2015, Our Motorhoming Year.

Our motor homing year started with the excitement of looking forward to our new Carthago which we had ordered at the NEC show the previous October.

Just too tempting to ignore, at the NEC.

We were told when we ordered it that delivery would probably be in March or April and were delighted when we heard from our dealer that production would be in mid January. However any hope that I might get the best ever birthday prezzie at the end of January evaporated as there were the inevitable delays. The  production date gradually moved from January to the first week of February and the vehicle was eventually delivered to the dealer on the 11th March. By the time they had fitted extras, sorted tax and registration and done the PDI it was the 21st March before we could collect it.

It was with a small tinge of sadness that I drove our trusty AutoTrail up to Staffordshire on a Saturday morning where we swopped her for our new and very shiny Carthago. After being shown round the very different features and equipment on the vehicle and trying to remember everything that Neil explained to us, we swopped over the few bits we had brought with us from one van to the other and went back into the office to well and truly empty the bank account. Ouch!!!

Never having driven an A Class motorhome before, let alone a LHD one, the first few miles were interesting to say the least. The huge windscreen is much further away from the driver and the whole vehicle seemed enormously wide, even though the overall width was the same as the AutoTrail. It felt like driving a coach and despite having driven LHD cars on holidays this was going to take some getting used to. Kate, sitting in the suicide seat, kept telling me to move over to the left as huge lorries raced towards her. I’m amazed that she kept so cool, bless her.

After a couple of days in Staffordshire we drove south to Chedder and then Taunton to get an alarm fitted. By the time we got home to Suffolk I was starting to get the hang of the beast.

Just before we collected the van Kate had minor surgery on her leg which meant that it needed to be re-dressed twice a week by the local Practice Nurse. This curtailed our trips and particularly our usual four week tour of France. We did however, manage to get a couple of days in North Norfolk, a few days at RAF Coningsby and act as a support vehicle for Cycle to the Sky 2, a charity bike ride across the Peak District.

Cammo Typhoon at RAF Coningsby

Spitfire & Typhoon pair.

Cycle to the Sky 2 at the start of a long hard ride.

Early in the year we had committed to work at quite a number of airshows with Vulcan to the Sky. Although no-one is compelled to work these shows, when one is part of a small and close knit team of volunteers you don’t want to let the rest of the team down by backing out. So, as soon as Kate got the all clear to look after her leg wound herself we were off through the tunnel to France for a short 12 day trip so that we were back in time for RAF Cosford Airshow.

Early June in France must be one of the best times to be there. We slowly drifted down to the middle of the country and the weather was glorious. In fact we stayed in one place longer than planned just because we had a very handy tree next to our pitch which gave us a lovely shady place to sit.

Our shady pitch at Salbris.

The canal and aire at Sancoins.

Canal reflections.

After our relaxing French break it was, in the words of Murray Walker, all GO,GO,GO.

We arrived home on the Wednesday afternoon, the next day Kate had an appointment at the local surgery, we had to turn the M/H around, shop for provisions and sort out the pile of post. On Friday morning we were back on the A14 heading to Staffordshire where the M/H was booked in to have a part fitted. Friday night at Crossroads Farm CS and Saturday morning it was ‘set up’ for the Vulcan Village at RAF Cosford. We spent Saturday night on the airfield and were ready for an early start for the airshow on Sunday. Our first airshow of 2015 and it was a complete sell out with no tickets available on the day. The big attraction of course was ‘our’ Vulcan and the advance ticket sell out was to be repeated throughout the rest of the airshow season and Vulcan’s final year in the air.

Volunteers searching the sky before the arrival of ‘our’ Vulcan.

After a very successful show we returned to Crossroads Farm for Sunday night, returning home on Monday to a week with some sort of appointment every day.

The following Saturday, 20th June we were once again heading north west up the A14, this time to Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, close to Stratford-upon-Avon. Wellesbourne is home to another Vulcan, XM655, and their fund raising airshow was taking place on the Sunday. ‘655 was to give a couple of fast taxi demonstrations (it is unable to fly) and ‘our’ Vulcan, XH558 was booked to fly in and give a mini display. We set up a small Vulcan ‘Hamlet’ on Saturday evening and once again stayed on the airfield for the night. The small show attracted a huge crowd with the organisers, several of which are also our team members, having to use every available inch of ground to squeeze all the cars in. After packing up we went over to where XM655 is kept and were treated to a tour of the aircraft which is complete with all the instrumentation in the rear cockpit.

The Vulcan ‘Hamlet’ at Wellesbourne.

We spent Sunday night in the flying club car park before driving back home on Monday.

Another quick turn round as we were booked to go through the Channel Tunnel on Tuesday afternoon.

Back to France and this time we stayed in northern France. Once again the weather was lovely and we drifted down to the River Seine and our favoured spot at La Mailleraye-sur-Seine. From there we went to the tip of the Cherburg Peninsular at Auderville and a lovely little Aire with views over the sea and the lighthouse.

La Mailleraye-sur-Seine aire de Camping Car.

Chilling out at Auderville aire.

Sunset at Auderville.

