Dover 2009 - Louis Bleriot centenary celebrations

Ships in the Port of Dover

26th July 2009

Dover 2009 was a two day event to commemorate the centenary of Louis Bleriot making the first flight across the Dover Strait from France to England. The seafront was absolutely packed with crowds enjoying all the fun of the various attractions and witnessing the aerial displays. Early on the saturday, an original Bleriot XI had reprised Bleriot's crossing from Calais to Dover. During the afternoon, the Battle of Britain flight Lancaster bomber was the star of the show and made a couple of low circuits over the harbour. Unfortunately, a Spitfire was unable to make it as it burst its tailwheel at Lydd airport. A Boeing Stearman stunt plane and an RAF air sea rescue helicopter both put in an appearance, the Stearman had earlier carried an 89 year old wingwalker across from France. To close the show, the Red Arrows staged a flypast, closely followed by their French counterparts, La Patrouille de France. Later that evening there was a spectacular fifteen minute firework extravaganza, staged from the Prince of Wales pier.

On sunday, there was a freefall parachute team display followed by aerobatics from the Boeing Stearman and then the legendary Spitfire gave a stunning performance over the harbour.

The Duke of Yorks Royal Military School hosted a variety of displays over the two days. Swedish 737 pilot Mikael Carlson flew an original Bleriot XI across from Calais on sunday morning. I was just in time to catch him and his team dismantling it in their marquee after the show. It looked extremely fragile and I said to him "Wow, you don't mean to say you flew that" and he replied "Yes, flew it across the Channel this morning!" Rubbing shoulders with greatness!

See also - Louis Bleriot collection at:

http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1203854.html

Approaching the seafront	Two cruise ships in port	Expectant crowds on Dover beach	Expectant crowds on Dover beach
Eastern Docks with Maersk Dover entering	Boeing Stearman stunt plane	Police RIB	Police RIB and MSC Lirica
Lancaster over Eastern Docks	Lancaster over harbour	Lancaster bomber	Lancaster over MSC Lirica
Lancaster over Regatta	Lancaster over Clock Tower	Lancaster over Regatta	Lancaster over MSC Lirica and Regatta
Lancaster over MSC Lirica	Lancaster banking	Lancaster overhead	Lancaster banking away
Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks	Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks	Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks	Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks
Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks	Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks	Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks	Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks
Lancaster over Western Docks	Lancaster over Dover beach	Lancaster over Waterloo Mansions	Lancaster over rooftops
Lancaster vanishing behind Castle	RAF Sea King	RAF Sea King	RAF Sea King over MSC Lirica
Red Arrows commence flypast	Red Arrows overhead	Red Arrows over Castle	La Patrouille de France following Red Arrows
La Patrouille de France over Castle	Exhaust trails	Visitor Information	Kent Police stand
Statue of Rolls, first man to fly the Channel in both directions	MN Memorial statue	Granville Gardens stalls	Sound stage and statue of the Waiting Miner
More marquees	Freefall parachute team display plane	Freefall parachute team descending	Freefall parachute team descending
Freefall parachute team descending	Freefall parachute team descending	Boeing Stearman stunt plane display	Spitfire arriving
Spitfire banking	Spitfire climbing	Spitfire overhead	Bleriot XI being dismantled
Bleriot XI being dismantled	Bleriot XI being dismantled	Bleriot XI being dismantled	Bleriot XI being dismantled
Mikael Carlson, magnificent man in a flying machine	Bleriot XI being dismantled	Bleriot XI being dismantled