Show Report
Shepway Air Show 2000
Folkestone Sea Front
Date |
3rd September 2000 |
Weather |
Variable high cloud but warm and bright. |
Highlights |
The number of unusual flypasts and the contribution of 25 Squadron. |
Report |
OA free show that gets better each year. If only more show organisers had the foresight to include these pairings: Tornado F3 (56 Sqn) and Hurricane, Canberra and Hurricane, Tornado F3 (25 Sqn) and Blenheim. Just a dream? No, it really happened here! The crowd appreciated the support given by 25 Squadron that was adopted formally by the town of Folkestone in 1993. For many years and including during the Battle of Britain, the squadron was based at nearby Hawkinge and the routine by four of their current Tornado F3 mounts was very well executed. In addition, HMS Exeter, a Type 42 destroyer arrived in the morning and was anchored off the coast for the duration of the show. Other participants were a Harrier GR7, Jaguar GR3 and the 56 Sqn Tornado F3 after performing its flybys with the Fighter Collection’s Hurricane. Unfortunately, the advertised Sea Harrier F/A2 failed to show. The finale that followed the display by the Red Arrows, saw the ‘Reds’ reformate over the channel before returning for a final flypast, followed closely by a superb formation of eight Spitfires and a single Hurricane. The formation then broke to fly a ‘tail chase’ sequence very close to the Leas with the sound of those Merlin’s and Griffon’s sticking in the memory for a while I suspect. A nice location and a well thought through programme made for a very enjoyable event. Definitely a group of French people sitting nearby who had popped over the channel for the day seemed to think so! |
IMPORTANT:
PLEASE NOTE: I retain copyright to all photographs on this site. Should you require to use any then please contact me first. Thank you.
The fornation arrival of four 25 Sqn Tornado F3's for the start of their well put together sequence that was very well received by the spectators.
Although flown by 25 Sqn it was noticeable that some of the aircraft were borrowed from other units.
The first of the imaginative flypasts. Prior to performing its own display this Tornado F3 from 56 Sqn did a couple of passes with the Fighter Collection's Hawker Hurricane.
It was nice to see the BBMF Dakota display in addition to the rest of the flight.
A nice sequence was given by this ex-Swiss Air Force De Havilland Vampire.
Best of British! You won't see this formation too often, a Hurricane and a Canberra. The organisers deserve credit for arranging this.
The British Army Blue Eagles perform a break with their Gazelle AH1's.
One of the 25 Sqn Tornado's returned to perform a flypast with the Blenheim.
Fantastic Finale! A truly memorable flypast from eight Spitfire's and a lone Hurricane that then went on to perform a series of tale chases close to the Leas cliff tops.
IMPORTANT:
PLEASE NOTE: I retain copyright to all photographs on this site. Should you require to use any then please contact me first. Thank you.