The Abingdon Air and Country Show was called off in September last year because of the death of the Queen two days before the event. This year there was a full show with a two-hour flying display at the end. The day was fine with blue sky.
The display included among others the Titans Display Team ,
a Bronco,
and Westland Helicopters.
Information about RAF Abingdon was provided in the programme (price £2) and in a tent. Somebody found a lot of booklets called The First Fifty Years of RAF Abingdon and gave them away for free. RAF Abingdon used the airfield until it was transferred to the army in 1992.
As well as the airshow and static aircraft, a young motorcycle display team, with ages ranging from 6 to about 16, rode over ramps and in interweaving patterns. Musicians played in one marquee, and craft makers displayed artifacts in another marquee. There were lots of stalls, and a fun fair.
WWII re-enactors, including the Oxfordshire Home Guard, guarded their pitches.
Hundreds of classic cars were parked near the display area, and at the other end were lorries, and some small traction engines.
The event, as well as giving lots of people a good day out, supports local charities and good causes. Thankyou to the organisers, and volunteers, for another wonderful show.
Excellent event!
There were three Westland Scouts on the airfield on Saturday, quite a rare sight; XV130 was in the static park but isn’t airworthy. On 8 April 1969 I flew in that same helicopter back to RAF Abingdon from RAF Weston-on- the-Green in formation with another Scout and the de Havilland Dragon Rapide of the Royal Air Force Sport Parachuting Association. At the airshow I spoke to the current owner who told me he’s researching the history of the helicopter, I was happy to email him the images I’d taken that day 54 years ago.