Shoreham Beach, originally uploaded by jimbo314.

Waves wash around the end of a rock groyne on Shoreham Beach.

The Sussex Air Ambulance responds rapidly to 999 calls with a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), serving the people who live, work or travel through the counties of East and West Sussex.

Their highly skilled team of Doctors, Paramedics and Nurses can arrive at the scene of most emergencies anywhere in Sussex within 15 minutes to provide swift medical intervention.

Patients can be transferred by air, fast and unhindered to an appropriate major hospital of specialist unit, dramatically improving chances of survival and a speedy recovery.

Please support the fantastic work they do by Donating Now.

Don't forget to take a trip to Dunsfold yourself on the 11th of July for the Air Ambulance Open Day to meet the crew, have a look around the helicopter and even meet some Daleks and Storm Troopers!

The Sussex Air Ambulance approaches its base at Dunsfold.

The Sussex Air Ambulance lands at its base at Dunsfold, with the Paranedic giving the camera a wave.

Here The Sussex Air Ambulance hovers overhead, the Doctor is attached to a harness inside the helicopter and is surveying the scene before the helicopter lands.

The Sussex Air Ambulance hovers behind the Fast Response Car which the crew use when the helicopter is unavailable.

Thankfully because it had a UV filter over the lens I only have to buy a replacement filter and not a replacement lens! UV and clear filters can be used for this exact reason, they also help with keeping your lenses clean and intact as you only have to clean the filter and avoid scratching the surface of the lens.

Of course there are always arguments for and against, Wikipedia has more on the subject.

Ahead of the UK launch of the new Golf GTI on May 22, Volkswagen has constructed a Scalextric track on an epic scale inside a hangar to lend armchair (or office chair) enthusiasts the chance to race the new hot hatch online and against the clock.

The track is the work of a team of 60 modellers and features over 200 scale buildings in a space occupying 25ft by 30ft. It forms the basis for the ‘GTI Project’, a new online game through which you can control the 1:43 scale Golf GTI as it negotiates the hairpins, straights and narrow bridges that make up the track. Along the way you can learn more about the new Golf GTI, from its new 2.0-litre TSI engine to the advanced six-speed DSG gearbox, colours, trims and performance information. In addition you can order a brochure or even book a test drive.

For those who are particularly competitive if you set a particularly fast time you can be entered into a prize draw to stand the chance to win a drive in a Golf GTI for 3 months.

the Sussex and Surrey Air Ambulance Airbase at Dunsfold.

The Helicopter is able to deliver an emergency medical crew to the site of an accident within minutes of being scrambled from its base at Dunsfold and then to transfer the patient to the nearest appropriate hospital or even to a major London hospital for treatment, in a fraction of the time that it would take an ambulance traveling by road to travel the same journey. By traveling at speeds of up to 150mph across the skies of Sussex.

the Sussex and Surrey Air Ambulance Airbase at Dunsfold.

The speed of the helicopter is a great advantage to have for The South East Coast Ambulance Service, as every second counts in treating casualties with the golden rule being The Golden Hour, if a casualty reaches a hospital within the first hour of being injured the chances of survival are significantly increased.

There is a golden hour between life and death.
If you are critically injured, you have less than 60 minutes to survive.
You might not right then; it might be three days later or two weeks later.
But something has happened in your body that is irreparable.
R. Adams Cowley.

It is for this reason that the Air Ambulance carries not just a paramedic but also a Doctor so that their knowledge can assist in treating the patient from the moment the Air Ambulance lands at the scene until the patient reaches the nearest hospital for them.

The Sussex/Surrey Air Ambulance lands on the tarmac at its base at Dunsfold.

The Sussex Air Ambulance is also a far safer Helicopter than Air Ambulances of the Past, as the Helicopter has no tail rotor, and so can operate in a busy environment, such as a motorway accident, with a greater degree of safety thanks to the NOTAR system employed by the MD900 which blows air out of the rear of the tail to provide the thrust normally provided by a tail rotor.

A detail shot of the rotors of the Sussex Air Ambulance whilst sitting on the tarmac at its base at Dunsfold.

However the service, like 15 others in the UK, is registered as a charity and receives no Government or Lottery funding and must raise the £1.5 Million required for operations each year by itself. This is raised mainly through the volunteers who support the Air Ambulance at events and assist the fund raising. Other ways to donate are through the Air Ambulance Lottery, Air Ambulance Merchandise, as well as simply donating online.

The Sussex Air Ambulance sits on the tarmac at its base at Dunsfold, waiting for the call to scramble

Many of the volunteers who help out with the Air Ambulance have been saved by the Air Ambulance itself, and having completed thousands of missions the Helicopter has already proven its value by saving multiple lives. Some of those who have been helped by the helicopter have had their storied posted on the Air Ambulance website for people to read. Real Life Stories

Sussex Air Ambulance Website
Donate Now!

The countdown is on for this year’s 19th Royal Air Forces Association Shoreham Airshow which takes place at Shoreham Airport this weekend Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st.

Don Bean MBE airshow organiser said “Advanced ticket sales have exceeded expectations and broken all records and to add to that the long term weather forecast looks very good indeed for the weekend with plenty of sunshine and warm weather – what more can we ask for except a safe show and some first class flying.”

Gates will open at 0830 am both days and Christian Moullec from France will start the flying display at 1115 am (which lasts well over five hours) with his micro light and geese flying in harmony – Christian was last hear three years ago and is returning by popular request.

With over 50 aircraft flying from the latest RAF Eurofighter Typhoon through to a full scale airfield attack resulting in a mass Spitfire and Hurricane scramble there will be plenty to entertain the crowds.

Add to that - lots to keep the children entertained from clowns to meeting members of the armed forces through to a fun fair – static aircraft park – craft tent – trade stands and autograph enclosure where one can meet the pilots and celebrities attending the show - the day should be action packed.

