Jet Fest 2018

Written by Wayne Riding, Aerobility Operations and Administration.

Aerobility were invited to attend the inaugural Jetfest event at North Weald airfield last weekend.

The event was primarily to create a gathering of private vintage jet owners, operators and pilots in an effort to coordinate a proactive body to liaise with the CAA over regulation.

The event had many of our Aerobility friends, Oliver Wheeldon, and Oliver Suckling, who flew the Jet Provost to Blackbushe were there, as was John Dodds who flew the Mustang for the Aviators Ball prize at Blackbushe this year.

The event proved a feast for camera wielding jet plane enthusiasts, who couldn’t get enough of the opportunity to photograph so many Provost, Strikemaster, Hunter, Gnats in the same location at the same time.

We were also treated to our own Jon Windover flying in his Cub, and later following up with flying his Yak.

There were Gnat and Provost flights throughout the day, with the Gnats performing formation take offs and landings.

After the days events, we were treated to a presentation by the Gnats team, who showed us some of the history and origins of the current aircraft, and of their future hopes.  

There were some amazing photos of the Gnats formation flying with the Vulcan and the Red Arrows - a very special moment.

After the presentation we took the opportunity to have a meal at the Norwegian wing at North Weald, I can highly recommend the steak!

The social side continued on until the wee hours, with our Kevin Arblaster from Tatenhill proving himself a super ambassador for Aerobility and proving he could keep pace with the best of them!

The next day, flights continued, I had to take G-UCAN to Goodwood, so I set off in good time.

It was a well organised event, with a lot of familiar faces who will largely be with us at next month’s Aviators Ball.