Classic Aviation

Classic Aviation

Friday, 29 June 2012

Flying Legends News Day #5

The eve of the show often proves to be an exciting and busy affair that draws a big crowd to the museum. This year proved no different as the 10am queues snaked around the IWM Duxford car park.

The day started in a very slow fashion with next to nothing occurring. High winds discouraged any flying and mid-morning the heavens opened and soaked the historic airfield. It remained like this until mid-afternoon where the sun shined and the winds fell to an acceptable level.

Activity was rife for virtually the final three hours. Pilots were negotiating flying and practice time over the radio with the control tower.

For the enthusiasts the highlights must have been P-47G Thunderbolt "Snafu" in formation with TF-51D "Miss Velma".

Arrivals included a Ju52, Sopwith & Fokker Triplanes, Fury and Spitfire Mk.19 from France, Yak 9, Yak 11, Spitfire Mk.I, Skyraider, Swordfish and the Norwegian Dakota (DC-3).

Practice displays came from MeierMotors Spitfire Mk.8 and their TF-51 Mustang, Ju52 of Lufthansa, Spitfire Mk.14, Hispano Buchon and the Skyraider from North Weald went straight into a display on arrival.

One of this years star the P-38 Lightning of Red Bull went on a photo recce during the twilight hours.

Review the blow by blow of the day from our tweets at www.twitter.com/aviationclassic

It is shaping up to be another great Flying Legends Airshow that even the most hard-to-please fan will enjoy.

See our review at Classic Aviaton at www.Facebook.com/classicaviation along with all the photos. These will be available early next week.

We hope you have enjoyed out coverage of the build up to the 2012 Flying Legends Airshow.

Thank you

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Legends News Day #4

After all the excitement of yesterday enthusiasts can be forgiven for thinking today would have been more of the same. With blazing sun and clear skies it is somewhat surprising that activity was somewhat diminished in comparison to the previous day.

It started off in the best possible way with the focus being on The Fighter Collections P-47G Thunderbolt "Snafu/War Eagle" out on the grass for engine tests. Not long after she was taken up for a local flight and then, to the delight of photographers, put through her paces in a display over the airfield.

From there it went unusually quiet. Apart from HAC's Nimrod conducted yet more engine runs on the field there was very little Warbird action throughout the museum for several hours.

Later in the afternoon things picked up when P-40F "Lee's Hope" and the P-40B were positioned on the live side of the field. The Pearl Harbour survivor had the panels off and the engine was run and tweaked. The P-40F was taken for a flight and a display following repairs made after yesterday's shut down and jacking.

After another brief gap Spit EP120 and TF-51D Mustang "Miss Velma" were prepped for a formation practice display. During this time another Spitfire & Mustang formation called up on the radio making for some very comical communications between lead pilots and the tower. The visitors, after being told many times to not use the call sign "Mustang & Spitfire formation", turned out to be MeierMotors/Max Alpha fighter Spitfire Mk.VIII and their plainly marked TF-51D Mustang. The first arrivals in two days!

With a large number of European and UK arrivals still expected tomorrow, dubbed "Arrivals Day", could be very busy indeed!

Follow us on Twitter with all the news www.twitter.com/aviationclassic and follow @aviationclassic

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Legends News Day #3

The so called "media day" is usually a quiet affair with a few demonstrations, engine runs an many fluorescent jackets. Where the latter remained true the other factors usually associated with the Wednesday prior to the show were not.

Historic Aircraft Collections Hawker Nimrod stood on the flightline all day with numerous engine runs and plenty of tinkering. A question mark probably now hangs over the fighter's head as to it's availability for the show.

The Fighter Collection have been hard at work preparing this airworthy aircraft and "The Boss" Stephen Grey was certainly having fun with his toys.
After taxiing out the Corsair he reported a tech problem and returned to the parking spot. Instead he jumped in Spitfire V EP120 and took her for a spin instead! Putting a wonderful display and likewise later in TF-51D Mustang "Miss Velma". Steve Hinton later took the Mustang up and reported a leak from the radiator forcing him to return to the airfield.

One of the "stars" of this years show did it's bit for the media. The Sikorsky S.38 flying boat put in wonderfully low display and parked up in a fine photographic position by the control tower.

Later in the afternoon TFC's P-40F was put through it's paces and put in a great display. Unfortunately the fighter had to be shut down at the end of the runway owing to tech difficulties. After being towed to the hangar the fighter was put on jacks with the undercarriage retracted.

The only arrivals today were Yak-3 reproduction "White 100" and Spitfire TD248. Plenty more to come!

As the day came to a close the HAC Nimrod was still under going engine runs and ARCo Battle Of Britain Hispano Buchon was taken up for a twilight display.

Remember you can follow live updates from the airfield at www.twitter.com/aviationclassic

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Legends News Day #2

Another active day at Duxford saw the arrival of P-38 Lightning.

Spitfire Mk.Ia AR213 went on numerous test flights with both Steve Hinton and Stephen Grey at the controls.

The Fighter Collections Grumman Bearcat saw plenty of action too.

Highlight of the day seems to be the practice display of Sikorsky S.38 - said to be low and with plenty of top side views for the photographer.

Classic Aviation will be live from airfield from tomorrow follow us at www.twitter.com/aviationclassic

Albatross D.III

Albatross D.III replica 253.24 has flown near Munich, Germany. The test flight program will conclude on July 22nd

Florida gets Great War fighters

Two WWI fighters have moved to Kermit Weeks' Fantasy Of Flight Museum. The first is Albatross D.Va and the latter Sopwith Snipe. Both reproductions were completed by The Vintage Aviator Ltd in New Zealand.