Canadian Lancaster to visit UK in August 2014!

Have been on the EK website quite often, and didn't see anything about an overflow day, unless it was advertised soon after the first ticket issue, in which case I rest my case. Can't do everything, as much as I'd like to. I suppose crowding is one of the reasons why some of the airshows staged at airfields have reduced in recent years.

 

Links to the ticket pages for both days were posted in this thread when each was announced - I delayed buying first time round and missed out, but fortunately the second date didn't sell out quite so quickly...

 

I booked both days. Ostensibly to try and guarantee one sunny day but in the end it wasn't lack of sun on the 2nd that was the problem. Now the question for the 14th is "do I go to EK again or do I go and see the pair at Duxford?"

 

Fortunately (for us) it turned out, when they stood up, that the photters we decided to make a second row behind were somewhat vertically challenged (I'm over 6' tall, my father just under - three of the four photters barely broke 5') such that we still had a good view As we didn't have a 'permanent' location at the flight line we had a good look around everything between taxy runs - very enjoyable and informative as EK is somewhere I've been meaning to visit for some time.

 

Sadly I don't have that dilemma, but one that's nearly as bad - Duxford is only a five minute drive from my house (although not on display days!) - but should I go on Saturday to catch XH558 (I have great memories of seeing a Vulcan display at Duxford when I was a kid - and I guess there's a chance this could be the last time it appears at Duxford) or Sunday to catch both Lancs again?

It's not unusual to see stuff come over the village while holding for display, so I could sit in the garden and hope I get lucky…

…or perhaps I'll just have to go both days - the flying programme is sufficiently different each day that that's not such a bad idea!

 

I was discussing yesterday with one of my work colleagues who told me he had been considering going to Duxford to see both Lancs next weekend, but having discovered that online purchase was no longer available he rang them up, to be told that it was "sold out" (and no tickets available on the day either). May influence your decision…

…my choice has been made for me, as I had forgotten we are at Legoland for the entire weekend as my son's birthday treat!

Stu

 

Duxford's website is still saying tickets available on the day.

 

Yes - but when my colleague rang up he was told this was not the case. He did suggest they should update the website in that case…I would advise anyone considering going to ring and check for themselves.

 

Tickets won't be an issue for me as my partner's away over the weekend and I'll have the dog with me. As Duxford doesn't allow dogs, it will be Duxford School and the "naughty field" for me if I go. East Kirkby is dog friendly though.

 

You know the area as well as us locals by the sound of it

 

I'm only 20 miles away so not exactly a stranger to that part of the world.

 

Mere words cannot do justice to the magical, emotional few minutes when three working Lancasers were in both view and earshot at East Kirkby. Not sure if my photos do just either but here's a selection from a day I'll remember for ever.

Lancasters-6 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Lancasters-1 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Lancasters-3 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Lancasters-2 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Lancasters-4 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Lancasters-5 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

its a shame that the runway isnt long enough for the lanc's to land and take off from, now that would have been something special what would the crowd have done if Just jane, did a fast taxi and , leaped into the air, saying, wait for me!!
Now being serious, does any of the takings from EK, from these very special days go towards putting Jane back into the air? or is it to support the verious charities .i'm hoping that the answer is both.

 

Unless I'm mistaken all of the proceeds from the two East Kirkby events go towards getting JJ airworthy. There were a number of charity stalls in attendance and I suspect they did alright from the thronging crowd.

 

Let's hope that that day comes sooner , because of these very special events, and that one day we get to see a 3 ship flight of lancs in the air, if the canadians fancy making a return visit, , prehaps JJ could make a trip out there in a few years, time and the BBMF do a usa/ canadian tour i,m sure that a good will visit along with 10 red hawks would go down well

 

I was under the impression it was a three way split between the JJ return to flight fund, the Canadian Lancaster maintenance fund and the BBMFs chosen charity, but can't remember where I saw that and whether it applied to just the ticket proceeds....

 

You may well be right but I'm sure I read somewhere that proceeds were for JJ. Perhaps they said profits rather than proceeds. That would account for any contributions made to the other two Lancs. I know the Canadians waived their fee for the Little Gransden show as that was for charity. The organisers did respond by paying for the fuel used though.
I'm hoping that the knock on effect of Vera's visit is to raise the profile of the Lancaster in general and JJ in particular. That should help their fund raising.

 

I'm with you on that - I think there was a BBC article about JJ suggesting a total RTF cost in the region of 3 million, so everything that helps towards that is a good thing.

I like your photos by the way - especially the third one with the other two banking over the trees behind JJ. I blagged my daughter's DSLR for the day (as mine is ancient and beginning to play up) - I think she may be getting a decent telephoto lens for Christmas

 

Thanks. For some reason the one with the Lancs in the distance is the one that has appealed to more people than the others.

 

Both Lancaster did a low level turn over Horsted Keynes station today at about 1408 to-day and flew North.
Sorry I just stood and looked so no photos!