Wycombe Air Park, Buckinghamshire, UK 16-17th May 2025
Report by Peter & Kim Davison
Organised by Elite Events this is an interesting blend of interests aimed at the well-off section of society. It starts well with a free glass of champagne on entry allowing access to a ground display of general aviation aircraft and luxury sports cars, luckily blessed with bright spring sunshine. Of the four major hangars at Wycombe only half of one (previously famous as the home of Personal Plane services) was dedicated to matters aeronautical. An interesting programme of talks covered many aspects of flight safety and regulations. Two of the other hangars championed golf, the British Golf Show. Prices at the on-site catering were roughly double than that at normal shows which increased custom at the excellent on-field catering outlet. There was no flying display and only around fifty visiting aircraft though Air-Britain twinned their annual fly-in with a great selection of publications rather eclipsed by the ‘luxury’ themes elsewhere.
There seemed to be little overlap between visitors to the three themes, golfers practised and viewed the tools of their trade in their hangars, the glamorous car fans videod the seating and smooth lines of their dream motors whilst the aviation enthusiasts and operators did what they normally do. Wycombe Air Park, Booker, is, after all, a long established and popular airfield. Without the enthusiasts and photographers I doubt the admission fees would have covered the costs of the event.
Diamond aircraft were well represented with an expanding range of singles and twins that now populate the majority of flight schools across the western world replacing the thousands of Cherokees and Senecas. This essential migration to glass cockpits and digital navigation systems is essential if the world is to address the pilot shortage now and in the future.
Another major type changing the nature of both flight training and aero clubs is the Cirrus SR range of ‘plastic’ singles. For about a decade now these innovative and versatile aircraft have spawned similar types, often manufactured outside the usual dominant nations. There is some overlap with the ‘homebuilt’ types like Eurostar and Sling that featured in quantity at our previous post covering the microlight trade fair at Popham.
A couple of Aerospatiale Squirrel helicopters were also present in the static park which, to some extent, creates a link to motor racing as the Grand Prix type events always attract numerous helicopter transfers for race teams and sponsors so essential to the sport. Unfortunately the well established helicopter company based at Wycombe was closed up throughout the event missing the opportunity to showcase their excellent work on the airfield.
