Emma M

Both are acceptable spellings, although for a spelling bee? Probably only the US version.

Tableland

You're a yankee?

bevinva

The Red Arrows were great, well worth the wait to see the finest.

another bloody yank

Yessir.

Tableland

I thought you were from Missourah.

another bloody yank

Missour-ee... It's kind of an odd place, we're Yanks to those south of us, Southerners to those north of us, Westerners to those east of us and Easterners to those west of us. Never could understand the "ah" pronounciation, the plural doesn't make sense.

Tableland

Just a slang thing I think. Missouri has a complicated Civil War history. Basically a union state, a pro-slavery governor run out of the state, (rebel group) seceded it from the union, claimed by CSA. I think many think of it as a straight-forward southern state but it's more complex than that I guess.

ugacrew

I'm so happy to know you don't pronounce it Missour AH. It drives me nuts to hear it pronounced that way. Like where the heck is the 'A' at the end you know.

Brit3964

The Red Arrows do put on a good show for sure. I've flown in a BAe Hawk too The Blue Angels are good as well although I think The Thunderbirds have a more dynamic airshow probably 'cos the F-16s are more maneuverable than the F-18s but what's with all that public engine run show they do beforehand??

ugacrew

Nah. I think the Blues are better. They have much tighter formations than the Thunderbirds and to me seem more dynamic. There are a couple things that the TB's have going for them. Firstly they have a woman on the demo team which is fantastic. Secondly that sneak pass thrilled the crap out of me and I can't wait to have that happen again. Despite that the Blues are my favorite demo team. Their show isn't boring to me. My attention span was actually tested with the TB's. Perhaps it was because they had a malfunction at the beginning of their last show that delayed it.

ugacrew

But guess who's being retired in a few years first, the F-16's. That's when the 35 goes into regular production. Despite the 16 being more powerful the 18 is more versatile in it's use with the armament that it carries.

Brit3964

Don't get me wrong. The BAs are as good as them all. I've filmed 'em in action a few times now and yes, tight formations each time and doing it without the aid of a G-suit! Flying wing tip to wing tip at 420kts in and out of cloud is quite exhilarating (thanks to the test pilots at Boscombe Down).

ugacrew

On average they are 18" apart from wingtip to canopy. It's crazy nuts to be that close. Anything can happen.

Oh and quit making me jealous.

Tableland

Hi UGA

I'm noit sure they after I posted that, which is why I deleted it. I posted from memory but now I think the F-18s might be more powerful. I would need to check. I was going to watch the Raptor at Fairford but, quelle surprise, it was rained off.

Brit3964

Soowry At one point, we hit a very thick bank of cloud while in that tight formation and had to pull up right (other airplane fell left) then rejoined later somewhere over Blackpool. We were in route (sorry in ro-out to Scotland at the time. The pic is me back then in 1996 in front of that airplane we flew in to Scotland, a BAe Jaguar, back at Boscombe.