Blue Eagles

Associated sites:
Army Historic Aircraft Flight | The Museum of Army Flying | Army Air Corps Recruiting

Thursday 01 and Friday 02 August 2002 – Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival

The Team were a major attraction at the Air Festival this year, having been so well recieved last year their display has become a favorite with the huge crowd. On the Thursday, the day dawned badly, and many assumed flying would not be able to take place at all. Low cloud, intermittent drizzle and a dank sea-fog all added to the general gloom. However, despite this, the Lowestoft regular show-goers seemed to know something we did not, and already some 50,000 people were gathered by 10:00. They proved right, by 10:30 the sky had begun to clear. The fog dispersed, and the drizzle slowly tailed off until by 11:00 there was only the odd shower. Steadily the cloud lifted and although it never broke, the cloud base rose to over 2,000 allowing most of the participants to fly their full display. By the time the Blue Eagles flew, at 16:40, it mas a much more cheerful prospect, and the Team put on one of their typically stunning performaces, drawing many oooo’s and ahhhh’s from the 125,000 strong crowd.

Despite the weather the stand crew remained their cheerful….	….and helpful selves all day. Note the wet weather gear!

Jennie knew the display area, and became a fount of all knowledge for the crowd.	Paul Dockrell answered a myriad of questions about the display from Team fans.

Despite the weather, the fans flocked to the stand.	And many got to try out the Gazelle cockpit, including Aaron and Peter, two new recruits perhaps?

The display begins with a three verus one opposition cross.	Ray and Julie run in to perform elphinstone loops in line abreast formation.

Followed by Keith and Lea running in to pull up for the heart, leaving a giant smoke shape in the sky.	A close up of Ray pulling hard around an Elphinstone loop, the smoke really standing out against the dark grey sky.

The spectacular finale, Julie, Keith and Lea run in for the Prince of Wales Feather’s break.	As the Team lined up to take a bow, the crowd gave them a spontaneous round of applause!

Click here to see pictures from Friday’s display.

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