who were based at RAF Duxford, hosted a party for local children.
Imperial War Museum Duxford was delighted to be the host venue for this very special event.
Imperial War Museum Duxford is delighted to announce that it is the proud recipient of the Digital Access Onsite Award in the Jodi Awards 2009.
The annual Jodi Awards are given by the Jodi Mattes Trust for accessible digital culture. Imperial War Museum Duxford shares this valuable award with Antenna Audio. It recognises and celebrates the innovative audio guide that is offered to blind and partially sighted visitors within AirSpace, ImperialWar Museum Duxford’s stunning exhibition gallery which tells the story of British and Commonwealth aviation.
The potential for an audio guide to form part of the interpretative process for blind and partially sighted visitors was identified at the concept design stage for AirSpace. The exhibition itself contains many opportunities for tactile and sensory engagement, which the audio guide enhances and complements. The guide has been designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people and was created with the dedicated support of focus groups consisting of visually impaired people who were actively involved in the project from conception to completion. IWM Duxford is extremely grateful for the support provided by these groups, which included the Saffron Waldenbased Support 4 Sight charity and Fighting Blindness – the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society.
The audio guide empowers blind and partially sighted people to visit AirSpace alongside their family and friends on equal terms. It integrates with a full range of access provision at IWM Duxford, including RNIB Map for All, designed for sight and touch in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People. All access facilities are available free of charge.
Peter Bosher, Jodi Awards Assessor, whose enthusiastic visit to IWM Duxford lasted a full five hours, said: “I have rarely enjoyed a visit in such depth. I shall return with my family.”
Richard Ashton, Director of IWM Duxford, said: “My congratulations go to all staff in IWM Duxford’s Interpretation and Collections Department for whom winning this award is a fantastic testament to their skill and dedication. I hope that this accolade will encourage blind and partially sighted people to bring their families to IWM Duxford for a fun day out.”
Further good news – the Dawlish Carnival Airshow will return in 2010 on Thursday 19th August. The show provides some spectacular views of the displays from the beach and the surrounding cliffs. It’s shares it’s date with the first day of the Bournemouth Air Festival which will no doubt help in attracting some good participation.
We are very proud to announce the start of a new display act for the 2010 season – THE TWISTER DUO. Using the beautiful Silence Twister, the team will be performing an exciting dynamic display, combining synchronised and close formation aerobatics to highlight the Twisters excellent handling and agility.
The Team is led by composite specialist Peter Wells who has built both aircraft. Pete runs Zulu Glasstek, a composite fabrication and repairs business as well as being the UK agent for the Twister. Pete has been instrumental in the development of the aircraft and has recently overseen the testing of a new power-plant for the type, the Belgian UL260iSA aero engine. Pete has been displaying the Twister in UK , Europe and the Middle East as a solo act as well as with the Swift Aerobatic Display Team since 2007.
Our second aircraft will be flown primarily by Andy Preece. He is a vastly experienced pilot and has flown the Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR7 strike aircraft. In 2007 and 2008, Andy was the RAF’s Tutor display pilot performing at air displays across the UK and Europe .
Sharing the second aircraft with Andy will be Guy Westgate. Guy is eight times UK national glider aerobatic champion and has represented the UK at three world glider aerobatic championships. Guy leads the Swift Aerobatic Display Team, who have performed their ‘Roll-on-Tow’ glider displays across Europe and the Middle East .
The Twister is a stunning new composite kit sports aircraft built by Silence Aircraft in Germany . Developed from a world beating Radio Controlled Model, the Twister has an uncanny resemblance to the iconic Spitfire.
“The aircraft is remarkably efficient thanks to its smooth lines and efficient elliptical wing. After 1200 hours on the Twister, I still get excited when opening the hangar doors” says Peter.
The aircraft has received plenty of attention since it first appeared and has been featured in a number of articles in leading General Aviation Magazines.
The Team are working up a smooth, flowing and dynamic 7 minute display with an environmentally-friendly smoke system.
“Our aim is to provide a safe, exciting and memorable display, leaving our audience wanting more” says Guy.
During the 2010 display season, the team will be supported by Dynon Avionics, CRH Plant, UL Power and GA Europe. Already confirmed are displays in the Czech Republic , Germany , Belgium and UK .
The Team are taking bookings for the 2010 season; for more information, please visit our website www.twisterduo.com , or call Pete direct on 01844 208157.
Be the First to Comment 
