Cymru/Wales Airshow 5th-6th July 2025.

 The annual Swansea Bay/Bai Abertawe 2025.

Its more of the same, but there will be what can make it and its free, drawing some 250,000 people to the city of Swansea and there is plenty more to see on the ground as well as food and a funfair I think?

The Rad Arrows will probably be the high point of the weekend, with many modern and classic aircraft also appearing, entertainment from the sky walkers and parachute team will be exciting too!

One hopes that the weather will be good and not to hot and that people keep their bags safe from light fingered folk, while not lighting and leaving barbecues on the beach, taking home rubbish and just having a good time?

Wales National Air Show 2024.

 6th and 7th July What to Expect?

Apart from the red arrows and the regulars, it all depends on what will arrive on the respective days both new and vintage.

The RAF Typhoon fighter jet is a popular, but there is also much to seen on the ground from the armed forces, food stalls, other and bands with a funfair on the coast!

It is a real family event and its is for everyone, parking is plenty and many roads will be closed off, while it is generally free and one hopes that the weather will hold so it will be a good weekend!

Wales National Airshow 2021 Cancelled!

 A lift for south-Wales Lost?

Everyone was hoping it would be back, but we have to be wise with this virus, since we are not out of the woods yet and many other issues may be related to it being cancelled?

But the armed forces recruitment show will be back in years to come with its varied menu of many aviation, RNLI, Search and rescue and the good food and music, funfair and much more to give to us a much needed lift!

Swansea Bay is probably the best venue in the U.K. apart from Belfast lough for such a spectacular show, when the red arrows do their loved things and other jets too like to show off?

No Air shows this Year!

COVID-19 cancels large Crowds?

This new crown virus is ending social interaction for us humans, unless one is ignorant and risks catching it or just does not believe that it is really real!

Sometimes one finds that over the years here in Swansea since 2007 the Wales National Air Show has become a bit boring with nearly the same aircraft and displays showing up or not?

But then it is free and when events are free, one does not get to see the best of aviation on the ground and in the air! Making these shows more of a recruiting ground for the armed forces wither you like that or not?

Night Displays WNAS 2019.

Something Different?

The fireflies were different and could be seen for many miles away, there were some disappointment's, for the younger folk who got beyond their bed time?

Again the Wales National Air show was able to pull it off with the Catalina, wing walkers, Battle of Britain flight and all the ground stands! The Red Arrows made their appearances, but the weather was not always favourable!

One has taken several films and hopes to gradually get them up in the next fortnight or so? Sorry I did not get everything, but on the You Tube you can refer to films from years past which cover nearly all the regular visitors!

Wales National Airshow 2019.

July 6th/7th. Swansea Bay, S-Wales. U.K.

One is expecting another marvellous airshow and much more as this event seems to be getting better by the year?

The Red Arrows will be one of highlights of the flying displays with that of other Jets, but there is really something here at it for everyone! Many military vehicles representing the current British armed forces and others events combined.

Hopefully all will be safe from any sick people who wish us harm and that everyone will enjoy what is on offer with stunt flying, helicopters, parachuting and this year evening lit up balloons on Saturday.

One will have to get the app to find out what aircraft might be coming in relation to Historical aviation and one hopes that the weather will hold to make it a most enjoyable event for the spectator and all us avid movie makers and photographers?

All new British Trains?

The Price Hike!

It is claimed by the various private companies, that it is their hope by 2020 to have a modern fleet of all new trains across the mainland U.K? Meanwhile they also say that the last batch of Class 66 locomotives with many newer types will mean the mass selling off of all other existing classes either to preservation or overseas buyers?

This perhaps explains the price hike in fairs for 2018, but it also means that regional governments such as Scotland and Wales may have their last opportunity to expand or re-build lines before Brexit?

London and the south-east will benefit from Cross-rail and the extension of the Bakerloo line from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham, which in long overdue.

The government wants to build a high speed line from London to Pembroke dock, by passing Swansea, this will be via Carmarthen for freight? Meanwhile the proposed electrification may reach Cardiff, after it was cancelled?

All of this could just be another clever way of covering up raising the prices each year?

The MULTIHOG?

Revolutionary Vehicle!

Swansea council here in South-Wales have bought into this unique vehicle, known as the MULTIHOG. One is not sure which exact type this is, but with forty applications available it is a good machine for multi-purpose work.

Designed by the Dundalk Science institute in County-Louth Republic of Ireland back in 2007, it was for the recovery of missing and strayed golf balls. But from 2010 it was marketed in the U.K. and now some one-hundred and fifty machines are in service doing a variety of roles.

The initial impression of the vehicle, is that it has a traction and movement to a former Finnish military vehicle which was on a much larger scale developed back in the 1970;s will little success beyond experimental stages because of it unusual shape?

WNAS16. Part-Two.

Ground vehicles and other Equiptment.

Unfortnutaly this year they were mostly up beyond the War Memorial and I missed quite a few Army vehicles arriving and leaving. 

