Since the Royal Air Force vacated the site in 1998, the sprawling airfield at Manston has played host to a number of international freight and domestic passenger services. Nowadays, movements at the airfield are fairly numerous, varying from cargo and aid flights by assorted DC-8s, 747s and Airbus variants, to a thriving general aviation community, fronted by TG Aviation and several helicopter companies. As a result, the airfield formerly known as RAF Manston, London-Manston Airport and Kent International Airport is probably at its busiest for some years, with daily international flights and weekly passenger flights to locations across the United Kingdom, supplemented by the occasional interesting military visitor and frequent local flights by TG Aviation's Boeing Stearman.
The north side of the airfield bears the remnants of the sizeable domestic quarters left by the RAF, together with the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre (DFTDC) facilities, which includes a fire dump littered with retired types and housing, amongst others, examples of Jaguar, Phantom, Canberra and Wessex. Charting the airfield's storied past is the Manston History Museum, a fine attraction housing several aircraft and a plethora of photographs and assorted aviation memorabilia. Adjacent to the History Museum is the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Building, which focusses on Kent's role in the Battle of Britain. The Memorial Trust hold an annual fundraising event, utilising the now unused taxiways and grass area on the north side of the airfield with a variety of ground attractions to support a small flying display of Kentish aircraft.
Now in its third year, the fundraising event traditionally falls on May Bank Holiday weekend, taking advantage of the RAF participants operating from Manston for the Southend Air Festival as an added bonus for visitors wishing to see some modern heavy metal. Whilst the ever popular airshow superstars, the Red Arrows, were absent this year, the RAF Typhoon was present at Manston, putting on a crowd-pleasing spirited departure at 5pm on Sunday afternoon before arriving back, fast and low down the runway following the completion of the aircraft's show closing slot at Southend.
Unfortunately, advertising for the event left a lot to be desired. Save for a couple of banners erected outside the museum itself, there was little to suggest that there was an event taking place at Manston over the weekend. Having spent the previous day in the company of several local residents, it was abundantly clear that there was little local knowledge of the fundraising event; indeed, more people were aware that the Typhoon was operating from Manston for the Southend airshow than they were that there would be a flying display on Sunday afternoon! Furthermore, when sitting in a lay-by next to the runway waiting for the Typhoon to return from Southend, I was approached by a couple who live under the approach to Manston, who had seen a Spitfire displaying earlier in the day and wondered what the occasion was! While the event attracted a fair sized crowd, it was nowhere near the size it could have been had the marketing been more comprehensive and widespread. It would certainly benefit the event, particularly given that it is a fundraising exercise, if the organisers would broaden the advertising by engaging the local media and signposting the event on the surrounding roads - neither of which seemed to be evident. Relying primarily on word of mouth prevents the show from achieving its full potential in respect of crowd figures. Promotional materials promising aerial battles between Spitfire and Messerschmitt, multiple aerobatic Spitfire displays and an appearance by the RAF's premier fighter, the afterburning Typhoon, supplemented by plenty of ground attractions to entertain the children would surely have helped draw more substancial crowds to the show.
I arrived at around 11am and parked under the nose of one of the derelict Boeing 747 carcasses that dominate the Manston skyline. The marshallers had a tough job keeping the public from walking under the ravaged airframes of the 747 and MK Airlines DC-8 parked up on the apron, though to their credit, they managed admirably for the most part. The bulk of the parking was located on the large ramp that was once used by visiting helicopters in the RAF days and I have fond memories of standing on the roadside watching Dutch Alouettes, German Army CH-53s, Belgian Sea Kings and all manner of NATO helicopters being refuelled on this ramp before departing.
On the ground were several military vehicles, a number of fire appliances from the Manston Fire Museum and the usual fairground attractions, alongside stalls and displays from the Isle of Thanet emergency services and the local Air, Army and Sea Cadets. The Manston-based helicopter operators also had some of their immaculate machines on show, offering visitors the chance to book pleasure flights over London or the local area. In all, there was a fair amount to satisfy the casual spectator - there was even the obligatory 'anorak' stall selling bits of aircraft, though he didn't appear to be doing the best business at Manston! Scattered throughout the day were a number of chartered flights from overseas, including a distinctly non-politically correct smoky DC-8 and a far 'greener' Airbus A330, adding some civilian variety to the proceedings.
The flying display acts were spread over the afternoon, between 2pm and 5pm, featuring Kentish based vintage aircraft and the White Waltham-based Messerschmitt Me-108. Given Manston's current layout, the display aircraft had to remain parked up out of sight on the other side of the airfield, denying visitors the chance to have a closer look at the participants. However, with the airfield segmented by a main road and the north side fenced off completely from the south, there may not be any other way to bring the aircraft closer to the public.
