Rougham was a new venue on my ever expanding 2010 airshow calendar. Enticed by the footage online of the 2009 show and the heavy praise that is heaped onto the event year after year, I thought it was time I sampled this little gem of an airshow. Located a few miles outside Bury St. Edmonds, Rougham is about as easy to get to as one could hope, the well signposted airfield located just off a major A-road.
Upon arrival mid-morning, I joined a lengthy but fluid queue of cars driving through the industrial estate adjacent to the airfield and eventually parked up in a stubble field to the rear of the showground. Having braved the Royal International Air Tattoo "experience" a few weeks prior, it was a delight to arrive at a show only 90 minutes before the flying commenced and yet still have the pick of the crowdline. There was no rush in the proceedings; this was a leisurely paced show, quite the polar opposite of RIAT, which I found to be mildly traumatic on Saturday, but that's a story for another day!
I picked a spot to the left of the crowdline 'dog leg', which I surmised would be a prime location for topside passes as aircraft banked from left to right and vice versa whilst also maintaining a position at what seemed to me to be roughly crowd centre. It was certainly a fantastic location from every perspective; each display throughout the afternoon looked closer and thus more impactful and dynamic than at any other show I've been to this year and all the visiting pilots seemed to make an effort to utilise the airfield's natural curvature during their routines.
Furthermore, it was nice to attend a show where there isn't a mad rush for the front of the crowd as soon as the flying starts. Indeed, there was still plenty of space behind the front row throughout the afternoon, meaning that it was never uncomfortable and we managed to avoid the increasingly prevalent battles for space that have been erupting at many of the shows I've been to in 2010. Ultimately, it was about as enjoyable an airshow experience as you could expect to find in the United Kingdom, with only Old Warden surpassing this venue in so far as civility goes.
There was plenty to see and do on the ground at Rougham, with dozens of classic and military vehicles, farming equipment, amusements for the children, American trucks sporting outlandish colour schemes and re-enactment groups in one corner of the airfield, supported by armoured vehicles, a replica Hawker Hurricane and a pair of very real Piper L-4 Grasshoppers, allowing for some atmospheric photo opportunities. For those wanting to embroil themselves in the history of the airfield, the 94th Bomb Group Memorial Association had opened up the old control tower and Nissan huts to the public. I only managed a brief glance around the exhibits after the show, but there are some fascinating artefacts and articles within the museum. I'd highly recommend a separate day trip to take in the museum in its entirety on a non-show day; I know I'll be back at some point.
Alternatively, there were ample aircraft movements throughout the morning as aircraft arrived to partake in the flying or static displays. Indeed, it was nice to go along to a show without having seen a comprehensive participation list in advance. It adds an element of surprise that has elapsed from our hobby, thanks mostly to the influence of the internet, where news and rumours are the order of the day. I'd recommend that anyone wanting to recapture a bit of the pre-internet magic try coming along to a show without looking at the list - I did this, or at least attempted to, with Flying Legends and the arrivals days were genuinely exciting at times, as we peered through our lenses and binoculars trying to identify the aircraft coming over the horizon. It has actually sparked an idea that will, in all probability, be almost impossible to follow through, whereby I will attend every show in 2011 without looking at any of the published participation lists!
The flying programme itself was well structured with a fine assortment of aircraft from a range of backgrounds and aviation sub-genres; the variety extended from motor gliders to the F-15C Eagle, via warbirds, classic jets, vintage trainers and helicopters. To use the old cliché, there was something for everyone. Unfortunately, the prevailing, gusty winds meant that some items, such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Nigel Wilson's Yak 52 and Peter Teichman's Hawker Hurricane IIb 'Pegs' had to cancel owing to crosswind limitations, though the reality was that the Rougham team still managed a fairly fluid four hour flying programme with only a couple of sizeable gaps that were beyond the control of the organisers.
Opening the display was a surprise appearance by a pair of 48th Fighter Wing F-15C Eagles from the nearby RAF Lakenheath, performing two formation flypasts en route to an air combat training exercise over the North Sea. All credit must go to the show organisers for arranging this very welcome and rare display; it is a testament to the team that a comparatively small show can snare these fighters when other military shows have failed to do so in the past. The Eagle pilots were even kind enough to bank towards the crowd on both passes, allowing some close-up photographs of these machines - only at RAF Lakenheath can you see them at such close quarters. In complete contrast to the Eagles was John Elliott flying a wonderful display in his Autogyro, demonstrating the aircraft's unique flight characteristics to good effect with a series of spiral dives and tight banking turns. On one occasion, he even flew past whilst waving enthusiastically at the large crowd - "Look, no hands!"
