Coventry Fly in for Help for Heroes

Last Sunday, we along with 20k other spectators, attended the spectacular ‘Heroes Fly-in’ at Coventry airport. The crowd pulling fund raising event was for Help the Heroes, a charity for the wounded servicemen and women who were being treated at the Centre for Defence Medicine based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Military patients from around the world were flown back to this hospital where they began their rehabilitation journey. It was through the support of events such as this that they were able to fund new equipment and therapies that weren’t available in this country.

Before I continue, I want to clear a few things. I don’t agree on charities funding for hospital equipments. The government should be doing this especially when they send men and women to war. They should make sure that all military patients get the best treatment, mentally and physically. I don’t want them to think that if they won’t provide the necessities, the charity will take over. Good luck to Help the Heroes.

I’m against war. Nobody wins. I took part in the Stop-the-War Coalition march in 2003 but I’m not against the soldiers who had no choice. And some of the aeroplanes were mean-killing machines. But I’m not against these flying machines. They were really awesome piece of kit.

We left the casa at about 8.15am and the road was clear until we reached Siskin Drive. Traffic was queuing to get into the grounds of Coventry Airport.  Several hundred cars were already parked. Security was tight. We’d to pass several security gates. Busses were provided to take us to the showground but we decided to check out a few planes that were parked nearby. Among them were the Gloster Meteor Night Fighter, de Havilland Vampire and Venom jet fighters, Jet Provost trainers and the mighty Canberra WK 163 jet bomber.

We queued for the bus when we saw the queue getting longer and more people arriving. Everyone was looking at an elderly guy carrying a step-ladder. Why?? After 10 minutes, we arrived at the showground and more security. Well, we were in an airport. More planes and helicopters on the ground and they kept us busy.

Children were having fun cos they were allowed to get into the cockpits. I wanted to get into one too but I don’t want to deprive these kids. Sigh!!! There was a hangar-based shopping and entertainment but we avoided that and checked out more aeroplanes. Visitors were queuing to checkout some of the planes from the Douglas DC-6 ‘Cloudmaster’ airliner, the Douglas Dakota to the evocative Avro Anson and iconic Chipmunk.

After the second hangar, more than 30 classic military and transport aircraft on display by the Classic Flight Club for visitors to look around. These include Britain’s first commissioned jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor, the Nimrod and the beautiful Dragon 1930s Rapide. I took the opportunity to sit on the wheel of the Nimrod.

Then it was time to find the best seat in the house. Babe wasn’t pleased cos a lot of people booked their place by leaving their deck chairs and mats at prime locations. We venture a bit further and found an empty space by a loudspeaker. We’d coffee from a thermos which taste fantastic on such a cold, windy morning.

Suddenly an announcement came blaring out of the speakers. We were nearly deaf. No wonder this space was empty. Songs from the early 1950s and 1960s kept us entertained. The crowd was getting bigger and everyone was jostling for the best place. I can’t see anything. Now I know why the guy was carrying a step-ladder :-)

At 11am, excitement was in the air. All eyes and lens were pointing towards the sky. The Vulcan was supposed to be first. But it was overtaken by the super-sonic Tornado. This low level, fighter aircraft, currently in service in Afghanistan, was a breath taking sight to behold. It just appeared from nowhere and at 1,452 mph/2,333kph you can see why. It made a very fast fly-by to a very appreciative crowd. You can see why this aircraft remains the most capable ground attack platform within the RAF inventory.

As soon as it was safely ‘parked’, the piece de resistance, the iconic Vulcan fighter bomber XH558, was within sight. This iconic RAF bomber, arrived with a Royal Marine paraplegic, Williams, at the control of the PA28 Warrior. We were informed that we could be witnessing history as the iconic bomber takes to the skies for what may be its last ever public appearance.

Owned and maintained by The Vulcan To the Sky Trust, and a hugely popular air show fixture, it was critically underfunded. Unless the charity raises £400,000 by the end of October the aircraft could be sold to a private collector - possibly in Russia or the US - and will never fly in the UK again. Fingers-crossed, it could find a home as a ground display at a UK museum.

Then two 1950’s era Venom jet fighters took to the air.  The Venom was designed in the late 1940s as one of Britain’s first jet fighters. They served during the Malayan Emergency during the mid 1950s and later saw action during the Suez Crisis.

We waited and waited for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which according to the programme should include legendary aircraft from Spitfire, Hurricane, Hercules to modern day jet, helicopters and classic flights. But nada, zilch. No announcement was made at all. But the crowd was entertained by the Avro Anson, a Douglas DC-3 and Vampire T.11.

At 3pm, there was a buzz in the air. The super-sonic Tornado slowly made its way down the runaway. It was very exciting to see this sleek machine suddenly growling and whoosh, it was gone. It disappeared so fast that I wasn’t able to take a single shot.

Next was the very impressive Vulcan. Again, she made her way down the runaway. The engine note rose, and rose... and rose. She suddenly darted forward and the characteristic screeching roar echoed around the airfield. And she was off in no time at all, flashing past us, searing her way into the blazing blue and roaring, above our heads as well as in our hearts, leaving the spectators a view of its flashing tail and the smell of burning fuel. What a fantastically noisy take-off.

Then it was time to join the queue to leave the showground. A queue to get into the bus and then join the queue to leave the airport and again the traffic. My thoughts??? One of the things to cross my list of 100 things to do before I die. I’m glad I attended and it was for a good cause.

Both of us was soo tired. We’d Thai Chicken soup and a cheese baguette for dinner. Babe was going to spend days uploading about 2.5k photographs plus editing a few video recordings. I plonked myself in front of the screen and watched the World Open snooker finals between my favourite, the Melbourne Machine, Robertson against the Rocket, O’Sullivan. Yess…Robertson won 5:1. Well done to the World No.1

On Saturday, we had an easy day at our favourite playground. This darter was enjoying the last of the summer warmth. Loads and loads of fungi popping everywhere by the sheep field. You can smell them in the air.

At Baldwin Hide, the Fly Agaric were on their last legs. We met Kathy with Mark and Andy with Kay. I’d a little natter with the ladies. A pied wagtail caught my attention,  feeding on the terns island. Babe caught this photo when it flew on the nearby island. A pair of Great Crested Grebe was swimming lazily by the hide.

We did some shopping at Morisson on the way home. Back at our casa, the nearby pub was very quiet. Quite unusual on a footie weekend. Then I found out that the Sky Blues lost 2:1 to Preston End. Better luck next time, boys.

Last Wednesday,  my colleagues and I attended the European Innovative User Group (EIUG) Search and Discovery Group Exchange of experience. The theme of the day was 'search & discovery interfaces'. We’d presentations from various libraries who were using the new style search interfaces such as Encore, Aquabrowser, Summons and Blacklight. We learnt how they were being developed and how well they were being received.

We were at a disadvantaged. With no hands-on experience, we were not able to participate in the discussions. We have purchased Summons but it hasn’t been installed yet. But it was a very good experience. I was very impressed with some of the ideas presented and couldn’t wait to play with the latest toy:-).

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

   “Hero by Mariah Carey”