After 12 days R & R it was back home via a family lunch party in Hastings to celebrate brother in laws’s 50th birthday.

Just three days at home this time before we were off again, this time south west to RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset for their Airday. We stayed on the base playing fields where a temporary caravan site had been organised. Friday was ‘set up’ for the Vulcan Village and with aircraft practicing, arriving and taxiing all around us it was a noisy affair.

Holding the tent down as a C17 taxies past.

Vulcan made her arrival in true noisy style by making a low approach along the line of the runway and going into a ‘zoom’ climb up to 8,000 feet before landing in a far more stately style, as befits her age and size.

XH558 lands at Yeovilton.

Despite the howling gale, the Yeovilton Vulcan Village is almost ready.

‘It’s behind you’

After another very successful day on Saturday we dismantled everything and packed it all away before spending the night back on the sports ground.

On Sunday we drove north to the CC site at Cirencester where we stayed until Wednesday morning. From there it was a very short drive to Fairford and the CC rally field where we were staying for the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).

RIAT is an absolutely huge airshow with hundreds of stands, huge crowds and all the bureaucracy to go with it. I have to say it is not our favourite show but as this was Vulcan’s final year we bit the bullet and just got on with it.

Set up was on Thursday and after all the security and check in palaver we were finally escorted, in convoy, to the Vulcan Village. Like the show this Vulcan Village was a huge affair, the biggest ever, but when we got there the contractors had erected it facing in the wrong direction. Before we could start dressing it out inside, we had to modify it by moving access ramps and internal partitions from one end to the other. Even with the delays it wasn’t long before a bare shell was transformed into a full blown retail store complete with information panels and story boards telling the background and history of the aircraft.

Kate takes a short break from setting up to have a chat with Martin Withers DFC.

A busy Vulcan Village.

As I’ve already written about RIAT I won’t go over old ground but will just say that Saturday’s Vulcan display, flown by Kev Rumens, has gone down in airshow legend as probably the finest display for many a year. The UK Airshow website (UKAR), never ones to give plaudits to Vulcan if an insult will do instead, have named it No. 1 in their ‘Top 10 Airshow Moments  of 2015’. Coming from them that is quite an award.

The legendary take off. WOW! (Photo by Damian Burke)

After three very hectic and long airshow days we stayed at Fairford on the Monday and went home on the Tuesday for the summer airshow holiday break.

After just over four weeks at home, catching up with the garden and all the other chores, it was late August when we set off south again, this time to the ill-fated Shoreham Airshow.

Always one of our favourite shows this time is was marred by the fatal crash of a Hawker Hunter jet on Saturday.

The shows second day was cancelled so we went on to Cobnor on Chichester Harbour where we stayed until the following Friday and the short drive north to Dunsfold.

Another brilliant show for us with two very busy days. Although displays by jets were restricted after the tragedy of Shoreham, our Vulcan gave a fabulous display on Saturday with lots of noise. It certainly went down well with the crowd. On Sunday the aircraft had to turn back for home after running into a huge weather front when over half way to Dunsfold. Huge disappointment but it couldn’t be helped.

Dunsfold Vulcan Village set up and ready to trade.

Queuing in the rain to get into the Vulcan Village.

It had hardly stopped raining all week and so the ground at Dunsfold was pretty soggy even before the two day airshow began. Fortunately Sunday was mostly dry but during Sunday night it poured down again which left us with the problem of getting 4 tons of front wheel drive motorhome off the airfield and on to something a bit firmer. With a little bit of slipping and sliding we made it with the minimum of drama. Phew!!

Back home on the Monday, turn the M/H around and on the Thursday we were back to Folkestone and through the tunnel again, this time for four weeks.

We went back to some favourite places and found some new ones, spending the whole trip without ever plugging into an electric hook up thanks to our solar panels.

Sea and sun at Gruissan

 

Motorhomes & masts on the aire at Gruissan

Lunch on a sunny day.

Canal-du-Midi at Homps

Cordes-sur-Ciel

After just nine days back in the UK we set off again to Lincolnshire and RAF Coningsby.

Vulcan was making a final round Britain flight and we went to RAF Waddington to see her fly through on the Sunday. The place was packed with cars parked wherever they could find a space. Vulcan flew through with a circle around the viewing area and off south to huge crowds at every way point.

On the Tuesday we had a trip up to Doncaster to see the old girl return from a flight to Northamptonshire and meet up with a small group of Vulcan friends. This was to be the last time we would see a Vulcan in the air and was a rather sad day as we watched her being pushed back into the hangar.

Pushed back into the hangar after one of her last flights.

At the end of November we had booked the M/H in to have some extra kit fitted by VanBitz at Taunton. While we were going south we might as well make the best of it and turn it into a more interesting trip so we decided to spend a couple of days at Devizes on the way. Instead of going back home afterwards we would keep to the south and head for Folkestone and another trip through the tunnel.

While preparing the van to go away there was a loud ‘ping’ and steam poured out from the heating unit. A hot water pipe had burst and as it was in an inaccessible place I couldn’t get to it to effect a repair myself. On Monday morning, instead of going south to Devizes, we were back on the A14 heading for our dealers service department in Staffordshire. They quickly sorted the problem and we spent a couple of days in the midlands before going south to Taunton.

