Post by Irish Stu on May 24, 2009 17:37:58 GMT -6
Another weekend, another air show...
With my new camera lens to road test, when I heard that there was a free air show today at nearby Southend-on-Sea this seemed like the obvious place to head for to put my new Canon 70 - 300mm through its paces after my photographic endeavours were cut short last week when I dropped my camera and broke my zoom lens.
Now Southend (pronouced 'Sarfend' by the local populace) is an armpit of a place, and I implore anyone reading this who may at some time visit England not to go there. There is a saying in Italy 'vedi Napoli e poi muori' which translates as 'see Naples and die'. Well, see Southend and you'll wish you already had!! However, in spite of its population of heavily tattooed, neanderthal, tracksuited thugs, and permanently pregnant, tracksuited women who bear more than a passing resemblence to sea monsters, the town's council managed to organise a pretty good air show. And here's the pics :
Southend... a truly horrible place.
One to please the crowds :
We were treated to several fly pasts by an Avro Lancaster, the most famous WWII bomber and star of the Dambuster 'bouncing bomb' raids on German dams, with a Spitfire fighter escort. These are the planes I grew up loving and seeing them flying together like this was a huge thrill :
We then marveled at some breathtaking stunt flying, including an appearance by a Red Bull stunt pilot :
The highlight of my afternoon was the appearance of the RAF's elite aerobatics team, the Red Arrows. Their precision formation flying display went on for at least thirty minutes as they performed numerous maneuvers they have perfected over the years :
Simon
With my new camera lens to road test, when I heard that there was a free air show today at nearby Southend-on-Sea this seemed like the obvious place to head for to put my new Canon 70 - 300mm through its paces after my photographic endeavours were cut short last week when I dropped my camera and broke my zoom lens.
Now Southend (pronouced 'Sarfend' by the local populace) is an armpit of a place, and I implore anyone reading this who may at some time visit England not to go there. There is a saying in Italy 'vedi Napoli e poi muori' which translates as 'see Naples and die'. Well, see Southend and you'll wish you already had!! However, in spite of its population of heavily tattooed, neanderthal, tracksuited thugs, and permanently pregnant, tracksuited women who bear more than a passing resemblence to sea monsters, the town's council managed to organise a pretty good air show. And here's the pics :
Southend... a truly horrible place.
One to please the crowds :
We were treated to several fly pasts by an Avro Lancaster, the most famous WWII bomber and star of the Dambuster 'bouncing bomb' raids on German dams, with a Spitfire fighter escort. These are the planes I grew up loving and seeing them flying together like this was a huge thrill :
We then marveled at some breathtaking stunt flying, including an appearance by a Red Bull stunt pilot :
The highlight of my afternoon was the appearance of the RAF's elite aerobatics team, the Red Arrows. Their precision formation flying display went on for at least thirty minutes as they performed numerous maneuvers they have perfected over the years :
Simon
