Wings and Things 2004, Woodchurch, Kent - 1st August 2004

At last some decent weather for once at a weekend. We'd heard great things about a little event at Woodchurch, and with the weather looking so good, it was a no-brainer to go and have a look. The airfield at Woodchurch is actually Rob Davies "back garden" and where he operates his famous P-51D Mustang "Big Beautiful Doll" and it's friends. Woodchurch though has a long association with aviation having been home to a wartime airfield used by the RAF and USAAF. Paul Johnson/Flightline UK braved the heat to bring us this report.

In fact I lied about little event at Woodchurch, it's quite sizeable actually. But it really is held on Rob Davies land for the benefit of the Woodchurch Museum Trust and 305 (Ashford) Squadron, Air Training Corps.

The first thing that strikes you about this event is just how popular event this is, nit only with the public but all the participants. On top of the air display there's a huge classic and vintage car show put on by a number of clubs from the local area and nationally. There were also tractions engines and steam rollers plus a traditional fun fair. The aircraft owners love it too. Most appear at Woodchurch for free on behalf of the charities. This year the Anitique Aiplane Association of Switzerland put in an appearance as part of their fly-out to the UK. Woodchurch allows the public to get really close to the display aircraft and pilots, who were only too happy to talk about their aircraft.

The flying display was a high quality affair, and one that a lot of bigger airshows would be proud of. Opening the display was Will Ciurtis in the Honda Dream Team Sukhoi Su-26M2 for another polish performance with the usual banter between pilot and team commentator Pete MacNamara. Other top class aerobatics came from Diana Britten in her French registered CAP232.

Early years of flight were well represented by the Great War Combat Team with one of the first appearances of the second Junkers CL1 replicas. Both have "dummies" in the rear seats. Their faces are actually connected to the rudder controls so the guns actually move in flight simulating combat.

Much of the display was supported by the Tiger Club which is based at nearby Headcorn Aerodrome. As well as supplying the inenvitable De Havilland Tiger Moth, which incidentally was the oldest airworthy Tiger Moth G-ACDC which was the third built, they also fly a wide range of other types. Most surprising of all was an aerobatic Pik 20D glider in the hands of Alan Garside who managed to keep his hat on throughout his display! Also arriving courtesy of the Tiger Club were two Bucker Jungmann displays as well as first display by Maurice Hammond's Boeing Stearman. However, their flagship display is the aerial circys act that is the Turbulent Team with their limbo poles, flour bombing and balloon bursting antics.

The Big formation aerobatics routine was flown by the amazing Aerostars in their Yak 52/50 mixed formation.

Another company out in force at Woodchurch was the Real Aeroplane Company based at Breighton in Yorkshire, which is definatly not local. As well as bringing their regularly seen Hawker Hurricane XIIc, their was a rare away display fot their Miles Magister and one of the first displays by the recently returned Supermarine Spitfire PRXI. Due to restrictions at Woodchurch, Taff Smith elected to keep the Spitfire at a bigger airfield using his own Jungmann to transit between sites!

A couple of rare displays came from 1940's liaison aircraft in the form of Peter Teichmann's Beech Staggerwing and a Stinson Reliant. Both put on very elegant displays

There were infact plenty of warbirds at the show. Pete Kynsey flew the Fighter Collections Goodyear FG-1D Corsair which made for an awesome site operating out of Woodchurch and put on a spirited display.

Of course, Rob Davies and Maurice Hammond contributed a great deal to afternoons flying with displays from Rob's Yakovlev Yak-11 along with their T-6 Havards, joined by Chris Bellhouses example and of course, the two mighty North American P-51D Mustangs Big Beautiful Doll and Janie. As well as providing solo and formation displays together they both formed up with other warbirds in two rare formations. Firstly, they formed up with Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Sally-B represented the mighty 8th Air Force. It was Sally-B's first visit to the Woodchurch show and a visit that was well received by all the spectators from the local area. Although B-17s were never based at the wartime Woodchurch airfield, it is known a number of examples crash landed at the strip on their way home. Woodchurch itself has a strong link with the 8th Air Force, the USAAF 373 Fighter Group was based at the airfield during 1944.

The second of the formations was the impressive site of Golden Apple's F-86A Sabre, flown by Mark Linney, leading the two Mustangs in a Korean War Tribute. As always, Mark put on a super smooth solo display in the F-86A. Rounding off the display was another jet, this time the Kennet Aviation Folland Gnat T1 wearing Red Arrows colours smoking it's way round the blue kentish skies.

Woodchurch certainly is a great event with something for everyone in a friendly atmosphere with some great attractions. The show was well run and held in a very friendly atmosphere with some truly memorable flying. At only £10 per adult, the show is excellent value for money too. We're sure everyone had a great day (though a pilot of one of the visiting microlights may well have not had such a great day after having a more bumpy landing than usual after his nosewheel decided to give way!)  Defiantly one to look out for in next year's calendar!

 copyright Flightline UK 2004