"Computer says no..."

The computer was having none of it. My video camera was happily announcing that it was 'connected to PC', but the computer wasn't recognising the fact. I held the camcorder up to the moniter so that the computer could see what it should be looking for. I twiddled the cable, waggled the plug, pulled it out and replaced it with great precision. I switched the camera on and off, each time it announced with glee that it was... 'connected to PC'... He's a good little camera, always keen to please.
After 5 minutes of swearing and some violent threats involving a penknife and a USB slot, success! A jolly box appears... 'Mass storage device... what would like me to do?' Don't play silly games with me Mr.Computer, remember what happened to Mr.DVD Player when he tried being awkward? He wasn't so cocky after I'd crammed toast into his loading slot ,then kicked him around the garden in the rain... You have been WARNED!!!
Anyway, here's some videos of Cosford Airshow I uploaded...

Cosford Airshow...

It was a baking hot day, and the Cosford Airshow was on. We managed to miss all the traffic from the record turn out by heading through the backlanes to my secret parking space only 5 mins walk from the airfield. We didn't go inside the base, but set up just outside on the fields. You're not really meant to be there but the Airforce turn a blind eye to the little band of squatter enthusiasts.
The Red Arrow display team appeared early in the day, they always give an impressive show.
It's incredible how close they get to one another. Some of the spectators in the car park were having difficulty getting into spaces twice the size.
There's nothing like the smell of the smoke from the back of these, a mixture of BBQ and oil refinery!
Selfishly, the Airforce had sent a lot of the proper military jets to a foreign country where the locals had been throwing pebbles or something equally troublesome. In their place were a LOT of stunt display teams. They're OK, but you can have too much of a good thing.
Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on these guys, their flying was pretty amazing, if only they didn't have to keep on stopping to wind the rubber band up.
Standing where we shouldn't had it's advantages, the planes coming perilously low over our heads. Much lower than they are allowed to fly over the crowds inside.
I don't think you should be waving at me mate... look where you're going... TREE! Oh dear, some one fetch the Balsa wood glue...
Some of the classic WW2 planes displayed. The Lancaster bomber, Spitfire, Mustang and this Hurricane. You'd think they'd treat these rarities with kid gloves, but they really throw them around... good stuff.
I couldn't figure out if this jet was bigger than it first looked, or if the pilot was exceptionally small... or even a child. Have a closer look at the photo, he looks lost in that cockpit/ conservatory.
This is how schoolboys draw jet fighters. Swept back swings, big air intake and pods mounted under the wings. One of these schoolboys grew up and joined the design team at USAF and made something beautiful.
The Typhoon is so quick, I've never managed to get a proper picture or decent video of it... ever. I suppose that's the idea. If you can't even keep it in frame on a camera, then the chances of shooting it down are pretty slim. Click on the picture and enlarge it, and you can see that the pilots have got cool green helmet visors.
This is what drew the record breaking crowds. The last flying example of the awesome Vulcan bomber. Nothing prepares you for the amazing view, as this wafer thin plane turns revealing that distinctive delta wing. The 4 Roll Royce engines are deafening. Covering your ears won't help, as the sound jibbbles your innards. It sets car and house alarms off for miles around!

Remember... as always, clicking on the photo embiggens the image. (Yes embiggens is a word... probably)

Cosford airshow...

The Cosford airshow is a yearly event. People travel countrywide to spectate. The resulting chaos locks up the roads for miles around. I long since gave up queueing, and instead, have found a convoluted route through the maze of country lanes to get to within 5 mins walking distance. This way I miss all the traffic, park for free, and no, I'm not saying how you get there! Once there, we don't go inside, but instead head to a grassy mound known to die hards and locals alike. The air force give us the wink and allow us to watch for free....

Where we watch is at the far end of the airfield. The view is partly obscured by an embankment and the occasional tree, but it means that often on their approach aircraft fly right over your heads (it is outlawed to fly over the crowd in Europe, too many people got mashed!). Also this is where the Chinook sits to warm up.....grab everything, it's taking off!

Military aircraft were pretty thin on the ground, (not sure that expression works with aircraft) probably due to all the war and stuff. Still, ladies glued to bi-planes will have to do.

Could they get any closer?!

The glue comes unstuck and she clings on for dear life!

The Red Arrows are always popular. Fly with precision and crash with style.

One year, down south, they managed to clip a 20ft mast on one of the yachts in the harbour! He lost his no claims bonus and everything.

The Red Arrows display was cut short because some one in a microlight chugged their way into the military airspace! Did he not notice it was busier than normal? He was lucky he didn't get knocked out the air by jet wash. Ushered away with a specially adapted large rolled newspaper, the show continued.

Flying in tight formation was their forte, but when I went to press my shutter button...Whoosh! A spectacular split, peeling off in every direction. It's a conspiracy. That can be the only explanation. They know when I've just switched the camera off, and they know when I'm just about to press the button!

The gorgeous looking Spitfire. During the second World War these were manufactured at a site about 4 miles from where I live. The test pilots were apparently quite reckless and often flew through the hangers!

The 'Eurofighter', or it's preferred name, the 'Typhoon' shot past with an exhaust note that jibbled your innards about.

What were they thinking calling it a 'eurofighter'? It sounds like something you would put down to kill cockroaches! 'Typhoon', now, that's a proper name, you could do some damage with one of those....

Upside down, at low level, with the afterburners on, now that's fun. "I'll just see if I can get it through that hanger!"

This plane spent most of the time being blurred or getting small quickly. It was very fast and agile. A lot of the time I didn't know even where it was until it had past!

Air show cont'd.....

I never used to like the RAF parachute team display when I was a kid, but now I've got my own parachute, it suddenly seems more interesting. Still, that label that was attached to it troubles me...."Certified scrap, All liabilities denied, all explosives removed safely". It's nice to know it's not going to blow up, but I won't be jumping out of any planes with it!

The well choreographed display, declined into an out and out race. I don't know whether they had a bet or whether they could just see the beer tent!

Helicopters, I like these. They stay put so you can photograph them.

Tornados are great. They are swing wings so are constantly changing shape.

The nose is pointing at the ground, and you've got the afterburners on?! Are you sure that's right?

Are you sure you shouldn't be pulling up now? Are you sure you're sure?!

Maybe the ectoplasm is obscuring the ground. Yes, it is called ectoplasm! Yes, I know they had it in 'Ghostbusters'! You'll have to go and look it up then....

A quick tug of the handbrake and he levels out. You can tell it was a humid day, as the wing tip pressure leaves condensation trails.

A Wasca plane flies high overhead, probably keeping an eye out for more microlights.

There were three Tornados flying simultaneously. They make a great noise when there is so many.

I love some of the WW2 fighters, they have such a dynamic look. For a 60 year plus plane he's still throwing it about a bit!

A Dakota (I think) comes into land (no, maybe not a Dakota, it's got English markings; I don't know) and so ends the show. Back to my secret parking place and bypass the traffic home...