Dambusters 80th Anniversary
Discussion
According to the BBMF, there will be no Lancaster flypast of the Howden/Ladybower/Derwent dams next month, because on their Facebook feed, they say “it would not be practical to draw a crowd to the area”.
That area of the Peak District is often gridlocked during summer weekends and holidays, yet now a crowd gathering for a few hours (which I thought was the whole point of a commemoration) is deemed too dangerous, and the BBMF have no control of “events on the ground”. I’m wondering why this wasn’t a problem for 2013, and indeed all past anniversaries, or for the two Lancaster flypast in 2014?
I seem to remember for the 2018 anniversary, it didn’t turn up due to the weather, and everyone was told that the planned Typhoon flypast was also cancelled, so everyone started to go home, only for it to appear when most people had gone (basically a s
t show). And then the Lancaster did an un-announced flypast the next day, when nobody was there to appreciate it.
Anyway, very well done to all involved for saving the general public from themselves.
In other four-engined bomber news, according to online reports, B-17’s could be grounded due to wing spar issues. Not sure if it would be temporary pending inspection, or what, but I wonder what it will mean for Sally B’s future airworthiness.
That area of the Peak District is often gridlocked during summer weekends and holidays, yet now a crowd gathering for a few hours (which I thought was the whole point of a commemoration) is deemed too dangerous, and the BBMF have no control of “events on the ground”. I’m wondering why this wasn’t a problem for 2013, and indeed all past anniversaries, or for the two Lancaster flypast in 2014?
I seem to remember for the 2018 anniversary, it didn’t turn up due to the weather, and everyone was told that the planned Typhoon flypast was also cancelled, so everyone started to go home, only for it to appear when most people had gone (basically a s
t show). And then the Lancaster did an un-announced flypast the next day, when nobody was there to appreciate it.Anyway, very well done to all involved for saving the general public from themselves.
In other four-engined bomber news, according to online reports, B-17’s could be grounded due to wing spar issues. Not sure if it would be temporary pending inspection, or what, but I wonder what it will mean for Sally B’s future airworthiness.
My guess would be that post Shoreham its been decided that to announce a time for a fly over if the dams would make it a public display which would need an organiser/ insurance/ someone to blame. That organiser would then be responsible for keeping the public safe, away from the flight/ display line, organising parking etc. Which just isn't practical. Or would cost someone a huge amount of money.
If the weather looks ok I could be tempted to take the day off again (was it really 10 years ago I was up there?) and see if I'm lucky.
If the weather looks ok I could be tempted to take the day off again (was it really 10 years ago I was up there?) and see if I'm lucky.
mcdjl said:
My guess would be that post Shoreham its been decided that to announce a time for a fly over if the dams would make it a public display which would need an organiser/ insurance/ someone to blame. That organiser would then be responsible for keeping the public safe, away from the flight/ display line, organising parking etc. Which just isn't practical. Or would cost someone a huge amount of money.
If the weather looks ok I could be tempted to take the day off again (was it really 10 years ago I was up there?) and see if I'm lucky.
I agree. I think there will be an un-announced flypast. Does make you wonder what the point of it is though. If things have got so stupidly risk-averse, keep it on the ground and save the fuel, and everyone involved the time and effort.If the weather looks ok I could be tempted to take the day off again (was it really 10 years ago I was up there?) and see if I'm lucky.
It would be nice if they could have said 'There will be no Lancaster flypast of the Howden/Ladybower/Derwent dams next month because a time for a fly over if the dams would make it a public display which would need an organiser/ insurance/ someone to blame.'
The Flying Scotsman has to travel in secret now in case somebody goes to see it and trips over.
The Flying Scotsman has to travel in secret now in case somebody goes to see it and trips over.
As far as I’m aware, a straightforward flypast isn’t classed as a display, just as an Apache doing a role-demo at a families day isn’t doing a display. Nit-picking maybe, but there you go.
There’ll be a good reason, I should think, everything in Britain is getting worse anyway. Let’s just accept that, and expect nothing.
There’ll be a good reason, I should think, everything in Britain is getting worse anyway. Let’s just accept that, and expect nothing.
Edited by Tony1963 on Tuesday 18th April 10:03
LukeBrown66 said:
What a joke of a world we live in.
Caused primarily by insurance companies sadly.
Well, insurance companies paying out huge sums due to an arrogant has-been pilot breaking the rules and killing a load of people, maybe. Would you want to put your house and savings on the li r to finance an air show with pilots like him attending?Caused primarily by insurance companies sadly.
Riley Blue said:
Nice how there's nothing about what most people seem to want to know - what is happening about the 80th anniversary flypast over the dams?It was a BBMF response to questions asked on Facebook that outlined the reasons for not having it.
It is not just about Shoreham, there are countless accidents and near misses involving flying displays, and all sorts of other spectator events, sadly the American propensity to sue anything and everything has now been taken up here, and insurance companies are queuing up to find ways of ruining everybodys lives
LukeBrown66 said:
It is not just about Shoreham, there are countless accidents and near misses involving flying displays, and all sorts of other spectator events, sadly the American propensity to sue anything and everything has now been taken up here, and insurance companies are queuing up to find ways of ruining everybodys lives
Whilst simultaneously charging us for the privilege.I would suggest that thelack of flypast at Ladybower is more to do with the fact that, on the Anniversary, the BBMF Lancaster will be conducting flypasts of every Bomber Command airfield in Lincolnshire.
Suggest you check the BBMF feed.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/battle-of-bri...
Suggest you check the BBMF feed.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/battle-of-bri...
Edited by LP12 on Tuesday 18th April 20:28
LP12 said:
I would suggest that thelack of flypast at Ladybower is more to do with the fact that, on the Anniversary, the BBMF Lancaster will be conducting flypasts of every Bomber Command airfield in Lincolnshire.
Suggest you check the BBMF feed.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/battle-of-bri...
It's this response on Facebook to that plan which is interesting Suggest you check the BBMF feed.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/battle-of-bri...
Edited by LP12 on Tuesday 18th April 20:28
And the fact that the fly overs are all in the evening
LP12 said:
I would suggest that thelack of flypast at Ladybower is more to do with the fact that, on the Anniversary, the BBMF Lancaster will be conducting flypasts of every Bomber Command airfield in Lincolnshire.
Suggest you check the BBMF feed.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/battle-of-bri...
I know - that’s where all the questions about the dams anniversary flypast originated from on Facebook.Suggest you check the BBMF feed.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/battle-of-bri...
Edited by LP12 on Tuesday 18th April 20:28
The Dambusters and the Derwent dams are inextricably linked, and it’s a significant anniversary of the Dambusters, not Bomber Command in general, so why schedule a flypast of all bases on that day? I’d have thought that the origin of all the questions about the omission of a dams flypast would be pretty obvious to anyone with even a passing interest in these things.
Granadier said:
Never mind, they could do some nice family-friendly commemoration based around the dog that the Dambusters had as a mascot. At least that would be uncontroversial.
There are of course three other dams associated with the Dambusters. Maybe in another uncontroversial gesture they could fly over those, perhaps with the theme music blasting out in celebration of UK/EU harmony.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff