Cpl Horsa has a riot at RIAT, and makes a guest appearance at Farnborough Airshow

Shopgirl woke me rather early with breakfast on a grey Sunday morning. I asked where we were going and was advised to ‘wait and see'.

When we got out to the car TPBD arrived, we all got into SG's car and set off, with me none the wiser as to where we were going. Previous outings with both ladies had been great fun, so I settled back to enjoy the journey and the chatter (there was quite a lot of that and a lot of laughing too) and have a bit of a doze to compensate for the early awakening.

After quite a long while we arrived, in a very large field rapidly filling with cars. Perhaps, I thought, I would be expanding my driving experience.

I climbed into my smart Bear carry bag, and we set off on quite a long walk. We arrived at an entrance with a lot of other people where we were all scanned and the bags examined. This seemed to be something official!

Once through the entrance I had a good look round and saw people, planes, helicopters and yet more planes. This was indeed going to be fun.

My first duty of the day was to advise the PARAs on their fundraising. Naturally I told them that Bears work best, and proved the theory by selling a few wristbands for them. I was given one of their wristbands (or leg band in my case) as a reward.

Next stop was for tea and doughnuts, then we started to explore.

We started at the beginning of the very long line of aircraft. SG and TPBD asked if I might have a look over a USAF aircraft. We went up the ramp and all over the inside - we even found some crates of beer, but although I was allowed to sit on them, I was told it was a little too early in the morning to drink any. I had a good look round the cockpit with TPBD and waved at SG outside.

At out next stop a very nice gentleman from the Swedish Air Force presented us with a very smart pin each and allowed me to sit on his aircraft for some photos. That was just the start of a busy couple of hours. I was shown around and photographed, in and on, a bewildering array of aircraft, including some from the AAC ... they recognised my cap badge and showed me round their aircraft, even opening the cockpits of a couple to allow me to sit inside.

SG and TPBD were alternating between taking pics of me and pointing their cameras at the sky.

At the end of the row was The Vulcan, rather too vast for a small Bear to show up anywhere on photographs, but TPBD and SG took some pics.

I met some armed Policemen and had my photo taken with them, also a charity lion and his keeper ... we are all supportive of Charity animals, no matter how strange they look!

All this had been hungry work, so after we had walked round the cars and I had been photographed in a pink Cadillac, I had a picnic in a 1960's camper van followed by my promised bottle of beer.

After lunch we had a look round the stalls and the Vulcan tent, and I had my photo taken sitting on an engine.

I tried on a Red Arrows flying suit, a rather nice flying jacket [which unfortunately was not bought for me] and a Top Gun flying suit. Why don't they make this stuff in Bear sizes? That's really annoying!!

Then we arrived at a stall selling hats, mostly depicting some sort of animal. We were looking around when a man approached TPBD and asked if she would mind trying one on, so he could see if it would suit his niece. TPBD obliged, mouthing terrible threats as to what might happen if a camera was pointed in her direction. She did make a very fetching polar bear though. Shopgirl and I turned away to hide our shaking shoulders.

I might have known that my giggles would come at a cost, it was my turn to try on the hats next and the ladies' turn to giggle, although I thought I looked rather good.

The afternoon was spent watching the flying displays. They were absolutely fantastic.

Of particular note was an aerobatic display by 3 disabled pilots from the WeFly! Team, one of whom was quadriplegic.

The new A400M Airbus also flew - will it ever enter service?!

There was a hush when Raptor took to the air (but not for long) ... the display was memorable and I will never forget the noise it made. It was as if it was ripping its own path through the sky.

The Vulcan also flew, it has a unique presence and I felt privileged to have seen it in the air. The display from the WW2 planes was also pretty special. There were also Apaches, Chinooks, Typhoons, Harriers, Tornados (these even dropped ‘bombs' on the runway), from many different countries and, of course the Red Arrows. The displays are too numerous to describe in detail, but were all photographed. I'm sure people will have fun identifying all the various aircraft.

The last display was a Spitfire and a Typhoon playing in the sky, fascinating to watch., although I have the feeling the Typhoon had his brakes on a lot of the time!

Unfortunately, it was then time to head home. It was a fantastic day with some wonderful people and aircraft.

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The next Saturday, TPBD, shopgirl and I headed off to the Farnborough Air Show. This was a last minute decision, as TPBD had managed to get hold of some tickets. Sgt Slingsby was the main Bear for that day, accompanying GURB, and he has reported separately on the event.

We parked the car and went to queue for the bus to take us to the Airfield. The ladies noticed something you don't normally find in a bus queue! A small pony collecting for Riding for the Disabled. I had my photo taken with him, then we got on the bus.

Once we got in to the air show, we met up with GURB, Offspring and Sgt Slingsby, had a quick catch up on the latest news, and arranged to meet later for some lunch.

I was disappointed that we weren't allowed to explore the aircraft as we had at Fairford. They were all behind barriers and well guarded! By way of compensation a young man from Finnmeccanica (Augusta Westland), who was very friendly and most helpful, took me off to be photographed in the Lynx Wildcat and the AW101.

We met up with Sgt Slingsby, GURB and Offspring for some lunch, then settled down to watch the flying. After a great afternoon, we headed back home and I said goodbye to shopgirl for a few days to go off with TPBD for my next assignment.

My thanks go to all the brilliant, friendly, people at RIAT, for letting me climb all over their aircraft and try on things. Oh, and especially the young man at Farnborough from Finnmeccanica who photographed me on the Wildcat and AW101, RDA who allowed me to sit on the pony and of course to Shopgirl and TPBD for the days out and all the photos and for keeping me laughing and well supplied with food and drink.