Classic Aviation

Classic Aviation

Thursday 30 June 2011

Mustangs out of the box!

It has been reported at http://friends-of-tfc.blogspot.com/ that the containers holding P-51's "Fragile But Agile" and "February" have bee opened on Thursday 30th June in preparation for 2011's Flying Legends.

Monday 27 June 2011

Twitter scare!

On 27th June a rumor went around Twitter that the Flying Bulls P-38 Lightning had been pulled from attending the Flying Legends airshow. At time of writing this has been deemed untrue.

Dakota Norway arrives at DX!

The first overseas arrival landed on the 27th June in anticipation of the Flying Legends 2011 airshow. Dakota Norway's immaculate DC-3, in all silver finish, arrived at the Cambridgeshire airfield and was reported by TFC Blog the very same day. Pictured below at the 2010 Flying Legends show.

Saturday 25 June 2011

Fury arrives at DX!

Original Hawker Fury I arrived at Duxford IWM for HAC on Friday 24th July at 4:30pm. It arrived on the back of a flat bed truck shrink wrapped. It will be assembled over the coming days. Photos have been posted on UKAR by photographer Brian Marshall.

Thursday 23 June 2011

Press Announcment For Flying Legends 2011

"With only weeks to go until Flying Legends on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July, The Fighter Collection and Imperial War Museum Duxford are delighted to announce that over 55 aircraft will be participating at this year’s warbird spectacular.
In the 30th anniversary year of The Fighter Collection, Flying Legends promises to be a memorable celebratory occasion.
Highlights include:
For the first time since the filming of the famous Battle of Britain film in 1968, three Second World War Hispano HA-1112 MIL (Buchon) fighter aircraft will display in the skies over Duxford.
The Aer Lingus DH-84 Dragon Iolar will make its debut at Flying Legends this year. Built in 1936, the Iolar was acquired by Aer Lingus in the 1960s, as the airline’s original DH-84 was destroyed during the Second World War. The original Iolar was Aer Lingus’ first aircraft that flew the airline’s inaugural flight from Baldonnel to Bristol in May 1936. The Iolar will be flown alongside a second DH-84 Dragon and a de Havilland Dragon Rapide.
In a rare air show appearance, there will be three Skyraiders displaying at Flying Legends.
As previously announced, The Flying Bulls’ Lockheed P-38 Lightning reg. N25Y and Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair reg. OE-EAS will perform a stunning display as part of an unrivalled programme of aerial excitement.
The Horsemen, the world’s only P-51 Mustang formation aerobatic team, will perform at Flying Legends as a two-ship team with pilots Dan Friedkin and Ed Shipley showcasing the aircraft that made America great.
On the ground, there will be fun activities for all ages.
The Airfix Make and Paint Zone will give families the opportunity to make their own Airfix model and paint it with the accompanying paint colours. Once complete, the finished model aircraft is placed into a hanger box so that visitors can take their aviation masterpiece home as a souvenir of their day at Duxford.
Tank Heroes will be offering mini tank rides for children. Hands on History will be giving visitors of all ages the opportunity to dress as a British Army private or a Royal Air Force airman from the Second World War (no additional charge). There is also the opportunity to have a go at shooting paintballs at a mock-up of a ruined Normandy village with three-dimensional tank and soldier targets (additional charges apply).
Creating an authentic 1940s wartime atmosphere, the Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Lindy Hoppers will be dancing up a storm on the Hangar Base on Saturday 9 July and encouraging toe- tapping visitors to join in.
On Sunday 10 July, direct from New York City, The Manhattan Dolls bring their Andrews Sisters- style show to Flying Legends. Performing on the Hangar Base, they’ll be taking visitors on a sentimental journey through those evocative songs of the 1930s and 1940s.
In addition, visitors will be able to interact with living history groups, who will be bringing the Second World War to life at Duxford’s historic airfield. Ops 1939-45 will be representing Battle of Britain-era RAF pilots and ground crew, while the 42nd Field Hospital portrays US Army medical personnel from the Second World War.
The Screaming Eagles Living History Group will be representing servicemen who served with the 101st US Airborne Division, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2ndBattalion, Easy Company during the Second World War.
For daredevil visitors, the Parachute Regiment will be offering jumps from their Parachute Tower.
The Royal Air Force Recruiting Team will be showcasing a replica Red Arrows Hawk and chatting to visitors about life in the RAF.
Without doubt one of the finest warbird air shows in the world, Flying Legends will again provide an unrivalled line-up of the classic propeller-driven combat aircraft from both the First and Second World Wars, many of which are now either rare or unique.
With legendary aircraft and superbly talented pilots coming from across the globe to display at Flying Legends, a spectacular performance of stunning aerial displays awaits. Coupled with fantastically fun ground activities and an authentic evocation of the 1940s, Flying Legends is a unique event not to be missed!
All flying is subject to weather, serviceability and operational commitments."

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Tragedy strikes again!

News from the US came that Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Liberty Belle", which visited the UK in 2008 and took part in the Flying Legends Airshow, has crashed landed and burnt to a near total loss. Suffering what appeared to be an engine fire, the pilot managed to land in field safely and all seven on board escaped before the inferno engulfed the aircraft. It is a damaging loss to the US Warbird circuit. Liberty Foundation currently have a second B-17 under restoration to fly.

P-47 "Snafu" unvailed



https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfsyCWnag2OA0_k4fxFWfBCXXub2-YhITK64f5rUxwSXp9VEgMYibsmdeT9tylytLaE0HBWnjHH3jwb0nehCaKDGUeGiCXV_EeM2FvRzai5BhMilZYJqBsnNsCe9NJR3SXXV9HlYuvms/s1600/web-res-p47.jpgThe lastest stunning addition to the UK Warbird scene is The Fighter Collection P-47 "Snafu". Revealed in a glorious paint scheme she is sure to be a crowd favourite for years to come.

Friday 10 June 2011

B-25 Now On Show

The Flying Heritage Collection has put it's newly painted B-25J Mitchell on display following it's restoration. Painted in the wartime colours and design of the 490th Bomb Squadron, this aircraft is a tribute to Arnold Spielberg, the father of film legend Steven Spielberg. Arnold was a member of the 490th Squadron during the war. 

A flying display is planned for July 16th 2011 at the FHC's free Fly Day.
 Picture courtesy of FHC.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Popular B-25 crashes

French based North American B-25J Mitchell, formerly based with Jet Alpine Fighters in Switzerland, has suffered a crash landing. Fortunately both pilot and passenger survived and were recovered from the crash site, however, early reports suggest the aircraft is a write off. Here is a translation of the report from France:

"A plane crashed this Tuesday May 31 at around 17:30 close to the aerodrome of Melun-Villaroche (Seine-et-Marne), between Moissy-Cramayel and RĂ©au. This collectors machine (appareil de collection?), an American bomber dating from the Second world war, was seen by witnesses with an engine on fire. According to employees of the Snecma factory, close to the aerodrome, the aircraft would have then started an abrupt turn. After having avoided electric lines, it landed in a field within 300 meters of autroute A5B, noted two Parisian journalists. The pilot and his passenger were successfully extracted from the aircraft. They are unscathed. Important means of safety were deployed to extinguish the fire and to prevent that the tanks of the B25 from exploding."