Heart Air Display and Classic car Show
Rougham Airfield Suffolk
August 16th 2009
Air Display & Arena
As I stated in the Introduction page the airshow exceeded our expectations. It was continuous for 4 hours and was still going when we left to drive the short journey to John & Linda's. How this comparatively small event manages to finance an air show of that size is a mystery to all those there. A few selected photographs of the planes and arena follow.
These WW1 planes are replicas and I believe are normally to be found at Duxford air museum not far from Rougham. They flew in for the day and put on a mock dog fight with the German WW1 planes.
That gunner really looks realistic. In case you haven't realised, it is a dummy
Another shot of the famous SE5A
There were 3 of these attractive American Spearman biplanes on display. Their radial engines making a very distinctive sound.
Here are the 3 of them in formation. They looked so stable you felt as though they virtually flew themselves.
No need to tell you what this plane is. Note the touch of placing a Triumph Spitfire next to it.
It flew in formation with an American Mustang.
The good old Hurricane. The Spitfire may have been given the glory, but this was the real workhorse of WW2.
The American Mustang which put on an aerobatic display alongside the Spitfire.
The familiar silhouette of the Lancaster bomber, with bomb bay open. What a magnificent sight and sound.
Note the blue skies.
This is a sight I'd never seen before, an American flying fortress. Both this plane and the Lancaster made several runs over the airfield. Each flight must cost a LOT OF MONEY!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is a Russian Yak. I seem to remember seeing one at Popham airfield in Hampshire at a previous Classic car Show many years ago.
This uninspiring little plane is the L4 Cub and is based on the Auster. However, it is interesting because it supposedly caused the enemy more damage than any other aircraft. They were used for "Air Observation" and as "Forward Air Control" Collectively they were known as Grasshoppers.
Probably the stars of the show, the Spitfire and Mustang performed intricate manoeuvres in close formation.
This sprightly little jet trainer is (I believe) an RAF Hawk as now flown by the Red Arrows.
This tiny little autogiro proved to be extremely agile. The pilot threw it around with abandon and I half expected the frail looking craft to break up!
Many American forces were stationed in this area during WW2 and the tradition lives on. There were enough vehicles to create an armoured division. Where on earth do they keep these monster vehicles and tanks. They filled the arena and it looked like another division was still parked elsewhere.
The show also included displays of formation flying by Gnats (ex Red Arrows planes) and just as we were leaving an American Sabre jet (remember them?) was putting on a high speed performance. The only plane that was missing was the Dakota. Altogether it was a great show. If the show is on again next year, we'll be there!
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