Southport Air Show 2012 - Part 1

IT was Southport Air Show's 21st birthday and more than 150000 spectators turned out over 2 days, for what was biggest event of its kind in the North West, in 2012. The forecast was for fairly good weather on Saturday, 8 September 2012, in fact it turned into a very hot, sun burning one. This good weather and line up of aircraft drew the crowds in from all over the UK and further afield. The visibility on the first day was ideal for the spectators. Sadly that visibility and weather was not going to last and on the Sunday, it was a gray sky for most of the day. It was also considerably colder, but still the crowds flocked to the show. The wind on the Sunday also got up and coursed problems for the air displays, resulting in the light aircraft leaving the beach early. That was a blessing in disguised for them, as just after the last display took place in the sky, the rain came down hard, at the time they had been due to take off. On both days spectators could wandered around the beach and seafront. Once in the display area, they found nearly something for all age groups; including a mixed bag of side shows and stalls in the tented village, even the Manchester's Starchaser space rocket, that the group hopes to launch from Southport beach within the next year. Visitors also found that the UK's Armed Forces were present with many activities and items to explore, along with various military associations along the side of them. However on both days, the main attractions were, of course, the flying machines. The assortment was most intriguing, and consisted of many varied types of aircraft from the past to the present. For many the Red Arrows, make the start of a show or the close of a show and it was fantastic to see them take to the skies again over the Sefton Coastline to open on both days the aerial spectacular. As a mark of respect for the 2 pilots who sadly died this year (2012), the team took to the sky with only 7 planes, and they preformed a fantastic opening display for on both days. The other displays over the 2 days included aerobatics, parachuting and formation flying, but some of the aircraft would be set to steal the show. Also attending this years show was a very brave young lady who managed on both days to wave, as she wing walk on an old biplane, as it preformed death defying swoops, loops, swerves and dives. Normally this young lass would be with another aircraft, with a fellow team member also wing walking, but this girls solo display was so good, you forgot one aircraft and team member was missing! If you attended on the Saturday, you might not have believed your eyes as the crowds were amazed to see a stunt pilot touching down onto a moving vehicle and landing! Sadly the on the sand meant he could not stay on for long as the trailer was sinking into the beach, but he did land and we have video on next weeks issue to show it! But luck was not with O'Briens Flying Circus on day 2 as this dazzling display of the pilots skill and his aircrafts dexterity was to be troughed by the wind and then the 4 by 4 Ford, that was pulling the specially made trailer, broke down. It was a shame to see all the steep climbs with stalls being preformed by the pilot bringing his so close to landing again, yet not being able to. Then seeing his landing strip being towed back in by tractor was a huge shame. We cant wait to see him next year, to see him pull off another landing like he did on the Saturday! Also taking place on both days, it was wonderful to see the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The biggest attraction of this fly pass had to be the Lancaster bomber, PA474, built in mid-1945 and She is 1 of only 2 surviving airworthy Lancasters in the world; the other is in Canada. She was escorted by the Hawker Hurricane and the Super Marine Spitfire. Both her escorts demonstrated that they can still manoeuvre at speed. Europe's newest and most high-tech military aircraft, the Eurofighter also appeared on both days, giving a deafening wake up call, in-between the prop displays, just to awaken any spectator who might have started to day dream. If the aircraft displays and the wing walker proved to be insufficient to quench your thirst for aviation, and joint car and plain stunts where still not enough, 3 parachutists, again on both days, showed how accurate they are at landing on a target, with the help of modern designed chutes. During the short lulls between flights, the commentaries were first class, giving us all information about the pilots and their aircraft. It was not just plains taking to the sky, performances also included the Royal Navy Black Cats Display Team - Lynx Pair. They preformed many thrilling the audience with their dynamic, close formation, flying skills. Plus you could not forget to mention the amazing sound of the Vietnam War, veteran aircraft, the Bell Huey UH-1H. Ending both Saturday and Sunday's proceedings with a bang, with the thanks to the pyrotechnics of Event Horizon and the Tornado GR4 who did a simulated an attacks on the beach. But fir the true aircraft enthusiasts, the highlight was the illustrious Vulcan Bomber that made an appearance at the show on Sunday. This icon of British military history was conceived in 1947 to carry the Atomic Bomb is was something not to be missed. It is a true gem and a dramatic site to see. This years show was a very well planned and many of those attending told us that this was:- "the best Southport Air Show yet"; almost everybody was saying that they were looking forward to the next years. Well done to Sefton Council and its Tourism Department, along with all the groups, pilots and entertainers who took part in this 21st birthday show. Please enjoy part 1 of our photograpic coverage. Part 2 will be in next weeks issue!

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