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Blue Eagles Team Displays – The Sunderland Air Display – 29th July 2001

The Sunderland Air Display, like the Lowestoft, Southport and Southend displays, is a free to enter show held on the seafront of a major town. As such, these displays attract the largest crowds of any of Britain’s many air shows, largely because they offer so much more to the visiting family, and often include attractions such as evening firework displays to keep the huge crowds they generate in the town for as long as possible. As a result, these shows have a very boisterous and freindly character, different from a traditional air show held at an inland location. The Team really enjoy these displays because of this, and despite a very strong and blustery off-crowd wind, they flew one of their finest displays in front of the large numbers of appreciative families gathered on the cliff-tops and seafront.


Sunday 29th July – The Sunderland Air Display

The Team lifted from Middle Wallop early Sunday morning, over the increasing fleet of Apaches

The Team lifted from Middle Wallop early Sunday morning, over the increasing fleet of Apaches.

In formation: A close-up of Julie on the left....

In formation: A close-up of Julie on the left….

 

....Terry on the right....

….Terry on the right….

....as Kav lead the Team in a "Filled Diamond" in a flypast over the Transplant Games at Leeds Stadium

….as Kav lead the Team in a "Filled Diamond" in a flypast over the Transplant Games at Leeds Stadium.

 

The Team then made a fuel stop at Leeds-Bradford airport....

The Team then made a fuel stop at Leeds-Bradford airport….

....and were in and out with great speed to meet the Sunderland deadline

….and were in and out with great speed to meet the Sunderland deadline.

 

The size of the Sunderland crowd in the early morning was an amazing sight....

The size of the Sunderland crowd in the early morning was an amazing sight….

....as the Team made a formation break to land at the local ranges

….as the Team made a formation break to land at the local ranges.

 

Once down, it was straight to the display stand, where the Team signed many posters....

Once down, it was straight to the display stand, where the Team signed many posters….

....as Colin and the rest of the groundcrew did roaring trade in Team souvenirs

….as Colin and the rest of the groundcrew did roaring trade in Team souvenirs.

 

In a packed programme, two Sunderland highlights were the F-117A Nighthawk of the US Air Force....

In a packed programme, two Sunderland highlights were the F-117A Nighthawk of the US Air Force….

....and an abseiling demonstration by the troops in the Royal Navy commando helicopter

….and an abseiling demonstration by the troops in the Royal Navy Commando helicopter.

 

The flightline at the display enabled Keith to caputre some unusual shots of the dipsplay, as here, as the Lynx pulls up....

The flightline at the display enabled Keith to caputre some unusual shots of the dipsplay, as here, as the Lynx pulls up….

....and Julie and Bill run in underneath for the heart/backflip combination

….and Julie and Bill run in underneath for the heart/backflip combination

 

Kav and Terry pull out of the elphinstone loops together

Kav and Terry pull out of the elphinstone loops together.

Ray and Richie used the display line to best effect, really throwing the Lynx through their manoeuvres

Ray and Richie used the display line to best effect, really throwing the Lynx through their manoeuvres.

 

The strong wind forced the four way crossover very slightly off line

The strong wind forced the four way crossover very slightly off line.

Ray and Richie made a series of perfect loops in the strong wind

Ray and Richie made a series of perfect loops in the strong wind.

 

Two close-up shots of the dramatic crossover break, first, as the Gazelles begin to seperate....

Two close-up shots of the dramatic crossover break, first, as the Gazelles begin to seperate….

....and then as the pilots really begin to pull and the divergence becomes marked

….and then as the pilots really begin to pull and the divergence becomes marked.

 


Click here to see the highlights from the trip home on Monday 30 July.

Archived news is available by clicking here.


 

 


 

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