One can go by what was on show last year, but I saw nothing tracked this time around. Most of the MAN trucks looked like they had to do with the RAF, Royal Engineers and Radio Communications, various Landrovers and a lone fuel tanker.

Many of the vehicles that were seen rushing by, are shown on various films that have been put up in connection to the Queens Royal Hussars Regiment.

The show is a great event for military recruiting and if the Governemnt listens to Prince Harry, we may soon see the re-introduction of compulsary military service or Conscription. Something that will help to cut youth crime across the United Kingdom?

'As many of my older relatives would say, 'It never hurt them and gave them much more than sitting around doing nothing!

Bristol to Swansea Electrification.

Promised for the upgrading of the GWR.

Most people know of Wales, but they think its part of western-England. Very insulting and this may be applied to the overdue delay in the promised electrification of the Great Western Railway line from Bristol Parkway to Swansea.

Cardiff is the capital and plans are a foot to get this far and no further, in fact the railways of Britain have always been slow on modernisation. Electric trains have been around since 1890 and still by 1960 steam was the main pulling power.

It was the London underground and Southern that employed fourth and third rail conduction, from 1900. The 1950's saw the introduction of early electric locomotion between London-Birmingham and Manchester. By this time one could get an electric train from Fenchurch Street in London to Clacton in Essex, but Paddington was the only station not to have any overhead-electric trains.

Since the privatisation of the Rail Network, the first dual-electric trains served the GWR. The Class 73 have been employed from time to time on various duties, wearing the BR blue and Swallow liveries, but that has been about it. 

Hopefully pressure by big business and the Welsh assembly government will see the development to Swansea, the real capital of Cymru/Wales?

Sea power in the Med. Part-Two.

HDMS Absalon Visits Swansea Bay.

This Danish (Denmark) Command Vessel L-16 came to Swansea Bay southern-Wales, United Kingdom on the Queen Elizabeth's 90th Birthday. She is one of a number of European Warships that are tasked with working in the Mediterranian sea to pick up immigrints fleeing current conflicts in North-Africa and Syria. 

Her other role within the N.A.T.O. and the E.U. Armed forces is to protect International shipping, as it passes through the Gulf of Aden, between the Red Sea and the Arabian sea. 

Shipping here face daily Somali Pirate attacks, mostly for kiddnapping and ransome demands.

The HDMS Absalon is quite a modern vessel with the capability to carry more than two medium transport helicopters and an array of other weaponary, from guns to missiles. She is based at Frederikshavn in Denmark and arrived in Swansea Bay from Glasgow, Alba-Scotland.

Wind Turbines.

Love or hate Them?

Me I don't like them, they have ruined Wales, but it seems they must be making money?

One has to get up close to them to see their size, a windmill is amazing but these are bland. Currently BBC Chatering ships are bringing them into Swansea to then be taken by road from the docks to various hill tops in south-Wales.

Wind farming work out at sea, where one may not always see them, but inland they are an eyesore. The Welsh government seems to be dragging their feet over the Swansea lagoon and the two elections may have excused them from dealing with the crises at Port Talbot.

Two years ago these turbines were being here in east-Wales, but now they are coming in from Denmark. It is a pity and a disappointment that when the company was in production Cardiff would not make up its mind?

FMA IA 58 Pucara

An Argentine Winner.

Argentina had until recently a well established, but limited aviation industry. It has over the years built many successful types and made various adaptions of others from light aircraft to combat jets and civil airliners. In fact in the 1950's it developed probably the best aviation jet fighter of the day and if they had developed it to today, they would of won the Falklands war.

The Pucara is one of those interesting oddities in the aviation world, developed in 1969 for counter-insurgency operations (COIN). This twin-engined Astazou turboprop aircraft looks like a Beech King Air, in its layout. But it can operate from very short rough airfields and is was known for its amazing manoeuvrability, it was used extensively during the Falklands war in 1982.

The FMA IA 58 is armed with one 20mm cannon and four other machine guns, was capable of carrying 1,500Kg bombs of three pylons. Maximum speed is 500Km/h (300Mph) and a range of 3,042 Km (1,925 miles). Size. Span 14.5m, Length 14.5m. 

One aircraft was captured by the British RAF and remains in the U.K. as a victory capture. I have filmed this aircraft seen flying over Swansea, S-Wales. U.K.

Wales Airshow 2015. Part-One.

'One of the Best.'

The south-Cymru/Wales city of Abertawe/Swansea this year hosted again one of the best free Airshows over the 12th-13th July. It was packed with aircraft, military vehicles and many other side shows and events and was topped off by the Red Arrows display team of nine BAE System Hawk Jets, who are always popular. 

Friday practise day had the best weather, the weekend getting gradually greyer and greyer but the rain held off. The Avro Vulcan B1 was the biggest of the Jets, while the Boeing Chinook was the largest helicopter to fly. The Battle of Britain memorial flight was only made up of the two classic fighters of World War-II (1939-45) the Hurricane and the sleek Spitfire. 

