In fact we were told by event organisers Classic Automotive that even more smoke and noise was required. So Flt Lt Buzz was once more sent to see his special forces smoke supplier, and Flt Sgt Baldrick borrowed an even bigger PA for the jeep so we could belt out classics like "633 Squadron" and "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines"...

The weather was a problem, but we dodged most of the showers and had a great afternoon - always good to meet new people, as the saying goes!

Some of the squadron seemed to have won a few more medals than they had last year!

Sdn Ldr Toad and Flt Lt Buzz discuss minimum safe braking distances, whilst Sdn Ldr Doctor and Flt Lt Disco listen in.

A very nice man in a vintage motor with the ACO trophy strapped on seemed to follow us around the formation area! Celine looks on amused!

Sdn Ldr Swiss fully kitted up with helmet on and pipe lit well before time to bully off!

 Ready to scramble!

 Some Dutch courage before we readied ourselves for the big off.

We weren't sure that Liz Halliday fully understood who The Wild Choppers were. Meanwhile Romain Iannetta looks a bit worried to see us, and Vitali Petrov has probably just seen a Mk 2 Chopper strafe past.

Flt Sgt Baldrick was happy to be flying with us this year in Red 8 as he had Mr Caddy Daddy driving the jeep - he has a natural talent for chopperbatics!

Deletraz, Fasler and Alexander-David seemed a bit jealous they had to sit in the back of an old car instead of having a go at the controls of Mk 2 Chopper!

Lucas Luhr and all the Audi Sport team seemed in good form.

Tom had been recovering from an injury but was still handling the parade like a consummate professional.

Out of sight from the crowds, a quick chat and a smile - he hadn't forgotten the meeting last year when he and Captain Trousers shared a cold beer whilst we waited to go.

The French Aston Martin guys were definitely Beermountain fans. In fact they seemed to know a little to much about Beermountain.com!

Sdn Ldr Swiss fires up his pipe and prepares to take his chocks away

Jacques Villeneuve misunderstood Toad's comment about it being "a bit slippy out there" (ie the parade, not the race) and said it was bad luck to say that. Oh dear, perhaps we jinxed the retired Peugeot No 7 car?

The ramp was covered in wet (red) carpet - no one in the Squadron wanted to lose control and crash whilst on live TV and in front of the great and the good of the ACO! Our tyres were still cold after all..

New boy Flt Lt Fluffy holds on tight, desperate for a safe landing as he goes over the top of the ramp and looks down towards Buzz and Toad. Meanwhile Sdn Ldr Swiss gets ready to lay smoke.

Keeping tight formation at low speed can be challenging - wobbling front wheels are often the first sign that a pilot is about to "stall"!

Andy Wallace and Mike Newton share a word with Toad amidst the crowds of the Driver's Enclosure.

Like last year we were chased closely by the Harley Davidson display, closing the parade. Although they seemed to drop back when we let smoke go...

Flt Lt Swiss asks Caddy Daddy for a smoked kipper? Or possibly a pen, so he can give an autograph to an admiring local lady.

Sdn Ldr Toad surveys the route ahead and worries about something- leading the Squadron can be a lonely business.

Sdn Ldr Swiss seemed to be attracting admiring waves from all the girls!

Holding a Mk 2 Chopper on the right line in the wet can be a handful..

There were some interesting performers on the route round.

Flt Lt Baron models his new Adjutants headgear. He's probably due promotion...

Jan Magnussen - definitely Beermountain material!

Seen here a potentially dangerous piece of Chopperbatics - Flt Lt Fluffy overtakes Baldrick up the left with smoke full "on" whilst the front pair have to slow down to a first gear turn..

Plenty of salutes to all our friends in the crowd, although Sdn Ldr Swiss tended to just raise his pipe!

Flt Lt Fluffy makes his second smoke judgement error of the day and lets one go whilst we are on the ground - with no where to go.

Flt Lt Baron keeps the Harleys off our tail whilst Mr Fluffy's special friend looks after PR and French liaison.

The reason our smoke is used by military parachutists is clear. The small difference in requirements is that strapped to your back at terminal velocity roaring down towards earth you need lots of the stuff. At 5 mph on a Mk 2 Chopper, it can become a problem. Seen here Sdn Ldr Doctor acts as "tail end charlie" and stands by to bail out as we head to a stop.

We cant see, but it looks like Flt Lt Fluffy has let another one go at the wrong place.

Lots of lovely ladies admire our machinery!

Doctor on "Blue Two" - often seen at the rear of the formation keeping an eye out for problems.

Toad hands out our Squadron calling cards - some had to be autographed!

Overall race winners Frank Biela and Marco Werner sign the Beermountain parade picture.

A moment of panic! - Flt Lt Baron thinks he might have a problem - the smoke is going to envelope him as he slows into a low g turn. If only he had paid attention on the training course at Maison Blanche!

Sebastien Bourdais, Pedro Lamy and Stephane Sarrazin sign the picture - Bourdais was mobbed by the local media.

Our jeep proved to be a major asset this year - seen here driven by Mr Caddy Daddy with Tara911 in the back.

Something every Squadron pilot has to face - the "hill of death" on the way back to the Place des Jacobins. The formation falls apart as Toad and Swiss speed up to attack speed whilst the others look up the hill in awe. Meanwhile Chief Silverback and Sooty have run ahead to get the pictures!

Meet the team that made it all happen - Caddy daddy, Sooty and Tara911 enjoy a cold one at the finish. Celine seems to have hopped out to take the photo.

A memento of the day goes into the Beermountain archive - signed by most of the 2007 Drivers - to us its priceless!

Our huge thanks to everyone who helped us this year - especially Celine McDonald, Tara911, Caddy Daddy, Sooty, Radio Le Mans, Motors TV, & of course Classic Automotive