| 21 July 2006 -
Farnborough airshow |
|
|
| Farnborouh
airshow takes place every two years and we have attempted to attend every
one since we met. We reviewed the flying displays and with our other
commitments decided we could go on the Friday of trade week. |
| We parked in the
official car park and jumped on the free bus to the show. The
weather was promising to be unbearably hot so we took collapsible chairs
and large umbrellas. We looked around all five halls, Martin looking
at stands and talking with some of the people who were available. I
just attempted to not pass out in the heat, and to carry the supply of
informational leaflets we were collecting. |
| By 12:30 I think
we were done with the halls, certainly I was needing a sit down, so we
headed to the area when we could sit and see the display that was due to
commence at 1:30pm. We bought a pasty followed by an ice-cream for
lunch and drank the first of many bottles of water. Although we did
see a couple of free drinking water bowsers but both were too far away
from us to use, so we bought bottles
of water throughout the afternoon. Many times during the afternoon
warnings were given about the heat and the need to drink. One lady
fainted near us but was very soon being looked after by a paramedic who
was riding around the site on his bicycle. What a good idea, he was
able to get to her far quicker than any ambulance. |
| The airshow
started with the Airbus 340 and Airbus 380 performing some amazing flying,
followed by the Red Devils parachute display team |
 |
 |
| Later the Bell/Boeing V-22
Osprey performed for the public |
 |
 |
Our eardrums were tested by
the Tornado, Falcon and other such planes, and we were rewarded by the
site of the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster of the British Memorial
fight arriving slowly for their flypast. A Tornado and Harrier
followed, but the Spitfire display was cancelled. The Red Arrows then
performed their amazing display filling the sky with red white and blue
smoke. |
| The display was
then announced as closed at 5pm so we bought one more bottle of water and
decided to let the "rush" go first. This turned out to be
an excellent idea as we were rewarded with all three of the BBMF planes
taking off and have fun in the air. Caroline Grace took her Spitfire
from the static display and taxied it to the hangers. We watched
planes take off and land and finally walked back slowly to the coach depot
to return to our car and home. We were very grateful we had taken our
umbrellas and were not beetroot red like so many other spectators.
We had a great but exhausting day. Look forward to 2008. |
