Calais/Dover 25/26 July 2009: 100 years Channel crossing

[RogierV]

Found this at Scramble's online Show dates section:

http://www.dover2009.com/ Saturday/Sunday 25/26 July
http://www.ville-sangatte.fr/pageLibre000108fc.php Saturday 25 July

Celebration of crossing the Channel by Louis Bleriot, 100 years ago. With participation of the Red Arrows and Patrouille de France. I could not find the time when their show or fly-past will take place.

Might be of interest for anyone returning from or heading to the UK!

Info about the display times is much appreciated.

[South Coast Sid]

Don't think you missed very much. The highlight was planned to be the recreation of Bleriot's flight but that was cancelled when the French authorities wouldn't let the pilot take off. The Spitfire display was cancelled because of a burst tail-wheel tyre, a Typhoon was mooted but nothing was said about that, numerous small civilian planes flew along the coast about a mile apart from each other and then after waiting all day the Arrows and the PdeF flew over Dover Castle, switched on their smoke and then went home. They were a short distance apart, so the PdeF had to fly through the smoke made by the Arrows. I guess they missed the chance to create something memorable by flying in formation. The only unusual sight was the Arrows flying a formation of ten rather than nine.