Blue Eagles Team News for 2005

03 and 04 September at Biggin Hill International Airshow.

All seemed perfect after the sunshine of the transit down to the airfield on the Friday, and the weather for the practice display can only be described as perfect. However, on the Saturday a foggy morning gave way to a very hazy but bright day, meaning that a lot of the display took place against a diffusely lit white background! Despite the bumpy and extremely hot conditions, the Team performed with the now expected style and accuracy, drawing much applause from the crowd. Last year at Biggin Hill the Team won the Shell Trophy for best team display at the show. It is good to record that the rotary winged triumph continued this year when Flt Lt Carl ‘Zack’ Zachary was awarded best solo display for his incredible, almost aerobatic sequence in the massive twin-rotor Chinook. Sincere congratulations to Zack for this well deserved award!

Sunday dawned in similar style, if anything more haze settled over the airfield meaning the conditions were even worse. We had to depart Biggin Hill with the Historic Aircraft Flight, so the last but one shot shows the Lynx and Gazelles about to do the tail-chase down the runway, the first and only time the Team have been photographed air to air during a display!

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Saturday 03rd and Sunday 04th September

The haze is evident in this long shot of the combined formation.	The sun was trying as the Team flew past in vic and the AHAF began their display.
The cross-over break from almost alongside.	Jim and Grant crossing at the bottom of the heart.
The reverse vic with the Lynx reaching the vertical.	The Gazelles pull up for the corkscrew.
The Gazelles form up in line abreast to land….	….followed into the slot by the Lynx.
Sunday morning and the Team had a last minute banter session prior to the display!	Alastair and Andy make last minute checks as the Team start up.
Al Rickers and Grant lift off….	….and follow the Lynx out to the runway.
The haze seemed heavier than Saturday as the Teams ran in….	….but it suddenly looked clearer at the upwind end!
Flt Lt Carl ‘Zack’ Zachary was awarded best solo display for an amazing Chinook display.	A last look at Biggin Hill with the Lynx and the two Al’s forming the reverse vic on the left.
A farewell flyby from a member of the crowd, Dave Kane gives the crowd a cheery wave!