Portrush Airshow 2010

[Hammerhead]

Yes RIAT is good but remember it isn't an airshow it is a market where aircraft show off their abillities and then hope to get companies to buy their kit. There are airshows like duxford and luechars that are actual airshows.

I think your getting RIAT mixed up with Farnborough....   
RIAT is a Airshow that is run to make money for the Royal Airforce Charitable Trust.....http://www.airtattoo.com/RAF-Charitable-Trust

Farnborough is a trade fair for aircraft manufactures...... http://www.farnborough.com/Site/Content/Farnborough2010/default.aspx

[String]

Yeah sorry i did get a we bit mixed up.

[Dave]

Aldergrove had two air displays back in the 80's. Aircraft displays included Concorde, US A10's, Vulcan.
 
I miss the airshows at Ards. As you say, it was a decent venue with just the disadvantage of a short runway. Handy to get to and the show back on the VJ year with the Lynx doing the backflips was excellent. Superb May sunshine that year (got my face sunburnt looking up at the aircraft!)
 
One of my problems with airshows up on the north coast is the certain element of risk you get with the weather and line up. It's a fair old drive up there, and being September you either get an ok day, or a blustery day which is not that pleasant. I hate it when things don't show up and the same aircraft (e.g. Jet Provest, Tesco Eye in the Sky, etc) do another mini display.
 
Please note, I'm not having a particular go here - I'm just depressed at our lack of a decent show to look forward to each year.

Concorde at BFS for an airshow... Impressive! Pitty Aer Lingus couldn't be convinced to provide an aircraft for a flypast or two;
 

Image on airliners.net
 
The airshows at both Newtownards and Eglington were fantastic, having runways allowed a proper display line to be set up, and walking around various aircraft was always nice as well. The same for St Angelo's although I only made it up there once for an airshow and queued up for a wee nosey around the Duxford based Catalina, G-PBYA.
 
The weather in May and June generally seems to be the best with weather having faded by September meaning we're out of luck by the time of Portrush Airshow commences. I can only remember one weekend where weather was good during the show.
 
Portrush seems to be the last viable place for an airshow in NI these days as the number of businesses who profit from the event is massive. If an airshow was to be held at Newtownards, Eglington, or Aldergrove, it would be hard for the government to justify holding airshows at such venues with a lack of local businesses about. But the fact that people can not be charged at portrush Airshow is a major downside.
 
200,000 people attended one weekend a few years ago. Charging each person roughly between £5-£10, along with the sale of several thousand programmes, and you're talking a decent amount of cash to cover for the costs and you have a self sustainable airshow.
 
I wonder if anyone has ever considered Langford Lodge as an airshow venue. It would've been a good option back when the UAS were based there.
 
Dave

[Merlin]

Aldergrove had two air displays back in the 80's. Aircraft displays included Concorde, US A10's, Vulcan.

Another display I enjoyed (though a bit of a hike to get to) was the one at City of Derry airport. The runway was long enough for the Tornado and Jaguar to land there, so you were able to watch them start up and takeoff.

Oddly enough I do remember going to one of the displays at Aldergrove where Concorde flew in. The main memory I have of that was getting my picture taken in a Gazelle.

Those were the days 

Anyone know why the show was shelved?

Been to one of the shows at City of Derry as well. Distinctly remember there being two Tornado's at that one 

I'd be curious to know how difficult it would be to shut down Aldergrove for 1 or 2 days to hold a show.

I'm assuming the airport was shut down during the shows in the 80's.
 

[greglloyd]

Actually, No. The airport remained open during the show with the normal landings and departures slotted in with the rest of the show. I remember the crowds applauding the airliners taking off! BAC-111's, older 737's, Tridents, etc!

I'd love to go to a show and see a few of those classic birds taking off today!

VC-10
BAC-111
737-200
Trident
727

Chuck in a nice L-1011 Tristar for good measure! (non military)

[Angry Turnip]

UAS had open days and some aircraft did visit but were unable to display because of the proximity to Aldergrove.
The RAF sent a Wessex and a Puma and the AAC sent a Gazelle and or a Lynx.
Anthony Hodgson brought his two seat Spitfire PT462 (G-CTIX)over once as well.
Oh and we also had a Grumman Albatross over owned by Mark DeSilva.
Just a pass or two before landing was all that was permitted.
 
With Martin-Baker being on the site the UAS had to be very careful where jo-public went and I spent most of my time up there herding people away from the Martin Baker buildings.
 
The runways at Langford are falling into disrepair and it would be dangerous except for small aircraft to land there now.
I`m fairly sure the airfield is classed as Un liscensed now.

[Merlin]

Actually, No. The airport remained open during the show with the normal landings and departures slotted in with the rest of the show. I remember the crowds applauding the airliners taking off! BAC-111's, older 737's, Tridents, etc!

