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Flying Legends Air Display 8th & 9th July 2017 |
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| Location: Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom |
| Admission: From £28.00 – Including several packages. |
| Parking: Included in ticket price |
| Value: Excellent |
| Rating out of 10: 10 |
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Flying Legends Airshow held at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) Duxford Airfield, UK over the weekend of the 8th & 9th July 2017 brings together some of the best in classic aviation aircraft. The Fighter Collection (TFC) produces the show and this year saw its 25th incarnation of what has grown to be one of the most respected and undoubtedly the biggest warbird event in the world. |
In the words of Stephen Grey (TFC) "Several of the aircraft at the event are the only airworthy examples of their type flying in the world today. These flying monuments are a testament to the dedication of the engineers and pilots demonstrating the skills and airmanship who restore, repair and fly these aeroplanes to the highest standards".
The weekend was full of so many highlights it would take a hardback novel to complete a report that would justify every aspect of the weekend from the moment you arrived to when the last prop shut down and hush descended back on the airfield. Therefore, I have bullet point paragraphed as many of the highlights as I could to give the reader a feel for the show |
| 9 Spitfire (Various Marks) opening Sequence - initially a formation of nine before splitting into two groups tail chasing using two display axis - a pure spectacle and unique to Duxford.
P-51B Mustang Berlin Express making the epic transatlantic flight (5,470 miles) from Texas to Duxford taking six days and arriving on 4th July - rather than being shipped by sea. Berlin Express is marked in the 357th Fighter Group Mustang which the legendary American ace Bill Overstreet flew under the Eiffel tower while successfully shooting down a Messerschmitt Me-109 in 1944.
Aircraft Restorations Company's Hispano HA-1112-MIL Buchon specifically painted in its new weathered colour scheme representing a Messerschmitt Bf-109 E-7 'Black 8' of Luftwaffe Jagdeschwader JG-27
The Bremont Horsemen, the world's only P-51 Mustang formation aerobatic team made a return to the Flying Legends Air Show, with the UK debut performance of P-51 Mustang Freseni, having been shipped from Houston, Texas, USA especially for the Flying Legends Air Show and reassembled at Duxford
Classic Formations from Switzerland with their stunningly restored Beechcraft 18's and a Douglas DC-3 aircraft flying a spirited routine showing off the classic lines of these two types of aircraft in a rare and engaging routine.
The golden age of air racing was re-enacted with a 'first' for Duxford with a de Havilland DH-88 Comet, a Percival Mew Gull, Travel R Type R Mystery Ship and LeVier Cosmic Wind.
Richard Grace flying Fury ISS 315 and Pete Kynsey in the F8F-2P Bearcat giving a master class of display flying at its very best. The tight formation displayed the aircraft and the skills of the pilots with ease and passion.
Unique formation of 5 Hurricanes, 3 Spitfire Mk 1s and the only airworthy Blenheim representing a truly incredible Battle of Britain flypast. *Reports suggest this was the first time 5 Hurricanes have flown together since the 1950s (*To be confirmed)
For the first time, on Sunday 9 July only, the Flying Legends flying display was opened at 1.20pm by the world-famous Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force aerobatic team.
The balbo, a massed-formation finale featuring many of the aircraft that had taken part in the flying display, is unique to the Flying Legends Air Show and a world-renowned spectacle.
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| Flying is not the only aspect of Flying Legends with many ground attractions transporting you to the 1940s with period dressed characters on the flightline walk and music provided by the fabulous Manhattan Dolls from New York and the Umbrella Big Band. Laurel and Hardy also managed to bumble their way around causing mayhem in their Model T Ford car. In addition to the action in the sky and fun activities across the museum, visitors can experience the award-winning exhibitions at IWM Duxford as entrance to the whole museum – including AirSpace, the newly redeveloped American Air Museum and the Battle of Britain exhibition – is included in the price of the ticket.
