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| The Great Yorkshire Airshow Elvington Airfield, 27/28 August David Butler
reports. All pictures by the author unless stated. Given the haste in which this large event was planned and
executed, it was inevitable that the content would be similar to the previous year's
Yorkshire Air Spectacular, minus the large scale models of course, but no one was
complaining - this was a show driven by enthusiasm and helped by (on Sunday at least)
plenty of 'unseasonal' sunshine! Jet cars and taxiing demonstrations by Victor K2 'Lusty
Lindy' and Blackburn Buccaneer S2 XN974 acclimatised Other piston-powered beauties on duty at Elvington
included Paul Morgan's Corsair and Fury, the BBMF trio, RNHF Swordfish,
the Utterly Butterly Barnstormers and the Duke of Brabant's B-25 Mitchell, the latter
forming up with the two Real Aeroplane Company fighters prior to its own display. 'Arrival
of the day' must surely have gone to the
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Shrouded in uncertainty, speculation and rumour, and making the local news for
all the wrong reasons, it's a wonder The Great Yorkshire Airshow happened at all. Planned
and conceived in a mere five months, the organisers' endeavours were handsomely rewarded
by a huge and enthusiastic crowd reminiscent of Yorkshire air displays long gone. 
the ear drums to the
aural assault that was 
planned for later in the
programme, whilst the 'Pink and Black' Spitfire and Hurricane duo kicked off the flying
display proper - much to the delight of this local crowd.
Classic Aviation Projects Canberra B2 WK163, low level with 'pedal to the metal'
it came, before going ballistic and no-doubt straining the pilot's g-suit way beyond the
comfort zone! To cap that, Jonathon Whaley's Hawker Hunter F-58A 'Miss Demeanour' was put
through its paces, accompanied by a symphony of blue-notes that made even the hardest
bitter-swilling Yorkshiremen weep into their glasses! Marvellous stuff, that bitter! 
The RAF graced us with their Harrier, Jaguar and Tornado F3s and
very nice they were too, sending kids (and their parents) screaming in all directions. All
this in stark contrast to the 1 FTS Tucano demonstration, a common enough type in this
part of the world but rarely seen being given this sort of high-energy workout. Similar
things could be said of the latest RAF type to enter service, the 
Grob Tutor, sedate looking machines for
sure but surprisingly agile and a pleasure to watch (despite those nasty wheel spats). For
many though, especially the enthusiasts, the French Air Force 'Voltige Victor 2000'
Dassault Mirage F1 duo were the stars of the show. This is fast-jet flying of the highest
calibre that must be seen to believed, the crowd were held spellbound for the full ten
minute slot, spontaneously bursting into applause in a genuine show of appreciation when
the two F1s recovered. All of this AND the Red Arrows...what more could you ask for?