Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Tonight sees the 75th anniversary of the raid, by 617 Sqn, RAF, on the Ruhr dams, when the Mohne and Eder dams were breached, when Operation Chastise was launched on the night of 16th / 17th May, 1943, lead by Guy Gibson.
I was going to go to the Derwent dam today, not that far from where I live, to watch the BBMF Lancaster fly-past, but the predicted large crowds, restricted parking, and expected six-hour traffic delays persuaded me not too.
I also thought the weather was probably marginal, at best, as the BBMF enforce tight restrictions on flying, with a minimum visibility of 3 miles, and max cross-wind component of 10 knots at take off and landing, and it seems I was right, as the Lancaster fly-past was cancelled. There was also some confusion, as the fly-past by a Typhoon II was also accidentally announced as cancelled, and apparently caught out many disappointed spectators, as it flew past as the crowds were dispersing.
Pic below (stock photo) from a previous anniversary fly-past.
I was going to go to the Derwent dam today, not that far from where I live, to watch the BBMF Lancaster fly-past, but the predicted large crowds, restricted parking, and expected six-hour traffic delays persuaded me not too.
I also thought the weather was probably marginal, at best, as the BBMF enforce tight restrictions on flying, with a minimum visibility of 3 miles, and max cross-wind component of 10 knots at take off and landing, and it seems I was right, as the Lancaster fly-past was cancelled. There was also some confusion, as the fly-past by a Typhoon II was also accidentally announced as cancelled, and apparently caught out many disappointed spectators, as it flew past as the crowds were dispersing.
Pic below (stock photo) from a previous anniversary fly-past.