North East Aircraft Museum 'Jeeps & Jets' - August 16/17th

2008 is the third year that the North East Aircraft Museum has held a military vehicle event at its site next to the Nissan car factory, the former RAF Usworth. The event is slowly growing with new attractions added each time, one of which this year was an early jet engine which was run up for the public to see and hear. There were also weapons firing demonstrations. While the weather forecast wasn't brilliant for the weekend, those who made the effort to go were rewarded with sunshine all Saturday, and only a couple of heavy showers on Sunday.
 

 
The ground however, was very wet, with only the WW1 re-enactor who seemed to be at home in all the mud! Most of the usual groups and displays from previous years attended and seemed to be enjoying themselves. On Saturday evening, there was a 1940's pub quiz at the Three Horse Shoes, with eight teams taking part. Competition was close with three teams all ending on the same score, which then resulted in tie-break questions to find the final winner.
 
 
I had talked Rupert into bringing his modified Flying Control Dodge from Cumbria for the event, promising good weather! This was the first time we had been able to show our full 'Century Bombers' 100th Bomb Group display, my Jeep and trailer, the Dodge, and my B-17 Fortress. There was also some heavy armour in attendance at the museum, albeit in radio controlled model form. The wet and uneven ground provided an excellent playground for the tanks.