Battle Of Britain Day Flypast, Goodwood, 15th September 2015.

It'll be lump in throat & tingles up spine time on Tuesday. (have just seen the item on the local news, they said Wednesday!....................)

Thanks for reminding me - I knew there was something I needed to record tonight - have had a very long day down the MHR & I'm knackered!

 

Roll on Tuesday. Apologies to those who already know this but Goodwood is the former RAF Westhampnett and a pukka Battle of Britain airfield so a very fitting place from which to launch the flypast. I'm sure there will be tears aplenty as we remember the brave young men who helped save us from Nazi tyranny.

 

Well put.

 

Email just received from Goodwood

We are delighted to confirm that the Battle of Britain Day Flypast of more than 40 aircraft out of Goodwood will go ahead as planned on Tuesday 15 September 2015.


It also gives us great pleasure to say that there will be a royal presence on the day as Prince Harry will be in attendance.


Battle of Britain Hurricane and Spitfire Pilot, Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC, AFC, AE, who is now 95, will lead the Flypast formation from the rear seat of a two seat Spitfire. Tom will be joined by Corporal Alan Robinson and Nathan Forster, the two wounded servicemen backed by the Spitfire Scholarship set up by the Boultbee Flight Academy in partnership with The Royal Foundation's Endeavour Fund, which Prince Harry launched at Goodwood in 2014.


As well as a documentary tonight on Channel 4 at 1900hrs exploring the the historical context of the event, there will be further coverage on Tuesday at 2000hrs, with Dermot O'Leary presenting.

 

Just watched the C4 documentary. Not long enough to do justice to the subject but some wonderful anecdotes from the brave young men and women to whom we owe our very existence. A particular pleasure to see 92's very own Geoff Wellum still in good form. I feel very humble right now. One of the best moments was the former ATA girl getting another flight in a Spitfire even though she is in her 90s. Way to go old girl.

 

We have a Spitfire simulator in Maidenhead. Grandma flew Spitfires exhibition. Our local airport at White Waltham (WLAC) has a lot of historic association with Spits.

http://www.maidenheadheritage.org.uk

 

HQ of the ATA I believe.

 

Correct

Spitfires are regular visitors

https://twitter.com/WLACFlying/status/643038023102410752/photo/1

 

Sods law the weather forecast has changed yet again. Rain all morning tomorrow until 12.00. I hope this doesn't affect the flypast.

 

Don't know what forecast you've seen, but I've just checked several sites - they all say occasional showers, or not at all, and its all blown over by 1pm - so hopefully all that will happen is take offs are delayed.............

Like the assembled masses are going to go home until told to!

 

I used the BBC weather app on my phone. It had changed since I checked it this afternoon when it said it would just be cloudy. Fingers crossed they have got it wrong as I want to get plenty of shots of the planes on the ground and my mum wants me to get a picture of that Harry bloke.

 

Alarm set for 7am tomorrow, hope it's a good day, especially as I won't be home till 2am tonight!

 

This website show's the route of the aircraft taking part in today's flypast.
http://www.battleofbritainday.co.uk/#!routes/c1px

 

its not looking good, may clear later i just hope that this happens, but after all the rain, will the runway be usable today ?

 

Take off delayed by 2hrs due to weather and possibly the heavy road traffic in the Chichester area. Take offs now from 2pm onwards. Plan for Red Flight had changed earlier - instead of routing to Northolt after overflying Benson it was to head back to Goodwood, with the BBMF fighters travelling up to Northolt later. Whether or not that changes with the 2 hour delay it hasn't been announced.

Regards,

Dan

 

Not long got home after a great day. What an experience to see all of those superb aircraft taking off in quick succession. We were standing right at the end of the runway. Some great flypasts over Goodwood too and a wonderful display on the return flight from one of the two seat Spits over the race track. The end of the day also had a rather brilliant moment too. As my Dad and I sat in my car in the car park having a drink before setting off home, a Spit and two Hurricanes flew very low over us and into the sun, my car vibrating to the sound of the Merlins, and as they passed over a couple standing at a car in front of us punched the air.

 

Awesome sight, i managed to see 2 of the flights as they overflew hastings, i missed one 4 ship because they turned right and went behind the trees , all a saw was 4 wingtips, i was dreading that the others would also go inland, but both others flew over my house, 2 spits one huricane and a few minutes later 3 spits, what a sight and sound .

 

Just seen the TV footage on BBC local news. Looked to be a great day. Did you take any photos or video footage today.

 

I took a lot of pictures and video but I am too knackered to go through them all tonight. I will try and get a video up on Youtube at some point when it's edited together. Plus I want to watch the programme on Channel 4 at 8.00 tonight

 

Me too. Totally knackered. There's traffic jams and then there are Goodwood jams....

Fantastic day but over 3.5 hours to get there when it normally takes 1.5 hours max! As I finally got into the circuit a Hurricane landed, coming in right over my head!

A great pity that they didn't use the PA system to greater effect. Especially when some Spits returned without any announcement. Or maybe they were trying to make the surprise element too realistic