Dunsfold Wings and Wheels 2014

It is nearly the end of August and we are back on the road after a lovely summer spent enjoying our Suffolk home. We usually spend large parts of the summer travelling around the UK but Kate wanted to spend more time at home this year, making the best of the garden and conservatory.

August Bank Holiday weekend means Dunsfold Wings and Wheels, one of our favourite shows and one where we can camp on the airfield, so early Friday morning we left home for the drive on the usually busy roads to Surrey. Our 7am departure meant that the traffic was much lighter than we anticipated and even the Dartford crossing didn’t delay us for too long and so we were the first to arrive at Dunsfold. Very soon the rest of the set up team started to turn up and once Bob and Isi arrived with a trailer full of kit we could get cracking.
In the past we have had contractors build our marquee for the Vulcan Village but that costs large amounts of the money we are trying to raise to keep our Vulcan flying. Now, for medium size shows, the Trust have purchased some self assembly Gala Tents that just slot together. In a short time we had two 8x4m and one 4x4m tents erected to make a large U shaped arrangement. Once Mark arrived with the van full of stock and tables we could dress out the inside and get the stock laid out ready for trading on Saturday.

Laying out the stock.

 

Looking good and ready to trade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vulcan Village and motorhome.

A chilly but sunny start to Saturday and with the gates opening at 9am we were all ready to go in plenty of time. Dunsfold were hoping for a really busy weekend with a number of ‘star turns’, including the worlds only two flying Lancaster’s, the usual BBMF ‘Thumper’ and the visiting Canadian ‘Vera’, the worlds only flying Vulcan, our XH558, and on Sunday the ever popular Red Arrows. Saturday was a fairly busy day and our new Vulcan Village layout worked well. Vulcan arrived with an escort of three rather small jet aircraft, the Gnat display team from North Weald. Sunday was packed and for the first time the organisers had to stop selling tickets on the gate and turn away anyone without prepaid tickets. We heard that the traffic jams went on for miles as thousands of people tried to get onto the airfield.

Vulcan and small friends silhouetted against a lovely sky.

Vulcan and Gnats.

“Don’t look over your shoulder, there’s something rather large behind you”.

Vulcan with her little friends.

Flying the Canadian flag for their Lancaster as she arrives with ‘our’ Lanc.

Bomber sisters, BBMF Lancaster ‘Thumper’ leads the Canadian Lanc ‘Vera’.

‘Vera’.

RAF and Candian flags flying above the motorhome in support of both bombers.

Formation of D Day aircraft.

Spitfire and Mustang in close formation.

Mustang roll.

The Red Arrows arrive.

The Reds.

Starburst.

Break, break, GO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time the show closed on Sunday evening we were all pretty exhausted but then the stock had to be packed away, banners and flag poles taken down and the tents dismantled and carefully packed away and loaded for the trip back to base in Leicestershire. It was well after midnight when some of the volunteers got home but for us it was just a matter of climbing into the motorhome, opening a beer and popping the pizza into the oven. We spent a third peaceful night on the airfield rather than have to drive a long distance in a state of near exhaustion.

 

This is what happens to your shoes after working in the Vulcan Village-totally knackered.

On Monday morning, as Dunsfold was slowly returned to normal, we drove south to spend a few days close to Chichester Harbour on a small but perfectly formed C&CC Certified Site. The weather had changed from the sunshine we had enjoyed over the weekend into rain that became heavier the further south we went. Fortunately the grassy site was firm and our four ton van didn’t sink in.

The weather stayed ‘iffy’ for the next few days so our usual days of walks around the shoreline, sunbathing and barbecues turned into reading or just sitting inside the motorhome relaxing. Even so, we still enjoyed our stay at Cobwebs with its pleasant views over fields and the peace and quiet that comes from being well away from busy roads.

By Friday morning we were ready to do it all again as we left Cobwebs to head east to Shoreham for the RAFA Airshow.

Shoreham RAFA Airshow

Saturday 31st August – Sunday 1st September 2013

Shoreham is always one of our favourite air shows with its laid back atmosphere and the lovely setting below the South Downs, the view dominated by the cathedral like chapel of Lancing College right on top of the downs. Once again we have a great team to work with, Shackers is Event Manager, Sue, Sean, Cliff, Paul, Steve, Kate and me with Paddy signing books and pictures. The team all know exactly what needs to be done and as soon as we open for business everyone just gets on with their jobs without Shackers having to say a word. That is what a great team should be able to do.

Part of the ‘A’ team. Shackers, Paul, Sue & Steve.

It is a chilly start but the sun soon warms things up as the public start to slowly trickle in and we start to get a little trade.

Day one of two day shows, usually a Saturday, is normally the busy day as most enthusiasts tend to attend whereas Sunday is more of a family day and much quieter for us. This Saturday, however, there is most definitely something missing as the crowd is smaller and we are finding business slow. It could be that the Vulcan is only booked for Sunday and everyone is waiting for that.

Saturday ends as it started with very disappointing takings and we spend much of the day standing around waiting for someone to talk to.

As we are staying on the airfield we are treated to a dazzling kite display as darkness falls. Each year a group of kite enthusiasts fly huge bat like kites that have LED lights flashing in random patterns. As it gets darker the lights make beautiful patterns in the sky which are quite magical. We have our supper watching the display through the sky light.

Kites illuminated with flashing LED’s

Sunday dawns bright and sunny if a tad chilly and as soon as the gates are opened it is obvious that the crowd is going to be bigger. Soon there are Tweets to warn people about the delays on surrounding roads, something that definitely didn’t happen the previous day.

This is a reversal of the usual airshow crowd and we are busy as soon as the gates are opened. Although Airshow organisers will not admit that it happens there can be no doubt that there is a huge ‘Vulcan Effect’ going on here. For us the two days are like chalk and cheese, Saturday standing around waiting for the time to go by, Sunday is busy, busy, busy. The stand is constantly full of people excited about seeing our Vulcan, asking questions about the future and the possibility of her flying for an extra two years.

Then, bad news. At first unconfirmed reports talk of a fuel leak on the aircraft and after frantic phone calls it is confirmed; during the BF (Before Flight) service the engineers spotted a leak in No. 7 wing tank. Safety must always come first and so the flight was cancelled. Bugger!!!

Huge disappointment among both the crowd and volunteers and a few tears were wiped away on the stand as we prepared to tell people the latest news. We all spoke to loads of people and there was not one complaint that she was not coming. Everyone, without exception, said safety must come first and although disappointed they all understood.

Despite not having an aircraft to wow the crowd we continued to be busy and the days results were very commendable. With a very poor Saturday and a ‘no show’ on Sunday we still took almost as much as the previous year when we had a display on both days.

As the flying finished we packed up and counted what was left of the stock, dismantled the gazebos and packed the van for Sean to take back to base. This was to be the last airshow for all of us this year so there were lots of goodbyes to be said and the hope that we will all meet soon at a members day in Doncaster.

We stayed on the airfield for a third night before making our way home on Monday for a quick turn round before our next adventure…………coming soon to a screen near you.