Sywell With Sammy on Easter holidays from school and the weather being pretty good, we decided we'd head over to Sywell for an hour or so to see what was going on.
As we pulled up we could see an A109 getting airborne and disappearing out into the circuit, and before long it returned. Rather pleasantly it turned out to be ZE416, the Empire Test Pilots School example, presumably undergoing some work at Sloane Helicopters. Also flying around under their control was G-MEDX, also an A109E Power, normally serving in the Air Ambulance role.
Just prior to 1300 The Blades walked to their aircraft for a four-ship display practice, as they work-up their routine ready for the impending start of the airshow season.
Despite the best efforts of the fairly gusty wind the team looked well polished and the unusual perspective of the display given by the line they were using meant that there were some very nice photogenic angles on display. If only the sun had been present for all of them!
They may not fly fast jets, but the routine is excellent and always well flown, as you would expect given the pedigree of the team's pilots - all five of their 'display pilots' (they only have four aircraft at their disposal but Andy Evans is able to fill as Blades 2 or 3 as required) having flown with the Red Arrows.
Indeed, Display Director, Andy Offer had the distinction of leading the team, as well as acting as Officer Commanding IV(AC) Sqn on the Harrier at RAF Cottesmore.
Without doubt The Blades are one of, if not the strongest of recent arrivals to the UK airshow scene, and already their 2009 calendar, particularly the latter half of the season, is already pretty full.
I'll definitely be heading back up to Sywell as the workup continues.