Thinking out loud here, so feel free to tell me to pipe down 

An airshow at Aldergrove today could be theoretically possible? Aldergrove is not exactly swamped with traffic like Heathrow or even Dublin. Running an airshow with the odd flight in between would not be out of the question.

I'm almost certain that back in the 80's the area used for the show is now the cargo terminal.

What about having the show on the Army side of the field? They have the room and access can be controlled. Fairford does it every year.

[greglloyd]

You are correct about where the audience where. In today's cargo area.

[Angry Turnip]

Certainly the military side of Aldergrove would be a much better option,the RAF Aldergrove Family Days were pretty much like a mini-airshow except on a few occasions when the fast jets were static only.
 
There would be plenty of room that side.

[Dave]

UAS had open days and some aircraft did visit but were unable to display because of the proximity to Aldergrove.
The RAF sent a Wessex and a Puma and the AAC sent a Gazelle and or a Lynx.
Anthony Hodgson brought his two seat Spitfire PT462 (G-CTIX)over once as well.
Oh and we also had a Grumman Albatross over owned by Mark DeSilva.
Just a pass or two before landing was all that was permitted.
 
With Martin-Baker being on the site the UAS had to be very careful where jo-public went and I spent most of my time up there herding people away from the Martin Baker buildings.
 
The runways at Langford are falling into disrepair and it would be dangerous except for small aircraft to land there now.
I`m fairly sure the airfield is classed as Un liscensed now.

Excellent, thaks for the info. That clears up why Langford Lodge was never a viabale airshow location The Grumman Albatross sounds familar, I was in the middle of a weeks work experience at Belfast City Airport's ATC around 2001 and I remember they requested a flypast along the RWY from a Grumman Albatross when he was heading back to England.

[Angry Turnip]

If I recall correctly the Grumman Albatross was based in Florida and it was flown over in stages-must have been quite an adventure.
 
I notice on the Portrush Airshow website the Nord 1002 (Me108) is back and a Spitfire .
 
Doesn`t say which Spitfire is displaying,but the one in the pic is a BBMF example.
 
Hopefully a Hurricane will be added to the line-up.
 

[redpaul]

Haven't heard any mention of the Breitling Wingwalkers this year and no mention of Portrush on the Wingwalkers schedule on their website. Was looking forward to the new paint scheme.
They usually make a couple of appearances each day to fill the gaps between displays and it's looking like there could be a few more gaps this year.

Paul

[Angry Turnip]

The Bretling team are in France on the Sunday of the Portrush show,so I doubt they will be attending Portrush,especially as they now only have two aircraft.
 
I also have it on good authority that The Blades aren`t coming to Portrush either,despite not having any bookings that weekend on their display list.

[Xair]

Looks like its going to be a long day with plenty of gaps in between each aircraft or maybe get a Merlin to do loads of flypasts   Surely there are loads of Mil aircraft that could have been invited. The USA, Dutch, French airforces even the Russians, A Ryanair, BA, easyjet flypast, A cavalcade of local microlights, helicopters, the PSNI helicopter!. At least one anual airshow in NI is something that the population certainly love and have supported over the years. My favourit airshows were always at Newtonards, there was a flightline that you were close to which gave you more of an experience of the aircraft, there was a static display, smaller aircraft were more impresive, the army bombing and shot outs were entertaining, We always got a flight in a cesna or whatever was giving pleasure trips the show was more compact and you were able to enjoy it all.
Just my 2p's worth

[String]

I think so far what is on the list of aircraft is a bit dissappointing only 12 so far and only a few weeks to go. Might be a lot of fly by's with the piper arrow eye in the sky to fill in the long gaps. their have to more aircraft committed by now.

[iCardboardRobot]

I'am going to risk the wrath of folks here, but i am quite pleased that the Blades and Wingwalkers arn't coming, we have seen them do displays every year since the airshow started and to be honest i think i have seen everything they have to offer. I for one am bored of seeing the exact same aircraft every year with the very odd newbie.

 I also dont want to see an endless list of small prop aircraft doing what seems to be the same display, i appreciate that each of these aircraft are different, but to me they all seem to be doing the exact same slow pass. If were honest the majority of people come to see loud and fast jets, which i fully appreciate is difficult these days and it makes me regret taking for granted displays by harriers, Tornado's and my personal favorite the Jaguar !

I would happily not get 3/4 of these smaller aircraft in exchange for a jet, or at least something new ? As others have asked why cant we see the IAC call up or fly bys from Leuchers ?