Other visitors were a Hunter jet fighter, a Czech Aero L-29 Delfin, the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon which boomed Swansea. Helicopters were the Augusta/Westland AS-159 Wildcats, AS350BB, and the Royal Navy rescue WS-61 Sea King. The parachute drop was made from a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and there was a Auto gyro display. The Royal Jordanians were only seen by me mid week practising, but five Vans V-8s of the local Team Osprey did their thing and the RAF sent a Grob G115. Tutor to show off.

The Value of Exhibitions, Display and Shows.

Moving and Static.

We are only a few days away now from the Swansea Bay Airshow, July 11-12th. This British Armed forces backed airshow and static displays is held every second year and draws thousands of people to the beautiful Swansea Bay and Gower coastline in southern-Cymru/Wales. United Kingdom.

This is one of many airshows and exhibitions that will take place across the world to show off new and old or vintage technology. These shows, displays are invaluable and need to continue for many obvious reasons of recruitment and business, trade.

The Swansea Bay airshow is made up of flying displays, parachuting and various static vehicles and aircraft. Regulars are the Red Arrows acrobatic display team comprising nine BAE Systems Hawk Jets, SAR Sea king Helicopter, Royal Naval Black Cats Lynx Helicopter display and fast Jets, along with surprise visits of what is available transport or other.

Many other airshows in the U.K. and around the world have a paid entry fee to see a fixed booked collections of aircraft and vehicles and their are many specialist trade events to show off everything from Automobiles to yachts, Aircraft to Ships,

Trams for Wales.

Cardiff Proposed.

The return of trams to the capital Cardiff is under consideration, wither it will happen or not who knows? But trams for Swansea and many other large towns with hills would be a viable transport need worth looking into.

Since it was Swansea where the concept of the first tram and tramway were born! Today the re-introduction of light rail across the United Kingdom and the British isles has been very profitable as has world wide. 

Simple to run and attractive to the eye, they fill the gap between buses and mainline trains or metro/tube systems.

Trinity House Tenders,

Mair, Galatea, Patricia.

There are a number of ships that visit the Port of Swansea here in Wales on regular bases, most are involved in the repair of light markers buoys around the coasts of the Bristol Channel and the Celtic Sea. 

But some them also specialise in sea surveying and undersea seismic recording, the newer vessels such as the Pharos and Granuila have a all round bridge and are fitted with more powerful cranes.

Lights at sea still remain an essential aids to shipping warning of lower water and sand bars, despite GPS. Trinity house covers both the waters of Britain and Ireland very much like that of the RNLI.

Retrun of the Trams.

The three U.K. Types.

The need for the tram has returned to the United Kingdom, not for love of them but rather for their vital need in inner city urban fast transport. Great Britain was the origins of the trams from Swansea in Wales to Yorkshire to Blackpool. From horse drawn to their hey day in electrification.

The first trams suffered from two problems one they were hard to turn and two if the line was blocked end of the journey. Today priority has been granted to the three types in operation across the U.K with more being planned for Scotland and Wales.

Bombardier M5000 Flexity-2 Swift working Manchester, these 70 seats have a speed of 43 mph.  These are one of three different types in service. The Sheffield Super Tram and more than six new type Stadler trams for the Croydon area network in south-London.

Not all areas have been mentioned, but hope to follow on looking at each type. The DLR, Newcastle Metro and Glasgow tube will be dealt with in separate articles, as some already have been.

Sail Ships. Part-One.

Knowing the basics.

Living by the sea one see's loads of yachts and boats, including the odd sail ship. Over the years I have missed quite a few of them either in Swansea Bay, and the Bristol Channel and many other parts of the UK and Ireland.

There are a few films on classic yachts and some of them may be original trawlers, since the trawler started life in this part of the world anyway. Sail ship deign is strange enough still improving, but it was in the early 19th Century, that the Clipper came to its fore. Ships like the 'Cutty Sark, which has now been restored and is at Greenwich in London by the River Thames.

She was built in Dumbarton Scotland in 1869, weighing 921 tons and was 212 feet long. Her hey day was in carrying tea from China to the Port of London in 100 days and at a speed of about average 16 knots. 

The basic sail layout of these ships had developed from one main sail and a few smaller one to the three-four mast tall riggers. Ships like the Cutty Sark ended their days in the wool industry from Australia and the introduction of steam power and the opening of the Suez canal in Egypt.

Dredgers.

Sand and Mud.

Modern shipping cannot operate effectively without the deployment of ships that can remove sand and mud bars from river mouths and estuaries. Ships are getting bigger and heavier, they also are some times much larger under the water and now are more likely to scrape their hulls.

The dredging companies are usually under licences to clear and sell sand for commercial uses, where as mud is redeposited to other deep area of water.

Sand and mud flats are created by the under water currents and built up deposits from rain and flooding in rivers. I have filmed quite a number of boats that visit the Port of Swansea and work around the Bristol Channel ports. Arga Bay, Sand Heron/Harrier, Welsh Piper and Arco Dart.