Mildenhall has a temporary reprieve.

[Tony1963]

Was due to close in 2023, now won’t be any earlier than 2027:

https://www.forces.net/news/raf-mildenhall-closure...

[Eric Mc]

Good.

Now lets get their air shows back.

[Tony1963]

Eric Mc said:

Good.

Now lets get their air shows back.

Lol. Won’t happen, sadly.

[aeropilot]

Tony1963 said:

Eric Mc said:

Good.

Now lets get their air shows back.

Lol. Won’t happen, sadly.

Yep, they will never return.

Its almost 20 years now since the last one.

[Tony1963]

Over 20 years...

[aeropilot]

Tony1963 said:

Over 20 years...

Last one was 2001 IIRC, the events of 9/11 later that year put an end to it for good.

[Eric Mc]

It was my favourite. I always associate it with baking hot sunny days and cracking BBQs.

[vixen1700]

Remember a baking hot day there in 1976 for the bi-centenial celebration air-show when I was a nipper.

[ceesvdelst]

It would be fabulous to have a last hurrah Air Fete there, I hope it might happen, they truly were the best airshows in the country, for fans aswell, so much to do the crews all got into it, and the food and drink was something special.

Unlike Fairford I would happily queue for hours to do one more there!

[Tony1963]

ceesvdelst said:

It would be fabulous to have a last hurrah Air Fete there, I hope it might happen, they truly were the best airshows in the country, for fans aswell, so much to do the crews all got into it, and the food and drink was something special.

Unlike Fairford I would happily queue for hours to do one more there!

Trouble is, it’s just be another Fairford. Air shows have completely changed since the heydays of Mildenhall, and they’re not coming back. The same pricks that ruin Fairford would be there, just for starters.

[aeropilot]

Tony1963 said:

Air shows have completely changed since the heydays of Mildenhall, and they’re not coming back.

[Johnnybee]

I had the tastiest hot dogs I've ever eaten at the Mildenhall airshow

[ceesvdelst]

I agree, I am aware of how much things have changed, when I first went they could fly over the crowd!!

But I would go still, just for old times sake!! And I am sure the Yanks would put on a better show, they always used to.

[Eric Mc]

It was the atmosphere as much as the aeroplanes I enjoyed.

[hammo19]

I agree with Eric the shows at Mildenhall had a real friendly relaxed atmosphere. The smell of dogs and burgers cooking on cut open barrels was enticing. You could get american brewed Budweiser too the European version just isn’t the same.

[BOBTEE]

To be fair I'd go just for the food! I can still taste the blueberry donuts!

[ceesvdelst]

I cant seem to remember the tossers on ladders as much either, when you compare to nowadays.

Obviously I was very young so was often on the car roof or at the front or on a blanket in the sun, but I loved it. I saw everything there from SR71's to a Herclues display team, to a B2, getting bounced by a Buccaneer, it was awesome. Days long gone sadly

[aeropilot]

ceesvdelst said:

to a Herclues display team

Aah, the wonderful Green Barrows

[Eric Mc]

ceesvdelst said:

to a B2, getting bounced by a Buccaneer,

Really? That was an odd combination for a display. What year would that have been.

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

ceesvdelst said:

to a B2, getting bounced by a Buccaneer,

Really? That was an odd combination for a display. What year would that have been.

It never happened.

First public display by a B-2 in the UK was 1997.
The Buccaneer was retired from RAF service in early 1994.