Blue Eagles Team Displays – The Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival – 26th and 27th July 2001

Thursday 26th July was the kick-off to what is without doubt the busiest weekend in the calendar for the 2001 Team. The Thursday and Friday were spent at what is now one of the biggest and best air displays in Britain, the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival, having already performed for the Press Day at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland. On Friday, the Team flew back to Cottesmore, to display on Saturday at RIAT, and then flew down to their home base, Middle Wallop, to fly as part of the Music in the Air display. Sunday morning sees the Team transit to Sunderland to take part in the enormous free show on the seafront there, before returning on Monday. We are able to bring you the highlights from both Lowestoft and Sunderland over the weekend, so stay tuned here.

Lowestoft is am amazing show for a number of reasons. The harbour area forms a natural ampitheatre, giving the entire crowd a good view of the aircraft, and well marked sea-borne display line makes for an uncluttered and open arena for the pilots to really make the most of. The display on Thursday was hampered by a sea-mist created by the extreme heat, giving a visibility of less then 5 km, and described by Richie like flying in a goldfish bowl! The Team however, despite this, put on a remarkable display, one of the best yet. On top of this, the ground crew did a remarkable job and had a great deal of trade. That evening, Waveney District Council hosted the Team, and all the other participants to a dinner and dance, much appreciated by all, which was topped off by a superb firework display from the South Pier.

The Friday display was flown in much clearer conditions, and wowed the crowd, being right under their noses! The Team caravan again was a centre of activity, and there are now a large number of Blue Eagles fans in the East of England. The Team departed to continue their busy schedule, and captured here are the highlights over the two days.

Thursday 26th July – Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival

As the Team ran in to display, they appeared from the murk like a scene in a movie!	As Ray and Richie pull up for the backflip, the Lynx blades flash in the sun.
The crossover break shows just how bad the conditions were, compare this with the Friday photo!	The crowd was huge, estimated at 180,000 on Thursday, and 225,000 on Friday.
Alex, Annabel and Phil, seen here on the stand on the seafront, were kept very busy for both days.	The Seafront Festival is a show of great variety, highlights included the Utterly Butterly barnstormers….
….the BAe Hawk from 208 Sqn at RAF Valley in anniversary markings….	….the Great War Display Team brought their Sopwith Triplane….
….and three SE5a’s to the display, along with the Fokker Triplane and Nieuport 27….	….and the classic jets were represented by the Meteor and Vampire pair.