Words and Photos by Frank Grealish / IrishAirPics.com
With aircraft repositioning from Weston Airport to Ballyboughal Airfield for the Fingal Rush Air Display, a unique opportunity presented itself to assemble a unique “Big Wing” formation of 10 aircraft for an air-to-air photoshoot.
Consisting of six Vans RV-8s from Team Raven, two Boeing Stearmans from the AeroSuperBatic WingWalkers, Rich Goodwin with his Jet Pitts, and Eddie Goggins with his CAP 232, a few different formations were planned for the transit between airfields. The photoship for this photoshoot was Vans RV-7 EI-HUM, immaculately flown as always by Gerry Humphreys.
While at Weston we added a pair of De Havilland Chipmunks from the Irish Historic Flight Foundation to the list of customers for the air-to-air photoshoot, but because of the speed difference between the Chipmunk and the other aircraft they couldn’t join the big wing formation, it would have to be a separate shoot.
Once everything was ready, the Chipmunks departed Weston for Ballyboughal, followed shortly after by myself and Gerry in EI-HUM. While we were taking photos of the Chipmunks, the aircraft for the Big Wing departed Weston in stages and formed up at an agreed rendezvous point.
Once we finished with the Chipmunks we returned to the rendezvous point where the Big Wing was forming. We joined up with the formation once everyone was in place and started the big shoot of the day. Flying alongside a formation of 10 aircraft is impressive and special on its own, but when two of the aircraft have girls standing on the wing it adds a bit of spice to the proceedings.
After much barrel rolling and position changes, we were finished with the Big Wing and the various aircraft broke off for their approach to Ballyboughal. We stayed with Team Raven for a bit longer after everyone else broke off, before we too had to break away for our slot to land at Ballyboughal.
A Big Thank You Goes To….
Gerry Humphreys for flying photoship EI-HUM, the Irish Historic Flight Foundation, Team Raven, the AeroSuperBatic WingWalkers, Rich Goodwin, Eddie Goggins, and Se Pardy, Bray Air Display Organiser, for making it all possible.
