Aeroplanes and Farnborough!!

We used to go a lot to air shows, but not for a while, as neither of us is very good at walking or standing for long periods. Never been to Farnborough, it`s a bit far in a day, but have been to a few other venues. Used to love Gary Newman`s aerial displays in his pseudo Japanese plane, having dogfights, does he still do those?

Yes, gangy5, me too. I would have loved to join the ATC at my school but it was open only to the boys. I was also a huge Biggles fan! I was thrilled, as a child, to be taken to an air display at Leuchars RAF base, not far from my granny's home in Fife. Military jets were then quite an innovation. What's more, the then Princess Elizabeth was present. Here in Cheshire there used to be an air show at Woodford, until recently home of BAe, but this was discontinued, I believe owing to its proximity to Manchester Airport. It was great to be able to lie on a sunlounger in the garden watching the Red Arrows overhead.

PS, we also loved being "bowed to" by the Harrier jump jets!

This year there were very few military aircraft and of course no harriers. Formerly the Russians would be present with their large transporters and war planes, the French, Americans, Swedish, Italians etc. etc. This year, although the program started at 12.30 and was supposed to end at 5.30, there were long gaps between each display as if they were attempting to spin things out. All in all things were not like they used to be - a pity - I won't be going anymore.

And it`s expensive now, when we went it was £10 a car, no matter how many were in it, now it`s getting on for £15-20 EACH!

I was working at Farnborough all week. It seemed quieter and not so many people. There weren't the usual number of planes flying during the week. Disappointing. They all seem to go to RIAT now which is the weekend before the start of Farnborough.

I used to love the Harrier - quite my favourite plane. Made me proud to work for the company that built them. I do love Typhoon though.

My father always went to the Farnborough Air Show as it related to his job. Somewhere, I have cine film of several air shows dating back to the 1950s. I have inherited numerous boxes of cine film showing all sorts of things – from my own christening to pre-Sadam Baghdad – that I shall sort out and get converted to DVD wen I retire.

absentgrana Wow! They will be very interesting pieces of history!

We paid £35 each to go into the show on Saturday. we went by coach, the parking charge for which would have been added into the fare, so that was obviously extra.
Yes janthea I don't think it was as busy as I had remembered it previously.

I was at DD in Camberley on Saturday. which is the next town to Farnborough. We heard lots of aircraft but didn't see a single one due to low cloud

Lived in Cove(3 miles from Farnborough) in the 60s.Passed my driving test in Farnborough.The air show was a great event.
Red arrows frequently flying over our house.
Have a photo of me looking very smart with my hand resting on a Rolls-Royce.- Poser!!

The red arrows flew over here on way to or from..it was early so not part of a display I think!

The red arrows flew over here on way to or from..it was early so not part of a display I think!