With the inverter, extra sockets and a battery monitor fitted we went off to France on the Friday for what we planned to be a two week trip. By Saturday lunchtime we were back at Le Mailleraye-sur-Seine when I realised there was a battery problem. After some checks I found the engine wasn’t charging the leisure batteries. With little sun, short days and no electric hook up the batteries weren’t going to last long. To add to our joy I also found we had another minor hot water leak and the battery compartment had an inch of water sitting around the batteries and the associated fuses.

As there was a Carthago dealer in Caen, about a hundred miles away, we decided to go there on Sunday and park behind the dealers until they opened on Monday morning.

Despite the van being covered by warranty they were just too busy to look at it although they could find time to sell and fit new batteries for us. Hmmm!!

The young chap on the ‘service’ desk did come and have quick look and a poke about with the fuses in the garage but couldn’t find what had gone wrong. At that stage we decided to abandon the trip and return home.

Our motor homing year ended with disappointment and as I write this Celine is standing on the drive waiting to be summoned to the dealers workshop to be mended after the Christmas and New Year break when they can give her the time and attention she needs.

With no flying Vulcan, 2016 is going to be a very different and quieter year.

We intend to spend more time in Europe with thoughts of a trip to Spain and Portugal in the spring. Kate is also very keen that we go back to Scotland, probably early in the summer.

This blog still manages to amaze me with 7,700 views in 2015 from 45 different countries. That is nearly 18,000 views in total plus my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC10cpU-dMK4oiXI75pINolA which has well over 21,000 views and over 100 subscribers.

Many thanks to all of you who read this or watch the videos, your comments are always very welcome.

I wish you all a Very Happy 2016 with safe travels and blue skies.

A few stats of the year.

We have spent 111 nights in the motorhome in 2016.

From collecting her new at the end of March Celine has now done 8850 miles.

Fuel consumption overall is 25.74mpg

Average fuel cost has been £0.988 per Litre with the highest being £1.319 and the lowest £0.741 per Litre.

Dunsfold Wings & Wheels 2015

Even ‘Celine’ got covered in posters.

After the sadness and trauma of the air crash at Shoreham we retreated to our usual summer hideaway by Chichester Harbour to fill in the few days between airshows.

We have been going to Cobnor for years and before we were ‘Vulcanised’ we used to spend the whole of August there.

Our days consisted of sitting by the slipway watching the boats, walks around the headland or just lazing in the sun and cooking supper on the BBQ.

Since we started working at Shoreham and Dunsfold it seemed a bit daft to go all the way home to Suffolk, only to return the following weekend.

After a wet drive from Shoreham we arrived to welcome sunshine and a lovely evening which helped lighten our mood. It was not to last!

The following day it rained, and it rained, and it rained…….for the rest of the week. In hindsight we should have just gone home straight from Shoreham but forever the optimist, I thought that the weather must improve. By this time we knew that there were expected to be eleven dead after the crash although there was some good news in that the pilot, Andy Hill, had been dragged from the wreckage alive but in a critical condition. The constant rain, plus the ever present news in the media just increased our gloom.

Friday 28th August.

Thank the Lord it had stopped raining as we left a soggy Cobnor and headed north to Dunsfold to set up.

It was a relief to meet up with everyone and there were lots of hugs and expressions of concern that all of the team were alright. The airshow ‘circus’ is made up of a group of teams and aircraft that go from show to show and although we may not all know everybody personally we see the same faces and hear the same names at event after event. When something like Shoreham happens the whole ‘circus’ feels it deeply. I think that many of us had thought that it could have so easily been ‘our’ aircrew involved.

Still, there was work to be done and no time to think about gloomy thoughts so everyone got stuck in to help erecting tents. With one tent erected there was more rain, although only a quick shower, which was enough to form a nice puddle on top of the tent which wasn’t yet tightened up. As the next tent was moved into position beside the first the puddle released itself in a waterfall all over Kate. Fortunately Kate saw the funny side and wasn’t upset by the laughter and banter that inevitably followed as she took herself off to the motorhome to dry off and put on dry clothes.

Two vandals apprehended in the act of sticking banners to the pristine rear of ‘Celine’.

With tents erected, banners hung and flag poles in place we decided that we would fly one flag at ‘half mast’ and that we would also follow the request to hold a one minute silence on Saturday to honour the dead of Shoreham.

With set up completed in good time we positioned the motorhome beside the Vulcan Village, rolling out the awning to form our usual rest area for the volunteers.

The Vulcan Village all set up and ready to go.
Note, one flag at ‘half mast’ in respect for the dead of Shoreham.

Saturday 29th August.

Vulcan Village ready for action.

The usual early start for a show day with a bit of last minute titivation to get everything looking 100% before the public landed on us. As soon as the gates were open there was a rush to grab the best places on the flight line and we were soon getting busy. The VV was packed for most of the day and by the time XH558 was due to display at 3pm we were getting short of some stock.

Brian and Ken share a joke during a quiet moment.

As usual we shut up shop to watch the display and with eyes scanning the sky for those tell tale smoky trails joined the large group of club members who had their own private enclosure.

