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Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2003, Biggin Hill Airport |
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Weather forecasts didn't look good for the two show days and Fridays poor weather didn't hlp with very few practises and arrivals before the weather clamped down. While most of the RAF aircraft and the Breitling Fighters arrived, only the Belgain Air Force Dassault Alpha Jet E and French Navy Dassault Falcon 10MER were able to practise. This lead to some early morning practises for the crews of the RAF SEPECAT Jaguar GR3 and Panavia Tornado F3 on saturday. Thankfully, despite the grey starts to both show days, the weather improved thoughout both days to clear blue skies. Pioneering Spirit
The show was opened by a taxy past of a Wright Flyer replica. The aircraft was taxied down the taxyways which were crammed with much later aircraft of all ages. Although only 2/3 scales, the aircraft admirably demonstrated the dramatic advances that aviation has seen. Not least when taxying past the Tornado F3s. However, it was Mikael Carlson who stole the show. Both days saw dramatic displays from his Tummelisa Replica, although it is powered by a geniune Rhone rotary engine. The display defied the fragility of the aircraft with sweeping low passes and some very tight loops. Saturday also saw lighter winds and the opportunity to display his Bleriot IX (actually a Swedish Licence built example). The aircraft appeared to struggle in the relative brisk winds, though he did manage to complete two circuits of the airfield much to the delight of spectators and orgnanisers alike, and duly won the award for the best solo display. Old Favourites and Friends
Perhaps the most welcome regulars at Biggin Hill are the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. They have an amazing record at Biggin in having only missed one or two events, and they were down to the weather and nothing to do with serviability. The combination of Avro Lancaster B1, Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire Vb is always a powerful sight over Biggin Hill and will always draw a crowd covering all the generations. Their naval counterparts too are welcome visitors with the ever popular Fairey Swordfish and it's enthusiastic crew. Most welcome this year was the return of the Fairey Firefly FB5 after it's overhaul. It infact made it's RNHF debut here at Biggin Hill after it's first restoration. To mark the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War, the Fireflt was flown in a unique formation with the North American F-86A Sabre. Again, the F-86 Sabre made it's post restoration UK debut at Biggin Hill in 1992 and was flown brilliantly by AVM Cliff Spink. Joining the F-86 was it's counterpart from the Golden Apple Trust, the Lockheed T-33 Silver Star filling in for the Sea Vixen which was unable to take part in the show.
The only representative of Amphibian aviation was from Bill da Silva's glorious Grumman HU-16C Albatross. By the time this review was written the aircraft should have arrived back in the states as it departed soon after it's display on Sunday afternoon. The Power and The Glory
RAF training was also well represented by the Shorts Tucano T1 and BAE Systems Hawk T1A from 100sqn. This is the first year a 100sqn aircraft has given an official display since the retirement of the target towing Canberra TT18. The Falcons Parachute Display Team were sadly unable to jump to the high winds. Biggin Hill always boast Foreign Military participation, a envyable reputation amongst civilian run shows. Regulars to the show are the Belgian Air Force. Despite the Belgains making a rather pointless request that all civilian shows pay the insurance cost for the F-16 putting out of the reach of most budgets their Dassault Alpha Jet did turn up with a very spirited display of negative G-force moves. The French Navy is starting to make regular visits to the show, this year bringing the Dassault Falcon 10MER martime patrol aircraft making a welcome rare appearance at a UK show. There's No Business Like Airshow Business
Aerobatic were provided by two differing examples of the art. Smooth flowing and elegeant aeros were displayed by Brian Lecomber in his Microlease Walter Extra EA300L to the Beatle's "Paperback Writer". He won applaudes form the crowd on Sunday for his display under rain laden black clouds with the navigation lights twincling brightly and the aircraft looking a little twitchy in the gusty conditions. A completely differing display of raw grunt and G-force was given by Will Curtis in the Sukhoi Su-26M displaying some really amazing moves including a full stall into a landing...and he gave his own commentary too!!! His previous mount, the Pitts Special was also present, but didn't display.
Overall, a massive thumbs up to Air Displays International who provided such a good fun display. Some top class flying in a highly entertaining and friendly environment all with some excellent organisation. The display contained very few gaps. The commentary was excellent too, once again Ron David made his annual pilgrimage to commentate with Pete McNamara with entertaining, yet informative results - a formula that works well for such an event. The only downer seemed to be getting out on Sunday evening. With everybody and everthing trying to get out it seems the some of the firm brought in as stewards saw what was coming at them and gave up leaving it totally to drivers to sort the traffic management - particularly around the ADI offices. It was surprising to see what are essentially professionals acting in such an unprofessional manner shouting at irate drivers that "there's nothing we can do" and it all lead to a small bit of choas and frustration. It appears that the Sea Vixen did not appear due to administrative matters with Biggin Hill and not due to the events at Coventry a week earlier. |
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copyright Flightline UK 2003 |
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With
the recent decline in airshows, it's good to celebrate the 40th
Anniversary of one. It's even more sweeter at Biggin Hill
considering the doubt cast over the event due to rising costs
of insurance premiums. A big thanks have to go to the big sponsors
of the event, News Shopper and the Westmead Business Group who
have secured the event for 2003 and beyond. Not only did the
sponsors secure the event, but did quite a bit for charity by
performing sponsored wing walks with 
We
couldn't start a review of this show wihout mentioning the displays
representing the first few tentative years of flight. Sadly
of course many of you will of heard of the tragic accident the
previous weekend at Coventry which claimed the life of Pierre
Hollander and his Spirit of St Louis Replica. 
It's
suprising how many UK airshow acts are Air Fair regulars. Most
prolific amongst the regulars has to be Ray Hanna. Ray closed
the flying on both show days with his typically brilliant demostration
of 
Air
Atlantique provided two formations from their historic flight
to represent some of the other advancements over the last century.
Notable inclusions included the De Havilland Dragon Rapide,
The
modern day Royal Air Force is always represented well at Biggin,
not just because of the history, but also as it is one of the
big shows for recruitment. The 
Biggin
wouldn't be Biggin without some fun time flying. The show wouldn't
be complete without some Barnstorming, Aerobatics and some celebrities
Fufilling the first criteria were the Utterly Butterly Barnstormers
with their two 
But
it was perhaps the events just after three o'clock on the Sunday
which were perhaps a high point of the show. In a full public
display debut (the prototype having displayed over Filton in
2001) a Virgin Atlantic