Airshows 1980's / 1990's

Fires in the reheat area were common before the reason was finally identified and 'fixed' with re-worked fuel connections and seals plus mandatory fire integrity checks. The problem for the pilot was that the fires were small but intense and quickly burned though the alloy pushrod connections to the tailplane resulting in a frozen stick and no pitch control. BAC, who by then were the Design Authority introduced a modification (CSTI 232?) to replace the alloy rods with stainless steel. When I asked how effective they would be, the laconic response was that they would still burn through but would take a little longer!

The symptoms were taught to the aircrew and many who reported an in-flight fire calmly waited until pitch control was lost before calmly radioing that they were ejecting.

Another brilliant set of photos Rich, from what i have read and the pictures i've seen this show would have been a really fitting finale to the Lightnings RAF career had the weather just behaved (same old story 25 years later)
As for your remarks about how the place has changed i fully agree, i've got the DVD of the show and watching it then seeing the place as it is today seems a world apart. When i go up there i like to stand on the threshold near the Q sheds and imagine the Lightnings thundering out of the Q area and blasting off down the runway probably to intercept yet another Bear.

Okay, i admit the picture quality is really poor on these but i thought i'd share them anyway. Just a few of the hundreds and hundreds of old airshow pics i've taken over the years -
Leicester Airshow 1983 - Sally B arriving on arrivals day -

Leicster Airshow 1981 - BBMF


Leicester Airshow 1980 - Sally B and a USAF Bronco -


Cheers
Steve

Nice one Steve - this was before I had started to attend airshows !!!

Never mind the picture quality Stevie, That's the first time I've seen Sally B in an all natural colour, marked up as a 351st BG aircraft. Marvellous shot ! and I've been going to airshows since the early 70s, though mostly local one's. It's about time she was shown again as a Big Silver Bird.

airfields wrote:

Never mind the picture quality Stevie, That's the first time I've seen Sally B in an all natural colour, marked up as a 351st BG aircraft. Marvellous shot ! and I've been going to airshows since the early 70s, though mostly local one's. It's about time she was shown again as a Big Silver Bird.

Cheers chaps.
Airfields Man - if i remember rightly they changed the colour scheme to protect her from the weather in time for the 1984 season.
Well, if you guys don't mind the poor quality I'll post a few more here -

Leicester 1980 - Another of Sally B


Leicester 1989 - PBY 5A Catalina and the French Patrouille Martini team -


Leicester 1989 - Sea Harrier -


Leicester 1985 -Concorde


Leicester 1987 -RAF Andover


Leicester 1990 - The Frecce Tricolori -


Leicester 1980 - The Reds in the first season flying the Hawk



Feeling very nostalgic now lol!!
Steve

Again, good shots Stevie, Seems though that I was wrong about my recognition of Sally B with J in a triangle of the 351st BG. It's a U from the 457th BG at Glatton. Either-way great to see it like I've never seen it before. Nice one!!

Actually Paul you were right in the first place. I've just looked at some other Sally B pics from those early 80's shows at Leicester and It was sporting a J on the tail in the 1983 pics (which you saw in my first set) . They obviously changed her between 1980 and 1983.

Blimey that programme is an eye opener - Phantoms, Starfighters to a Bell Jet Ranger - what a range and diverse set of aircraft and a Varsity - those were the days my friend

hydealfred;108350 wrote:

Blimey that programme is an eye opener - Phantoms, Starfighters to a Bell Jet Ranger - what a range and diverse set of aircraft and a Varsity - those were the days my friend

A standard line-up for the mid eighty's as well. A tiny homebuilt Midget Mustang on the same line-up as the Galaxy (late addition, not on the list) at that years show ...says it all really!