Further contrast and proof of Rougham's sheer variety was provided by airshow legend Brendan O'Brien, a fascinating man in his own right, flying his new Piper Cub 'crazy flying' routine. I'd seen this at Biggin Hill earlier in the year where the hard runway had allowed Brendan to perform the infamous trailer-top landing, but Rougham's all-grass strip prevented such an occasion, instead allowing the Cub to cavort around the skies as though possessed by a mad man for 10 minutes, even exploiting Rougham's natural geography by flying between the trees on the far side of the aerodrome. Surely those stoic enthusiasts who turn their nose up at the "unqualified engineer steals aircraft" gimmick that accompanies this routine cannot help but marvel at the aerial expertise and showmanship borne out of decades of display flying. To his credit, commentator Ken Ellis (editor of 'Flypast' magazine) sold the gimmick to the bitter end, to the point where one gentlemen standing near me appeared to genuinely believe that a civilian had made off with the Cub...
One display act new to the circuit this year, and a first time appearance for me were the Pitts Special duo flown by Richard Grace and Dave Puleston. I was mightily impressed by the precision close aerobatic manoeuvres flown by the two Pitts Specials; their routine is somewhat limited by the Pitts' relatively restricted aerobatic capabilities, but the choreography and superb formation work make the display a job to behold. It will be interesting to see how the duo fare against the Alister Kay and Steve Jones Pitts pair, who, by the time this is read, should have debuted at the Bournemouth airshow.
Further biplane aerobatics were provided by the Bucker Jungmeister, appearing in the capable hands of test pilot and air display maestro Dan Griffith, a man famed in recent years for his stunning displays in the 'Spirit of Kent' Spitfire IX that have frequently been the highlight of any show the Kent Spitfire has performed at. Dan's display here saw the Jungmeister executing precision flick rolls, countless tight turns, wingovers and topside passes in an intense routine that ably demonstrated the excellent handling characteristics that made this German biplane a popular contender in competition aerobatics in the 1930s.
At the other end of the spectrum were the Boeing Stearman trio with their more graceful display of gentle loops and sweeping formation passes at lower level. I was particularly impressed with the choreography of their opening sequence, whereby the trio arrive at altitude in formation before peeling off into individual loops, banking away from the crowd into simultaneous wingovers and diving in towards the crowd, rejoining with the aircraft in front of them as they reach crowd centre to restore their formation.
Also flying the charismatic Boeing Stearman are Vic Norman's Breitling Wingwalkers, whose show stealing turn at Rougham was an undoubted highlight of the show. The Wingwalkers thrive at smaller venues like this, where the Stearmans can get in close and you can really see, and thus appreciate, the difficult job that Danielle Hughes and Stella Guilding (in this instance) have when faced with G forces and bracing winds. The Breitling team's art deco schemed Stearmans provided a fine contrast with the more classic Stearman variant from by the aforementioned trio, both in terms of the additional power afforded by their supercharged engines and the more spirited nature of their display.
Rougham was also treated to a smattering of World War Two aircraft displays to please the warbird aficionados in attendance. The afternoon's central set piece saw Dave Pulleston in a Piper L-4 Grasshopper flying a low altitude reconnaissance mission to identify a German tank (provided by a mock up on the far side of the airfield), during which time he was assaulted by a barrage of anti-aircraft fire before being intercepted by Mark Rijkse in the seldom seen Fiat G.46, an aircraft all too rare on the airshow circuit despite having been flying for almost a decade. After a spirited solo display from the Fiat that showed this aircraft to be an ideal act for the smaller show, being relatively low powered yet very agile and aerobatic - Mark's display was a lyrical performance of loops, barrel rolls and half cubans - that would go down very well at, say, Old Warden.
While the idea of the scenario was that the Fiat would intercept the Grasshopper before being shot down by an allied fighter, the reality saw a string of solo displays from the types involved, interspersed with the occasional pyrotechnic on the ground. With a bit of sharpening on the timings, it could have been an excellent set piece, but the pauses interspersed between the individual solo displays lessened the impact and spoilt any illusion of a 'dogfight'. Still, I applaud the organiser's efforts to try something different; after all, it's always good to see an airshow trying unique combinations and giving something of a context to the displays in an attempt to break the mould of consecutive straight-up solo displays that many shows rely on.
