Southend Airshow 2006
The Red Arrows may have been absent for the 2006 Southend Airshow, but some decent weather brought in typically huge crowds to the Essex coastal resort for two days of flying displays. Nearly all the rest of the Royal Air Force’s display teams were present alongside the Royal Navy Black Cats and an international cast of civilian operated aircraft.
Perhaps most notably, the show saw the debut of the UK’s latest professional display team, the Blades operated by 2Excel Aviation based at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire. Flying four Extra 300LP aircraft, the pilots are all highly experienced military and civilian pilots. Led by former Red Arrows leader Andy Offer, the team includes two other former members of the Red Arrows (Andy Evans and Myles Garland) and well known Extra display pilot, Bruno Van Waeyenberghe. The display encompasses many familiar routines from Red Arrows and other team displays along with a few novel twists and some superb solo flying.
Though Southend was the teams first fully public display, they had flown their first display the week before at David and Victoria Beckham’s party for the England Team ahead of the World Cup. The aircraft have been suitable adorned with the flag of St. George on the lower surface of the starboard wing.
All photography by Paul Johnson/Flightline UK.
