Guernsey Airport Open Days
When it was announced that the new terminal at Guernsey Airport would be holding a public open weekend on 20th and 21st March 2004, one of the things for people to see would be a static model aircraft display by the Guernsey Model Club. Obviously, after all of the controversy surrounding the new building, this was going to be a very high profile event.
For the display, we had a limited amount of space we could utilise, but used it as best we could to put on a select few models which would, hopefully, capture the publics imagination. As it turned out, the members present throughout the weekend were asked several questions about our aircraft, which ranged from sports models, electric park-flyers, scale models, helicopters and a Jet Turbine aircraft.
Below are some photos of our display, then some other more general ones taken at various points around the airport.
Rob Bougourd's Fiesler Storch
A Ready 2, an Extra 300s, and a Waco Biplane
The Ready 2, the Storch, a Raptor 30, and on the right, a Cougar 2000
A view of the Cougar 2000
A close-up of the Extra 300s and the Waco
A PT-17 Stearman and a Giles G-202
The Turbine powered Hotspot with a Harvard in the background
The Harvard and Fokker DR1
An F4U Corsair
A look along the table line; a Piper Cub in the foreground
A look along the rest of the line. At the end you will notice the large P51D Mustang
A close look at the Magnum and Fury 60 Expert
The Hotspot from another angle
People didn't believe us when we said we had brought Concorde to Guernsey Airport
A mechanical work of art, the MA X-cell Pro mk2
The only scale helicopter on display was this 30-sized Hirobo Lama
From one extreme to the other, you can't get much simpler than these Stinson Voyagers
The as-yet-unflown Mustang. Can't wait to see this beauty in the air.
Just look at the size of the spinner on that. I reckon its 5", but don't quote me on that
A look along the fuselage of the large Mustang
Nick Brehaut, with the dredged up and cleaned up propeller from a full-size Storch
A view of part of our display from the airport staircase
Another view from the stairs. The large glider hanging belongs to Dave Vivyan
But the weekend wasn't only about us. It was a chance for people to look around the new Airport building. So here goes.
A view of a Dash-8 on the apron taken from the cafe viewing area. Apart from where the control tower and old terminal are, the entire runway can be seen
An Avro Anson, flown in specially for the occasion
The Anson is not an exceptionally large plane, but is very round and bulky
A view of the Port side engine on the Anson
Another view of the Anson
The Channel Islands Air Search, Lion's Pride, was on display for all to see. It was called out on Sunday Morning, but was back again by lunch time.
The other full-size aircraft everyone wanted to see, G-JOEY has just had a complete re-fit, and will shortly resume service after being out of action for the last 2 years.
Another Joey, this one a bit smaller, being hung from the ceiling inside the new terminal. This is the same one that appeared at the Guernsey Model Club's Fun Day a couple of years ago.
Another view taken from the viewing area, this one on the Sunday, where the weather was still windy, but at least the sun was shining.
The reason behind us being there, the new terminal at Guernsey Airport.
Approximate figures would indicate that some 5,000 people, maybe more, passed through the doors during the weekend.
Well, we had a good time, showing off our aircraft, and a few words now from Guernsey Model Club President, Nick Vining:
I would like to thank Dave Wilkinson and Thomas David for manning the display for both days. Also thanks to Andy Best and Mick Wilkinson for their support, and thanks to the few members who supported the event by including their models in the display and helping where possible. Nick.