Blue Eagles Team Displays – Waddington – 28th and 29th June 2003

The Team left Middle Wallop on the morning of Thursday 26 June to attend the Press Day at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire prior to displaying at this major Air Show over the weekend. The skies were overcast and a thin mist had settled in the South, but this soon improved as the sun burnt off the worst of it and the Team arrived at Waddington in the midst of a glorious summer’s day. A recce was flown to familiarise the pilots with the layout of the display line, followed by a full practise display in front of the assembled press. The RAF station steadily filled up with the aircraft of many nations throughout the aftenoon, some a riot of colour having come from the recent ‘Tiger Meet’ held this year in France. The hospitality to all arriving at the Lincolnshire airfield is legendary, and this year was no exception as accommodation, food and coffee were quickly sorted out in the pilots tent.

Thursday 26th June

Leaving Middle Wallop in mist and low visibility.	Ray and Chris hard at work in the Lynx during the transit North.
Silverstone race track scene of another display later this season at the Grand Prix.	The view over the nose on approach to Waddington’s huge runway.
The Gazelles queue up to follow the Lynx into the landing area.	Capt Sam Pickering (Eagle 5) lands in the bright sunshine.
The start of the 2003 display is quite a startling manoeuvre!	Kav and Neil fly the Elphinstone loops, the white smoke is for the practise only.
Kav and Neil pulling up for the 90 up/90 down bunts.	Ray and Chris in the Lynx, caught at the top of a loop….
….and during the amazing backflip, part of the finale of the 2003 display.	One of the most unusual formations is flown by the residents of Waddington, the Nimrod R1 and Sentry AEW1 aircraft based there.