Following the new CAA rules after the previous weeks crash it would be interesting to see how our crew displayed the aircraft……..we weren’t disappointed.

‘558 came in from the right, low and slow following the line of the runway. At the threshold Bill opened the throttles and accelerated causing the engines to ‘howl’ all the way to the other end.

What an entrance! Parts of the display were toned down, there was no ‘zoom’ climb and the wingovers were a little more gentle but boy, did he give her some ‘welly’. She howled and howled, much to the appreciation of the crowd who gave her a huge round of applause as she turned away and headed to her next display.

We raced back into the VV to face an eager crowd of customers and once again we were packed as folk wanted to get that last souvenir before the old girl goes into retirement.

Shortly after ‘558 departed the rain came back and by the end of day 1 the ground was getting very muddy.

Sunday 30th August.

Fortunately the rain had gone but it was cloudy and damp. Sunday always seems to bring a different crowd to airshows, more of a family day rather than the enthusiasts that come on Saturday. We were still busy but not as busy as the previous day.

Yummy cupcakes for the volunteers courtesy of Paul.
Note the little Vulcans pressed into the chocolate.

Vulcan was due again at 3pm and we got the usual ‘tweets’ that she was on her way. However when she got all the way south to near Oxford the ever changing weather front that was across the whole country got the better of her. The crew had to abort and turn back to their Doncaster base. It must be remembered that this is a 1950’s designed bomber without the weather and anti collision radars that modern airliners use so can’t fly through heavy weather. It was said that she couldn’t get under or over the weather front and to go round it would have fly over Norway.

There were many disappointed people including four or five that I spoke to who had flown from Australia specially to see her in her final year.

The end of show packing up was done in record time, I think we must all be getting the hang of this airshow lark by now. Everyone left for home or hotel but we had planned to stay on-site and drive all the way home on Monday. After a dry Sunday the airfield had also started to dry a bit and the mud had at least hardened a little making our escape in the morning easier.

Oh dear! During the night the rain made a comeback appearance and kept up its drumming on the roof for most of the night. Four tonnes of front wheel drive motorhome and mud do not mean a match made in heaven. In fact, mud and wet grass are a constant subject of discussion on the motorhome forums with many tales of woe.

I spoke briefly to one of the ground staff who advised me not to try the main exit but to keep in line with the runway and join a taxiway at the far end. “Don’t worry, we’ll tow you out if you get stuck” he said, slightly reassuringly.

Traction control on, second gear selected and easy does it as we get moving. Big wide turns and gentle acceleration, keep the momentum going and don’t stop for anything. I tried to pick my way past the wettest and muddiest parts but in some places there was no option but to go through a pinch point that was now a bit of a swamp. “Everything forward and trust in the Lord’!

Once through the wettest bit with just a touch of sideways slipping we could take to the grass which, although slippy, was better than mud and fairly firm. We crashed over a couple of humps in the grass which couldn’t be seen but we needed to keep the momentum so slowing to a crawl wasn’t an option. At last we could see the concrete taxiway and there seemed to be a small gap in the fence we might just get through. Lots more mud in the gap and there looked to be quite a bump onto the concrete so it was as fast as we dare through the mud and then slow down as we met the concrete. We thought we were home and dry but then noticed that the taxiway was fenced off ahead and we couldn’t get out without another wide stretch of muddy grass. Gently off the concrete and accelerate as much as possible without causing wheel spin. With waves and shouts of encouragement from a pair of fellow motorhomers who were packing up in the rain we made it across the last bit and onto Terra Firma. Phew!!

The rest of the drive home was a doddle and we arrived back in Suffolk around lunchtime.

Now ‘Celine’ had to be prepared for holiday mode as we had a tunnel crossing booked for a few days time.

From Sunshine to Sorrow.

Shoreham RAFA Airshow 2015.

After our return from Fairford and RIAT we were determined to spend some time at home enjoying some summer weather.

The garden, particularly the hedges, had reverted to jungle and required taming and cutting back and we intended to just relax in between with plenty of BBQ’s.

With the garden put to rights and looking neat and tidy again we were looking forward to our annual trip south to Shoreham and Dunsfold, our favourite airshows of the year. Some months earlier I had booked us into the C&CC CS at Cobnor, near Chichester, for the days in between shows. It is always lovely to go there to relax, sit in the sun and walk around the headland enjoying the views over Chichester Harbour and across to the Isle of Wight.

It was an early start on the Friday morning as we were due to meet up with the other volunteers to set up at 11am. The traffic was lighter than expected and so we made good time and arrived at Shoreham at 10.30 just as most of the others turned up.

Exhibitors pass.

Then frustration. It seemed that the organisers hadn’t allocated a pitch for us and didn’t know where to put us despite our presence being part of the contract to book the biggest attraction of the show – Vulcan XH558.

After waiting and wasting over two hours we finally started to set up on a pitch of our choosing. By the end of the afternoon we were all tired, a little sunburnt and glad to have almost finished. The final touches could wait until the next day. At least the motorhome was parked behind the Vulcan Village so we didn’t need to go off site.