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| Safety, as ever is paramount at any event and the Flying Display Director, Organisers and Pilots ensure that they are briefed and prepared at all times. Three separate incidents occurred over the weekend including a canopy loss for P51 Mustang 'Berlin Express' on its first pass on the Saturday leaving FOD on the runway. The pilot of P51 Mustang 'Miss Velma' made a text book emergency landing in a field approaching the Duxford Runway at the end of Sundays Balbo due to engine failure with the aircraft. The RAF Red Arrows had to pause their display for 5 mins due to a paramotor infringement in their R(AT). After regrouping and the paramotor safely out of the airspace, the Reds continued their display. |
| None of these detracted from what was truly a first class event that entertained the crowds with a fun packed weekend of thrills, music, enthralling displays and Nostalgia. Flying Legends is a must see show to be witnessed at first hand, the sight and sound of these rare and historic aircraft flown at a living working historic airfield is second to none. |
| Thank you to Esther Blaine & Sally Gower from IWM Duxford Media team for their help over the weekend and too all at The Fighter Collection for a unique and memorable event. |
Performers included: |
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Supermarine Seafire LF III (G-BUAR) – Air Leasing Ltd
Supermarine Spitfire FR XIV (G-SPIT) – Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd
Supermarine Spitfire HF Mk.IX (RR232) – Boultbee Flight Academy
Supermarine Spitfire IX (G-LFIX) – Air Leasing Ltd
Supermarine Spitfire LFVb EP120 G-LFVB – The Fighter Collection
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXb (G-ASJV) – The Old Flying Machine Company
Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIII (G-BUOS) – Spitfire Ltd
Supermarine Spitfire MkI (G-CGUK) – Comanche Fighters
Supermarine Spitfire MkIa (G-AIST) – Comanche Fighters
Supermarine Spitfire MkIa (G-CFGJ) – Historic Flying Ltd
Supermarine Spitfire Tr.9 (G-CCCA) – Aircraft Restoration Co.
Supermarine Spitfire Vb BM597 (G-MKVB) – Historic Aircraft Collection
Bf109 Buchon (G-AWHK) – Aircraft Restoration Company
Boeing B-17G 'Sally B' (G-BEDF) – B17 Prservation
Bristol Blenheim Mk.I (G-BPIV) - Aircraft Restoration Company
Classic Formation - DC-3 & Beechcraft Model 18 x2
Consolidated PBY Catalina (G-PBYA) – Plane Sailing
Curtiss-Wright Hawk 75 (G-CCVH) - The Fighter Collection
Curtiss-Wright P-36C (G-CIXJ) - The Fighter Collection
Curtiss-Wright P.40C (G-CIIO) - The Fighter Collection
Curtiss-Wright Warhawk P40F (G-CGZP) - The Fighter Collection
Douglas DC-3C 'Daisy' (SE-CFP) – Flying Veterans Sweden
Goodyear Corsair FG-1D (G-FGID) - The Fighter Collection
Grumman Bearcat F8F (G-RUMM) - The Fighter Collection
Grumman Wildcat FM-2 (G-RUMW) - The Fighter Collection
Hawker Hurricane Mk. I 'P3717' (G-HITT) - Bygone Aviation Ltd
Hawker Hurricane Mk. I R4118 (G-HUPW) - Bygone Aviation Ltd
Hawker Hurricane Mk.I P2902 (G-ROBT) – Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd
Hawker Hurricane XII 'Z5140' (G-HURI) - Historic Aircraft Collection Ltd
Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk Ib (G-BKTH) - The Shuttleworth Collection
Hawker Sea Fury Mk.II (G-CBEL) – Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd
P-51B Mustang 'Berlin Express' (N-515ZB) – Comanche Fighters
P-51D Mustang 'Frenesi' (N-357FG) – Comanche Fighters
P-51D Mustang (G-SHWN) – Norwegian Spitfire Foundation
P-51D Mustang 'Miss Helen' (G-BIXL)
TF51D Mustang 'Miss Velma' (G-TFSI) – Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd
Percival Mew Gull (G-AEXF) - The Shuttleworth Collection
de Havilland Comet (G-ACSS) - The Shuttleworth Collection
Travel Air Type R "Mystery Ship" (G-TATR) – Richard Seeley
Bucker Jungmann (G-BSAJ) – Pete Kynsey
LeVier Cosmic Wind (G-ARUL) – Pete Kynsey
Red Arrows (Sunday Only)
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Report and photography by Jason Phelan for
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