The Army Air Corps Historic Aircraft Flight

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The 2005 Team Displays – Sandown, Isle of Wight and Music in the Air, Middle Wallop – 30 & 31 July 2005

Saturday 30 July 2005

The Sandown Air Show is one of the best kept secrets in the United Kingdom. The show is now in its second year and is not so much an airshow, more of a cricket match in atmosphere. The participating aircraft are mere feet away from the crowd, and the pilots walk through the crowd to get to and from the aircraft. After each display, the crowd give each pilot a round of applause as they leave their aircraft. As I said, more of a cricket match than an air show! The massed formation of the two Army Air Corps Teams literally filled the sky in the Sandown valley, making the sight all the more impressive. The reaction of the crowd was enthusiastic in the extreme, with a standing ovation for both Teams as they landed. Another factor that makes the Sandown show so special is the venue itself. The airfield running down the gently sloping valley means the natural backdrop makes for a dramatic display experience for the pilots and spectators alike. Throw in an excellent retaurant and huge bar, and you have the perfect venue for an airshow!

On the Saturday, the weather was definitely not of the best, low cloud and a gusty wind making conditions difficult. The only good news was that the wind was blowing straight down the runway, so at least there was no on or off crowd component for the pilots to cope with, the gusts making it quite difficult enough. However, further North, at Middle Wallop, preperations were in full swing for the annual Music in the Air classical concert and display, and sadly, there the heavens opened and torrential rain was added to the strong winds. Below are a selection of the best photographs from both displays.

All photographs Keith Draycott and Julian Humphries.

Coming in to land at Sandown on the Friday night. The participants had already started arriving and were in their display positions.	Bill’s Beaver outside the Sandown clubhouse in the low sun of Friday night.

The close in arrangement of the display meant Keith could capture the Team in close up. Here Chris lifts in the Alouette….	….followed by Jan in the Scout…..

….and Rod in the Sioux.	Bill gets airborne in the Beaver, a very short take off due to the strong wind.

Connor takes off in the Chipmunk….	….followed by Peter in the Auster.

At this point, Morrigan, the Teams emblem, joined the display!	The fixed-wing section passing behind the Sioux.

The fixed wing section in line astern.	The ‘aerial ballet’ by the rotaries shows just how glowering the sky was!

Post display, Chris prepares to depart for Middle Wallop in the Alouette.	Jan lifts off while Don give a cheery wave from the back of the Scout.

By the time the Teams arrived at Middle Wallop, the Music in the Air crowd was already building.	The AHAF began their display in the pouring rain with the sections break.

The AHAF got a huge round of applause from the umbrella-clad crowd, as they were the only Team to complete a display in the totally horrible weather!

Click here to see the highlights from the Airshow on Sunday 31st July.

Archived news is available by clicking here.

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