Saturday was a lovely bright morning and with the last details completed we opened to the public who were starting to stream in. It was good to see familiar faces from previous years and it was evident that folks had travelled some distance to the show. One chap had flown in from Australia so that he could see the Vulcan fly……how about that for dedication.

Saturday-Disaster!

The VV was busy all morning and with our Vulcan due to display just after 2pm we started to take quick lunch breaks. Kate and I were in the motorhome and were vaguely aware of a jet flying in the background when there was a ‘crump’, shouts from the crowd of ‘he’s crashed’ as we rushed outside to see a huge pall of black smoke rising from just outside the airfield.

A Hawker Hunter, piloted by Andy Hill, had failed to pull out of a loop and crashed onto the main road and several cars.

The commentator told everyone to stay where they were and the crowd went into a shocked silence as the sound of two-tones from the emergency vehicles started.

I think everyone was in a state of shock with many people, including grown men, in tears. One chap was crying on Kate’s shoulder as she tried to comfort him and we had a couple of small boys who were very distressed and were taken into the shelter between our motorhome and the tent so that they were isolated from the scenes.

The crash happened on the main A27 right by the entrance road to the airfield and so the whole airfield was put into ‘lockdown’. No vehicles could leave and so everyone just had to sit it out until further instructions came. All flying was put on hold as there was now no emergency cover on the airfield.

By this time our Vulcan was circling out over the sea waiting for instruction from ATC. The Sea Vixen that had been due to display flew over at height and after a while it was announced the Vulcan would do a flypast in tribute to the victims of the crash. Bill Ramsey, captain of ‘558, carried out the perfect tribute, flying at 1000ft, straight and slow down the runway track and pulling gently away to the south to a spontaneous round of applause from the crowd. With emotions running high it was all too much for many and burly men, one of them a prison officer, so no wimp, were in floods of tears.

The flags that we had been flying to mark the Vulcan Village were taken down and one re-erected at half mast in honour of those we now knew were dead.

Vulcan Village flag flown at half mast.
Picture from Sam Scrimshaw.

Everyone got stuck in again and we carried on trading although the usual humour and banter had gone. With no one being able to leave the site, people wanted to take their minds off the awful things that were happening close by, so in the best British tradition they kept on shopping.

It was hot and sunny but people sat quietly, some trying to find what shade they could, waiting for news which came over the PA system every half hour.

I have to pay tribute to the huge crowd. They showed the best of British stoicism by just sitting and waiting patiently until things became clearer. There were no moans or complaints about having to wait. The crowd just accepted whatever they were told and when exits were eventually opened to allow them to leave there seemed to be a slow exit, with many just sitting on the grass allowing the queues to clear.

By this time the organisers had announced that the following days show was cancelled so we started to pack up the stock and dismantle the tents. Our team left to join the queues and make their way home to to wherever they were staying while we stayed on the airfield as planned.

Sunday.

We woke to a very quiet airfield. A few traders were arriving to dismantle stands, one was tipping box after box of fresh oranges into a waste bin. The site would normally be abuzz with noise and excitement at that time on a Sunday morning but with the wind blowing rubbish around and heavy rain starting to fall there was an air of desolation that matched our mood.

I rang the site we had booked and asked if we could arrive a day earlier than planned. When I explained why, Mrs Wilson readily agreed even if they might be above the numbers allowed.

After a late breakfast we made our way across the airfield and were directed across the runway and up a track that took us through the woods and out onto the A27 a few hundred yards past the crash scene. We drove through the rain to Cobnor and as we arrived the sky brightened and the rain stopped.

RIAT and ‘The Rumenator’.

After our busy few days at Yeovilton we retired to the peace and quiet of the Caravan Club site at Cirencester to just ‘chill’ for three days.

Due to the miserable weather of drizzle and showers we never got to walk very far so saw little of the ancient town. On one dryish afternoon we ventured into the park for a lovely walk to the edge of town and watched a bit of cricket as two teams of local lads set about each other.

Edge of Cirencester town.

Kate watching the game.

On the Wednesday we drove the short distance to the edge of RAF Fairford where we had booked a pitch on the Gloucestershire CC Centre rally.

A Thursday morning meet nearby and then we ran the gauntlet of OTT security and bureaucracy as we tried to get access to the airfield and the site of our Vulcan Village. Eventually we all drove in convoy to the eastern end of the runway where the biggest ever VV has been built by contractors.

RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo) is the countries biggest air show and an important show for Vulcan to the Sky as it’s where we can boost our much needed funds as well as showing the aircraft to the maximum number of people. With around 30 volunteers it was a big team as we had to have tour guides for the underwing tours as well as people to man the VV. Everyone got stuck in to dress out the inside and outside of our huge marquee. By the end of the afternoon the stock was out and priced, banners were up and flags were flying to guide the public to us. There were a few pauses when aircraft arrived particularly our Vulcan and the Red Arrows, who all gave us a wave as they taxied past.

What a line up…..the Red Arrows looking good.

Friday.

Friday was a limited show day with a smaller number of aircraft flying and smaller numbers of the public. Even so it meant an early start and although we only had to drive a mile or so and had left our site at 6.30am it took us almost an hour to get onto the airfield, park in the traders car park and walk the rest of the way to the VV. Oh the joy of big airshows!

