Monday, 7 September 2009

Red Arrows




Last Thursday was a day to remember. I landed at Heathrow (London) after the usual marathon journey from Armidale at something like 6.30 am and soon found my way on to a train to Paddington Station where I caught the 9.05 am to Plymouth. Trying to keep awake for the 3 hour + trip, I eventually alighted on platform in Plymouth to be met by my brother, Brian, who kindly took time off work to be there. After a quick dash to his home, he and I were joined by Daphne, Joanna and Hollie on a mad dash back into town to see the performance of a life-time!

It so happened I'd arrived on a special day to raise funds for the UK's war casualties and all sorts of military performances were in train. The hilight was something I'd always wanted to see: an aerobatic performance by the Red Arrows, one of the world's leading groups in that genre. They didn't disappoint, and for 20-30 minutes the sky reverberated to the roar of jets laying smoke trails and engaging in precision flying of the most spectacular kind.

These self-explanatory photos show them in action. If you ever get the chance to watch something similar I advise you to sieze the opportunity. The occasion was made more special by the fact that we were standing on Plymouth Hoe looking out to sea at roughly the spot where Sir Francis Drake was reputedly playing bowls when someone spotted the Spanish Armada back in the days of Elizabeth I. It was worth the trip just to see them in action!

AS

2 comments:

Laura said...

Yay the red arrows. I remember seeing them down in Plymouth. Hope the show was good.

Wayward Rambler said...

They certainly were!