Representative of the US 8th Army Air Force squadrons who dominated the countryside of East Anglia from 1942-1945 were B-17 Flying Fortress 'Sally B', now in her 35th year entertaining the crowds in the UK, and Maurice Hammond's superlative P-51D Mustang 'Janie', flown with aplomb by Dave Evans in a fine routine that elicited the Mustang's trademark whistle on several occasions, be it when completing a half-cuban or pulling round the dog leg for another superb low and fast topside pass.
Seeing a B-17 flying over Rougham, one of the Flying Fortress' spiritual homes, was an evocative sight, particularly when 'Sally B' was coupled with Spitfire IX 'MH434' for her final flypast, arcing from right to left, engines smoking as the Spitfire held close, the proverbial angel on the shoulder for USAAF bombers. It was also a fitting reminder that, in a time where Vulcan XH558 seems to receive the majority of the publicity and adoration from enthusiasts, there are still worthy causes out there deserving of our support. It would be a tragedy if 'Sally B' were allowed to slip away after all this time spent honouring the bravery and sacrifice of the 8th Air Force.
Last year, Old Flying Machine Company pilots Brian Smith and Alister Kay tore the house down in the Spitfire IX and P-51D Mustang 'Ferocious Frankie', with both the duo display and solos from each aircraft leaving a lasting impression that many spectators reflect on as the highlight of the 2009 airshow season. This year, the P-51D was absent from the programme, leaving renowned aerobatic pilot Steve Jones to display MH434.
The expectations were incredibly high following last year's masterclass from Brian Smith (complete with 'Empire of the Sun' style low level pass with the canopy open) and though Steve's display - the first solo I've seen from him - perhaps wasn't quite as dramatic of that of the previous year, it was still an excellent demonstration of the Spitfire's classic performance and class.
One of the finest displays I've seen all season was exhibited by Transair Pilot Shop boss Tom Maloney, flying his BAC Strikemaster in an impactful display that showed this often overshadowed aircraft's tenacity. In the hands of Tom Maloney, it is as good a classic jet display as you're likely to find in the UK. We were also treated to a welcome appearance by the North Weald-based Folland Gnat pair, whose opposition passes went down a treat with the crowd, providing something of an alternative to the Red Arrows.
With the Gnats completing their routine by drawing a heart in the sky with their display smoke in honour of the show's sponsors, Heart FM, the flying programme drew to a close. It was mentioned, almost in passing, that we may be treated to a flypast from an aircraft currently operating in the local area; after only a couple of minutes, this final participant became clear as it loomed into view beyond the trees, unmistakable in its yellow search and rescue scheme: a Sea King from RAF Wattisham. The commentators at the time seemed to be under the impression that the Sea King would perform a single flypast, which made it all the more surprising that we saw several low and close passes in various configurations, with the side doors open and the crew waving out the side as the aircraft flew round the curved crowdline; superb! I'm sure I won't be alone in thanking the crew for taking the time to appear - we are all extremely grateful.
While Ken Ellis generally did a good job of commentating on the event, it seemed remiss not to mention the aircraft that had withdrawn from the list at short notice, despite alluding to cancellations thanks to the strong winds. Furthermore, for the second time in two years (the first occasion being Little Gransden with the Spartan Executives), he announced that there would be a "natural break in the flying" and encouraged spectators to buy some food and have a wander around the ground attractions. He assured everyone that, due to the cancellations, there would be several minutes in which nothing would be flying.
It was a surprise, then, that as I queued for a rather delicious Cajun jambalaya (having returned to the car to pick up my trusty Hangar 11 'Pegs' fleece, an essential item for any enthusiast), the SF-260 began displaying! All the more frustrating was that it was a fantastic routine that suggested the aircraft to be far more capable and fighter-like than its unassuming appearance implies. It simply would've been nice to have been given some warning that the gap in the flying would be plugged at short notice!
Commentary gripes aside, this was a wonderful show. The intimate venue meant that solo displays by smaller aircraft, such as the de Havilland Chipmunk, flown by young display pilot John Higgins (no, not that John Higgins!) in an aerobatic sequence the likes of which one would expect to see from a far more senior aviator, or the World War One trio of Se5a and a pair of Junkers CL1s, whose mock dogfight was kept close, low and constantly engaging, were far more impactful than they would be elsewhere.
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