Civilian Aviation

I wondered if anyone remembers the Barnstormers Flying Circus, a sort of 'Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines' outfit from the Seventies? I recall seeing them perform at a number of shows but I think they only appeared once at Liverpool, during the 1972 'Wings over Merseyside' air display on Saturday 29 April. I was there with my dad on the day when this bloke came over and said the Barnstormers were a bit shorthanded and would we like to help them out with their display? So we ended up as lookouts in the back of a van barreling across the grass field while under attack from flour-bombs hand-thrown from the low flying 'enemy' planes. I also ended up holding up one of two Limbo poles with an attached rope (which had been soaked in petrol and then set alight!) while the pilots flew their planes underneath. Great fun!

I don't know who the pilots were at the time but here are photos of three of the aircraft used in the display:

DH82A Tiger Moth G-ADIA.


DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 G-ARGG.


Tipsy Nipper T66 G-AVKT. Sadly, just four months later, this aircraft was destroyed in a crash during a display at Burton Constable Hall in Yorkshire on 19 August 1972.


Hope this stirred some memories!

I don't remember the Barnstormers in the '70s but love these shots.

I see you've managed to capture the Rothman's Stampes behind the Chippy, I'd completely forgotten about them - saw them loads of times. The Nipper looks like a little model aeroplane parked in front of the JPs !

Keep them coming please, your shots are excellent.

Mike wrote:I don't remember the Barnstormers in the '70s but love these shots.

I see you've managed to capture the Rothman's Stampes behind the Chippy, I'd completely forgotten about them - saw them loads of times. The Nipper looks like a little model aeroplane parked in front of the JPs !

Keep them coming please, your shots are excellent.

Will do Mike, cheers

The Barnstormers formed 50 years ago this year. I remember do remember them.
There is a group & a page on Facebook that many of the original members/pilots/crews are part of.
Thanks for sharing these pictures.

Certainly do - spot landings, shredding toilet rolls, flour bombing, limbo.......... Did a great day at Doncaster in 1972 or 1973.

Steve

Fond memories, they were based at Sywell and I saw them quite a few times. Somewhere in my collection I've probably got a photo or two...

Great shots !

I certainly remember them fondly. A bit like watching an aerial version of "Tiswas" !!!

Brilliant stuff!!!

waghorn41 wrote:Fond memories, they were based at Sywell and I saw them quite a few times. Somewhere in my collection I've probably got a photo or two…

That's where I first saw them display. Happy days.