La Patrouille de France

Despite the weather, the Air Show was a most enjoyable experience.

I do enjoy all things to do with aeroplanes. I find it fascinating to watch them, to be up close to them, tom fly in them, and I have even had the odd lesson or 2. It was always a dream to attain a PPL, but it remained a dream.

To observe the skills of the pilots at such shows is awesome. The co-ordination in close flying formations, and even more so when the aircraft fly at each other across the airfield is breath taking.

We had watched the Red Arrows a few weeks before when they gave a display over the River Clyde at Greenock as part of the Tall Ships Event. Then, just before the Leuchars show, came the death of one of the Red Arrow pilots at Bournemouth.

I am sure it was difficult for the team to overcome their personal feelings, but they did, and gave a stirring performance.

The French squadron were for me the stars of the show. They were immense. They also did a fly past at the funeral of the Red Arrow Pilot, Jon Egging.

Strangely, one of my sons was in France a couple of weeks ago, visiting war sites. At one War Graves site, la Patrouille de France flew overhead.