A day out with a few friends to see the Leuchars Airshow, followed by a wee bit of a party... Thanks to everyone for driving/hospitality/company - a good time was had.
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After 2 hours in traffic queues, someone got over excited and managed to get a Mondeo Estate sliding sideways in the car-park, covering it in mud.
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The excitement all seemed to center on Vulcan XH558 - the first Vulcan to fly in 14 years. Much of the flying was being curtailed by weather, but with crew swarming around the aircraft hopes were high...
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The squirrel helicopter managed to get airborne - but it's a little smaller and operates under millitary rules.
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The nosewheel of a F16 fighter...
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...and the same fighter head-on.
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Airfields seem to have such wierd and wonderful constructions, brightly coloured like toys. I can only guess at what they are for.
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I'm not the only one photographing this Tornado GR4 taking off...
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...before meeting a tragic accident and flying into a loudspeaker.
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Tornado GR4 in flight. You can see the hot gasses from the afterburner.
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I'm not sure, but it looks suspiciously like the owner of this Eurofighter Typhoon is spoiling for a fight...
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...yep, fully loaded. So I won't be messing with him...
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The Red Arrows take off in close formation...
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...before all but disappearing in the murk.
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They were only just visible in the clouds on their first pass of the field.
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Visaibility improved slightly though, and we got a good "red white and blue" pass...
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...and a fair bit of flat formation flying.
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The grey smoke wasn't especially effective against the grey sky.
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This formation is called "Space Shuttle" apparently...
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...and this is a tribute to the shape of the WWII Lancaster Bomber.
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Steve looks generally unimpressed with the visibility.
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The Red Arrows finish their display by peeling off from the formation one at a time in a maneuver known as the "Battle Break"...
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...before landing in pairs.
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Finally it's the turn of the Vulcan. We hear the engines spool up and she start to gain speed quickly...
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...but then the engines cut and the pilot brings the nosewheel up to use the giant delta as an air-brake...
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...visibility is too poor for this aircraft to fly in civilian hands, so she can only taxi back and forth a couple of times.
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So near... but yet...
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A photo of a Vulcan flying at Leuchars in 1991, with the Russian Knights display team on their first visit to the UK in the foreground. This is what we hoped to see...
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A Spitfire does it's turn, but the poor conditions mean no aerobatics today.
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Well, not much in the way of aerobatics.
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Hmmm, maybe it's time to move. I feel like I'm in someone's sights...
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XH558 is brought to a halt near the crowd so we can get a closer look. Crew swarm under her, helping the crew get out.
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Such a shame we didn't see her fly, especially since the trust who own her are running out of money and she may soon be grounded again. blip!
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Ahh, a quick dram before we re-enter the mud-mobile.
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A few beers at Kirsty and Ray's house. We're all still taking pictures. Me of Steve. Steve of me...
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...and Doug of Steve!
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Steve is an angry man. His words, not mine.
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Ray is not angry, instead appearing confused.
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Linda meanwhile seems somewhere between amused and resigned...
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...while Ruth may have had one shandy too many, but is happy about it. A great evening then!
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