The start of the airshow season was meant to be upon us this weekend, but due to the global situation, like many things, Airshows are unable to currently be held. However one event which has traditionally been a season opener has been Abingdon Air and Country Show.
With its diverse mix of static civilian Trainers, Warbirds, Helicopters and occasional "Heavy", coupled with rare RAF flypasts, international participants, plus the country aspect of the show - it has always been a popular venue, at this MOD airfield in the heart of Oxfordshire.
Earlier in the year, ADUK's Chris Gurney spoke with Neil Porter about his show, some of his memories, and what the plan is going ahead:
What made you want to organise an airshow at Abingdon all those years ago?
"RAF Abingdon (as it was then) staged successful annual airshows & open days and naturally when the Air Force moved out at the end of 1992, these open days ceased. The Army had the odd families days and once included the Red Arrows but an annual Airshow of some kind was not forthcoming, hence my idea came to fruition. I also attended Delta Jets Open days at Kemble too back in the late 1990s and Glen Moreman, a friend of mine ran these and again gave me (some) ideas on how to run an event on a former RAF Airfield.
It's all self generating and we have to find the money each year to stage the show ie: stall and gate fees, very tiny amounts of sponsorship etc. and so the trick is (to) not spend all the income and have no back up funds in, a nutshell. That's how we have successfully kept going and as long as you have a residue of money in the bank left over for the following year then that's great help."
Can you tell us of some of your personal highlights over the years?
"Sure, well i guess in 2003 we had the first intentional jet land back at Abingdon (Jet Provost), (an) RAF Hawk operate from Abingdon (first time since the RAF left & a former type that came for major maintenance etc), generalised RAF support since 2001, Dutch F16 demo team with 'Hitec' piloting the flamboyantly painted lion coloured jet in 2010, the Vulcan in 2012, 2015 saw the Spitfire & RAF Typhoon duo display. We have had the Polish Navy, Belgium Air Component, US Army (SHAPE), Royal Netherlands Air Force all participate in the past, as well as the Mid Air Squadron Canberra, to name a few. Equally the ground attractions have featured some niceties such as Tank Rides and a T55 Tank demonstration."
Maybe you can tell me a story of a near miss, where you might have had something really special, but it didn't quite come off?
"Ooh well, i was contacted back in the early 2000's about German F4-F Phantoms that were on exercise (In Scotland I think), prior to the show and there was discussions about trying to entice a pair of Phantoms in for the weekend, but the week leading up to the show it didn't happen, and (there was) a similar scenario with a pair of Seahawk Helicopters from the Royal Australian Navy off the back of an exercise. Sometimes it's worth following up a lead if it's thrown your way."
There seems to have been a couple of changes to the format of the show this year, i think i read that it was just going to be helicopters at one point, what brought this about and why the change to adding some fixed wing in there?
"I originally wanted to stop the Flying Displays this year due to partly having a break, and partly because of escalating costs on the public liability insurance costs, as civilian owners displaying over MOD land have to have £50 million public liability insurance cover, and so we have to pay the extra costs to cover that for one. However, I had a rethink after my initial decision and thought if I stop the flying displays all together then, when I came back to that in say, a couple of years, its a relearning process to get back up to speed. So I have kept the flying displays but halved the number of display items to keep it within the affordable bracket but also kept them to lighter types but still a mix of fixed wing and rotary. However there is a little more emphasis on the rotary side. The static (lineup) will also feature more rotary types."
What can you tell us about this year, maybe a bit of a scoop with an addition if you can?
"This year's show will feature the Wessex and Sea King from Historic Helicopters at Chard, the former is displaying (& static) and the Sea King's first outing at a public show. Those two types are definitely two to watch out for! I would dearly love more however its all down to costs as some of these aircraft cost a lot of money to operate so me being an organiser sets a limit on funds available for flying displays for example."
How do you see the event evolving in the next few years, all being well?
"It will carry on with its traditional mix of a small airshow and a diverse country show but in the near future it may see a few changes, but we'll cross that bridge when the time comes. This year is 21 years and we aim to carry on in some form for as long as possible!"
Although not going ahead as planned, Abingdon Air and Country show is penned in for later in the year, in August, if the current situation allows. Whilst there is the possibility of some changes to the lineup, compared to its original May weekend slot, the event is sure to return with its usual varied mix of static and flying elements and we do hope that we can return to Abingdon soon!
Words - Chris Gurney, Matt Silvaire
Photos - Matt Silvaire
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