Little Gransden Charity Air & Car Show
Extra Flugzeugbau EA-300S 004 G-IIUI at Little Gransden Charity Air and Car show. Photo by Bob Franklin
Little Gransden Air show held in the late summer by kind permission of John and Mark Jefferies and organised by Dave Poile MBE, goes from strength to strength year after year. Representative aircraft include Hurricane, Lancaster, Mustang, Spitfire and Tiger Moth to name a few. A fantastic day out for all the family with various stalls and exhibits, air displays, classic cars and tractors.
Raising funds for Children in Need.
Little Gransden Charity Air & Car Show Website
Little Gransden Air show 2011 - Sunday 28th August 2011
One of the most popular small air shows which has been going for almost twenty years. 2011 had its usual regular participants such as Maurice Hammond with his pair of Mustangs, Justin Needham with the Cessna Bird Dog and one of the largest aircraft seen at Gransden the Avro Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Flight. These aircraft were joined this year by the Aurora from Canada and Peter Holloway demonstrating the low speed handling of his Fieseler Storch. Another first at Gransden was formation fly-pasts by a pair of Spartans accompanied by a Beechcraft Staggerwing. Also the pair of Pitts Specials carried out a well synchronised and fast moving display. Other displays were carried out by the Piston/Jet Provost team, the SWIP team in their Twisters and the usual polished aerobatics performed by Mark Jefferies in his Extra EA-300SC. Weather conditions were not by any means perfect but with some superb flying and the usual vintage cars, tractors and motorcycles, there was something here for everyone.
Images courtesy of John Bradshaw
Little Gransden Air show 2010 - Sunday 29th August 2010
What has become one of the areas much looked forward to small air shows (but not too small) with that friendly family atmosphere. As usual, organised and run by Dave Poile MBE and his team of very able volunteers, topped off with fly-past's editor Ken Ellis and his own special blend of commentary. All made possible by the generous use of Little Gransden airfield, courtesy of John and Mark Jefferies.
This years air show was hampered by strong winds, which made it impossible for some of the participants to transit to the airfield. The short-fall was made up by other participants and a tremendous effort by Peter Teichman, who put on his usual polished display in his Hawker Hurricane IIb, also Tom Maloney in the BAC Strikemaster. Both who battled strong winds to get from their base at North Weald in Essex.
Little Gransden was also graced with three Mustangs, Maurice Hammond's Marinell and Janie, Dave Evans flying Janie and Rob Davies in his Big Beautiful Doll. Other displays of note were Mark Jefferies putting on his usual meticulous display in the Extra EA-300SC and an added bonus of Dave Ratcliffe doing a fly-past in the Historic Flying Limited Spitfire. With all this mention of aircraft, we must not forget the fantastic array of classic cars, motorcycles and military vehicles on display. Finally a big thank you to some of the people behind the scenes, namely the hard working aircraft marshallers and the support from the fireman, ambulance crews and police.
Images courtesy of Bob Franklin
Little Gransden Air show 2009 - Sunday 30th August 2009
Photo - Beccy Turner (left), Dave Poile MBE (centre) and Chris Cannon (right). Photo by Ross Cannon
The East Anglian Children's Hospice at Milton in Cambridge had an early Christmas present on Monday 14th December, when Dave Poile MBE (the organizer of the Little Gransden Air show) and Chris Cannon (who films and produces the Little Gransden Air show DVD) presented Beccy Turner, Fund raising assistant with a cheque for £500 from sales of the Air show DVD.
The Little Gransden show with a fantastic crowd of over 5,000 people raising a mind boggling £51,000 before the final bills are paid. A super line-up of Aircraft as usual, unfortunately the Battle of Britain Flight Lancaster was unable to attend due to a strong crosswind at RAF Coningsby.
The standard of flying and diversity of Aircraft more than made up for the overcast skies and freshening wind. Some of the usual participants gave their support such as Tracy Martin in the Bell 47 Sioux, the Turbo Team and Captain Dennis Neville's flying circus with their flower bombing and balloon bursting displays. Also Peter Holloway with his Aircraft from Old Warden and Mark Jefferies in his new Extra 330SC gave a flawless display. An added bonus for this year was Nigel Pickards pair of Spartans, unique to this flying display, flown by Ian Austin and Mark Jefferies.
New for this year Peter Teichman in his newly restored Hurribomber and John Elliot in the 2 seat Autogyro. The Bulldog, Chipmunk pair took us back to the yesteryear of RAF flying training. A vintage Yak 18 flown over from Belgium. Maurice Hammond and Dave Evans brought over Maurice's pair of immaculate Mustangs and in a moving tribute to the late Ian Davis, who was tragically killed last October in a flying accident Clive Denney performed a polished flying display in the Chipmunk.
Images courtesy of Bob Franklin
Finally the Vampire from North Weald being the only Jet display at Little Gransden finished off the show. A big thank you to some of the people who make Little Gransden possible, Mike Woods, Ken Ellis, the Fire and Ambulance cover, the hardworking Aircraft Marshallers and many more people behind the scenes who we haven't got time to name. Finally Mark and John Jefferies who without their Airfield there wouldn't be an Air show and Dave Poile MBE the organiser.
Images courtesy of Ross Cannon
Captain Neville's Flying Circus
Little Gransden press day 2009 - Tuesday 11th August 2009
In near perfect conditions Little Gransden held it's small but exciting press day. Anglia TV's Cameraman attended the event, along with various Newspaper Reporters and Photographers. As usual Mark Jefferies put on a stunning display in his, new for this season Extra 300SC. Dave Poile MBE was on hand for interviews. Several classic Cars arrived for a photo shoot with the Spartan, and an added bonus was Dennis Neville and his wife who dropped in with their Aircraft.
Images courtesy of Ross Cannon
Little Gransden Air show 2008 - Sunday 31st August 2008
Little Gransden the home to the charity Car and Air show. For the last sixteen years supporting the BBC Children in Need appeal. Bringing together pilots and Aircraft and thousands of visitors from all around the Country. Once again organised by Dave Poile and Mark and John Jefferies, with their fantastic team of volunteers, not forgetting our resident commentator Flypast editor Ken Ellis.
The displays this year included a Bell 47 (G-MASH) flown by Tracy Martin, the Spartan flying with the Pilatus PC-12, through to Warbirds including Peter Vacher's Hurricane Mk I, Peter Teichman in the P-40 Kitty Hawk and Maurice Hammond in his P-51 Mustang Janie.
Another fantastic day out for the family with the added bonus of vintage Cars, Motorcycles and Tractors, joined together with large exhibitions in the hangars, plenty of good food and camaraderie of the great British public.
Images courtesy of Matt Buddle
Little Gransden Air show 2006 - Sunday 27th August 2006
Images courtesy of Bob Franklin