The Vulcan Village. Picture by John Wood.

Despite the smaller attendance we were busy all day and the takings looked good. We retired to our quiet site to ‘gird up our loins’ for what we knew would be a manic day on Saturday.

Saturday.

The alarm was set for 5am and as soon as we were washed and dressed we were away and on to the airfield before the traffic built up. Once parked we had a coffee and a quick bite before setting off on our walk to Vulcan HQ for the day. Once again it was mad as soon as we opened. The show had been a ticket sell out and it seemed that every one of the 60k visitors came through the Village and after the aircraft displayed I think they all came back again.

The display.

What a display………wow!

Although the display sequence is planned at the start of the year each display is a little different in the way it is flown. Each of our five pilots have their own style just as F1 drivers might drive identical team cars a little differently or musicians might play a piece of music in their own way.

Some displays are gentle, elegant and almost balletic with the aircraft sometimes looking like a giant moth against the sky, others more dynamic and frantic although all are noisy and demonstrate the enormous power of those Olympus engines.

Saturday’s display was to be flown by Kev Rumens whose day job is a Senior Captain for a well known airline flying the latest large Boeings across the Atlantic. A smooth and comfortable flight for his passengers must be high on his priorities. However, when he gets into the Vulcan, an elderly heavy bomber, he appears to suffer a memory lapse and thinks he is in a previous life and blasting his RAF Tornado around the sky in Operation Desert Storm.

He made his intentions clear the first time he flew a display in XH558, also at Riat, when he drew gasps from the crowd with what became known as ‘That take off’.

His exuberant style of display flying has led to his sobriquet on social media of ‘The Rumenator’.

Vulcan taxied out onto the runway and an expectant hush came over the huge crowd. Throttles to 90%, brakes off and she tore down the runway roaring and howling and was launched into the air. Almost immediately Kev pulled a hard turn to starboard almost standing the aircraft on her wing tip when she was only feet above the ground. The sharp intakes of breath on the ground almost drowned out the noise of those four screaming engines.

Take off. Andy Darkes picture.

Kev’s dramatic take off. Picture by Damian Burke.

Take off from a different angle. Picture by Andy Darke.

The display continued with typical steep noisy climbs and wing overs that made the aircraft look completely inverted. For the first time ever the nine Hawks of the Red Arrows taxied onto the runway in their take off formation and absolutely no one noticed or heard them. On his final pass Kev flew down the runway at 300ft straight towards the ‘Reds’ who then put on red, white and blue smoke as Vulcan passed overhead and went into an almost vertical ‘zoom’ climb to 7000ft followed by the steepest ever wing over.

The wing over. Lloydhphotography picture.

What a display!! Having watched many, many displays over the last 8 years that was, without doubt, the best ever.

Yet more was to come because as Vulcan cleared to the north the Reds took off to meet up with her for a formation flypast. While they formed up a ex Soviet Hind helicopter did its best to entertain the crowd with a very competent display but everybody seemed to be searching the sky for the coming formation.

Soon a smoky shape could be seen approaching and as as she got larger the ‘Pretorian Guard’, as commentator Sean Maffat called the nine Hawks, could be seen around her.

Getting the formation together. MOD photograph.

Reds formation. Colin Williams picture.

Flying the flag. Unknown picture credit but a cracking shot.

Tight formation. MOD picture.

This time Bill Ramsey had taken over the controls from Kev. In his previous life Bill was Wing Commander of the Red Arrows and so is very experienced in formation flying. Two very memorable flypasts with the Reds in a V formation echoing  the delta shape of Vulcan, which was tucked up close between them, before the  Vulcan peeled off from the formation to land and gave everyone a final treat by streaming her braking parachute.

Flashing her knickers. Unknown picture credit.

As usual the VV was swamped after the aircraft landed, with so many people trying to get in that a ‘one way’ system had to be introduced. Even so a long queue formed outside as everyone wanted a memento with a second long queue of people waiting to take an under-wing tour of the aircraft.

It was 7.30 before we got back to the calm of our temporary camp site, 14 hours after we had left. It had been a tiring but at times exhilarating day and we had to do it all again on Sunday.

Sunday.

Really a repeat of the previous day.

The display pilot was Bill Ramsey who took the aircraft a little higher before yanking her round to the right and into her display sequence. A quiet word had been had in Kev’s ear by the display director the previous day as he thought that the initial wing over might have been a touch low. Kev, however, was adamant that his height was well above 100ft before he started the manoeuvre and as the director wasn’t underneath with a tape measure at the time he could do little to prove his point. Bill flew another cracking display in a perfect blue sky followed by a repeat of the Red Arrows flypast. The crowd were once again ecstatic and and long queues built up again to visit us. Once the aircrew had recovered they sat and signed books, photos and calendars, while we were starting to sell out of many popular lines.

The Vulcan and her supporting Village. A Paul Butler picture.

The RIAT Vulcan Villagers plus Chief Pilot Martin Withers DFC. Picture by Sam Scrimshaw.

