Ok, so imagine 100,000 people all gathered for one thing and one thing only to witness the long return of a triangular piece of metal to the air. Not just any triangular piece but the mighty Avro Vulcan retired from service in 1993.
What drives these people to put up with torrential rain that pours not just vertically but horizontally, accompanied by strong winds that challenge even the strongest man made fibres to a duel of wits.
Fortunately the sun as if encouraged by the occasion played ball and shone its rays to accompany the majestic Leviathan. Imagine everybody chatting, children running around with excitement, the beer tent brigade enjoying their daily inebriation, every age, every walk of life. Then total silence, you could hear a pin drop, quite a wait as four Rolls Royce engines slowly wind up in harmony.
A loud roar leads to increased purposeful acceleration, moving further down the runway parting the surface water with steady precision, arching her back as the front wheel lifts and finally defeating gravity with pure grace. Climbing steeply unmistakably that familiar delta wing reflecting in pure white cumulus nimbus, turning on a sixpence and finally joining a 60 year old stablemate to perform in unison.
So why should these people come and watch, is it more than just an aeroplane? The British people love to champion the underdog, the team despite impossible odds and no funding have fought with bureaucracy, donations of thousands of pounds to pocket money, giving sweets a miss pennies, together they triumphed.
As if in the true style of a Hollywood film, flight permits were granted at the literal eleventh hour. Faith can now be restored in a world gone mad, people power can and does win!