CPOP 2010

I’m trying to get up to date with my blogging so I’m writing about the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power before I blog about my visit to Silverstone and my trip in a Cirrus to Marseille in the South of France. I visited on both days and this article is an amalgamation of both days.

CPOP is now in it’s 3rd year and is set in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire. It is a celebration of classic and modern automotive transport whether designed for land, sea or air. Central to the fun is a 3 mile race circuit which is situated within the grounds and then there are air displays, power boats racing and shopping stalls dotted around the outside.

Eurocopter EC120

It also claims to be the largest fly-in in Europe! (although I’m not certain that they can realistically claim this particular accolade.) It is however attended by a good few helicopters and there is usually an impressive display of static helicopters provided by Eurocopter, and as a result, I regret I have become particularly partial to a very nice EC120 that was on display!!! The price, however, may be an issue !!!

This year helicopters were parked in the same place as year 1, at the bottom of the castle, and this was far more convenient for the pilots. ATC services were provided by Helicopter and Aviation Services Limited and they did an excellent job in my opinion. Particularly as today (Day 2) they gave me ‘privileged’ parking’ in the best parking spot on the field. Cheers boys and girls. Much appreciated.

Tri-services Competition

On arrival I wandered first to the Eurocopter paddock and then over to watch the Tri-services competition. This is basically the Army, Air Force and Navy competing in a timed event to slalom a bucket of water through gates without losing points by hitting the gate or losing water. Finally they must place the bucket of water on a table. (Almost identical to the HCGB Air Games). In the same area were static displays by the Army of some of their equipment including tanks, mobile rocket launchers and personnel carriers.

Breitling wing-walkers

The Breitling wing-walking team provided an impressive and breath-taking display perched on top of Boeng Stearman bi-planes. The team are the world’s only aerobatic formation wing-walking team and are provided by AeroSuperBatics.

Search and Rescue

Regrettably I missed the Black Cats display team, but I did manage to catch a Search and Rescue demonstration that was held in the main lake. It looked very cold but the crew seemed to rescue their ‘victim’ with ease.

Red Devil

Dotted around the outside of the central action were stalls and stands selling a broad range of goods and services. Many were associated with the automotive industry, but not all. There was an array of ‘supercars’ and I have enquired after one myself (could turn out to be an expensive enquiry!) Also, my friends at Helicentre Liverpool were on hand to show the gathered crowds a Schweizer 300cbi and entice them into learning to fly. On the lake were speedboats taking part in races and the odd JCB was also floating round doing demonstrations of it’s agility !

CPOP is a great event and as it’s local to me and involves heli’s I’m more than happy to pop in and visit. I’d personally like to say a big thank-you to all the people involved in putting the festival together. In particular John from CopeterCovers who donates a significant amount of time to organising the helicopter elements and to the team from Helicopter and Aviation Services who provided the FIS . See you next year folks.