This week (18th September) marks the third anniversary of the first post going live on Warbird Tails. Almost 260 posts on I still thoroughly enjoy updating this site regularly with Warbird news, history and stories. To mark the occasion I wanted to take a look back at three of the posts I'm most proud of … Continue reading Warbird Tails Turns Three
Being more of a Warbird fan than modern military it has been a good few years since I've attended a show day at RIAT but with no Flying Legends clash in 2017 and a very impressive line up, I decided that it was time for a return. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/37103614251/in/dateposted-public/ 2017s show wasn't without vintage elements of … Continue reading Royal International Air Tattoo Fairford 2017
The Victory Show at Cosby has long been on my to do list ever since the first visit back in 2012 was soured by the use of a bizarre 45 degree display line despite having an incredible array of rare warbirds in the flying display. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/37199639985/in/dateposted-public/ The years have passed since that show and this … Continue reading Best Laid Plans Part 2……Sywell 9th September
Long before the iconic Hurricane leapt into the air at Brooklands in the hands of George Bulman in November 1935, the foundations of an iconic fighter had already been laid. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/28098940806/in/dateposted-public/ Before delving into the fascinating history of these elegant machines, I first wanted to introduce the story of the famous man behind this and countless … Continue reading 1930s Silver Wings: The Hawker Biplane Family
Unusually for August, traditionally one of the busiest airshow months of the year, I only managed to attend two shows. Both were great events at Old Warden and Little Gransden respectively. I know you all enjoy seeing photographs from these shows so while I'm putting together the main review I thought I'd start posting a … Continue reading August Airshow Photo Re-Cap
The early July Sunday show at Old Warden has hosted the collection's Military Pageant now for a number of years. This show gives visitors the chance to take in the incredible line up of based military aircraft along with some fine selections from the wider UK warbird scene. This year saw events focused on Army … Continue reading Shuttleworth Collection Military Pageant 2017
The second oldest aeroplane in Flying Condition at the Shuttleworth Collection is the Deperdussin 1910 Monoplane. This was one of the earliest in a line of racing monoplanes built by the Aeroplanes Deperdussin company in France during the 1910s. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/36367346392/in/dateposted-public/ The prototype of this design first saw air under its wheels in October 1910. The … Continue reading Shuttleworth Collection 1910 Deperdussin
The second Collection evening display of 2017 could well have been a contender for the latest finish to a UK airshow in history, certainly in daylight at least. It was just a few minutes shy of 10pm when the unique Deperdussin's engine finally shut down leaving the calm of a perfect summers evening. This brought … Continue reading Shuttleworth Collection Classic Evening Display – 17th June 2017
I headed up to Duxford this morning in the hope of catching the wonderfully rare Hawker Fury I of the Historic Aircraft Collection in action. Today was set to be the fighter's first flight of 2017 and first display away from Duxford. I was hopeful to see Charlie Brown take the Fury up for an … Continue reading Best laid plans….Duxford 5th August 2017
At a recent Shuttleworth Collection airshow, the commentator passed comment of an airshow being like a rock concert. Plenty of people go to see the big hits or tracks from the favourite album, but the band are always keen to work in some rarer gems and newer material in-between the big hitters. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/35356182813/in/dateposted-public/ That analogy … Continue reading Flying Legends 2017 – Back to Basics
Following on from last years first instalment, which was widely regarded to be one of the highlights of the season the 2017 Fly Navy airshow at the Shuttleworth Collection built on a well earned reputation. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/35698959730/in/dateposted-public/ The show took place on the 4th June and featured a wide range of displays from collection and visiting … Continue reading Shuttleworth Collection Fly Navy Show – 4th June 2017
Having taken a break from the evening show format in 2016, in favour of "At Home" days, the Shuttleworth Collection have now brought back these unique events for the 2017 season. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/35363849142/in/dateposted-public/ Unlike previous incarnations, the events are now largely collection or Old Warden based aircraft central, given a chance for some of the lesser-seen … Continue reading Shuttleworth Collection Classic Evening Airshow – 20th May 2017
Duxford Air Festival promised to be an airshow for all the family, delivering displays from all manner of types from throughout aviation history. In practice, that was exactly what was delivered. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/35084346590/in/dateposted-public/ Unlike some Duxford shows of recent times the programme did not lean heavily to one period of aviation hisotry at any one time. … Continue reading Duxford Air Festival 27th-28th May 2017
Just seven years had passed since man first achieved powered flight when the Bristol Aeroplane Company first flew their new flying machine, the Boxkite. You would certainly be forgiven for mistaking the box kite for the Wright Brothers famous “Flyer” as it shares a number of similar features. The airframe features a forward mounted elevator, … Continue reading Shuttleworth Collection Bristol Boxkite
An early season treat that I haven't yet got round to posting was my first trip out to a Timeline Events photoshoot. I've always wanted to attend a nightshoot but none had quite taken my fancy until the events at Stow Maries appeared early last year. I was unable to attend either of the events … Continue reading Stow Maries Evening Photo Shoot 22nd April 2017
This weekend saw a relaxed few hours each day spent watching the comings and goings of the Aero Legends fleet carrying out passenger flights at Headcorn. While I'm putting together a few larger posts and recent airshow reports I thought I'd share a few quick shots from the weekend. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/34400148134/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/34400211974/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/35204059606/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/34435282143/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/34435287593/in/dateposted-public/ This … Continue reading Spitfire Saturday….Spitfire Sunday – A classic Headcorn weekend
A long time sign that the airshow season has finally begun, Abingdon has developed a justifiable reputation for providing great variety and some unique display items. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/34015336004/in/dateposted-public/ 2017 looked to be a vintage year for Abingdon, with a move to later in the month intended to avoid the early season cancellations that have plagued the … Continue reading Abingdon Air and Country Show – 14th May 2017
Yesterday (18th May 2017) marked a historic milestone for the Shuttleworth Collection and the UK WW1 aviation scene. As of yesterday afternoon the UK now boasts a fully accurate, rotary powered, airworthy Sopwith Camel. Dodge Bailey took the aircraft up for a test flight from Old Warden under grey skies, completing an already impressive line … Continue reading Shuttleworth Sopwith Line-up Complete – Camel Takes to the Skies
The sight of an original 1917 Bristol F2b carrying out power checks viewed through the trees and open grass at the southern end of Old Warden is a truly incredible way to kick off the 2017 season. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/34428041241/in/dateposted-public/ Shortly after arrival there was a real sense of anticipation that seems to be unique to that … Continue reading Shuttleworth Collection Season Premiere Airshow – 7th May 2017
I had the opportunity today to enjoy the sight of Aero Legend's new Spitfire - T.IX NH341 - carrying out its first public flights at Headcorn as part of their popular "Fly With" series. This gave great opportunities to see the new Spitfire alongside the company's de Havilland Devon. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/34304846516/in/dateposted-public/ Having watched the Spitfire's first … Continue reading Spitfire NH341 at Headcorn
