The
Blue Eagles 2003, thank you and farewell
from the Team Manager, Major Colin Dunscombe.
 After
3 years of managing the best helicopter display team in the world, it
is now time for me to move on.
I won’t pretend it’s been a pleasure all of
the time, but it’s certainly been a challenging 3 years!
After the fantastic successes of 2001, during which the
team performed in front of crowds of 6 million and had 10 million visitors
to the website. An truly incredible year!!
The following year we unfortunately lost the Lynx due to
operational commitments; this was felt particularly by the team’s
staunch supporters and despite the sterling efforts of Maj Ray Turner
and all of the team, we all felt the display could not continue for a
further year without the back-flipping marvel. Fortunately we were blessed
with support from the highest possible levels and managed to re-introduce
the Lynx for the 2003 season. Though a very short season of only 5 weeks
it proved to be particularly successful nevertheless. I understand that
the usual format will be returning this year and the season’s length
will be returning to the more normal 4 months, so do look out for the
team at an airshow near you.
I would like to thank all of the team’s supporters
around the world, your enthusiasm and
staunch support never ceases to delight myself and all team members. Keep
up the good
work.
To all those I’ve worked with within the team, a heartfelt
thank you, very few people realise just how hard you all work to bring
your inimitable style of performance to the display circuit. The long
hours spent in practice and every weekend throughout the season is testament
to your dedication and commitment. I may be slightly biased, but you are
all stars and I feel very proud to have worked with you through some interesting
times.
It would be very remiss of me not to also take this opportunity
to thank all of your families,
without whose support the team could not exist.
To all my good friends in the display industry best wishes
for a safe and successful season for
’ 04 and in the future. Particular thanks to Ray Thilthorpe, Sue
Henderson, Gp Capt Les
Garside-Beatty and the directors of RIAT – Tim Prince and Paul Bowen,
to all of you many
thanks for your help, forbearance and advice.
We live in changing times for the display industry and my
fervent hope is that it weathers the
bean-counting attitudes that are becoming so prevalent and continues to
be the second most popular spectator entertainment in the country.
Finally, I would like to pass on my best wishes and support
to this year’s team, an entirely
new team commanded by an old friend of mine Maj Adrian Palmer. GOOD
LUCK and BREAK
A LEG!!
Major Colin Dunscombe.
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