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Biggin Hill

Biggin is a show for enthusiasts and families alike and the organisers have worked hard to increase the appeal to an ever wider audience, including children. Although not the most recent show, this review is of the 2005 show which is typical of airshows at Biggin Hill. See the links box for other show reviews. As well as the usual side stalls, the 2005 show included a classic car exhibition with a parade along the crowd line each day, a fun fair and even a circus with free performances. There was also the normal static aircraft display, with a varied if not plentiful selection of vintage and modern examples, and a Chinook HC2 from Odiham that visitors could clamber inside.

Being Biggin, the airshow itself was first class, with the usual selection of classic, wartime and modern craft to satisfy every taste. Those in the crowd who needed practice with their cameras will have appreciated the gentle pace of Saturday's display openers.

First were the RAF Falcons, who, like other displays, were limited to just over 2,000ft by air traffic control because of the proximity of Biggin to the London air routes. Only slightly faster than the falling Falcons was the Fieseler Storch, Andy Evans performing alone in the absence of the billed Lysander.

Following last minute cancellations, representation from abroad was limited to a Spitfire from Holland and 'Acromach', the Turkish-owned Pitts S-2S Special 'Purple Violet', flown by Ali Ozturk. Ali's Pitts frequently disappeared into its own smoke trail, winning the battle of the smoke-generators even against Will Curtis, amazing as ever in his Honda Dream Team Sukhoi Su-26. Very environmentally friendly smoke we were assured.

Matching these solo aerobatics, the Red Bull Matadors provided a thrilling duo display in their pair of Sukhoi Su-26s, winning the prize for the best team display.

The winner of the prize for the best solo display was the Chinook HC2 from No18(B) squadron, RAF Odiham. The Chinook clearly impressed the judges with an awesome performance including a very steep bow to the crowds and reverse take-off.

Other rotaries included the Blue Eagles, who prefaced their performance with a repeat of last year's much applauded massed formation with the Army Air Corps Historic Flight. Well, most of them. The Skeeter was still not there and the Scout was missing because its pilot was busy getting married. Nevertheless, the 10 craft formation made an impressive sight. Rotaries that did not appear were the Black Cats. One of them suffered an engine fire and a heavy landing on Friday. Thankfully the Saturday and Sunday performances were the only casualties.

Other no-shows at Biggin this year included the Breitling Jet Team, the Gold Air Pitts Special Aerobatic Team and the Shuttleworth Collection's Westland Lysander, which could not fly because of a technical problem with one of the engines. This was particularly unfortunate as the excellent show programme had devoted several pages to an article that featured the craft.

There were also reduced displays from the Utterly Butterlys, who displayed as a pair on Saturday but only a managed a solo performance on Sunday, and the RN Sea Harrier, also a Saturday-only performer. The Hercules was reduced for operational reasons from a full tactical demo to its standard post-Falcons flypast and relegated from a flying display to a static were a pair of French Dassault Mirage F1s.

The French may not have managed to display their Mirage, but the RAF did us proud with a virtually full compliment, from the Tucano and Hawk trainers, through to the stunning Eurofighter Typhoon T1, in its first full display season. Parky, alias Flt Lt Antony Parkinson, talked through the manoeuvres being performed by Sqn Ldr Matt Elliot. The display was so tight that the Typhoon was rarely out of sight, the crowd having plenty of opportunity to study this impressive addition to the European arsenal from every angle.

Of the other contributions from the RAF, which included the ever-popular Harrier GR-7and the Tornado F3, the most poignant was probably the Jaguar GR3A. The type is in its last season before becoming redundant to the Typhoon and the particular aircraft was on its last sortie before being scrapped the following Monday, having exhausted its quota of flying hours.

Also from the RAF, the Red Arrows were as impressive as ever on Saturday, after which they left for European dates starting at Rivolto in Italy. The Royal Navy provided a Sea Harrier on Saturday, although technical problems prevented a repeat on Sunday. On the other hand, their Historic Flight managed both days, the Sea Fury and Sea Hawk returning almost exactly a year after taking to the skies following their long absence for maintenance.

The maritime theme extended to Plane Sailing's Catalina, now painted as a US Emergency Rescue amphibian: rather smarter than last year's garish yellow, and the unmistakable spectacle of the Red Bull Sea Vixen.

British-based warbirds of USA origin were very well represented. B-17 'Sally B' has had a lean season because of the new European insurance rules, but thanks to sponsorship from Richard Branson, Biggin was one of a few dates she did manage this year. Sally B was escorted initially by brace of P-51 Mustangs - Old Flying Machine Company's P-51D 'Ferocious Frankie' and Rob Davies' 'Big Beautiful Doll', which also flew their own tight duo without Sally. Other British based American warbirds were the P-47D Thunderbolt, the F8F Bearcat, and a pair from Golden Apple, the F-86A Sabre and the T-33A Silver Star.

The skies were also filled with British classic jets. Delta Jets' trio, a pair of Hunter T7s and a Folland Gnat T1, displayed in the colours of former RAF display teams, the Gnat in yellow and the Hunters in blue and black.

DHL have been all over the place this show year and they didn't miss Biggin. Their colourful 757 banked and soared in a way that you don't often see from a commercial freighter at close quarters.

On Sunday Guy Westgate performed unpowered aerobatics in his Fox Glider and even made an upside-down pass whilst on tow.

All time favourites, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, displayed both days. Teamed up with the Spitfire and Hurricane was the DC-3 Dakota, although you can't help thinking the crowd would really have preferred the Lanc. These Battle of Britain favourites were in good company with Peter Vacher's Hurricane and five other spitfires - more details on the Scramble page in the Features section.

The show closed both days with an emotive display by Ray Hanna in Spitfire MH434. Sometimes clinging to the ground, sometimes soaring and swooping, there were audible gasps from the crowd when he reappeared from behind trees. As ever, an energetic yet graceful display of aerial dexterity from the master of the Spitfire.