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Topical Budget 933-2: Royal Air Force Pageant (1929)
 

Synopsis

Warning: screenonline full synopses contain 'spoilers' which give away key plot points. Don't read on if you don't want to know the ending!

"Royal Air Force Pageant. The Prince of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of York, and 100,000 spectators, witness magnificent displays by 200 R.A.F. machines at Hendon." Long shot of a large number of planes flying over an airfield. A large group of spectators stands in the middle ground. Many cars are parked in the foreground. Extra long shot of a group of planes flying in formation, camera pans left. Formations of planes flying to the right and others flying towards the camera come into shot. Grandstand crowded with spectators watching the display. Long shot of a large number of planes following each other in a single spiral and dive. Long shot of a group of six planes flying low over a crowd of spectators on the ground. Long shot of three biplanes climbing and performing an inside loop. Long shot of two biplanes flying towards each other then passing closely, low over the ground. The camera pans right following one of the planes as it continues to fly low over the airfield, revealing many other biplanes on the ground. Long shot of a biplane flying low over the airfield, banking from side to side in acrobatic display. Long shot of two biplanes in formation diving left, streaming smoke behind them. One plane carries on left, while the other climbs. The camera follows the climbing plane which spins as it ascends. Long shot of biplane streaming smoke (as before), spinning then flying right conventionally. Long shot of man standing on the lower wing of a large biplane, holding a strut supporting the higher wing. The plane moves along the ground. Long shot of three large biplanes moving left along the ground. Spectators; those closest sit around round wooden household tables. Long shot of three biplanes flying overhead, two men parachute from the wings of each plane. Long shot of parachutists descending, two of the planes fly right in the background. Long shot of three of the parachutists landing in the airfield.