Spit airbourne again

Following a landing accident in 2007 Dutch Spitfire IX MK732 returned to the air  on April 29th 2010. John Romain piloted the successful test flight. It appeared at the Battle Of Britain Airshow in September at DX.

Fury rolls-out

Hawker Fury, VH-ORN, is flying again in Australia. The machine was once operated by the Old Flying Machine Company at Duxford. It has been repainted in Royal Australian Navy colours after a two year major operation.

'109 ready to go

EADS owned Buchon/109G-10 composite D-FEHD is ready for flight testing. It has emerged in new generic Luftwaffe colours, minus Swastika, after repairs from a landing accident which occurred in May 2008.

"Fifi" Returns to the air

The world's only airworthy B-29 Superfortress returned to the skies on 5th August 2010. Having been grounded for the last six years owing to engine trouble; "Fifi" now has composite engines from various sources.

SM520 gets new scheme

 

Making it's airshow debut at Saturday's Battle Of Britain Airshow, Duxford, was Supermarine Spitfire IX SM520 in it's brand new colour scheme. The Scheme is that of the only two-seat Spitfire to see RAF service. G-ILDA returned to the air after a 6 year restoration on Octocber 17th 2008.

Battle Of Britain Airshow - Duxford 2010

A sun soaked morning greeted the early birds at this year's September show; this year marking the 70th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain. Spitfires and Hurricanes were in attendance en masse in a true tribute to "The Few".
A new Me109 Buchon graced the flight line recently restored by ARCo. Another rare aircraft on the duxford apron was a Norwegian vampire with Mickey Mouse emblem. The sun beaming down made for fantastic pictures.
On the Saturday the gates were shut as the museum reached capacity and the anticipation for the show ahead could be felt all over the airfield.
A pre-show performance from the RAF Red Arrows brough the entire airfield to a stand still.
Oddly the show was opened by aircraft that have no relation to the Battle what-so-ever; TFC's Sea Fury & Bearcat. Nevertheless this was a powerful opening which lead into a well rehearsed routine by ARCo and TFC's Harvard pair. The Belgian F-16, a regular at Duxford and at other UK airshows, added a bit of power, thrust and after-burn to the display.
B-17 Sally B then opened for the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster, Spitfire & Hurricane as the true BoB remembrance took place. Again the airfield came to an absolute stand still as the three aircraft did their routines and fly-bys.
A tranquil break in the form of a Leopard Moth and Hornet Moth; gracefully and effortlessly doing circuits around the aerodrome display line.
ARCo's Me109 Buchon provided representation for "the enemy" followed by a quartet of Hurricanes. Peter Vacher, Hanger 11, HAC and and Shuttleworth's Sea Hurricane made up a beautiful and very rare formation. With the BBMF's Hurricane now on the ground; this left just one airworthy Hurricane in the UK not in attendance (also operated by the BBMF). This was followed by a beautiful solo display by Hanger 11's immaculate Hurri-Bomber. Gladiators took part in early exchanges with the Luftwaffe in the months leading up to the Battle Of Britain and this was represented by the Shuttleworth's example in the air and TFC's on the ground; the only two airworthy in the world!
The RAF came agin the their Eurofighter Typhoon display which was soon contrasted by the Miller family's Dragon Rapide. 19 Squadron, the Spitfire squadron based at Duxford during the battle, then did formation fly pasts in their current type Hawk T.1 and T.2's.
Jungmann and Jungmeister put on a German acrobatic display which was followed by a one minute silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the conflict.
Then for the finale pieces. A unique, rare and magnificant formation of no less than 16 Spitfires of various types and marks. A grand spectacle commemorating the people and machines that took part in Britain's finest hour. "The Few" were truely represented. This was followed by tail chases by the 16 Spits. A great showcase of Mitchell's machine - the sounds can only be described as truely beautiful.
The Petrouille De France closed the show with a well-polished display as light started to fade and display conditions started to deteriorate. A great show from the IWM Duxford that definately paid it's tributes to the men and women that took part, some of whom lost their lives, in the Battle Of Britain 70 years ago.

Spirit Of Little Gransden

High winds threatened to blow away any chance of an airshow. Many acts had to be cancelled because of strong ground winds and moving weather fronts.
The organisers of this Children In Need airshow would not be deterred from putting on a show and they came up trumps! Added to the depleted display were a WACO pair, Nord-built Me108 amongst others. The heavy metal of the show was prvided by P-51D Mustangs "Big Beautiful Doll", "Janie" and "Marinell" who beat up the poor, unarmed, Me108 in the spectacular finish.
The Strikmaster and Vampire provided a bit of noise to add to the array of different acrobatic types. The Spitfire-like Twister-duo put on a good display in difficult formating conditions. The RV8 pair "Riviters" put on a riviting display in stark contrast to the elegant Red Hawks and Glider displays.
Resident Spartan Exectives added the class-factor as well as the usual polished display from Yak-52.
For the first time this year a Flight Line walk was organised. Giving us the chance to get up close and personal with the aircraft in the display. A big thank you for that! Same again next year please!
Much Kudos has to be given to everyone involved for still putting on a wonderful display which other organisers would have been forgiven for cancelling; but they rallied and called in their close friends for support and put a display together well worth going to..and all for an excellent cause.