TTF and the other extremely hard working organisers i do not want to be seen as getting at you guys as we all understand the finical and operational limits of the shows and know you all do your very best.
Paul

[String]

Luechars airshow is always the week after portrush, So not much chance of getting any aircraft from there. But i do think that even though the people behind the airshow are being put under great pressure as they dont seem to get any help from the M.O.D or even the private sector pilots that have certain aircraft that peform at other airshows except portrush.  I believe that portrush is the best area around the u.k. for displaying aircraft and show off their full potential. unlike luechars that has a height restriction due to the flight path of flight to and from EDI.  Portrush has no height issues so the aircraft and pilots can do what they love to do and show off their plane and enjoy the crowds that watch them. I know lots of people who go to luechars and farnbrough just to see the aircraft on the ground, But 2 guys that never knew about portrush came over 2 years ago and wrote on a web site that they have never seen aircraft do stuff like that at any airshow they have been too, the red arrows were amazing as the did their stuff at high speed and no height restrictions. A great venue for an airshow as the bay is like an ampithearte. And the crowds are massive.

[Dave]

I'm actually massively disappointed that the wing walkers will not be there this year    New livery this year as the Breitling Team, they always managed to fly into the bay close to spectators, the overpowered engines sounded fantastic, and the kids always loved to see the ladies on top of the wing. And they often flew double displays when other aircraft never made it. They were always reliable so without them this year, who knows what to expect...
 
The flying display is from midday until 6pm on the Saturday and on the Sunday the display time is midday until 5.30pm. Has it ever been 6 hours long before on a Saturday? Also mentioned on the flyer, there is a poppy drop so the big lumbering Lithuanian silver An-2 seems to be on the schedule although it's pictures not in the gallery of the 12 aircraft displaying...    Perhaps the Dakota will perform the poppy drop this year?
 
On a sidenote, i remember a few years ago, a Blue-note Hawker Hunter displayed at the show however unfortunately when returning back to England, the aircraft crashed into a field, thankfully the pilot survived. Link to the incident details below.
 
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/dft_avsafety_pdf_028723.pdf
 
 
 
 

[Angry Turnip]

That`s right Dave it was the first Portrush Show I went to-the aircraft had a compressor fault when it left Blackpool and should not really have attempted to display at all.
 
The weather was awful that day with a very low cloud base,the Reds abandonded their display after one pass.
 
I recall the pilot of the Hunter was a Eurofighter Test Pilot,why he did not divert to Aldergrove or Eglington when the aircraft developed electrical problems I` don`t know.
He attempted to return to the aircraft`s base in Exeter and the engine flamed out,forceing the pilot to eject.
 
Ultimately his poor judgement led to the destruction of the aircraft.
 
The image ot the Hunter`s tail stiking out of the bogland still haunts me!
 

[Angry Turnip]

TTF and his colleagues put aload of hard work into organising the airshow,and it cannot be easy with their limited budget.
 
Also there are probably only so many acts that are prepared to travel to Portrush to display,as it would possibly not be financially viable due to fuel costs etc.
 
I think we are all agreed that big stuff and fast jets are what most of Joe Public want to see,but it`s difficult to get those sort os aircraft on a smallish budget.
 
I think the show would be better as a one day event and a shorter display time;6 hrs is too much to fill.

[casper]

TTF and his colleagues put aload of hard work into organising the airshow,and it cannot be easy with their limited budget.

Totally agree and all credit to them for the job they do.

I think the show would be better as a one day event and a shorter display time;6 hrs is too much to fill.

Again I agree. The Salthill Airshow I went to a few years ago was over the space of three hours and there were no breaks between displays. I think that a 3-4 hour display would be more than long enough.

I think we are all agreed that big stuff and fast jets are what most of   Joe Public want to see,but it`s difficult to get those sort os aircraft   on a smallish budget.

But if it was reduced to a one day show then the budget is effectively doubled i.e. not split over two days, so maybe some aircraft could become possible on the budget.

[Angry Turnip]

Hopefully some displays we haven`t seen before will be added.
As mentioned by others the IAC haven`t displayed at Portrush for several years;maybe they could be persuaded to send up the Casa or a gaggle of PC-9`s.
 
Team Viper that operate 4 Strikemaster`s and hopefully 4 Hunters soon would be a very welcome addition.

[String]

Maybe but i would like to see the VENOM or VAMPIRE again. team VIPER would be nice as well.

[Angry Turnip]

Vampire and Venom make a lovely sound,but 4 Hunters would sound even better!
 
The big DC-6 was a very popular aircraft when it displayed a few years back;Air Atlantique that operate it have some lovely old aircraft.

[String]

Was taking my dog a walk when i met someone who works in portrush and he heard that either a B747-8 or B787 was to appear at the airshow . This is also reported on the niinternationalairshow facebook page by someone who says the same thing. If it is correct then well done to the organisers.