There was no official programme available as far as I could tell, making it very difficult to determine when the air displays would be taking place. A print-out of the provisional flying order, posted in one of the museum buildings, would have been useful for those who wanted to position themselves in a good location to watch the flying or schedule their day around the display acts. The scattering of aircraft over the afternoon made it especially important, in my mind at least, to keep spectators informed of what was happening and when.
The display was opened by an entertaining dogfight between Clive Denney in the Me-108 and Dan Griffith in the 'Spirit of Kent' Spitfire IX. I'd wondered how the Spitfire would fare against the Messerschmitt, given the contrast in speed and power between the two machines, but in this instance Dan Griffith demonstrated the Spitfire's impressive low speed handling capabilities and manoeuvrability to keep on the 108's tail until the pesky Hun had been dealt with, the Me-108 scarpering for the coast with smoke trailing from its engine.
The Spitfire was then put through its paces in the first of two solo displays from this aircraft. As always, Dan's routine in the 'Spirit of Kent' was spellbinding. Flying at a lower power setting than the majority of warbird displays you see, the Spitfire was shown off from all angles, with the display mixing vertical aerobatics, topside passes, tight turns and barrel rolls in a seamless presentation that emphasised the grace and beauty of the Spitfire's design alongside the power and turning capabilities afforded by the Merlin engine.
United States trainers were represented by the locally based TG Aviation Boeing Stearman, and the Rochester stationed 'Yellow Peril' T-6 Texan, the latter being formerly owned by the late Paul Morgan. Both the Stearman and Texan were displayed in fine fashion by aerobatic pilot Sam Whatmough. The Texan display in particular was very photogenic, with plenty of close topside and banking passes.
Later in the day, Clive Denney displayed the Me-108 with a solo routine. While the organisers were limited in their resources in mounting an airfield attack sequence, they did admirably to stage an effective set piece with only a handful of re-enactors and some small pyrotechnics at their disposal. Complimented by air raid sound effects, the commentator explained the historical context behind the sequence, detailing Manston's role during the Battle of Britain and building a picture of the events of May to August 1940 to supplement the Me-108s 'strafing runs'. On the ground, re-enactors fought off the Messerschmitt with small arms while air raid sirens rang out and the sound of bomber formations played over the loud speakers. This is exactly the type of engaging scenario that helps inspire and inform the younger generations and credit must be given to the organisers for their efforts in using the limited (in a numerical sense, I add) aircraft and resources at their disposal to mount a good, meaningful depiction of an air raid.
The show was closed by a superlative second, 10-minute display by Dan Griffith in the 'Kent Spitfire'. It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the finest routines I have witnessed; a refined masterclass of finesse, showing off the Spitfire from multiple angles at very close proximity. Dan's displays show the agility and beauty of R.J. Mitchell's design perfectly, with the Spitfire even producing the whistling sound usually associated with the P-51D Mustang. I don't recall seeing a display profile that exhibits the Spitfire in such a manner as this, with the aircraft kept in front of the crowd for the duration of the routine. It is just fantastic display psychology that has a similar impact and intangible connection with the crowd that the late, great Ray Hanna's Spitfire displays used to deliver.
This display was particularly poignant, given the part the airfield and aircraft played during the Battle of Britain. I'm sure many were left with a spine tingling feeling as the Kent Spitfire victory rolled over the airfield before departing into the sunset. Following the main event of the afternoon, the RAF Typhoon departed for Southend, going ballistic on takeoff before banking to the right and overflying the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum with afterburners roaring. It was a fine way to end the day - the juxtaposition of the RAF's past and present.
GAR wants to interact with its readers so if you have a question for the author or a comment to make on this feature, please click on the button below. The best comments will appear right here on GAR.2010-06-25 - Eric
Thought it was a great day with the aircraft flying displays fitting in with Kent Internationals arrivals and departures. Was a nice fete like atmosphere uncluttered with too many people (sorry, don’t do crowds!). Perfect!!!
2010-06-18 - John Renton
+1 for Dan Griffith's display Elliott ~ brought back fond memories of Ray Hannah. Hope you'll be covering Margate this weekend, weather permitting. I'll be there, teeth chattering in the wind and rain no doubt!!
2010-06-08 - Paul Fiddian
Another fine read Elliott. Interesting to hear that Sam displayed the Stearman and the Harvard: I went to school with him!
Your Spit shots are bordering on the epic, by the way!
Looking forward to future write-ups as ever.
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