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Due to the rising fuel prices, I towed the
Jeep down to Breighton on Friday afternoon, rather than drive it there. It was
an hour faster and much cheaper! It took a while to set up camp in the strong
wind as the tent wasn't playing nice. The ground was so dry, the poles
wouldn't grip the grass and were blown out several times by the tent acting
like a large sail. I got there in the end and then went to explore the remains
of the old airfield where I could. The first two pictures are at the East end
of the main runway, looking either way around the linking perimeter track. |
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The next two pictures are on the East end of the main runway. Most of the airfield is an industrial area and I didn't want to venture further into the site. The third picture below is a little further around the perimeter track to the North East and the last is a track in from the road, which crosses an old pan dispersal where it curves left to the remaining T2 hangar. |
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Below, the hangar from the country lane which crosses the West end of the main runway and two closer views of the T2. I gave one of the guys at the airfield a go driving the Jeep and in return, I got to drive his Lotus. To finish the Friday evening, I waited until the sun was low in the sky and took my Jeep onto the airfield for a photoshoot with the dH89a Dragon Rapide. |
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The following day was hot before 08:00hrs. The event took place over the UK's hottest heatwave, though the peak temperatures occured after the event. Military and classic vehicles started arriving early, as did fly-in visitors. There's around one hundred classic aircraft based at Breighton, many of which were brought outside or flew during the day. |
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Most of the Real Aeroplane Company aircraft flew at least once during the day, including the recently restored Bucker Jungmeister seen in the first picture below. This was the first time I'd seen this aircraft fly. As the day went on, parking spaces started to run out and judging by the number of normal cars there, turnout must have been around two thousand members of the public. |
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Around 12:45hrs, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster thundered over the airfield, making a number of passes. The Lanc was meant to be at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, but the crew rearranged their day so they could fly North to Yorkshire to display at Breighton before heading South to RIAT. |
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At the end of Saturday, there was a party at the main hangar with food and a band playing for most of the evening. Patrick and I both took our Jeeps. As the party wound down, in what little remained of the daylight, I challenged Patrick to a drag race! Now this wasn't going to be the fastest drag race in history, but from the hangar to the end of the airfield was a quarter mile! Some friends of Patrick caught us on camera on the return run. My Jeep is on the far side of the perimeter track, with my screen down and cap on backwards to reduce drag!! |
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