End of the day and end of the show so everything had to be packed up and loaded into the vans before we could leave. With our huge Vulcan Village we had record takings and there wasn’t too much stock to pack away. We got back to our site at around 8.30, exhausted but with a little pride in being part of such a great event.

We stayed on-site on Monday, watching the aircraft departures and putting our weary feet up.

Vulcan took off from Fairford for the last time and asked ATC if they could do a circuit and a ‘fly-through’ before she headed for home.

Presumably the controller had memories of Saturdays display as he authorised the fly-through “As long as you don’t beat up the airfield”.

We headed home on Tuesday having decided that, as we won’t be working at RIAT again, we will book onto the very friendly CC site in future years and just sit and watch the flying from the comfort of the motorhome. That seems a good and relaxing way to get our aviation fix without 5am alarm calls and 14 hour working days.

PS. As I was too busy to take photos I have taken the liberty of pinching some pictures from John Woods Facebook album. I have credited those photographers that are known, apologies to those unknown ones whose fabulous shots I have used. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I have. Thanks John.

Fly Navy

The deafening clatter of rotors beating the air into submission greeted us as we drove onto the airfield at RNAS Yeovilton to set up the Vulcan Village for Air Day 2015.

Thirteen military helicopters were hovering a few feet above the ground and just a few yards from where we needed to erect three large tents, as they practiced for the finale of the airshow. To say concentration on the job in hand was difficult would be an understatement.

Egg beaters en-mass. What a racket!
Photo from John Wood.

“OMG, better run. They’re coming to get me”. Photo from John Wood.

We had arrived home from our last trip to France on the previous Sunday evening and after three days at home to turn around and re-stock the motorhome we left on Thursday morning for Somerset.

This was our first time working at Yeovilton Air Day but other volunteers had told us it was a great show and one they always enjoyed. As it was Vulcan’s last year flying we thought we would get as many shows in as possible so a trek across the country seemed in order. The show organisers had  arranged for a campsite on playing fields right next to the main gate to the show and I had booked a pitch months earlier. We arrived early afternoon and the kind folk looking after the site pitched us so that we could come and go without disturbing too many other people. We just chilled for the rest of the day and evening before meeting the others on Friday morning for ‘set-up’.

With tents half erected a huge USAF C17 taxied past us to go onto the static display. All hands were holding the tent down as the backwash tried its best to add an extra unscheduled take off to the day.

Holding the tent down before the backwash hits.

Celine and C-17.

Our Vulcan arrived from Doncaster, announcing her presence with a high speed blast down the runway at 300ft, pulling up into a very noisy zoom climb to 7000ft and spectacular wing over to enter the down wind leg and land. The whole of Somerset must have known the star of the show had arrived.

Vulcan’s arrival at Yeovilton.

On the deck.

Taxi back.

Show Day.

As always it was an early start on Saturday and we left the campsite as quietly as we could. We only had a few yards to drive to go through security where we were subjected to a quick search under and around the motorhome by mirrors and a black labrador search dog. All cleared by the dog we went onto the airfield and parked the motorhome behind the Vulcan Village with the awning out to provide a sheltered rest area for the volunteers, ground and aircrew.

The all-ticket show had been a sell out and we were busy from the very start. Everybody seemed to want something to remember the worlds last flying Vulcan as this was to be her last visit to Yeovilton.

As usual we closed the VV so that we could watch her display and this time there was an extra treat as she flew in formation with the last flying Sea Vixen, ‘Foxy Lady’, and two Vampires. A great display of 1950’s air power.

Vulcan, ‘Foxy Lady’ and a pair of Vampires.

Flypast from the photo ship.

Her solo display had us and the crown in raptures with the usual steep climbs, high angle wing overs and lots and lots of noise. After landing she taxied back close to the Vulcan Village where huge queues of people were able to take advantage of our under wing tours to get up close to the aeroplane and meet the crew.

Getting up close and personal to XH558.

Kate with ‘her’ Vulcan.

Spectacular finale to the show.

Fire power and ‘whiz bangs’.

“I say old chap, that is a bit close”.

It’s a hard life being a Vulcan engineer.

Could this be the new Vulcan tow truck……perhaps not.

The team.

After a very successful day everything was dismantled and packed away and we returned to our campsite pitch to collapse with a stiff drink or three and some supper.

The following day, Sunday, we drove the short distance north to Cirencester and three days to recover on the Caravan Club site there.

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.

Waddo, day one.

Saturday – Show day.

Early start and ready to rock at 7am. I opened up the rear of the Village ready for the others who had to contend with early morning traffic and made final adjustments to the displays of merchandise.

Kate was not working at this show as it was only eight weeks since she had her hip replacement. However Bob found plenty to keep her occupied in the motorhome as he bought out boxes of pencils to sort and wrap as well as stick-on patches to put into sets and attach to children’s flying suits. That was more than enough to keep her out of mischief for the weekend, added to a walk around under the aircraft to see her name displayed in the bomb bay.

Ray, Andrew, Kate & Mouse under the aircraft.

Soon the public were pouring into the show and after a briefing on the latest developments we were ready to face our public. The VV was busy from the start with a constant stream of people coming in and sales were brisk.