“EARLY ARRIVAL WOULD BE APPRECIATED AS THIS HELPS THE TRAFFIC FLOW – SO DO MAKE THE MOST OF THE EARLY OPENING TIME AT 0830” said Sussex Police.

For more info go to www.shorehamairshow.com

It is shaping up to be a great weekend, and just to remind you of what you can see here are a few photos from the Dunsfold Wings and Wheels event from last weekend:

An RAF Typhoon F2 takes off from Dunsfold.

An RAF Typhoon tears through the skies above Dunsfold.

The Team Swift display aircraft fly along the crowd line at Dunsfold.

An RAF Chinook flies along the crowd line at Dunsfold.

The 2008 RAF Tucano Display aircraft takes off from Dunsfold.

Andy Offer of The Blades Aerobatic Team comes in on his final approach before landing at Dunsfold.

One of the British Army Tiger Parachute Display Team prepares to land on the Drop Zone at Dunsfold.

Update:
In response to j.burleigh in the comments of my previous post

Why oh why is it so impossible to buy tickets for this event.???
Have tried all the relevant websites and the Argus newspaper…but cant find a single way to buy tickets online.
Nothing works.
Have purchased severl other things online today, so l dont think it is my computer.
No wonder it has taken so long to get the vulcan back on track. Every year l try to but tickets for this show it is a nightmare trying to find out where to but them.
Argus..hmmm..typed in ’shoreham air show’ into search space…it came up with ‘no results for your searh’.
Come on ..get your websites working.

Unfortunately I would imagine that you have left it too late to buy advance tickets from the website, as there would not be time to process the order and send it out in time for the show. Your best bet would be to go to the Airport as more than likely they would be still selling tickets at the main desk / airshow office. If you want to contact the airport itself to double check this before leaving their contact number for General Enquiries is 01273 467373. More info at http://www.shorehamairport.co.uk/contactus.asp

This is a quick break down of what you can expect to see flying in the skies above Shoreham on the weekend of the 30th and 31st of August.

RAF

Eurofighter Typhoon Solo Display
BAE Systems Hawk T1 Solo Display
Shorts Tucano T1 Solo Display
Grob Tutor T1 Solo Display
Boeing Chinook HC2 Solo display
Westland Merlin HC3 Static Display
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Supermarine Spitfire
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Hawker Hurricane
RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team with Lockheed C130k Hercules Support Aircraft

Royal Navy

Westland Lynx HAS3 Black Cats Solo Display
Royal Navy Historic Flight Fairey Swordfish Solo Display

Classic Jets

De Havilland Vampire T11 Solo Display

Warbirds

Royal Netherlands Air Force Historic Flight North American B-25 Mitchell
Consolodated PBY-5A Catalina Solo Display
Supermarine Spitfire x6 Airfield Scramble Scenario
Hawker Hurricane x3 Airfield Scramble Scenario
Messerschmitt Me108 Airfield Scramble Scenario
Messerschmitt Me109 Airfield Scramble Scenario
North American P-51 Mustang Solo Display
Curtis P-40 Kittyhawk Solo Display

Civilian

The Blades - Extra 300LP x4 Formation Aerobatics
Team Guinot - Boeing Stearman x5 Formation Wingwalkers
Swift Aerobatic Display Team Glider Display
Yakolevs x4 Formation Aerobatics
Dukes of Cassutt x3 Air Racing Demonstration
Sussex Police MD900 Helicopter Sussex Police Helicopter Demonstration
Christian Moullec Geese and Cranes flying with microlight

The Ticket Prices have been frozen from last year and are:

Adult Advance ticket - £15
Adult on the gate ticket - £20

Child (12-15) Advance ticket - £7
Child (12-15) on the gate ticket - £10

Child (under 12) - FREE

Advance tickets are still available from http://www.shorehamairshow.com/tickets/ and from Shoreham Airport.

As usual the airshow is being supported by Spitfire Ales who will have a refreshments stand at hand for people to enjoy

Spitfire Ale - The Bottle of Britain.

A lucky passenger in a Spitfire waves to the gathered photographers at Shoreham Airport.

During the recent press day held at Shoreham Airport Peter Huxtable, the Shoreham Lifeboat Coxswain, became the first Lifeboat Coxswain to go wingwalking when Team Guinot took him up to help to promote the RNLI Shoreham Lifeboat Appeal.

Peter Huxtable, Shoreham Lifeboat's Coxswain poses for photos with the Guinot girls after being the first Coxswain in the country to try wingwalking.

Team Guinot will be bringing along five aircraft and wing walkers to this year's Airshow, a first for Shoreham!

One of the more popular displays at Shoreham is the RAF Chinook which will return for both days of the Airshow.

An RAF Tutor approaches the Runway at Shoreham Airport, This year's Tutor display will be appearing at the Shoreham Airshow.

The P-51 Mustang Jumpin' Jacques starts up on the Apron at Shoreham Airport, this aircraft will also be attending the Shoreham Airshow this year.

The Blades perform their trademark break over Shoreham Airport during the 2008 Press Day for the Shoreham Airshow.

Two of the Blades Aerobatic Team perform a break over Shoreham Airport during the 2008 Press Day for the Shoreham Airshow.

You can look forward to seeing The Team Swift glider perform roll whilst on tow and even more maneuvers once it is released.

Over the weekend there will be a competition running, the grand prize will be a trip up in a glider on Sunday once the show has finished.

Christian Moullec will return to the skies over Shoreham for this year's Airshow, and will bring along his feathered friends.

A Fork of lightning cuts through the sky over the English Channel off of Shoreham Beach during a Summer Storm in August 2008.

...Now I shall try to keep this blog updated a little more frequently than I have in the past....