Thrills and spills at Shipdham flying event

SEVERAL thousand people enjoyed the thrills and spills when Shipdham Flying Club staged its fundraising air display.

SEVERAL thousand people enjoyed the thrills and spills when Shipdham Flying Club staged its fundraising air display.

An estimated 3,000-strong crowd converged on the village airfield, near Watton, on Sunday to see air and static displays featuring vintage aircraft including Mustangs, a Spitfire and a Kittyhawk.

Phil Collin who organised the event with Leah Hammond, said they were delighted at the success of the event and were particularly pleased that the weather was so good.

'The crowds really enjoyed the event and were wowed by some awesome aerial displays,' said Mr Collin.

He added: 'You would have to go a long way to see such a collection and aerial display like we saw here today.'

During the day-long event copies of the club's newly published calendar featuring (almost) nude pilots were sold and Mr Collin said they were selling like hot cakes.

'The calendars proved a particularly popular buy at �5 each,' he said.

It is expected the event will have raised around �5,000 for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Cancer Research Trust.

Mr Collin thanked all those who had donated use of their aircrafts and flew them and those who helped staged the event.