Starting to get busy.

Vulcan was on early in the day with Bill Ramsey in the left hand seat, Martin in the right and Phil Davies with the new ‘trainee’ AEO Jonathan Lazzari down the ‘coal hole’ at the back. An enormous howl as she tore down the runway and climbed steeply to turn away from the airfield and then come straight towards the crowd with another steep climb. The highlight for me was Bill’s spiral climb that just kept on climbing, climbing, climbing on full power then silence as she spiraled all the way back down. Although there were lots of critics saying it was not a good display I thought it was great……but then I think any Vulcan display is great.

As is usual the VV was packed after the flight and stayed busy for the rest of the day. It had been a long and hot day and with everyone getting tired we finally closed at 6pm. We were running short of a number of lines so Bob & Issy had to drive back to HQ to pick up more stock to see us through the next day.

 

RAF Cosford set up and show

We arrived at our campsite at Crossroads Farm (52º42’41.76”N 2º19’06.84”W) in the late afternoon. This site is a Camping & Caravan Club CS and is just a section of mown field next to the owners house with electric hook ups, a couple of water outlets and some where to drain the grey water and a separate place to empty the loo. There are also simple loos and showers on site. There are pleasant views over the surrounding countryside and little traffic noise. We have been here a number of times and always enjoy the laid back atmosphere and easy access to RAF Cosford about four miles down the road.

We spent Friday evening and Saturday morning just ‘chilling’ with a nice supper on Friday evening and a lazy Saturday morning. After a quick lunch we headed down to the airfield for a 2pm meet-up with the others to set up the Vulcan Village ready for Sundays show.

Lots of chat when we all met as this was our first show of the year and once Ian, our Event Manager, arrived we went to the office to pick up our passes and drive onto the show area and find the VV.

A new set up this year from a new contractor and it all looked very smart with its raised floor, entrance ramps, and proper doors rather than tent flaps. The contractors had a huge truck complete with its own fork lift truck…….very impressive!

Impressive new Vulcan Village

Even more impressive truck

Tables were quickly put into place and the van unloaded, with most of the stock in cages which were rolled into the sales area to be unpacked.

Quite a long job sorting out what stock we had and getting it all laid out and priced while others got stuck in to putting up banners round the walls inside and onto the outside display panels. Flag poles were erected on all four corners, the flight sim installed in one of the ‘satellite’ tents and gradually everything came into place.

We tucked the motorhome down the side of the VV as we were going to stay on site that night and everyone went off to their respective homes or digs and left us on guard.

We spent a very quiet night, disturbed only by the police helicopter flying over a couple of times.

 

Show day.

Up at 6:30 and ready for action at 7:30. I opened the back of the VV ready for everyone to arrive and started to stand up the books and get everything looking smart and ready to trade.

Almost ready to trade

Ready for the off

Everyone was ready for action by 8am but our Event Manager had things to fiddle with and then had to give us a briefing on the latest 2015 operation. It was 8:30 before we opened the doors and we immediately had ‘punters’ coming in and spending money.

Kate was selling raffle tickets and I was asked to look after the ‘odds & sods’, all the low priced but very popular things that are right by the door. Models & mugs, pens & patches, all the small things that people like as souvenirs of their day out and can afford in these straightened times. It was busy right from the start and I was not far from being flat out most of the time. Things slowed down once the flying display started and people had something to watch but we were always quite busy right up to the time we closed up as ‘558 was on her way.

XH558 arrived on time and in style with a pair of small RV9 aerobatic aircraft, one on each wingtip trailing smoke and following as she did a few circuits on the airfield. A final pass by the three of them and the RV9’s peeled off and left ‘558 to take centre stage.

Kev Rumens was flying and, as usual, it was a spirited display with some great wing-overs and a terrific spiral climb. I recorded the display on my phone and it was over 20 minutes which gave everyone great value for their entrance fee.

As the aircraft disappeared into the distance we went quickly back to the VV to face the expected onslaught as we re-opened. We were not disappointed. It went a little bit berserk. People were queuing to get in the door as those already in browsed the goodies on offer on my section just inside. I was serving two or three people at a time and taking money as fast as I could. I had been keeping a tally of the amount I had taken for the day but now I just gave up as I didn’t have time to count the notes I was taking. When you consider that most of the stock was only a couple of pounds a time it takes a lot of work to take hundreds of pounds.

The traffic had been very slow getting into the show in the morning with some people taking several hours to arrive. It seemed to be just as bad getting out as there was a constant queue of cars passing us for hours and many people just stayed and shopped before joining the queues. It must have been about 7:30 before we closed and by then we were all rather weary. By the time everything was packed away and loaded onto the van it was 9:30 when I finally staggered back to the motorhome and we drove back to our site. Thank goodness it was only a few miles away and all the traffic chaos had gone.

A couple of beers, a quick and simple supper and bed. It would have taken a nuclear explosion to have woken us and we had a decent lie-in the next morning before a late breakfast.

Our drive home was uneventful apart from some heavy traffic around Birmingham and through the roadworks on the M6. We had covered 347 miles @ 27.4mpg.